Access Hancock County Criminal Records
Hancock County criminal records are maintained at the Clerk of Courts and the Sheriff's Office in Findlay. The Clerk's online case search covers felony criminal cases, civil suits, and Court of Appeals records. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or case type. The Sheriff's Office on West Crawford Street handles arrest records, incident reports, and crash reports. Findlay Municipal Court covers misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic violations. Whether you need to pull up a specific court case or get a copy of an arrest report, Hancock County gives you both online and in-person ways to search criminal records.
Hancock County Overview
Hancock County Clerk of Courts Criminal Records
The Hancock County Clerk of Courts manages all criminal case files for the Court of Common Pleas. The Legal Division is at 300 S. Main Street, Findlay, OH 45840. Call (419) 424-7037 for help. The fax number is 419-424-7801. The Clerk maintains records for felony criminal cases, civil suits, and Court of Appeals filings. Each criminal case file shows the defendant's name, charges, disposition, docket entries, and case events.
You can search Hancock County criminal records through the Clerk of Courts online case search. The system lets you look up cases by participant name, case number, attorney details, or case type. The database shows both open and closed criminal cases. E-filing became available for attorneys on September 4, 2019. Document access may also be available through the PeachCourt system.
The Hancock County Sheriff's website provides access to public records and arrest information for the county.
Copy fees follow the Ohio Revised Code schedule. Motor vehicle and watercraft title fees are set by statute. The Title Department is at a separate location: 8210 CR 140, Suite E, Findlay, OH 45840. The Clerk strives to provide timely processing of all public records requests.
| Office | Hancock County Clerk of Courts - Legal Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 S. Main Street Findlay, OH 45840 |
| Phone | (419) 424-7037 |
| Fax | 419-424-7801 |
Search Hancock County Arrest Records
The Hancock County Sheriff's Office is at 200 West Crawford Street, Findlay, OH 45840. Call 419-424-7251 for the office. The fax number is 419-424-7078. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Sheriff handles arrest records, incident reports, traffic accident reports, and crash reports for the county.
Public records requests can be made by phone, fax, mail, in person, or email at hancocksheriff@co.hancock.oh.us. Include a contact number when sending email requests in case questions come up. Copy fees apply for reports. Under ORC 149.43, most arrest and incident records from the Hancock County Sheriff are open to the public. Active investigation records may be held back until the case wraps up.
Findlay Municipal Court Criminal Cases
The Findlay Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil cases, and small claims for Hancock County. The court is at 318 Dorney Plaza, Room 206, P.O. Box 826, Findlay, OH 45840-3306. Call (419) 424-7141 for info. The fax number is (419) 424-7803.
Online record search is available. You can look up cases by name, case number, ticket number, or case type. The court covers felony, misdemeanor, criminal traffic, and traffic records. Results show disposition info and dates of birth. The court has three main divisions that process all filings and orders. Sealed cases are not available through the public search. Standard copy fees apply. Online payments work for some citations. Records from this court are public under ORC 149.43. Preliminary felony hearings start here before cases move to the Common Pleas Court for trial.
Hancock County Criminal Records Access
Hancock County courts follow Ohio's open records law. Criminal case files at the Clerk of Courts are open to anyone during business hours. No reason is required. Some records are restricted. Sealed and confidential cases are not available to the public.
Under ORC 2953.32, eligible defendants can apply to seal their criminal records in Hancock County. The fee is $50 plus local court costs. First and second-degree felonies, violent crimes, and sex offenses cannot be sealed. The Hancock County Recorder at the courthouse in Findlay keeps property records, deeds, mortgages, and liens. Online document search is available through their site. Property records that relate to fraud or judgment liens may connect to criminal cases in the county.
Note: Hancock County felony records are kept permanently at the Clerk of Courts office, but older records may require a special request to access.
How to Look Up Hancock County Criminal Records
Start with the online search at the Clerk's website. Enter a name or case number. The system shows open and closed cases with charges, docket entries, and status info. For misdemeanor and traffic cases, try the Findlay Municipal Court search.
In-person searches work at 300 S. Main Street in Findlay. Bring an ID. Staff can pull up records and make copies. Written requests by mail should include the case info you need and payment for copy fees. The Sheriff's Office at 200 West Crawford Street takes records requests by phone, fax, mail, email, and in person.
State tools cover Hancock County too. The BCI runs statewide criminal checks through WebCheck. Background checks with fingerprints go through ORC 109.572. The ODRC Offender Search covers state prison inmates from Hancock County. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association has a directory of all 88 county clerks for records from other counties. A BCI statewide check runs about $32 and an FBI nationwide check costs $36.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Hancock County. Select one to search criminal records in that area.