How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction - ODRC (state prisons) / County Sheriff's Office / County Jail (county level - 88 counties)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - ODRC Offender Search at drc.ohio.gov; county Sheriff websites WHERE TO GO: ODRC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office or County Jail (county inmates)

Online Option

Yes - ODRC Offender Search at drc.ohio.gov; county Sheriff websites

Where to Go

ODRC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office or County Jail (county inmates)

County-specific variations apply

Ohio's 88 county Sheriffs each operate their own jail. Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Franklin County (Columbus), Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Summit County (Akron), and Montgomery County (Dayton) have the best online search tools. Many smaller Ohio counties also have online inmate search. Rural/Appalachian Ohio counties (eastern and southeastern Ohio) may have more limited online access.

Ohio Notes

Important state-specific details

ODRC manages 28+ state correctional facilities across Ohio including Chillicothe Correctional Institution, Mansfield Correctional Institution, London Correctional Institution, and others; Offender Search at drc.ohio.gov.
County jails operated by County Sheriffs - separate from ODRC; recent arrests will NOT appear in ODRC database.
Ohio Sex Offender Registry: sor.ohioattorneygeneral.gov - searchable online.
For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to an Ohio inmate: inmateaid.com has ODRC and county jail facility details.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction - drc.ohio.gov | (614) 752-1150; Offender Search: tpwebapp.drc.ohio.gov