Find Criminal History in Erie County
Erie County is on Ohio's northern coast along Lake Erie, with Sandusky as the county seat. Criminal history records here go through the Erie County Criminal Division, which operates out of the courthouse at 323 Columbus Ave. The county has a detailed fee schedule for various record requests and court filings. If you are trying to look up a criminal case, get copies of court documents, or request an expungement, the Criminal Division is your primary stop. Erie County also has a municipal court in Milan that handles misdemeanor-level offenses. Between the two courts, most criminal history needs can be met right here.
Erie County Criminal History Overview
Erie County Criminal Division
The Erie County Criminal Division is at 323 Columbus Ave, 1st Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870. Phone is 419-627-7705. This office handles all felony criminal cases for the Common Pleas Court. Staff can help you search for cases, get copies of documents, and file motions related to criminal matters. The division keeps case files that include indictments, plea records, trial transcripts, and judgment entries.
The Criminal Division website has information on filing procedures, fee schedules, and office contact details.
Erie County publishes a clear fee schedule for criminal record services. Appeals cost $150 to file. Sealing a record costs $100. Expungement also runs $100. Sealing a non-conviction record is free. Document copies are $0.25 per page, and certified copies cost $2 per document. These fees are set by the court and can change, so check with the office if you need current pricing.
Criminal History Access Under Ohio Law
Court records in Erie County are public. That is the rule under ORC 149.43, Ohio's Public Records Act. Anyone can ask the Criminal Division for copies of case files. You do not need to give a reason. The clerk must provide the records in a reasonable time. If a record has been sealed by court order, it will not come up in a search.
The Erie County government portal connects you to all county departments. From there, you can find the Criminal Division, sheriff, prosecutor, and other offices that touch the criminal justice system.
The county website is a helpful starting point when you are not sure which office handles your request.
Erie County Municipal Court Records
Not all criminal cases go through the Common Pleas Court. The Erie County Municipal Court at 150 W Mason Rd in Milan, OH 44846, handles misdemeanors and traffic offenses. This court has its own clerk and its own case records. If you are looking for a minor criminal offense or traffic-related case in Erie County, the municipal court is where those records live.
The municipal court covers a different set of offenses than Common Pleas. DUI charges, petty theft, disorderly conduct, and similar misdemeanors go here. If a case starts in municipal court and gets elevated to a felony, it transfers to Common Pleas. When searching for criminal history, check both courts to make sure you have not missed anything.
Note: Municipal court records and Common Pleas records are stored in separate systems, so a search in one will not pull results from the other.
Background Checks in Erie County
The Erie County Sheriff's Office is at 328 Columbus Ave, Sandusky, OH 44870. The sheriff handles law enforcement across the county and operates the jail. For formal background checks, the WebCheck system provides electronic fingerprinting. The WebCheck Community Locations page shows providers in Erie County. A BCI check runs $22 to $35. Adding the FBI national check pushes the total to $55 to $67. You need a photo ID.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation processes these checks and returns results to the requesting agency. BCI records are different from court records. BCI may have arrest data even if no charges were filed. Court records only show cases that actually went before a judge. For a complete picture of someone's criminal history in Erie County, you might need both a court search and a BCI check.
Erie County Record Sealing and Expungement
Under ORC 2953.32, Ohio lets eligible people seal their criminal records. In Erie County, you file the application with the Criminal Division at the Common Pleas Court. The fee is $100 for sealing a conviction. Sealing a non-conviction record is free. Expungement costs $100 as well.
Eligibility depends on the type of offense, the number of convictions, and how much time has passed. First-time offenders with lower-level crimes have the best chance. Violent offenses and sex crimes are almost always excluded. The prosecutor gets notice of the application and can fight it. A judge holds a hearing and decides based on the person's record and rehabilitation. If granted, the sealed record disappears from public court searches. It still exists in the system but only certain people with legal authority can see it. The process takes a few months from filing to decision.
Nearby Counties
Erie County borders several other Ohio counties along the Lake Erie shore and inland. Check these if your search extends beyond Erie County lines: