What Are Franklin County Arrest Records?
Franklin County arrest records refer to official documents that contain information on individuals who have been taken into custody for suspected crimes. These apprehensions are made by the Sheriff’s Office or police divisions in the county. Details in an arrest record may include the subject’s personal data, offense description, the narrative of the arrest itself, and warrant information if any. Individuals can get these records by making public record requests at the Sheriff’s Office or appropriate agency that made the arrest.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office also provides access to some public records such as incident and accident reports. While the fee for an accident report is $4, other records attract regular copy fees and the Sheriff charges 5 cents per page for them. To obtain such public records, visit the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 370 South Front Street, 2nd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215 or call the office at (614) 525-3365.
Crime Statistics
Franklin County recorded 4,868 violent crimes and 43,457 property crimes in 2016, the last year with a complete set of crime statistics. These figures represent a 7.3% dip in violent crimes and a 21.1% reduction in property crimes over the last five years. A breakdown of 2016 violent crime data shows that there were 99 homicides, 958 rapes, 2,303 robberies, and 1,509 aggravated assaults in the county. The year also recorded 8,862 burglaries, 30,769 larcenies, 3,826 motor vehicle thefts, and 430 cases of arson. Compared to 2012 figures, the five-year crime trend in Franklin County indicates that homicide (20.2%), rape (49.2%), aggravated assault (19.4%), and motor vehicle theft (1.6%) rates rose. In the same period, the county recorded fewer robberies (30.1%), burglaries (47.1%), larcenies (11.1%), and arson incidents (26.6%).
What Are Franklin County Criminal Records?
Franklin County criminal records refer to official documents that contain information on individuals’ criminal histories within the county. These records are available at the Sheriff’s Office or Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation (BCI&I) at county and state levels, respectively. The information contained in criminal records from either source may differ in scale but includes information found in Franklin arrest records and also details of prosecution and conviction. These include:
- Subject’s data
- Physical description
- Crimes (felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions)
- Fingerprints and mugshots
- Warrants and apprehensions
- Indictments, convictions, and sentences
How Do I Get Franklin County Criminal Records?
The Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation (BCI&I) is the central repository of criminal information that makes records available through the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS). Interested persons may obtain Franklin County criminal records locally by conducting background checks through the Sheriff’s Office. Submit a web check form with the required information and signatures to the office at:
410 South High Street,
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-5090
State only or FBI nationwide checks cost $35 each, while both checks cost $70.
How to Find Franklin County Sex Offender Information?
Ohio law empowers the Office of the Attorney General to maintain a regularly updated registry of sex offenders and child victim offenders living in the state. Information for this registry comes from local Sheriffs who must run sex offender registration units in their counties. To search this statewide sex offender database, visit the Franklin County Sheriff Crime Alert webpage. This publicly accessible website has search tools for finding registered sex offenders in the state and county. Use the name search function to find a specific sex offender or provide a zip code to see all sex offenders living in an area of the county. The public can also access information for incarcerated and non-compliant sex offenders in the county.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Franklin County Jail?
The Corrections Division of the Sheriff’s Office oversees the two Franklin County Correctional Center located at:
370 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3368
And
2460 Jackson Pike
Columbus, OH 43223
Phone: (614) 525-7100
Adult inmates are allowed to receive 15 minutes visits while juveniles can have up to 30 minutes per visit. Only pre-approved individuals in the inmate’s visitors list can visit according to the schedule, which is organized according to inmates’ last names. These are as follows:
Mondays: From A to C
Tuesdays: From D to G
Wednesdays: From H to L
Thursdays: From M to Q
Fridays: Juveniles
Saturdays: From R to S
Sundays: From T to Z
Visitors must come along with valid photo identification and be well-dressed or be denied entry. A maximum of two adults and three children is permitted per visit. However, minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with proof such as a birth certificate, state ID, or health insurance card.
Where and How to Find Franklin County Inmate Information?
The Franklin County Sheriff is the official responsible for keeping all inmates and jail records in the county. To make finding inmates easier, the Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate information search tool with which inquirers can conduct a Franklin County Inmate Search. Use it to locate individuals booked into any of the county’s jails by providing information such as name, age, gender, and race.
What Are Franklin County Court Records?
Franklin County court records are documents that are created or issued by a court in the county, which contain information of the proceedings that took place in the court. These records can be in the form of audio transcripts, electronic files, dockets, judgment rolls, and other documentation of court actions.
The Court of Appeals, Court of Common Pleas, and Probate Court make up the judicial system in Franklin County. The Franklin County Clerk of Courts is responsible for maintaining the records of these courts. The Clerk’s Office makes court records available on a dedicated Case Information Online Portal. Use it to search for records generated by the Court of Appeals as well as the Civil/Criminal and Domestic divisions of the Court of Common Pleas.
For the records of the Franklin County Probate Court, use the General Case Index webpage to access those documents. The Probate Court also provides a separate online marriage license index for searching for licenses issued from January 3, 1995, to date.
Location of All Courts in Franklin County
Franklin County Courts of Common Pleas – Juvenile and Domestic Relations Division
Franklin County Government Center
373 South High Street,
6th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3628
Franklin County Courts of Common Pleas – General Division
Franklin County Common Pleas Courthouse
345 South High Street,
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-3453
Fax: (614) 525-7422
Franklin County Municipal Court
Franklin County Government Center
375 South High Street,
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 645-8186
Bexley Mayor’s Court
2242 East Main Street
Bexley, OH 43209
Phone: (614) 559-4437
Fax: (614) 559-4201
Canal Winchester Mayor’s Court
36 South High Street,
Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Phone: (614) 837-7691
Fax: (614) 837-0145
City of Columbus Parking Violation Bureau
2700 Impound Lot,
Columbus, OH 43207
Phone: (614) 645-6400
Fax: (614) 645-7357
Dublin Mayor’s Court
Dublin Justice Center
6565 Commerce Parkway,
Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: (614) 410-4920
Fax: (614) 761-6598
Gahanna Mayor’s Court
Gahanna City Hall Building
200 South Hamilton Road,
Gahanna, OH 43230
Phone: (614) 342-4080
Fax: (614) 342-4180
Grandview Heights Mayor’s Court
City Hall
1016 Grandview Avenue,
Grandview Heights, OH 43212
Phone: (614) 481-6205
Fax: (614) 481-6224
Grove City Mayor’s Court
3360 Park Street,
Grove City, OH 43123
Phone: (614) 277-1715
Fax: (614) 277-1793
Groveport Mayor’s Court
Municipal Building
655 Blacklick Street,
Groveport, OH 43125
Phone: (614) 830-2043
Harrisburg Mayor’s Court
1092 High Street,
Harrisburg, OH 43126
Phone: (614) 877-4053
Fax: (614) 877-0127
Hilliard Mayor’s Court
Joint Safety Services Building
5171 Northwest Parkway,
Hilliard, OH 43026
Phone: (614) 334-2348
Fax: (614) 529-6036
Marble Cliff Mayor’s Court
Grandview Heights Municipal Building
1016 Grandview Avenue,
Dublin, OH 43212
Phone: (614) 486-6993
Minerva Park Mayor’s Court
2829 Minerva Lake Road,
Columbus, OH 43231
Phone: (614) 882-1408
Fax: (614) 899-1296
New Albany Mayor’s Court
Village Hall
99 West Main Street,
New Albany, OH 43054
Phone: (614) 855-8577
Fax: (614) 855-0082
Obetz Mayor’s Court
4175 Alum Creek Drive,
Obetz, OH 43207
Phone: (614) 491-3211
Reynoldsburg Mayor’s Court
7232 East Main Street,
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Phone: (614) 322-6804
Fax: (614) 322-6856
Upper Arlington Mayor’s Court
3600 Tremont Road,
Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Phone: (614) 583-5060
Fax: (614) 442-4044
Valley View Mayor’s Court
6899 Hathaway Road,
Valley View, OH 44125
Phone: (614) 524-9687
Westerville Mayor’s Court
21 South State Street,
Westerville, OH 43081
Phone: (614) 901-6419
Fax: (614) 776-6045
Whitehall Mayor’s Court
Whitehall City Hall
360 South Yearling Road,
Whitehall, OH 43213
Phone: (614) 338-3109
Worthington Mayor’s Court
6550 North High Street
Worthington, OH 43085
Phone: (614) 786-7351
Fax: (614) 433-7915
What Are Franklin County Vital Records?
Franklin County vital records are documentation of county life events like births, marriages, deaths, and divorces that are prepared or issued by government departments at the state and county level. These records include certificates, decrees, or copies of original certificates that are issued to eligible or authorized persons upon requests. Requesters will have to provide valid identification, record details, and service fees to get certified or informational copies of these records. Note that sensitive information may also be redacted from informational copies given to persons without legitimate claims or interests on the documents.
Where and How to Get Franklin County Divorce Records
Records of divorces obtained in the Domestic Relations Division of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas are available in the records division of the court. Send a written letter specifying the type of record required i.e. decree, certified or uncertified copies, and so on to the Clerk of Courts or submit in person at:
County Clerk of Courts
373 South High Street,
4th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 525-4410
For mailed requests, include the relevant names, dates, case numbers, location in the request, and send the letter along with the return address and name. When required, send in the stated fees of 10 cents per page and $1 per certified copy.
Where and How to Get Franklin County Marriage Records
The Probate Court is responsible for issuing certified copies of marriage abstracts in Franklin County. It accepts in-person and mail requests. To obtain this Franklin public record in person, visit the Probate Court Marriage Department at 373 South High Street, 23rd Floor, Columbus, Ohio. The office opens between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Send a mail request to:
Franklin County Probate Court
Attn: Marriage Records
373 South High Street,
22nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6311
The cost of each certified copy of a marriage abstract is $2. The Court accepts cash and credit/debit card for payment for in-person requests. Checks and money orders are acceptable payment instruments for mail requests.
Where and How to Get Franklin County Birth Records
The Office of Vital Statistics of the Columbus Public Health Department records, keeps and issues copies of birth certificates in Franklin County. Interested individuals can request certified copies of these Franklin public records by mail or in person. For same-day delivery, choose the in-person option by visiting the Office of Vital Statistics at 240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. The office opens by 8:00 a.m. from Monday to Thursday and 9:00 a.m. on Friday. It closes by 4:15 p.m. but only accepts requests for same-day delivery up to 4:00 p.m.
Complete the downloadable request form and send via mail to:
Office of Vital Statistics Columbus Public Health
240 Parsons Avenue
Columbus, OH 43215
The Office of Vital Statistics keeps birth records from 1908 to the present and charges $25 for each certified copy of the birth certificate issued.
Where and How to Get Franklin County Death Records
The Office of Vital Statistics of the Columbus Public Health Department keeps and issues copies of death certificates in Franklin County. Interested individuals can request certified copies of these records by mail or in person. For same-day delivery, choose the in-person option by visiting the Office of Vital Statistics at 240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. The office opens by 8:00 a.m. from Monday to Thursday and 9:00 a.m. on Friday. It closes by 4:15 p.m. but only accepts requests for same-day delivery up to 4:00 p.m.
Complete the downloadable request form and send via mail to:
Office of Vital Statistics Columbus Public Health
240 Parsons Avenue
Columbus, OH 43215
The Office of Vital Statistics keeps death records from 1908 to present and charges $25 for each certified copy of the death certificate issued.
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Franklin County?
The Ohio Sunshine Law allows public access to property records in Franklin County. Interested persons may submit requests for Franklin County property records to the county's record keeper.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Franklin County
The Franklin County Assessment Office maintains property records in the county. The Assessment Office has the primary responsibility of valuing all properties and improvements. The office also prepares tax bills for the various districts. Each page costs 25 cents. Requestors may submit property record applications to the:
Franklin County Tax Assessment Office
272 N Second Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Phone: (717) 261-3801
Fax: (717) 264-5218
Email: taxservices@franklincountypa.gov
Franklin County property records are also available at the Register and Recorder's Office. The office records all property records, including deeds, mortgages, land records, and other property documents. Copies cost 25 cents per page and an extra $1.50 for each certified document. Copies of subdivision documents cost 50 cents per page. Requests are processed at the:
Franklin Register and Recorder's Office
Administration Building
272 North Second St, Suite 205
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Phone: (717) 261-3872
Fax: (717) 709-7211
Office Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Mondays through Fridays
How to Look Up Franklin County Property Records
Franklin County Property Records are remotely accessible using the Tax Assessment Office's online assessment function. The platform provides a map search with an aerial view of county properties and details on each property. Available information includes situs address, owner's name and address, deeded acres, sales date and price, assessment values, and taxable status.
The Register and Recorder's Office also provides remote access to Franklin County property records via the LANDEX system. The system offers two options, including Remote and Webstore record searches. Persons who need frequent access to the platform may use the Remote option for a wider searching experience as well as page and time billing. The Remote option also requires users to install a Microsoft-based application. The Webstore is advised for persons conducting limited searching. Usage is browser-based, and users can pay for documents online. Users should note that each Webstore payment has an additional $5 processing charge.
Location of Franklin County Property Assessors
Franklin County Tax Assessment Office
272 N Second Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Phone: (717) 261-3801
Fax: (717) 264-5218
Email: taxservices@franklincountypa.gov
