Are Ohio Inmate Records Public Information?
Yes, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 149.43 (A) (Ohio's Public Records Law,) inmate records are considered public information. Subject to this statutory provision, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and local correctional agencies in charge of Ohio inmate records are mandated to make records of incarcerated persons available to interested parties upon request. Requesters are not asked to disclose their identity to request or conduct an Ohio inmate search.
Under the Ohio Public Records Act, interested persons can find information about past and present incarcerated individuals, such as an inmate's custody status. However, not all inmate records are accessible to members of the public in Ohio. For instance, juvenile inmate records are not disclosed to the public (Ohio Revised Code 149.43 (A)(1l). Exemptions also apply to inmate records considered detrimental to public safety.
Ohio Inmate Search
Ohio inmate records comprise personal and official data of incarcerated individuals in locally managed or state-run jails, prisons, or penal institutions. These records are typically managed and disseminated by the correctional facility where the inmate is held or by using the online resources available on law enforcement websites. Persons who obtain inmate records can expect detailed information on who’s in custody (e.g., inmates' full names, physical descriptors, mugshots, bail/bond conditions, custody status, and release dates). Inmate records in Ohio are available for public inspection based on the Ohio Public Records Law. The records can help to find out if someone's in jail, the correctional facility they are being kept in, and the charges for which they are being detained.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
How to Find Someone in Jail in Ohio
Local jails in Ohio operate independently from the state correctional facilities, which have a central inmate search tool that the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction maintains as a public resource. Thus, to find someone in jail in Ohio, interested parties often need to contact the county jails in Ohio to look up their inmate records. Requesting parties may initiate contact by paying a visit or calling the local sheriff's office. If the inmate of interest is in the sheriff's custody, then the office will inform the requester and provide details to help the individual find out why someone is in jail or determine an inmate's custody status or release date.
However, if the sheriff's office cannot assist directly, they might provide guidance on finding someone in jail within their jurisdiction. Some county jails also have online inmate lookup tools or inmate rosters to enable easy access to county inmate records in Ohio.
How to Send Money Inmates in Ohio Prisons or Jails
All persons listed on an inmate's approved visitation list may send money to the incarcerated individuals in facilities across the state. Funds are primarily sent via mail, online, or by telephone transactions detailed on the inmate funds page of the DRC website. Funds sent to an inmate must be no more than $200 per transaction and $400 per calendar month.
Senders may make mail deposits through the approved Ohio DRC vendor, JPay. The sender is required to download and complete the Money Order Deposit Form available on the JPay website. The form must be filled out legibly and sent with a money order payment of the desired amount to the indicated address. All orders must indicate the full name of the sender and the recipient, the housing facility address, and the unique DOC number of the inmate.
Individuals sending funds may make online payments via ConnectNetwork, while phone deposits may be made by calling (888) 988-4PMT (4768) using reference Site ID 86.
How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in Ohio Prisons and Jails
Intending visitors must use an Ohio inmate search or prison lookup tool to confirm an inmate's location. Ohio state inmates are entitled to visiting rights, which will only be valid upon completion of the visitor's application form, which is available on the visiting information page of the DRC website. The application must include up to fifteen (15) visitors who will be allowed access to the detainee following standard verification and background check processes.
Approved visitors must schedule each visit ahead and present an acceptable government-issued photo ID before entering the facility. Visitation schedules and guidelines are often unique to Ohio corrections facilities, as indicated on the various institution web pages. Thus, intending visitors must contact the applicable facility before scheduling a visit. Visitors may also schedule video visitations, which attract a standard fee paid before each call.
How to Find a County Inmate Roster in Ohio
Inmate rosters in Ohio are one way local correctional facilities provide information about incarcerated individuals to the public. Unlike inmate lookup sites, requesters do not need to know an inmate's name or booking number before they can look up their details in a county inmate roster. At a glance, the roster shows an inmate's name, booking date, charges, jail number, court hearing, release date, and the arresting agency.
Typically, local correctional facilities update their inmate rosters daily so that users can access real-time information on new entrants.
Note that not all county jails in Ohio have an online inmate roster. Some jails provide inmate information online via Ohio inmate search/lookup sites that require an inmate's last name or number to bring up data.
How to Perform an Ohio Prison Inmate Search
All information about inmates housed in any Ohio state correctional facility is managed by the state DRC and published on the department's website. Anyone can perform an Ohio prison inmate search by querying this site. The website's FAQ page lists relevant publications regarding inmate correspondence, inmate welfare, commissary, visitation, and related topics. In addition, interested persons may also perform an inmate lookup by querying the facility where the inmate is serving time. Finally, the public can sometimes conduct a free inmate search by name on various third-party inmate records websites.
How to Perform an Ohio Jail Inmate Search
Interested persons who need to know how to find out if someone is in jail may use the Offender Search Tool available on the DRC website. To use the tool to find a person in jail, the user must furnish the engine with the required parameters, i.e., the inmate's name and unique DOC number.
In addition to performing an inmate search in Ohio, the search tool can be handy for viewing the compliance status of offenders, as well as details of an inmate's criminal history, sentence information, and other related data.
Ohio State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference
Ohio's state prison and county jail system is one of the largest in the country, with a total capacity of over 65,000 inmates. The majority of these inmates are housed in state prisons, with the rest being held in county jails.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) is responsible for overseeing the state prison system, which consists of 28 facilities across the state. The ODRC also manages a number of community-based programs and services that aim to reduce recidivism and help offenders reintegrate into society.
Currently, the county jail system is made up of 108 facilities, which are managed by individual counties. Inmates in county jails are typically those awaiting trial or sentencing or those serving shorter sentences of one year or less.
As of December 31, 2020, the total number of inmates housed in the Ohio county jails was 20,670, while the prison population was 45,036.
How Do I Find Out an Ohio Inmate's Release Date?
Individuals who wish to find out an Ohio inmate's scheduled release date may do so by querying the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction inmate lookup page. This page provides current inmates' details, including their tentative release dates. Note that sealed release dates are only available to the inmate's immediate family members, crime victims, attorneys, and authorized law enforcement officers.
How to Contact Inmates in Ohio Prisons
Prisoners of Ohio are provided mail and phone privileges in their respective housing facilities as provided by Ohio state laws. Persons who wish to be contacted by inmates must first be on the inmate's approved call list. All persons indicated on the list will be contacted by the phone service vendor of the facility for permission to include their number on the inmate's call allow list.
Generally, inmate phone calls are paid for via standard collect calls or prepaid calls. However, family and friends may provide inmates with call credits by purchasing some in person at all DRC prison kiosks at any facility or by crediting the offender's commissary.
Intending correspondents who wish to contact an inmate via mail need to view the inmate mail page of the DRC website. As a general rule, inmate mail may include enclosures that meet the required specifications. Otherwise, all items will be considered contraband and confiscated or returned to the sender. Unless of legal nature and IRS related, prison staff will inspect and copy all mail before delivering it to the recipient.
Facilities Operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
The state correctional system is under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. It comprises 27 state prisons for adults, three juvenile facilities, and privately run prisons. Local law enforcement departments are also in charge of county and city jails as well as detention centers.
While Ohio local and state correctional institutions are generally independently managed, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction guidelines are often adopted by state-run institutions and county/city facilities. Nonetheless, some institutions employ unique operational strategies based on the correctional facility and the nature of the inmates. Persons seeking jail-related information or access to detainees may do so by querying the facility or using the Ohio DRC's online resources:
Allen/Oakwood Correctional Institution (AOCI)
Northwest Region
2338 North West Street
P.O. Box 4501
Lima, OH 45802
Phone: (419) 224-8000
Fax: (419) 224-5828
Belmont Correctional Institution (BeCI)
Southeast Region
68518 Bannock Road,
SR 331
P.O. Box 540
St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Phone: (740) 695-5169
Fax: (740) 526-0511
Chillicothe Correctional Institution (CCI)
Southwest Region
15802 State Route
104 North
Chillicothe, OH 45601
P.O. Box 5500
Phone: (740) 774-7080
Fax: (740) 779-5398
Correctional Reception Center (CRC)
Southeast Region
11271 State Route 762
Orient, OH 43146
Phone: (614) 877-2441
Fax: (614) 877-3853
Dayton Correctional Institution (DCI)
Southwest Region
4104 Germantown Street
P.O. Box 17249
Dayton, OH 45417
Phone: (937) 263-0060
Fax: (937) 263-1322
Franklin Medical Center (FMC)
Zone A
1990 Harmon Avenue
Columbus, OH 43223
Phone: (614) 445-5960
Fax: (614) 445-7040
Franklin Medical Center (FMC)
Zone B
1800 Harmon Avenue
P.O. Box 23651
Columbus, OH 43223
Phone: (614) 445-8600
Fax: (614) 444-8267
Grafton Correctional Institution (GCI)
Northeast Region
2500 South Avon Belden Road
Grafton, OH 44044
Phone: (440) 748-1161
Fax: (440) 748-2521
Lebanon Correctional Institution (LeCI)
Southwest Region
State Route 63
P.O. Box 56
Lebanon, OH 45036
Phone: (513) 932-1211
Fax: (513) 932-1320
London Correctional Institution (LoCI)
Southwest Region
1580 State Route 56
P.O. Box 69
London, OH 43140
Phone: (740) 852-2454
Fax: (740) 845-3399
Lorain Correctional Institution (LorCI)
Northeast Region
2075 South Avon Belden Road
Grafton, OH 44044
(440) 748-1049
Fax: (440) 748-2191
Madison Correctional Institution (MaCI)
Southwest Region
1851 State Route 56
P.O. Box 740
London, OH 43140-0740
Phone: (740) 852-9777
Fax: (740) 852-3666
Mansfield Correctional Institution (ManCI)
Northwest Region
1150 North Main Street
P.O. Box 788
Mansfield, OH 44901
Phone: (419) 525-4455
Fax: (419) 524-8022
Marion Correctional Institution (MCI)
Northwest Region
940 Marion-Williamsport Road
P.O. Box 57
Marion, OH 43302
Phone: (740) 382-5781
Fax: (740) 387-8736
Noble Correctional Institution (NCI)
Southeast Region
15708 McConnelsville Rd
Caldwell, OH 43724
Phone: (740) 732-5188
Fax: (740) 732-2651
Northeast Reintegration Center (NERC)
Northeast Region
2675 East 30th Street
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 771-6460
Fax: (216) 787-3540
Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW)
Northwest Region
1479 Collins Avenue
Marysville, OH 43040
Phone: (937) 642-1065
Fax: (937) 642-7678
Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP)
Northeast Region
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Road
Youngstown, OH 44505
Phone: (330) 743-0700
Fax: (330) 743-0841
Pickaway Correctional Institution (PCI)
Southeast Region
11781 State Route 762
P.O. Box 209
Orient, OH 43146
Phone: (614) 877-4362
Fax: (614) 877-4514
Richland Correctional Institution (RiCI)
Northwest Region
1001 Olivesburg Road
P.O. Box 8107
Mansfield, OH 44901
Phone: (419) 526-2100
Fax: (419) 521-2810
Ross Correctional Institution (RCI)
Southwest Region
16149 State Route 104
P.O. Box 7010
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 774-7050
Fax: (740) 774-7055
Southeastern Correctional Complex (SCC - L)
Southeast Region
5900 BIS. Road
Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 653-4324
Fax: (740) 753-5371
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF)
Southeast Region
Lucasville-Minford Road
P.O. Box 45699
Lucasville, OH 45699
Phone: (740) 259-5544
Fax: (740) 259-2882
Toledo Correctional Institution (ToCI)
Northwest Region
2001 East Central Avenue
Toledo, OH 43608
Phone: (419) 726-7977
Fax: (419) 726-7157
Trumbull Correctional Institution (TCI)
Northeast Region
5701 Burnett Road
P.O. Box 901
Leavittsburg, OH 44430
Phone: (330) 898-0820
Fax: (330) 898-0848
Warren Correctional Institution (WCI)
Southwest Region
State Route 63
P.O. Box 120
Lebanon, OH 45036
Phone: (513) 932-3388
Fax: (513) 933-0150
Trumbull Correctional Camp(TCC)
Northeast Region
P.O. Box 640
Leavittsburg, OH 44430
North Central Correctional Complex
Northwest Region
P.O. Box 1812
Marion, OH 43301
Phone: (740) 387-7040
Fax: (740) 387-5575
Lake Erie Correctional Institution (LaECI)
Northeast Region
501 Thompson Road
P.O. Box 8000
Conneaut, OH 44030
Phone: (440) 599-4100
Fax: (440) 593-4536
