Criminal History in Brown County

Brown County sits in southwest Ohio, and its criminal history records are kept at the courthouse in Georgetown. The Clerk of Courts manages all felony criminal case files for the Common Pleas Court, while the Brown County Court handles misdemeanor cases. If you need to look up a criminal record or get copies of court documents, the clerk's office is the primary source. The sheriff's office holds arrest and booking records separately. Ohio's public records law gives anyone the right to access most court files, and Brown County follows these same rules. You can search in person, by phone, or through state databases that cover all 88 counties.

Brown County Criminal Court Records

The Brown County Clerk of Courts is in the courthouse at 101 South Main Street in Georgetown. This office is the keeper of all Common Pleas Court records. Every felony criminal case in the county passes through here. The file for each case includes the charges, pretrial motions, plea agreements, hearing notes, trial records, and the final judgment. All of this is public record.

To get a copy of a record, visit the office or call during regular hours. The staff can search by the defendant's name or case number. Standard copies cost roughly $0.25 per page. Certified copies have a higher fee. The office is open Monday through Friday. Under ORC 149.43, any person can ask for public records without stating a reason or giving their name.

The Brown County government website has contact information for county departments including the clerk's office.

While the county website does not provide a full online case search, it is a good starting point for finding the right office and phone number.

Brown County Sheriff's Office

Arrest records, booking data, and warrants are maintained by the Brown County Sheriff. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement in the unincorporated areas of the county and operates the county jail. Current jail inmates may be available by phone. These records are different from court records. The arrest report comes from the sheriff. The court records come from the clerk.

If you want a statewide background check, the sheriff's office may offer WebCheck fingerprinting. This sends your prints electronically to BCI for a criminal history search. Call ahead to confirm availability and fees. You can also use the WebCheck community listing to find other providers near Brown County.

Note: BCI background check results are not public and go only to authorized requesters.

Online Criminal History Searches

Ohio has a few free tools for searching criminal records online. The ODRC Offender Search covers the state prison system. You can look up anyone who is or was in a state prison. Search by name or filter by county. The results show charges, sentence information, prison location, and release dates. This tool does not include county jail inmates or people with misdemeanor-only records.

The sex offender registry is also searchable online. Under ORC Chapter 2950, Ohio maintains the eSORN database with photos, addresses, and offense details for all registered sex offenders. You can search by county. Brown County offenders appear in the system along with their registration tier and compliance status. The Brown County Sheriff verifies offender registrations locally.

For court-level records across multiple jurisdictions, the Supreme Court of Ohio website links to court systems and search tools available through participating courts. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association provides a directory of all county clerks.

Sealing Brown County Criminal Records

Ohio law lets some people seal their criminal records. Under ORC 2953.32, you apply through the Common Pleas Court in Georgetown. There is a filing fee of around $50. The judge reviews the offense, your record since the conviction, and whether sealing is in the public interest. First-time offenders with non-violent convictions generally have a good chance. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and offenses against children usually cannot be sealed.

If the court grants the sealing, the record is removed from standard public access. Most background check tools will not return a sealed record. The clerk's office can give you the application forms and tell you what you need to file. The Ohio Sunshine Laws page has more on how public records and exemptions work in the state.

Neighboring Counties for Record Searches

Criminal records are filed in the county where the case was heard. If you need to search outside Brown County, check with the clerk in the right county.