Criminal records in Montgomery County, Ohio, are available through several channels. MontgomeryCourt.org allows quick access to public information about criminal cases. Additionally, the county's official court systems, including the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court and the clerk of court's office, provide access to case materials. Law enforcement agencies and state criminal history repositories also process requests for records.
How to Search Criminal Records in Montgomery
There are several ways to search for criminal records in this county. Each method suits different situations — from a quick online check to an official mail request.
Online Search
- MontgomeryCourt.org — start here if you need to find public information about criminal cases. Enter the person's name or case number.
- Public Records Online (PRO) — the Montgomery County clerk of court's system. Through the clerk's website, you can search Common Pleas Court cases, including criminal ones. Search is available by name or case number.
- Dayton Municipal Court — a separate portal for Dayton Municipal Court cases: traffic violations, misdemeanors, enforcement.
- Ohio DRC Offender Search — the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction database. Here you can check if a person is under state supervision or in a correctional facility.
- Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) — a division of the Ohio Attorney General. BCI maintains the state's official criminal history database and processes background check requests.
To find out if there is a warrant for arrest, contact the court at 937-225-6000. To check if someone is in jail, you can also use the court's website.
In-Person Visit
Visit the clerk of court's office in the Montgomery County courthouse:
Public search terminals are available on-site. The clerk can assist with finding a specific case.
Mail or Email Request
Send a written request through the online records request form or by email to recordssection@mcohio.org. You can also send a letter to the clerk of court's address. For an official state criminal history check, submit a request to BCI via WebCheck or by mail.
What You Need to Start a Search
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth (preferably)
- Case number (if known)
Search Montgomery Criminal Cases by Case Number
Each criminal case in Ohio courts is assigned a unique number. In Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, the format typically looks like this:
- Year — two or four digits indicating the year the case was filed
- Case Type — an alphabetical code indicating the category. For example, "CR" means a criminal case, "CRB" may indicate a misdemeanor
- Sequential Number — a numerical sequence within the year
Example: 2024 CR 01234. The first part is the year, "CR" indicates a felony criminal case, and the last digits are the individual number. Dayton Municipal Court uses its own numbering, so the format may differ slightly.
If you know the case number, the search takes seconds — the system returns the exact result without needing to filter records by name.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Montgomery
Each criminal case contains several key elements. Below is an explanation of what each means.
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the Revised Code of Ohio (e.g., ORC §2913.02 — theft) |
| Severity Level | Felony (degrees 1–5), Misdemeanor (degrees 1–4, or Minor Misdemeanor), or petty offense |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may change the initial charge to a lesser one as part of a plea agreement |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, no decision has been made yet
- Active — proceedings are ongoing, hearings are scheduled
- Disposed — the court has made a final decision
- Closed — all procedures are completed, the case is closed
Hearings
A criminal case goes through several stages:
- Arraignment — the first hearing where the defendant is informed of the charges and states their plea (guilty / not guilty)
- Preliminary Hearing — the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed with the case (usually for felonies)
- Pre-Trial — parties discuss the possibility of a plea deal or prepare for trial
- Sentencing — punishment is imposed after a guilty plea or verdict
- Review — checking compliance with the terms of punishment, such as probation
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | The defendant is found guilty |
| Not Guilty | The court or jury found the person not guilty |
| Dismissed | The case is closed without a verdict — initiated by the prosecutor or court |
| Acquitted | Acquittal following a trial |
| No Contest (Nolo Contendere) | The defendant does not contest the charges but does not formally admit guilt |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Montgomery
Certified copies of criminal records are needed for official purposes — employment, licensing, immigration. Here's how to obtain them.
Through the Clerk of Court's Office
The Montgomery County clerk of court issues certified copies of documents from Common Pleas Court cases. Requests can be made in three ways:
- Online — through the records request page on the clerk's website
- Email — by sending a request to recordssection@mcohio.org
- In Person — at the courthouse
To obtain copies, you usually need to provide the full name of the party and the case number (if known). An ID may be required for in-person requests.
Through BCI (State Criminal History Check)
For a complete criminal history check across the state of Ohio, contact the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. BCI accepts requests through the WebCheck system (electronic fingerprinting) or by mail. You will need:
- Completed BCI request form
- Fingerprinting (through a certified WebCheck location)
- Photo ID
- Payment of the established fee
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Montgomery
Fees depend on the type of document and the method of obtaining it. Below are approximate rates based on information from official sources.
| Service | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $0.05 – $0.10 | According to ORC §2303.20, the standard rate for copies of public records |
| Certification | $1.00 per document | Added to the cost of the copy |
| Criminal history check through BCI (WebCheck) | $22.00 – $32.00 | Depends on the level of check (state or state + FBI); fee charged by WebCheck location |
| Mail request processing | May include postage costs | Check with the clerk's office |
Processing times for requests vary. Online searches through the PRO system provide instant results. Requests for certified copies through the clerk's office are usually processed within a few business days. Checks through BCI can take from a few days to several weeks — depending on the submission method and workload.
Contact the clerk of court's office for current fee details, as fees may change.