Ohio Inmate Search

Ohio inmate search records consist of personal and official data of an offender held in correctional facilities managed by the state and the local municipalities. Most inmate records are available directly from the facility housing the inmate, however, there is also an online search option to request for records. The personal information of a detainee may include full name, sex, ethnicity, date of birth, and housing location. Moreover, the official data of an inmate may consist of criminal record, arrest record, court dates, bail bond amount, parole and probation status, estimated release date, mugshot, and more.

How do I find an inmate in Ohio?

One of the best ways to locate current inmates incarcerated in Ohio correctional facility is through the online Offender Search function provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). In order to use this inmate locator tool, individual will need to provide information regarding the inmate such as:

1. First or Last Name of Inmate
2. Custody Status
3. Identification Number

If individuals are looking for a sex offender in Ohio, they may use the Registered Sex Offender Search tool. This helps individuals to identify and locate a sex offender within the state of Ohio.

Additionally, individuals can check if the individual they are looking for is listed as a parole violator by checking the list provided by the ODRC.

Where are Ohio inmates housed?

The state of Ohio correctional facilities is managed and overseen by the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (DRC). There is a total of 27 adult state prisons, 3 juvenile facilities, and 3 private institutions.

The Ohio DRC Institution webpage lists down all the correctional facilities under their jurisdiction and provides locations and contact information of the facility. There is also a DRC regional map showing the location of each facility within the state.

Ohio County Jails

Aside from state prisons, most inmates with a sentencing time of less than a year most likely are held in either a county jail or a city jail which is managed by the local law enforcement agencies instead of the ODRC. There are a few county jails which are famous in Ohio for detaining a large number of the inmate, for instance:

Franklin County Jail

The Franklin County jail is located in Columbus, Ohio, and is managed by the county Sheriff’s Office under the supervision of Sheriff Dallas Baldwin. Currently, the jail has an average daily inmate count of 1657 people, consisting of both male inmates and female inmates.

Cuyahoga County Jail

The Cuyahoga County Correction Center is the second-largest Jail in the state and is located in two locations: Downtown and Euclid. This county jail has a daily inmate count of 2168 people on average. It is managed by the Cuyahoga Sheriff’s Office with supervision from Sheriff David G. Schilling Jr.

Hamilton County Jail

Sheriff Jim Neil is in charge of overseeing the Hamilton County Jail along with the management of the Sheriff’s Office. The current daily inmate population is at 1340 people comprised of both male and female inmates.

How do you contact an inmate in Ohio?

Mails

Ohio inmates have the privilege to send and receive mails from friends or family outside of the facility. All mail will be opened, inspected, and read to ensure that the content does not pose any threat to the facility of the people within the facility. The exception goes to legal mails which can only be opened and inspected (not read) in the presence of the receiving inmates. Individuals can check out the General Mail webpage on the ODRC website to get more insight on how to send mail to an inmate. The mailing policies may be updated from time to time, therefore individuals should always refer back to the general mail page.

The sender must include their name and return address on the mail envelope, while the address format of the mail should be as follow:

Inmate Name, ID Number

Facility Name

1. O. Box or Street Address

City, State, Zip Code

Emails

JPAY is the service provider that allows the inmate to receive electronic messages. Inmates are not allowed to use computers or the internet, but instead, the email will be printed out by the state prison and delivered along with the regular mail. Messages sent through the JPAY system cannot be confidential, and will still be read and inspected for any content that defies the printed mail policies.

Phone calls

Phone calls privilege is a one-way communication where only the inmate is allowed to initiate an outgoing call to a person who is listed in the offender’s call list. The phone service provider for Ohio prison is Global Tel*Link (GTL) which offers inmates to either use standard collect calls, prepaid calls, or telephone minutes purchased from the commissary. More information relating to the inmate phone service can be obtained from the ODRC webpage.

How to contact the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction?

The Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections can be contacted through the following:

Address:

4545 Fisher Road, Suite D

Columbus, OH 43228

Phone Number: 614-387-0588

Contact Form

How do you find out the release date of an inmate in Ohio?

The Offender Search function on the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction provides inmate records such as the custody status and the estimated release date of an inmate within the facility. If information is not yet available, the individual may directly contact the corrections center housing the inmate to request the records.

Can I send a care package to an inmate in Ohio?

As stated in the Inmate Personal Property Policy, inmates may receive food and sundry packages only from vendors who are approved by the prison Director or the designee. Vendors such as Access Securepak, Union Supply Direct, and Walkenhorst’s are some of the vendors that have received approval. The packages can be ordered by friends and family of an inmate given that they comply with the limitation and the policy. Some prions may use other third-party vendors closer to their facility, therefore, it is always advisable the individual acquire as much information about the vendors before deciding on which one to order from.

What can you send inmates in Ohio prisons?

Sending mail to an inmate in Ohio

Mailing is one of the methods where an inmate can keep in touch with friends and families while in incarceration. However, the Ohio DRC has prepared a mailing policy that needs to be complied with by both parties when exchanging correspondence. The things that can be sent through mails are:

Letters

When writing letters, it should always be in an understandable language, with no codes or symbols. The content of the letter should not contain anything sexual or violent, dangerous, or suspicious information that could bring harm to anyone. Letters must be written on plain white paper using a pen or marker only, with no additional decorations.

Photos

The offender can only receive five pictures no bigger than 5”x7” in one envelope. The picture must not be Polaroid or instant as these type of photos poses threat to the safety of the facility. The pictures must not contain any nudity, sexually implied objects or images, violent or triggering images, or depict illegal actions.

Newspaper/Magazines clippings

Any newspaper or magazine clipping must not exceed the size 8.5”x11” and must not be pasted on a paper. An inmate can only receive 5 clippings per envelope.

Sending money to an inmate in Ohio

In order to be able to send money to an inmate, they will need to be on the inmate’s visitation list. Only after listed will an individual be able to proceed with any kind of transaction process. To send fund, a person will need to know several information about the inmate such as:

1. Inmate’s Full Name
2. Offender Number
3. Inmate’s Current Locations

The individual can proceed with the money deposit in several ways:

Mail

Individuals can send money through money orders made payable to JPAY, at an amount of no more than $200. The sender will also need to complete a deposit slip and attached a copy of the sender’s driver’s license (or state ID or passport) to be sent along with the money order. The name on the money order must match the name on the visiting list, and the name on the copied identification proof.

Online

By using an online service provider, ConnectNetwork, approved individuals are allowed to send money deposits to inmates in prison. The ConnectNetwork accepts payment from either debit card or credit card for the transaction. There will also be a certain transaction fee charged to the sender depending on how much money was sent.

Telephone

An approved individual may deposit money to an inmate’s account by calling the toll-free number 1-888-988-4PMT (4768) and using the reference Site ID 86 when asked by the agent. The transaction payment can be done using a credit card or debit card along with a certain amount of transaction fee.

How do I apply for Visitation of an inmate in Ohio?

In order to be on a prisoner’s visitation list, the inmate will need to initiate a request to add the interested visitor to be added. Once they are listed, the potential visitor will need to complete the Ohio Inmate Visitor Application form. And for those who are visiting with a minor will also need to complete the Ohio Inmate Authorization for Minor Child to Visit form. The completed form will need to be mailed back to the respective facility along with any additional documentation required by the institution.

The duration of the application process may take up to 8 weeks before any results are given. Only the inmate will be informed of the application status, and it will be their responsibility to inform the applicants of their results.

Visitation procedures may differ for counties and city jails, therefore individuals should check out the facility’s website or contact the facility itself to get the correct information.

What are the Visitation rules?

Although each facility is subjected to its own visitation procedures and policies, the guidelines and overview prepared by the ODRC can still be applied and help an individual to familiarize themself with the regulations.

1. All visitors will need to show a valid photo identification upon arrival, and if a minor is present, they will need to bring a birth certificate as proof of their age.
2. Visitors will be subjected to a general security check upon arrival to prevent the smuggling of contraband.
3. Visitation hours are established separately for each institution, and may or not may required reservation.
4. Visitors are required to call the institution prior to their visit as the visiting hour are subject to change without notice.
5. Visitors are subjected to comply with the dress code policy set by the ODRC.