Getting a Copy of Your Ohio Criminal Record
Which Ohio agency keeps criminal history records, how to request your own record, and the fee.
Short answer: Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI), part of the Ohio Attorney General's Office, runs civilian background checks. Ohio Attorney General, Background Check FAQs; WebCheck
| Getting a copy of your criminal record | Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI), part of the Ohio Attorney General's Office, runs civilian background checks. In Ohio, fingerprints are submitted electronically through a WebCheck location (find one on the WebCheck Community Listing). Out of state, BCI points to electronic fingerprinting or a fingerprint card rolled by a local agency and mailed to the Attorney General's Office, with payment by mail or online. To get a copy of a previously completed BCI check, use BCI's background check copy procedure and copy request form. BCI processes FBI checks only for specific types of Ohio employment; for a personal FBI check, contact the FBI directly. BCI's Civilian Identification Department: 877-224-0043 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). WebCheck locations: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Business/Services-for-Business/WebCheck |
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| What relief the state offers | Ohio offers two levels of relief for eligible records: "sealing" and "expungement." Sealed records are kept in a separate file and are not public. Expunged records are destroyed, deleted and erased so they cannot be retrieved. Relief is available for convictions, bail forfeitures, not-guilty findings, dismissed charges, grand jury "no bills," and pardoned convictions. Ohio also offers a Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE), which leaves the conviction on the record but removes many automatic bars to jobs and licenses. The Governor can also grant clemency. |
Where to get help in Ohio
More Ohio expungement & criminal records
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Ohio
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Ohio
- How to File for Expungement in Ohio
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Ohio
- All Ohio expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
How do I check my own criminal record in Ohio?
Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI), part of the Ohio Attorney General's Office, runs civilian background checks. In Ohio, fingerprints are submitted electronically through a WebCheck location (find one on the WebCheck Community Listing). Out of state, BCI points to electronic fingerprinting or a fingerprint card rolled by a local agency and mailed to the Attorney General's Office, with payment by mail or online. To get a copy of a previously completed BCI check, use BCI's background check copy procedure and copy request form. BCI processes FBI checks only for specific types of Ohio employment; for a personal FBI check, contact the FBI directly. BCI's Civilian Identification Department: 877-224-0043 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Can you get a criminal record expunged in Ohio?
Ohio offers two levels of relief for eligible records: "sealing" and "expungement." Sealed records are kept in a separate file and are not public. Expunged records are destroyed, deleted and erased so they cannot be retrieved. Relief is available for convictions, bail forfeitures, not-guilty findings, dismissed charges, grand jury "no bills," and pardoned convictions. Ohio also offers a Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE), which leaves the conviction on the record but removes many automatic bars to jobs and licenses. The Governor can also grant clemency.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.