Search Cuyahoga County Criminal Records
Cuyahoga County criminal records are managed by the Clerk of Courts and the Sheriff's Office at the Justice Center in Cleveland. As the most populous county in Ohio, Cuyahoga has a large court system with separate divisions for criminal, civil, domestic relations, and probate cases. The Cleveland Municipal Court handles misdemeanors and traffic violations for the city, while suburban municipal courts cover their own areas. You can search court records online through the Clerk's Case Docket system, which is one of the most robust in the state. The Sheriff's Office maintains felony arrest records and runs an inmate search tool. Whether you need to check on a pending case or pull old court files, Cuyahoga County has multiple ways to search criminal records.
Cuyahoga County Overview
Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts Criminal Records
The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts is at the Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, 1st Floor, Cleveland, OH 44113. Call (216) 443-7977 for general info. The Docket Information Line is (216) 443-7950. Email coccfr@cuyahogacounty.us for case file requests.
The Clerk runs a comprehensive online Case Docket system. It covers civil, criminal, domestic relations, and appellate court records. You can search by case number, party name, attorney name, date range, or case type across all divisions. Some document images are available online as well. E-filing is available for attorneys. The system is one of the largest in Ohio and handles a high volume of criminal cases each year.
Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee. Standard copies are $0.10 per page. Payment is accepted by cash, money order, or credit card. The Clerk's Office is split into four main divisions: Civil, Criminal, Domestic Relations, and Probate. Each handles specific case types and maintains its own records.
Digital case files are maintained as official records. Records are retained per Ohio retention schedules. Confidential information is redacted from public records before release. The Fifth District Court of Appeals records are also kept by the Clerk. Criminal case records include felony charges, plea data, sentencing info, and full docket entries.
| Office | Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 1200 Ontario Street, Justice Center - Courts Tower Cleveland, OH 44113 |
| Phone | (216) 443-7977 |
| Docket Line | (216) 443-7950 |
| coccfr@cuyahogacounty.us |
Cuyahoga County Arrest Records and Sheriff
The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office Records Division is at 1215 West 3rd Street, Cleveland, OH 44113. Call (216) 443-6105 for general inquiries. Inmate information is at (216) 443-6155.
The Sheriff handles felony arrest records for multi-city arrests across Cuyahoga County. Each arrest record shows the date of arrest, charges, and Cuyahoga County case number. There is a $6.00 fee per arrest record. Only cash or money order is accepted. If you request records by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. You need to provide the person's first and last name, birth date, and Social Security Number for arrest record requests.
The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's website below provides access to criminal records information including inmate lookups and arrest data for the county.
An online inmate lookup tool is available for basic searches. Detailed records require a formal request or in-person visit. Municipal police departments within Cuyahoga County maintain their own separate records for misdemeanor arrests. The Sheriff's Office only has felony arrest information for arrests it processed. Criminal history information is maintained by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at the state level.
Note: Cuyahoga County Sheriff's arrest records only cover felony arrests processed by the Sheriff's Department, not misdemeanor arrests handled by city police departments.
Cleveland Municipal Court Criminal Records
The Cleveland Municipal Court is at 1200 Ontario Street, 13th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44113. Call (216) 664-4920. This court handles misdemeanor criminal charges, traffic violations, civil small claims up to $15,000, housing court matters, and preliminary hearings for felony cases.
The Cleveland Municipal Court website below shows the online search portal for criminal and traffic records filed through the court.
The court has a comprehensive online case search. E-filing is available. An online payment system lets you pay fines and court costs. Records show charges, hearing dates, dispositions, and sentencing information. Keep in mind that Cleveland Municipal Court is just one of several municipal courts in Cuyahoga County. Each suburban municipal court keeps its own records. If someone was charged in a suburb like Lakewood, Parma, or Euclid, you would need to check that city's municipal court for their records.
Sealed cases and confidential information are restricted from public access. Records are maintained per Ohio's Rules of Superintendence. Electronic files serve as official records. Court records are public under Ohio law, with the standard exceptions for juvenile and sealed cases.
Cuyahoga County Probate Court Records
The Cuyahoga County Probate Court is at 1200 Ontario Street in Cleveland. Call (216) 443-8764. The Probate Court is separate from the Common Pleas Court and has its own Clerk and case management system. It handles estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, marriage licenses, and historical vital records.
The Probate Court has the Cuyahoga County Probate Court website shown below, which lets you search probate records online including estates and guardianships.
Probate estate records are public. Adoption records are sealed per statute. Mental health commitment records are confidential. Marriage records are permanent. Estate files are kept per retention schedule. Some document access may require an in-person visit even though case search is available online.
Public Access to Cuyahoga County Criminal Records
Under ORC 149.43, criminal records in Cuyahoga County are open to the public. You can search online or visit the Justice Center in Cleveland. No reason is needed.
Juvenile records are sealed under Ohio Revised Code 2151.358. Sealed and expunged records cannot be viewed. Under ORC 2953.32, eligible criminal records can be sealed after waiting periods. The fee is $50 plus up to $50 in local costs. First and second-degree felonies, violent felonies, and sex offenses are not eligible for sealing in Ohio.
How to Find Cuyahoga County Criminal Records
The best starting point is the Clerk of Courts Case Docket for felony cases. Use the Cleveland Municipal Court site for city misdemeanors and traffic cases. For suburban cases, check the specific municipal court for that city.
In-person searches can be done at the Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street in Cleveland. Bring a valid ID. For arrest records, visit the Sheriff's Records Division at 1215 West 3rd Street. The BCI provides statewide background checks. The ODRC Offender Search covers state prison inmates. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association has a directory of all 88 Ohio county clerks if you need records from other areas.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Cuyahoga County. Select one to search criminal records there.