Find Franklin County Criminal Court Records
Franklin County criminal court records cover the largest county in Ohio by population. The Clerk of Courts in Columbus keeps all felony case filings, civil suits, and domestic relations records for the Court of Common Pleas. You can search these records online through the Case Information Online portal or visit the office in person at the Franklin County Government Complex. The county also has a separate Municipal Court that handles misdemeanor and traffic cases. With more than 320 staff members, the Franklin County Clerk of Courts runs one of the most advanced record systems in the state.
Franklin County Clerk of Courts
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts is led by Maryellen O'Shaughnessy. The office sits at 373 South High Street, Floor 23, Columbus, Ohio 43215. This is in the heart of downtown Columbus inside the Franklin County Government Complex. You can reach the main line at (614) 525-3600. The Auto Title Help Line is (614) 525-3090, and the e-Filing Help Line handles tech issues. For email, contact FranklinCountyClerk@FranklinCountyOhio.gov. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On Wednesdays the doors open at 8:15 AM for public access.
The Legal Division handles all filing, docketing, and indexing for the Franklin County court system. Criminal records here go back well over a century. The staff files motions, judgments, court orders, and hearing dates. The office also takes bonds, files judgment liens, and processes fees. As the most populous county in Ohio, Franklin County deals with a high volume of cases each year across all divisions. The Criminal Division keeps records for every felony case filed in the county, from initial charges through final sentencing and any post-conviction motions.
Note: Wednesday hours start at 8:15 AM rather than 8:00 AM for public access at the Franklin County Clerk of Courts.
Search Franklin County Criminal Records Online
The best way to look up Franklin County criminal court records is through the Case Information Online (CIO) portal. This system gives you access to case records across all divisions of the court. You can search by party name, case number, attorney name, or case type. Advanced options let you filter by date range. The system shows docket entries, party info, hearing dates, and case status. For many cases, you can view images of filed documents right on the site.
The CIO portal runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Periodic maintenance may cause short outages. Registered users can save and track cases through a "My Portfolio" feature. The system is not the official record of the court, so the actual court file governs if there is any discrepancy. Some case types have restricted access online, especially juvenile and sealed records. The system blocks bulk data mining and commercial use. If you cannot find a case online, call the Clerk of Courts at (614) 525-3600 for help.
You can also visit the Franklin County Clerk of Courts main website for links to e-filing, forms, and court rules. Ohio's public records law under ORC Section 149.43 gives everyone the right to inspect most court records. You do not have to state a reason.
Criminal Court Records in Franklin County
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts page shows office details and links for searching criminal case records in the county.
This screenshot shows the Franklin County Clerk of Courts website, where you can start a search for criminal case records and other court filings kept by the office.
The Court of Common Pleas General Division handles all felony criminal cases in Franklin County. This covers drug charges, theft, assault, robbery, fraud, and other serious crimes under ORC Chapter 2301. The Criminal Division tracks each case from the initial charging document through disposition, sentencing, and any post-conviction proceedings. The Domestic Relations Division manages divorces, custody, support orders, and civil protection orders. The 10th District Court of Appeals hears cases that come up from Franklin County and nearby areas.
The Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk, led by Lori M. Tyack, handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic citations, and civil cases. The Municipal Court is at 375 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You can search Municipal Court cases online too. The court processes thousands of misdemeanor and traffic cases each year. If a misdemeanor case gets bound over to the Common Pleas Court, the records transfer there.
Types of Cases in Franklin County
Franklin County courts handle a huge range of criminal matters. The Common Pleas Court has jurisdiction over all felonies. These are crimes that carry more than one year in prison. Drug possession, trafficking, assault, burglary, and weapons charges all fall here. The court also handles civil suits with amounts over $15,000, foreclosures, and administrative appeals.
The Municipal Court covers misdemeanors and traffic violations under ORC Title 19. This includes DUI, petty theft, disorderly conduct, and all moving violations. Small claims up to $6,000 and civil cases up to $15,000 also go through the Municipal Court. The Probate Division handles estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses. Juvenile Court deals with cases involving minors, including delinquency and dependency.
Note: Juvenile court records are confidential and will not appear in any public case search.
Franklin County Court Record Fees
Standard copies from the Franklin County Clerk of Courts cost $0.10 per page. Certified copies run $1.00 per page. The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit cards. For large copy orders, the office may ask for payment up front. Commercial requesters can only get ten records per month unless they certify the request is not for commercial use.
Filing fees for new cases vary by type. The office posts fee schedules on its website. If you cannot afford court costs, you can file an indigency affidavit. Historical records going back to the early 1800s are available, though very old records may be on microfilm or in special collections. For statewide background checks, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation charges $22 for a state-only check and $34 for a combined state and FBI check.
Franklin County Legal Resources
Ohio Legal Help provides free guides on searching court records, sealing records, and finding legal aid. The site has self-help tools for people who represent themselves. The Ohio State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service and publishes info about public records law. For disputes about record access, the Ohio Court of Claims at 65 South Front Street, Columbus, handles complaints when a public office denies a records request.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety has details on expungement and record sealing. The Ohio History Connection Archives in Columbus keeps historical court records on microfilm going back to Ohio's territorial period. Federal cases in Franklin County go through the Southern District of Ohio in Columbus. You can search federal records at PACER for $0.10 per page with a $3.00 cap per document.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County is home to Columbus, the state capital and largest city in Ohio. Dublin also sits partly in Franklin County. Both cities have their own municipal courts, but felony criminal cases from anywhere in the county go through the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk of Courts in Columbus handles all those records.
Other communities in Franklin County include Westerville, Reynoldsburg, Grove City, and Upper Arlington. Criminal court records for these areas are kept by the Franklin County Clerk of Courts.
Nearby Counties
If you need criminal court records from areas near Franklin County, check these neighboring counties:
Each county has its own Clerk of Courts and court system. A case filed in Delaware County will not show up in a Franklin County search. Make sure you check the right county.