Union County Public Records /Union County Criminal Records

Union County Criminal Records

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Union County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Union County, Ohio, may access publicly available information through a combination of official government portals, court offices, and third-party aggregators such as UnionOHRecords.us. Criminal records in Union County may include arrest logs, booking records, court case filings, conviction histories, sentencing details, and active warrant information. The availability and completeness of any given record depends on the originating agency, the nature of the case, and whether the record has been sealed or expunged under Ohio law.

Records accessible through official channels may include:

Arrest and booking records maintained by the Union County Sheriff's Office
Court case filings and dispositions from the Union County Court of Common Pleas
Misdemeanor and traffic case records from the Union County Municipal Court
State-level criminal history reports from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
Sex offender registration records maintained through the Ohio Attorney General's office

1. County Court Records

The Union County Court of Common Pleas handles felony cases and major civil matters. Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the clerk's office during regular business hours. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo ID and, where possible, the full name of the subject and an approximate case filing date or case number.

Union County Court of Common Pleas – Clerk of Courts
215 W. Fifth St.
Marysville, OH 43040
Phone: (937) 645-3006
Union County Clerk of Courts

Public access terminals are available in the clerk's office during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2. Sheriff's Office

The Union County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, inmate rosters, and booking records. Requests for arrest records may be submitted in person or in writing. Fees for copies are assessed pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 149.43.

Union County Sheriff's Office
233 W. Sixth St.
Marysville, OH 43040
Phone: (937) 642-1221
Union County Sheriff's Office

3. Online Court Search

The Ohio Courts Network (e-Filing and Case Search) provides online access to case information from participating courts. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney. Not all case types or historical records are available online, and the portal does not substitute for a certified background check.

4. State Criminal History Repository

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) serves as the state's official criminal history repository. Individuals and authorized entities may submit fingerprint-based background check requests through BCI. Processing times and fees vary by request type.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
1560 State Route 56 SW
London, OH 43140
Phone: (740) 845-2000
Ohio BCI Background Check Services

5. Written/Mail Requests

Written requests for court records may be submitted to the Union County Clerk of Courts at 215 W. Fifth St., Marysville, OH 43040. Requests should include the subject's full name, date of birth, and the approximate time period of the record sought. Under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, public offices are required to respond to public records requests within a reasonable period of time.

What Is Union County Criminal Record

A criminal record in Union County is an official compilation of documented interactions between an individual and the criminal justice system, encompassing arrests, charges, court proceedings, convictions, and sentencing outcomes. Under Ohio law, criminal records are created and maintained by multiple agencies throughout the criminal justice process, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition.

Key distinctions within criminal records include:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by plea or verdict.
Felony vs. misdemeanor records: Felonies are more serious offenses carrying potential prison sentences; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties. Both are documented in court records.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are subject to public access under Ohio law. Juvenile records are confidential and are sealed by operation of law pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 2151.358.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect outstanding court orders for arrest; historical records document resolved matters.

The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Union County include:

Union County Sheriff's Office – arrest records, jail records, booking information
Union County Court of Common Pleas – felony case files, dispositions, sentencing records
Union County Municipal Court – misdemeanor and traffic case records
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation – statewide criminal history repository
Local police departments – incident and arrest reports

Records may include charges filed, arraignment information, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation or parole status, and any subsequent modifications to the original sentence.

Are Criminal Records Public In Union County

Criminal records in Union County are subject to public disclosure under the Ohio Public Records Act, Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, which establishes a broad presumption of openness for government records. As stated in the statute, "upon request, all public records responsive to the request shall be promptly prepared and made available for inspection to any person at all reasonable times during regular business hours."

Adult conviction records, court proceedings, and case dispositions are accessible to members of the public. However, certain categories of records are exempt from disclosure, including:

Sealed or expunged records
Juvenile records, which are confidential under Ohio Revised Code § 2151.358
Records related to ongoing criminal investigations
Victim and witness identifying information in certain cases
Records subject to federal privacy protections

The Ohio Attorney General's Public Records Unit provides guidance to both public offices and requestors regarding the scope of Ohio's public records law. Federal records maintained by agencies such as the FBI operate under separate federal statutes and are not subject to Ohio's public records law.

How To Find Criminal Records in Union County Online

Official County Resources

The Union County Clerk of Courts provides online access to case information for matters filed in the Court of Common Pleas. Users may search by party name or case number. The Union County Sheriff's Office publishes a current inmate roster on its website, accessible through the Union County Sheriff's Office portal.

State-Level Resources

The Ohio Courts Network aggregates case information from participating courts statewide. The Ohio BCI WebCheck portal allows authorized users to submit fingerprint-based background check requests electronically.

Search Tips

Search using the subject's full legal name and any known aliases
Case number searches yield the most precise results
Cross-reference multiple databases, as no single portal contains all records
Note that records predating digital filing systems may not appear in online searches
Sealed or expunged records will not appear in public-facing search tools

Limitations

Online databases may reflect a data lag of several days to weeks. Historical records predating electronic filing are not uniformly digitized. Online searches do not replace certified background checks for employment, licensing, or housing purposes.

Can You Search Union County Criminal Records for Free

Free Options

1. In-Person Inspection: Ohio law mandates that public records be made available for inspection free of charge. Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 149.43, public offices may not charge a fee for inspection of records. Copying fees may apply. In-person inspection is available at the Union County Clerk of Courts and the Union County Sheriff's Office during regular business hours.

2. Free Online Databases: The following portals provide free public access to criminal case information:

Resource	What's Available	Cost
Ohio Courts Network	Case filings, dispositions	Free
Union County Clerk of Courts	Common Pleas case records	Free
Union County Sheriff Inmate Roster	Current inmates	Free

3. Sheriff's Logs: The Union County Sheriff's Office publishes arrest and booking information that members of the public may access through the agency's website or in person at no charge.

What Costs Money

Certified copies of court records (fees set by the Clerk of Courts)
Official BCI background checks (fee varies by request type)
Staff-assisted record searches beyond standard inspection
Expedited processing requests

What's Included in a Union County Criminal Record

Identifying Information

A Union County criminal record includes the subject's full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, State Identification Number (SID), and FBI number where applicable.

Arrest Information

Arrest records document the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond information, and the jail facility where the individual was held.

Court Case Information

Court records include the case number, court and jurisdiction, filing date, charges and applicable statutes (including felony or misdemeanor classification), plea entered, and attorney of record.

Disposition

Disposition records reflect the verdict or outcome, conviction date where applicable, sentencing details (type, length, fines, restitution, and conditions of supervision), any appeals filed, and probation or parole status.

Additional Record Types

Active or recalled warrants
Protective orders
Sex offender registration status (searchable through the Ohio Attorney General's Sex Offender Registry)
DUI/OVI convictions
Traffic violations adjudicated in municipal court
Pending charges not yet resolved

NOT Included

Juvenile adjudications (sealed by law)
Expunged or sealed adult records
Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
Charges resolved through completed diversion programs

Accuracy Note

Individuals who identify errors in their criminal record may petition the originating court or agency for correction. The Ohio BCI maintains a process for challenging inaccurate criminal history information through its background check services portal.

How Long Does Union County Keep Criminal Records

Legal Requirements

Ohio's records retention requirements for criminal justice records are governed by schedules established by the Ohio History Connection, in coordination with the Ohio Supreme Court's records retention rules for court records.

Retention by Record Type

Felony convictions: Retained permanently by the court and the state repository
Misdemeanor convictions: Retained permanently in court records; BCI retains conviction data indefinitely
Arrest records without conviction: Retained by the Sheriff's Office for a period determined by agency retention schedules; may be subject to sealing upon petition
Dismissed or acquitted cases: Court records are retained permanently and reflect the full disposition, including dismissal
Juvenile records: Sealed at age 18 or upon the court's order pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 2151.358; destruction timelines vary by offense type
Pending cases: Retained until final resolution

Agency Differences

County courts retain case files permanently under Ohio Supreme Court records retention rules. The Sheriff's Office retains jail and booking records according to the county's adopted retention schedule. The Ohio BCI retains conviction records permanently in the state criminal history repository.

Physical vs. Electronic Records

Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records. Paper records may be destroyed after scanning and verification, with the electronic version serving as the official record.

Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement

Sealing removes a record from public view but does not destroy it; law enforcement retains access.
Expungement in Ohio results in the sealing of the record and, in some cases, its effective removal from public databases.
Destruction applies to certain juvenile records after statutory time periods have elapsed.

Eligible individuals may petition for expungement of qualifying convictions under Ohio's expungement statutes. Even where a county destroys physical records, electronic copies may persist in state databases unless the record has been legally expunged and the state repository has been notified.

Federal Records

Criminal history information maintained by the FBI through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is governed by federal law and separate retention rules. Federal records are not affected by Ohio expungement orders.

Practical Implications

Convictions that have not been expunged or sealed remain accessible on background checks. Employment background screening services report convictions within the timeframes permitted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which limits reporting of most adverse information to seven years, though convictions may be reported indefinitely for certain positions. Professional licensing boards in Ohio may require full disclosure of criminal history regardless of the age of the conviction.