Ottawa County Recent Arrests Database

Ottawa County recent arrests are processed at two jail facilities on Madison Street in Port Clinton. The Sheriff's Office runs a Detention Facility for higher-security inmates and a Minimum Security Jail for non-violent offenders and work release participants. Both facilities maintain a public inmate roster that shows current inmates and their charges. You can view the roster online to see who is in custody, or you can call the jail or records division for information. Whether it is a recent booking or an older case, the Sheriff's Office in Ottawa County keeps thorough records that are open to the public.

Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and Jail Facilities

The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office operates two jail facilities, both at 315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452. The main jail phone is 419-734-6828. Jail Captain Kent Davis oversees corrections and can be reached at 419-734-6864.

The Detention Facility holds up to 41 inmates. It is a full-service jail for adults charged with or convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses. This is where higher-security inmates go. The Minimum Security Jail has a capacity of 48 inmates and houses non-violent, non-repeat offenders along with work release participants. Having two separate facilities lets the Sheriff's Office classify inmates by risk level and keep the right people in the right place.

Ottawa County sits on Lake Erie in northern Ohio. The area sees a lot of visitors during the summer months, and the Sheriff's Office stays busy year-round. All law enforcement agencies in the county bring their arrestees to these facilities for booking and processing.

Search Ottawa County Recent Arrests Online

The Ottawa County Sheriff's website hosts information about the jail and links to the public inmate roster.

The Sheriff's website is your starting point for finding arrest and custody information in Ottawa County.

The inmate roster lists all current inmates in alphabetical order. Each entry shows the inmate's name, mugshot, charges, housing location, booking date, and identifying features. Both the Detention Facility and Minimum Security Jail rosters are available. The roster gets updated so you can see recent bookings and current custody status.

For phone inquiries, call the jail at 419-734-6828. The VINELink system at 1-800-770-0192 provides another way to check on inmates and sign up for free status alerts. Ottawa County has also switched to video visitation. All visitors need to make an account through VideoVisitAnywhere. Photo ID is required to set up the account. Visit times are Monday through Saturday during multiple blocks: 8 AM to 11 AM, 12 PM to 1:30 PM, 2 PM to 5 PM, and 5:30 PM to 6 PM.

Ottawa County Arrest Records and Public Access

The Sheriff's Office has a records division that handles all public records requests. Heather Moss is the Records Clerk and can be reached at 419-734-6823 or by fax at 419-734-6876. The office releases traffic accident reports, arrest reports, incident reports, and offense reports to the public. You can submit requests in person, over the phone, by email, or by fax.

Under ORC Section 149.43, arrest records are public. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Fees apply for copies. Free in-person inspection is available during business hours. Records tied to active investigations may be withheld under ORC 149.43(A)(1)(h). Juvenile records are sealed under ORC 2151.357.

Inmates can receive mail from friends and family. All mail is opened and searched for contraband. Send mail to: Inmate Name, C/O Ottawa County Corrections, 315 Madison Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452. Commissary funds can be added at the kiosk in the jail lobby or online through AccessCorrections using credit or debit cards.

The Detention Facility handles the more serious cases while the Minimum Security Jail takes non-violent offenders and work release inmates. This two-facility setup lets the Sheriff's Office keep people separated by risk level, which is important for safety inside the jail. Both facilities share the same address and administrative staff.

Note: Ottawa County operates two separate jail facilities to properly house inmates based on their security classification level.

Court Records and State Resources for Ottawa County

The Ottawa County Clerk of Courts keeps records for criminal and civil cases. After an arrest, the case gets assigned to a court and tracked through the system. The Clerk's Office works with the Sheriff's Office to coordinate court dates and maintain accurate records for inmates in both jail facilities.

State databases give you broader search tools. The ODRC Offender Search shows inmates in state prison from Ottawa County convictions. The BCI WebCheck costs $22 for an Ohio criminal history check. The eSORN registry tracks sex offenders by location. If a records request is denied, file with the Ohio Court of Claims under ORC 2743.75.

Ottawa County's location on Lake Erie means the area sees increased activity during summer months when tourists visit the islands and shoreline communities. This can lead to a higher number of arrests during peak season, particularly for alcohol-related offenses and traffic violations. The Sheriff's Office stays prepared for these seasonal changes and works with local police departments across the county to handle the increased volume. All those arrests still flow through the same two jail facilities at 315 Madison Street in Port Clinton, and all booking records remain available to the public through the same online roster system year-round.

Ottawa County Records Clerk Contact

Heather Moss is the Records Clerk. Call her at 419-734-6823 or fax requests to 419-734-6876. She handles all public arrest, incident, and traffic reports for Ottawa County.

Nearby Counties

Ottawa County sits along Lake Erie in northern Ohio. If you are not sure where an arrest was handled, check with a neighboring county.