Erie County Criminal Court Records
Erie County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts at 323 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky. Craig A. Hecht serves as Clerk. The office holds all case files from the Court of Common Pleas and the 6th District Court of Appeals, covering felony crimes, civil suits, domestic relations, and appellate cases. You can search records online or visit the office in person. The Erie County Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases separately from its location in Milan. Most court records are open to the public under Ohio law, though sealed, expunged, and juvenile records will not appear in searches. If you need to check a criminal case in Erie County, the Clerk of Courts is your main starting point.
Erie County Clerk of Courts Office
The Erie County Clerk of Courts is the primary source for criminal court records. Craig A. Hecht leads the office. It sits at 323 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky, Ohio 44870. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The office also added Saturday hours from 9 AM to 12 PM starting August 2nd. The Title Division phone is (419) 627-7625.
The Clerk's office maintains records for civil, felony criminal, domestic relations, and appellate cases. Staff handle issuing summons, warrants, orders of sale, and keeping the court's docket and journal book. The office is responsible for all filing and indexing in the Erie County court system. If a lower court case gets bound over to the Common Pleas Court, the records transfer to this office. Walk-in visits are the best option for records not available online.
Note: The Title Division has separate expanded hours including Saturdays from 9 AM to 12 PM.
Search Erie County Criminal Records Online
The Erie County court records portal lets you search by name, case number, or case type. Records from the Common Pleas Court and the 6th District Court of Appeals are available through this system. The Municipal Court Clerk maintains separate records. Court records are public under ORC Section 149.43, with exemptions for medical records, adoption records, mental commitments, and juvenile records.
The online docket system lets you search Common Pleas cases, felony criminal cases, domestic relations files, civil cases, court of appeals records, and certificates of judgment. You can search by name or case number. Civil Protection Orders and Civil Stalking Protection Orders are not available online. For those, you need to call the Clerk's office directly.
Users should know that online information is for general reference only. It should not be used as evidence. Certified copies must come from the Clerk's office. The system also has a disclaimer that data may change without notice.
Criminal Court Records in Erie County
The Erie County Common Pleas Court at 323 Columbus Avenue has jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases in the county. Drug crimes, assault, theft, burglary, and other serious offenses go through this court. Under ORC Chapter 2301, the Common Pleas Court handles felonies and civil matters above $15,000. The court also hears domestic relations cases and appeals.
The Erie County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records and jail data. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation handles statewide background checks through WebCheck fingerprint locations. Criminal court records document charges, court proceedings, dispositions, and sentencing. Sealed and expunged records are not available for public access.
This screenshot shows an Erie County resource page with court records search tools and contact information for the Clerk of Courts in Sandusky.
Types of Erie County Court Cases
The Common Pleas Court handles felony cases. These are crimes carrying more than one year in prison. The Domestic Relations Division covers divorces, child custody, and civil protection orders. The Municipal Court at 150 West Mason Road, Milan, OH 44846, processes misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic violations under ORC Title 19.
The Probate Court at 323 Columbus Avenue, 2nd Floor, Sandusky, OH 44870, manages estates, guardianships, adoptions, and marriage licenses. Marriage records cost $2 per certified copy. The Sheriff's Office maintains a jail roster online. If a misdemeanor case gets bound over to Common Pleas, those records move there too. Understanding which court has the records you need is the first step in any search.
Note: Juvenile records, adoption records, and mental commitment records are not open to the public in Erie County.
Fees for Erie County Court Records
Erie County has a clear fee schedule for criminal court records. An appeal to the Sixth District Court of Appeals costs $150. An application to seal a record costs $100. A motion to expunge costs $100. Sealing a non-conviction record is free. A Certificate of Qualification for Employment costs $100. Regular copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are $2.00 each.
You can get copies by visiting the Clerk's office at 323 Columbus Avenue on the first floor. Bring the case number or party name. Staff will pull the file. For mail requests, send payment to the office in Sandusky, Ohio 44870. Statewide background checks through BCI cost $22 for state-only or $34 for combined state and FBI checks. The Ohio Department of Public Safety has more details on background check procedures.
Erie County Legal Resources
Ohio Legal Help has free guides on searching court records, sealing a record, and finding legal aid. The Ohio State Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service and info about Ohio public records law. The Ohio Courts Network lets you look up any court by county or type.
For federal cases, the PACER system provides access to records from the Northern District of Ohio, which has a courthouse in nearby locations. PACER charges $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document. If you think a public record was wrongly denied, you can file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims.
Cities in Erie County
Erie County includes Sandusky, which serves as the county seat, along with Huron, Milan, Castalia, and other small communities. None of these cities have populations over 100,000. All felony criminal court records for the county go through the Erie County Clerk of Courts in Sandusky. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are handled by the Municipal Court in Milan.
Nearby Counties
If you need records from areas near Erie County, each neighboring county has its own Clerk of Courts and court system:
Each county keeps its own criminal court records. A case filed in Huron County will not appear in an Erie County search. Always check the right county for the records you need.