Summit County Inmate Search

Summit County Inmate Search

A Summit County inmate search provides members of the public with information about persons held in any of the prisons or jails located within the county. Since inmate information is considered part of Summit County Public Records, members of the public can use them to find out details, such as the crime that led to the arrest, an inmate's physical description, sex, date of birth, and details of their sentence (if applicable). The Office of the Summit County Sheriff oversees all operations and the county jail administration. It is also responsible for all inmate records and makes them available to the public on request.

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.

Summit County Crime and Incarceration Statistics

Arkon, Summit County's most populated city, recorded the highest number of crimes in the judicial district in 2019. According to the UCR FBI report, there were 197,882 cases of violent crimes, among which were murder and nonnegligent manslaughter (27), degree one rape (181), robbery (328), and aggravated assault (1,246). Among the 6,568 reported cases of property crimes were burglary (1,658), larceny-theft (4,305), and motor vehicle theft (577). Akron also reported 65 cases of property theft.

The table below shows the crime data for major towns and cities in Summit County.

The Summit County Prison System

Summit County has a single jail located in Akron. The Sheriff's Office oversees all operations and administration in the corrections facility. Originally opened in August 1990 and an addition in 1995, the jail has a capacity of 671 inmates currently.

The Corrections Commander is responsible for the everyday activities in the jail and is assisted by the Administrative Lieutenant, the Director of Administration, and a team of sergeants who work on shifts.

The State of Ohio classifies the Summit County jail as a full-service detention center. It operates daily and is administered using a "direct supervision" management system, in which deputies work inside inmate housing areas to maintain control and order. It is also the first large jail to do so in the state. The jail staff provides various services, including medical assistance, educational programming, addiction and recovery assistance, dental and mental health assistance, voter registration, and physical fitness.

The Summit County jail operates with an objective inmate classification system, grading inmates according to the severity of their criminal history and current crimes. The facility takes note of this during booking and houses inmates accordingly. Other factors influencing this classification are inmates' medical and mental health and special needs. Inmates are monitored during their stay in the facility and reclassified if necessary.

How to Find an Inmate in Summit County

Members of the public can find inmates online or via mail. In addition, they can visit the County of Summit Sheriff's Office to inquire about anyone in the county's correctional facility. Whichever options they choose, searchers must be able to provide identifying information about the inmate they are looking for.

From September 26, 2023, all personal correspondence via inmate mail will be made digital and will only be delivered to inmates using tablets.

How Does a Summit County Inmate Search Work?

Per the Ohio Public Records Policy, inmate records are available since they qualify as public records. Interested persons may view the county's current inmate roster for information on inmates of interest. Information found during an inmate search typically includes the inmate's:

• Full name
• Sex
• Date of birth
• Physical description
• Identification number
• Booking number and related information
• Release information
• Arrest information
• Bail information
• Violated statutes
• Race
• Housing number.

Where to Find a Summit County Inmate Locator

The Summit County Sheriff's Office allows members of the public to look up an updated inmate roster, where they can find inmates held in its correctional facility. The roster can be found on the "Inmate Services" section of the Sheriff's website and is available for free download in PDF format.

Inquirers can also conduct a statewide inmate search using an online search tool provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Otherwise, they may utilize the web-based search tools offered by third parties that can be used to conduct country-wide inmate searches. Most of the available options allow people to conduct searches using a range of parameters, including first name, last name, identification number, and incarceration status.

How to Send Money to a Summit County Inmate

Sending money to an inmate in the Summit County correctional facility requires using a third-party service authorized by the department. To find an inmate, a person must first select Ohio as the state, followed by Summit County, and then the correctional facility where the inmate is kept. The sender must then provide the inmate's I.D. or their first and last names. This will require the sender to create an account on the ICS app and sign in, either on the app or the site.

How to Visit a Summit County Inmate

The Summit County Jail offers the Visitor video visitation system, which allows visitors to conduct video visits with inmates. This system replaces the traditional face-to-face visits in which inmates communicate with visitors via visitation telephones through a glass partition.

This model allows the visitor to make the video visit from anywhere or at the jail premises using video kiosks. Inmates can participate in the video visit from their housing unit. Visitors wishing to make their video visit off-site (away from the jail premises) must download the latest version of the ICSolutions app from any app stores applicable to their devices.

Meanwhile, on-site visits are conducted in video terminals located within the Summit County Jail's visitation center. All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours prior. Visits last for 25 minutes, and a visitor must arrive at the terminal at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time and show a government-issued photo I.D. to be allowed entry into the facility.

How to Send Jail Mail in Summit County

To send mail in Summit County, senders must assemble the package and label it adequately with the recipient and sender's personal information. Mails may contain books, magazines, newspapers, and envelopes. However, hardcover materials are prohibited due to their potential to be used as a weapon.

To meet the Summit County Jail's standard, materials sent must have minimal depiction of pornography, violence, profanity, and weapons. Failure to meet the facility's standard will result in such mail being discarded.

All inmate mails must be addressed thus:

Summit County Jail, Ohio
[INMATE NAME, INMATE ID#]
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131

Send legal mail to the address below.

Inmate's Full Name & Inmate Jail ID#
Summit County Jail
205 East Crosier Street
Akron, OH 44311

Summit County Jails and Prisons

There is only one jail and prison facility in Summit County - Summit County Jail. The contact information of the county jail and the Sheriff's Office is provided below.

Summit County Jail
205 East Crosier Street
Akron, OH 44311
Phone: (330) 643-2171

County of Summit Sheriff's Office
53 University Avenue
Akron, OH 44308
Phone: (330) 643-2154
Fax: (330) 434-2701