What is Ross County Arrest Records?
Ross County arrest records contain general information regarding arrests and arrestees. The records feature personal information such as names, fingerprints, photographs as well as details of the alleged offense and the place and date of the arrest. These are particularly useful to employers who desire to carry out background checks on prospective employees. Members of the public may access these records from law enforcement agencies in Ross County. Arrest records are also obtainable at both state and federal level. Requesters must note that arrest records are not alternatives for criminal records. This is because arrest records only reveal the details of an alleged criminal, while criminal records show the complete profile of a convicted person.
Ross County Crime Statistics
The Ohio Department of Criminal Justice Services provides annual crime statistics in all counties of the state. According to 2017 data, Ross County reported a total of 2,983 crimes, including 197 violent crimes and 2786 property crimes. Violent crimes reported include 53 rapes, 36 robberies, and 108 aggravated assaults. Property crimes reported include 642 burglaries, 1,984 larcenies, 160 motor vehicle thefts, and 22 arsons.
In comparison to the 2012 crime statistics, there was a notable decline in total crimes reported over a 5-year period. There were 4,073 total crimes recorded in 2012 with no change in murder cases. However, rape, robberies, aggravated assaults, motor vehicle theft, and arson rates increased by 55%, 3%, 18%, 31%, and 55% respectively. Reported incidents of burglary and larceny cases also reduced by 36% and 29% respectively.
What are Ross County Criminal Records?
Ross County criminal records are generated by local law enforcement, and typically include the full criminal history information of convicted criminals. Contained in these records is arrest information, conviction dates, probation records, and incarceration. These documents are also known as ‘rap sheets,’ and are available at the county and state levels.
The BCI&I (Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification) is tasked with generating and maintaining state-wide criminal history information in Ohio. As such, requests for criminal records can be processed at state level. Interested parties can also get criminal history records at the County Sheriff’s Office or from the Clerk of Courts.
How Do I Get Ross County Criminal Records?
Ross County Sheriff’s Office maintains and provides online access to criminal history records. However, Requesters can also obtain these documents at the Clerk of Courts’ Office in the county.
Statewide criminal history searches can be processed at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification in Ohio. Residents in the county have a right to obtain these documents provided they meet the requirements of the state agency.
To get the computerized criminal record from BCI&I, applicants must submit some information about the document together with a $22 processing fee. The information should include personal details, fingerprints, and the approved signature of the individual whose record is requested. The processing fee, which can be in the form of a business check, electronic payment, or money order, should be payable to the ‘Treasurer of State of Ohio.’
Electronic submission should be sent to any of the BCI locations below:
London BCI
1560 State Route 56 SW
London, OH 43140
Bowling Green BCI
750 North College Drive
Bowling Green, OH 43402
Richfield BCI
4055 Highlander Parkway
Richfield, OH 44286
Youngstown BCI
20 W. Federal Street
Youngstown, OH 44503
Requesters can also make electronic submissions via the WebCheck provider in Ross County. Note that a valid ID is necessary when submitting at any DCI location. Third-party sites are equally resourceful for criminal history searches. Interestingly, they are not restricted by the availability of geographic records. Interested persons who prefer to use third-party sites need to provide the criminal’s name and the location of the document.
Where Can I Find Ross County Sex Offender Information?
Information on sex offenders in Ross County is easily accessible online through the county Sheriff’s webpage. While the Sheriff is in charge of registering the sex offenders within the county, the Attorney General’s Office in Ohio maintains the statewide registry known as eSORN (electronic sex offender registration network).
Thanks to Ohio Megan’s Law, the eSORN registry came into existence to protect residents from child victim offenders and sex offenders. It is always updated to create awareness of registered sex offenders in Ross County and its neighborhood. To use the online registry effectively, requesters can either provide the local address to find the nearby offenders or use the offender’s name or location.
Alternatively, requesters can visit the Sheriff’s office to view the list of sex offenders that are yet to be published on the registry. Nonetheless, using the information found on the registry to bully individuals is wrong and can incur civil penalties.
How do I Visit an Inmate in Ross County Jail?
Located at the county seat in Chillicothe, the Ross County Jail handles all jail activities in the county. The jail facility is located at:
Law Enforcement Complex
28 North Paint Street
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Article 10 of the Ross County Jail Rules and Regulations contains all the necessary details and requirements for visiting inmates. Each inmate is allowed not more than two visits per week. Visitation times, which are not more than 15 minutes per visit, are on Thursdays and Saturdays. Visitors will not be allowed if the inmate refuses to put them on the visitation list. Due to the limited time for physical visits, visitors can contact inmates through mails, which are unrestricted.
Where and How to Find Ross County Inmate Information
Information on Ross County inmates is available at the Jail Rooster section on the Sheriff’s webpage. The online resource is easy to use, provided the interested person knows the first or last name of the inmate. The Ohio Department of Correction also provides an alternative inmate database for statewide inmate searches. Both resources, at the county and state level, provide information on former or current inmates.
What are Ross County Court Records?
Court records in Ross County are available to any member of the public, according to the Ohio Open Record law passed in 1954. The files contain information like
- Indictment or complaints
- Affidavits or information on a case,
- Transcripts and deposition of a case
- Basic details of a case, i.e., dockets
Requesters can get court records at federal repositories, state court websites, local courts, and even third-party sites. Due to the availability of the records, it is advisable to check different sources to be sure that the document is free from error. However, the best method is to visit the court in person to obtain valid information. The Ohio Supreme Court offers online access to court records at the state level. The same document is available at the Clerk of Courts’ Office in Ross County. Rather than make in-person visits, requesters can make use of Ross County’s eAccess to search for these documents.
Location of all Courts in Ross County
The Ross County court system consists of one Court of Common Pleas, one Probate Court, and one Municipal Court. They are all located at the county seat in Chillicothe.
Ross County Court of Common Pleas
2 N Paint St, Suite B,
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 702-3010
Fax: (740) 702-3018
Ross County Probate and Juvenile Court
2 N Paint St, Suite A,
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 774-1177
Fax: (740) 774-3711
Municipal Court in Chillicothe
95 E Main St,
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 773-3515
Fax: (740) 774-1101
What are Ross County Vital Records?
Ross County’s vital records provide details on birth, death, divorce, and marriage events that happened in the county. These records contain confidential information, which is why they are available to individuals that meet the requirements of the agency in charge of the document. Consequently, interested parties must apply to the approved caretakers before they can obtain the records. While the Ross County Health District handles birth and death records in the county, the Probate Juvenile court creates and stores marriage licenses. The Ohio Department of Health maintains all vital records in the state.
Where and How to Get Ross County Divorce Records
All divorce records in Ross County are obtainable at the Clerk of Courts’ office. To get these records, interested persons must provide details such as the petition date, the record file number, and the spouses’ names. Completed requests should be sent to:
Ross County, Ohio Clerk of Courts
2 N. Paint St., Suite B
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Where and How to Get Ross County Marriage Records
Marriage documents have been in existence in the state of Ohio since 1907. In each county, the Probate Juvenile court is expected to create and keep this record. Applicants may access the documents by visiting the office of the Ross County Recorder or by applying by email. Interested persons must state the partners’ names, the place, and the date of the union. Applicants should send completed requests to:
Ross County Recorder
2 North Paint Street, Suite E
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Where and How to Get Ross County Birth Records and Death Records
The Vital Statistics office, which is a section under the Ross County Health District, is in charge of all birth and death record requests. In agreement with state law, the department has the right to restrict access due to sensitive information in the document. Access to this record is limited to the record bearer, their relatives (listed on the report), kids, and other parties with a financial and legal affiliation. As part of the eligibility requirements, applications from individuals other than the record holder should include a valid photo ID.
Written or in-person requests will attract a $30 processing fee. The same department also issues burial permits for $3. Request forms, which will be processed within one or two days, should be submitted to:
Vital Statistics Office
150 E. Second St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: (740) 779-9630
Fax: (740) 779-0744
Email: vitals@rosscountyhealth.com
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.
