Highland County Criminal Court Records
Highland County criminal court records are housed at the Clerk of Courts office in Hillsboro. Dwight "Ike" Hodson serves as the elected Clerk and manages all legal records for the Court of Common Pleas. The office is at 105 North High Street in Hillsboro, the county seat. You can visit in person to search case files, request certified copies, or check on a pending case. Highland County sits in south-central Ohio, and every felony criminal case from the area goes through this courthouse. If you need to find a record or get a copy of a court document, this guide explains the steps.
Highland County Clerk of Courts Office
The Highland County Clerk of Courts is at 105 North High Street, P.O. Box 821, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Dwight "Ike" Hodson is the Clerk. Call (937) 393-9957 for case questions or to ask about copies. Email at ihodson@hccpc.org. The Auto Title Division has its own line at (937) 393-9958. The office is open Monday through Friday.
The Clerk keeps all legal records for the Highland County Court of Common Pleas. This covers civil cases, felony criminal cases, and domestic relations matters including divorce and custody. The office handles all filings and maintains the official docket. Staff can pull files by case number or search by party name. The 4th District Court of Appeals hears appeals from Highland County. Those records also run through the Clerk's office.
The Auto Title Division at the same office handles vehicle and watercraft titles. That side of the operation does not deal with criminal court records. If you need court documents, ask for the Legal Division when you call or visit.
Search Highland County Criminal Records
To search Highland County criminal court records, the main route is through the Highland County Clerk of Courts website. The site has links to court information and office details. For case-specific searches, you may need to call the office or visit in person. Not all counties offer full online case search tools, and Highland County's digital access may be more limited than larger counties.
Under ORC Section 149.43, you can inspect public court records without saying why. The Clerk must make records available during business hours. If your request is denied, file an action with the Ohio Court of Claims. Records that are sealed or expunged by court order are not available.
You can also write to the office at P.O. Box 821, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Include the case number or party name, what documents you need, and payment for fees. The office staff can help you figure out what is in the file and how to get copies.
Criminal Court Records in Highland County
The Highland County Clerk of Courts website is the starting point for court record searches.
This screenshot shows the Highland County Clerk of Courts page with office information and links for court record requests.
The Highland County Court of Common Pleas handles all felony criminal cases under ORC Chapter 2301. Drug offenses, theft, assault, domestic violence, and other felonies all come through this court. The court also hears civil suits, foreclosures, and administrative appeals. Domestic relations matters like divorce, custody, and support are handled in their own division. Probate Court covers estates and guardianships. Juvenile Court deals with cases involving minors.
Misdemeanor cases and traffic tickets go through the local municipal or county court under ORC Title 19. These courts process DUI, petty theft, disorderly conduct, and all traffic violations. Records are separate from Common Pleas Court. If a misdemeanor gets bound over, the file transfers to the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse.
Note: Juvenile court records in Highland County are confidential and will not show up in a public records search.
Highland County Court Record Fees
Copy fees follow Ohio statutory rates. Standard copies cost per page. Certified copies are more. Filing fees vary. The office accepts cash, check, and money order. Call (937) 393-9957 for the current fee schedule.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation runs statewide background checks at $22 for state-only or $34 combined. These are fingerprint-based and done at WebCheck locations. The Ohio Department of Public Safety has info on expungement eligibility and procedures. Federal cases go through the Southern District of Ohio. Search at PACER.
Highland County Legal Resources
Ohio Legal Help provides free legal guides on court records, record sealing, and finding a lawyer. The Ohio State Bar Association has a referral service. The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association links to all 88 county clerk offices across Ohio.
For historical court records, the Ohio History Connection Archives in Columbus may hold older Highland County files. The Ohio Auditor of State sets retention schedules for court documents. Felony records are typically permanent. Misdemeanor records may be kept for 10 to 25 years.
Cities in Highland County
Hillsboro is the county seat and where the courthouse sits. Other communities include Greenfield, Lynchburg, and Leesburg. None of these cities have populations over 100,000. All felony criminal court records for Highland County are managed by the Clerk of Courts in Hillsboro.
Nearby Counties
Records from neighboring counties are kept separately. Check these if you need records from outside Highland County:
Each county keeps its own set of criminal court records. A case from Adams County will not show in a Highland County search.