Crime Numbers
The Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) collates and maintains crime statistics for all counties in the state. The OCJC's most recent crime data for Portage County are for the year 2017. In that year, the county recorded 137 violent crimes and 2,542 property crimes. When compared to 2013 crime figures, both violent crime (19.4%) and property crime (3.1%) rates fell in 2017.
A breakdown of the county’s 2017 crime numbers shows that there were no murder but law enforcement agencies recorded 15 rapes, 25 robberies, 97 aggravated assaults, 416 burglaries, 2,039 larcenies, 87 motor vehicle thefts, and 9 arsons. Therefore, the most recent five-year crime trend indicates Portage County recorded a marginal increase in larceny (0.25%) rate and a more significant 31.8% rise in motor vehicle theft rate. During the same period, murder (100%), rape (37.5%), robbery (24.2%), aggravated assault (11%), burglary (20.6%), and arson (35.7%) rates in the county.
Criminal Records
The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) provides criminal history reports for Portage County via its WebCheck system. Requesters need signed consents from the subjects of their searches. Each criminal history search ordered costs $22.00.
To obtain an Ohio criminal history report, visit the nearest WebCheck location in Portage County. Bring along a copy of a valid photo ID and a check or money order for copy fee. Note that the WebCheck vendor may charge a convenience fee for the service. For further inquiries, contact BCI by calling (877) 224-0043.
The Portage County Sheriff's Office provides incident reports for the areas under its jurisdiction. To obtain a copy of an incident report from the office, contact the Records Division in person, by email, or by fax using the following contact information:
Portage County Justice Center
8240 Infirmary Road
Ravenna, OH 44266
Phone: (330) 297-3892
Fax: (330) 298-2110
Police reports for other areas in Portage County are made available by the police department in the city, borough, or town where the incidents reported occurred. For example, the Ravenna Police Department provides all incident reports for the City of Ravenna, the county seat. To obtain a copy of an incident report from the Police Department, contact the Records Division in person or by mail at:
220 Park Way
Ravenna, OH 44266
(330) 296-6486
The Records Division is open from Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Copies of reports up to 25 pages are provided at no charge while each additional page costs 5 cents. Accident reports produced by officers of this Department are available online.
In accordance with Ohio law, the Ohio Attorney General's Office maintains an electronic sex offender registry (eSORN) which contains information on all registered sex offenders residing in Portage County. To locate a registered sex offender, visit the eSORN website and search by name or geographic location in the county. Provide a local address in Portage County to see a list of registered sex offenders living within a one-mile radius of the address.
The Portage County Jail is the main detention facility for Portage County. This facility shares the same location with the Sheriff’s Office at the Portage County Justice Center. Family and friends can deposit cash and money order into an inmate’s commissary account in person by visiting the jail information window in the main lobby of the detention facility. Deposits can also be made by mailing a money order through the U.S. Postal Service to an inmate. For further inquiry contact the jail by calling (330) 297-3891.
Court records
The Portage County Court system consists of the Court Common Pleas which is the primary court of trial in the county, two Municipal Courts, and a Mayor Court. The Court of Common Pleas has separate divisions for general, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile cases. The addresses of the courts in the county are:
Portage County Court of Common Pleas - Domestic Relations Division
203 W Main Street
P.O. Box 1035
Ravenna, OH 44266
(330) 297-3475
Portage County Court of Common Pleas - General Division
203 W Main Street
P.O. Box 1035
Ravenna, OH 44266
(330) 297-3644
Portage County Court of Common Pleas - Juvenile Division
8000 Infirmary Road
Ravenna, OH 44266
(330) 297-0881
Portage County Court of Common Pleas - Probate Division
203 W Main Street
P.O. Box 936
Ravenna, OH 44266
(330) 297-3870
Portage County Municipal Court - Kent Branch
303 E Main Street
Kent, OH 44240
(330) 678-9170 (Civil)
(330) 678-9100 (Criminal/Traffic)
Portage County Municipal Court - Ravenna Branch
203 W Main Street
P.O. Box 958
Ravenna, OH 44266
(330) 297-3635 (Civil)
(330) 297-3639 (Criminal/Traffic)
Mogadore Mayor's Court
135 S Cleveland Avenue
Mogadore, OH 44260
(330) 628-6295
The Portage County Clerk of Courts’ Office is the repository for all court records in the county. The office provides online access for the public to view available court records. Visit the Search Court Records page on the Clerk’s website to make a quick search by name, case number, or case type. To obtain a certified copy of a court record, contact the Clerk's Office in the court where the case was held. The Clerk’s offices are open from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Vital Records
Portage County divorce records are maintained by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. To request a certified copy of a divorce record, contact the Clerk’s Office at the Domestic Relations Division courthouse located at 203 W. Main Street, Ravenna. Copies of these records are provided for a fee. Call (330) 297-3475 to enquire about this fee and other requirements.
Marriage records from 1808 to the present for Portage County are maintained by the Portage County Probate Court. To obtain a copy of a marriage record, visit the Probate Clerk’s Office or write to:
Portage County Probate Court
P.O. Box 936
Ravenna, OH 44266
The office is open from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Enclose a certified check or money order for the processing fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope with the mail request. The request should also provide the following information: the applicant’s names and the date of marriage. The fee for each copy of marriage record is 25 cents while certified copies cost $1.25 per copy.
The Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics provides Portage County’s birth and death records. The Bureau has copies of Portage County birth and death records dating back to 1909 and each certified copy costs $24. Portage County residents can obtain copies of these records locally from the Kent City Health Department. To obtain a certified copy of a birth or death record, complete the application for certified copies form and present it in person or send it by mail to:
Kent City Health Department
414 East Main Street
P.O. Box 5192
Kent, OH 44240
(330) 678-8109
The Health Department is open to the public from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. When sending a request by mail, enclose a check or money order for the processing fee and a large self-addressed stamped envelope.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Portage County
Under the Ohio Open Records Law, there are no restrictions to viewing and obtaining Portage County property records. Hence, interested county residents and non-residents are entitled to request, view, and access copies of property records by contacting the custodian office responsible for maintaining and issuing the public records.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Portage County
The Portage County Recorder’s Office is the principal custodian of all property records generated by the County's property assessors. It provides official documentation for personal properties, and other real estate transactions. In addition, the County Recorder is responsible for maintaining property information, such as ownership, address, legal descriptions, assessments, and maps in line with the State Statutes on public records. The County's Recorder provides access to Portage County property records through online and offline requests. Record seekers may access property records in-person by visiting the Recorder’s Office at:
Portage County Administration Building
4th Floor
449 South Meridian Street
Ravenna, OH 44266
Phone: (330) 297-3553
Fax: (330) 297-7349
The Recorder’s Office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, excluding public holidays.
Likewise, the Portage County Auditor, via the Real Estate Department oversees records of all property ownership information. In addition to this, it maintains online platforms where interested persons can obtain copies of Portage County property records. Record seekers may obtain copies of property records in-person at the Portage County Auditor's Office, which is located at:
Portage County Admin. Building
449 South Meridian Street
5th Floor
P.O. Box 1217
Ravenna, OH 44266
Phone: (330) 297-3561
Fax: (330) 297-4560
How to Look Up Portage County Property Records
The Portage County Auditor's Office maintains and updates an online searchable database for property records generated within the county. The online database features two types of search options:
- Real Estate Search
- Manufactured Search
For the "Real Estate Search" option, record seekers may obtain property records by using the following search criteria:
Search by property owner's name, parcel number, street address and number, and intersection. Also, the search option features an advanced section via which requesters may input additional information to get an accurate search result.
In addition, record seekers may view and obtain information on Portage County property records via a searchable map interface. Record seekers may opt to view properties on the map interface via these options:
- Parcel
- Basemap
- Aerials.
In contrast, record seekers may obtain information on manufactured homes via the "manufactured home search" option using the property's registration, owner's full name, and address.
Location of Portage County Property Assessors
Portage County Auditor's Office
Portage County Admin. Building
449 South Meridian Street
5th Floor
P.O. Box 1217
Ravenna, OH 44266
Phone: (330) 297-3561
Fax: (330) 297-4560
