Find Criminal Court Records in Delaware County
Delaware County criminal court records are held by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in the city of Delaware. This is one of the fastest growing counties in Ohio, located just north of Columbus. The Clerk's office manages all case files from the Court of Common Pleas, covering felony crimes, civil disputes, and domestic relations matters. Online search tools let you look up records quickly. You can also visit the office in person during business hours. The Delaware Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases and traffic violations. Most court files are open to the public. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are the exceptions. The Clerk of Courts is the central source for criminal case records in Delaware County.
Delaware County Clerk of Courts Office
The Delaware County Clerk of Courts is the primary custodian of criminal court records. The office is at the Delaware County Courthouse in Delaware, Ohio 43015. Call (740) 833-2500 for case questions. Staff at the front counter can pull files and make copies during business hours, which run Monday through Friday.
The Clerk handles filing, docketing, and indexing for the Court of Common Pleas. That includes felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits, domestic relations, and appeals to the 5th District Court of Appeals. The office also issues warrants and summons, takes bonds, and maintains the court journal. Delaware County has seen rapid population growth in recent years, which means the court system handles an increasing number of cases. The Clerk's office has invested in technology to keep up with this growth, including expanded online access to records.
Search Delaware County Criminal Records Online
The Delaware County Clerk of Courts offers a well-developed online search system. You can look up cases by name, case number, or case type. The system covers the Common Pleas Court, including criminal, civil, and domestic divisions. New filings may take a day to appear. The county's growing population means more cases and more records in the system each year.
Under ORC Section 149.43, public records must be made available promptly to anyone who asks. You do not need to explain your reason. The Clerk must provide access during regular hours. Exemptions include juvenile records, sealed cases, expunged records, medical records, and Social Security numbers.
The Ohio Courts Network directory can help you find the right court in Delaware County. The Delaware Municipal Court has its own search tools for misdemeanor and traffic matters. If your case is a felony, the Common Pleas records are what you need.
Note: Online records should be verified with the Clerk's office before being relied upon for legal purposes.
Criminal Court Records in Delaware County
The Delaware County Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over all felony crimes in the county. Drug offenses, violent crimes, theft, burglary, fraud, and other serious charges go through this court. Under ORC Chapter 2301, the court also handles civil cases above $15,000, domestic relations, and juvenile matters. The General Division is where criminal trials and sentencing take place.
The Delaware County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records and jail data. For comprehensive statewide background checks, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation runs fingerprint-based checks at WebCheck locations. State-only checks cost $22. Combined state and FBI checks run $34. BCI records cover felony convictions, some misdemeanor convictions, and arrest data from law enforcement agencies across Ohio.
This screenshot shows the Ohio Department of Public Safety resource page, which provides statewide criminal justice tools used alongside Delaware County court record searches.
Types of Delaware County Cases
The Common Pleas Court handles felony cases with prison terms over one year. Drug offenses, violent crimes, property crimes, and white-collar fraud all fall here. The Domestic Relations Division covers divorces, child custody, protection orders, and post-decree motions. The Probate Court manages estates, guardianships, adoptions, and marriage licenses. Juvenile Court handles cases involving minors.
The Delaware Municipal Court processes misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic violations under ORC Title 19. If a misdemeanor gets bound over to Common Pleas, the records transfer. Delaware County's proximity to Columbus means some cases involve cross-county issues, especially in communities that straddle the county line like parts of Westerville, Powell, and Dublin.
Fees and Copies in Delaware County
Visit the Clerk's office at the courthouse in Delaware to get copies of criminal court records. Bring the case number or party name. Staff will pull files and make copies. Standard copies have a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and are required for legal use. Mail requests with payment are accepted.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety provides info on expungement and record sealing for those who qualify. Delaware County has seen growing demand for record sealing services as its population has expanded. Legal aid organizations in the Columbus metro area serve residents here as well. If a records request is denied, the Ohio Court of Claims handles complaints about public records access.
Note: Due to population growth, the Clerk's office may have longer processing times during busy periods.
Delaware County Legal Resources
Ohio Legal Help has free guides on court records, record sealing, and finding legal aid. The Ohio State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service and publishes Ohio legal resources. The Columbus Bar Association is another local resource for residents in the Delaware County area.
For federal cases, the Southern District of Ohio has its main courthouse in Columbus. The PACER system provides online access to federal court records at $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. The Ohio Courts Network has a complete directory of all courts in Delaware County.
Cities in Delaware County
Delaware County includes the city of Delaware as the county seat. Parts of Dublin, Powell, and Westerville also extend into the county. None of the communities within Delaware County proper have populations over 100,000. All felony criminal court records for the county go through the Delaware County Clerk of Courts. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are processed by the Delaware Municipal Court.
Nearby Counties
If you need criminal court records from areas near Delaware County, each has its own court system:
Each county keeps its own set of criminal court records. A case filed in Franklin County will not show up in a Delaware County search. Check the right county for the records you need.