Search Cleveland Police Blotter

Cleveland police blotter records document arrests, incident reports, and crime logs from Ohio's second largest city in Cuyahoga County. The Cleveland Division of Police keeps booking records and arrest data at the Justice Center downtown. You can request police blotter information by phone, in person, or by mail through the Records Section on the third floor at 1300 Ontario Street. Court records tied to Cleveland arrests are also searchable through the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts and Cleveland Municipal Court.

Cleveland Police Blotter Records

The Cleveland Division of Police handles all police blotter records for the city. The department maintains arrest records, incident reports, accident reports, crime statistics, and 911 call records. The Records Section is on the 3rd floor of the Justice Center at 1300 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44113.

Walk-in requests are taken Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. You can also call 216-623-5352 on weekdays between 8 AM and 4 PM. Written requests go to 1300 Ontario St., Cleveland, OH 44113, attention Public Records Request. Cleveland police blotter copies cost $0.05 per page for most records. Criminal record checks go through a separate line at 216-623-5271 or 216-623-5272. For those, you will need to provide the person's name, date of birth, Social Security number, age, race, and sex. Mail requests need a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Cleveland is a big city with a lot of police activity. The police blotter covers everything from minor thefts to serious felonies across dozens of neighborhoods.

Cleveland Court Records

Criminal cases from the Cleveland police blotter move into the Cuyahoga County court system. The Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts maintains records for the Court of Common Pleas, including criminal, civil, domestic relations, and traffic cases. Their office is at the Justice Center, 1200 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44113, first floor. Call 216-443-7999 for criminal matters or 216-443-7974 for civil cases.

You can search the online docket by case number, party name, or date range. Copies are free for the first 33 pages, then $0.03 per page after that. Certified copies cost $1.00 each. The Cleveland Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and small civil disputes tied to Cleveland police blotter entries. The Court of Common Pleas takes felony cases with amounts over $15,000.

Cleveland Police Department Site

The screenshot below shows the Cleveland Division of Police main page where you can find links to public records and other police services.

This site links to the public records section, community policing programs, and contact details for each Cleveland police district.

Below is the Cleveland Municipal Court records search page, which handles misdemeanor and traffic cases from the Cleveland police blotter.

The municipal court portal lets you search by name or case number for records tied to Cleveland arrest logs and traffic citations.

Cleveland Public Records Law

All Cleveland police blotter records fall under Ohio Revised Code § 149.43. This is the state's Public Records Act. It says any record kept by a public office is open for inspection unless a specific exemption applies. You do not need to give your name. You do not need a reason.

Cleveland police send arrest information to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation as required by ORC § 109.60. BCI maintains a statewide database of arrest records. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office also keeps records for incidents outside Cleveland city limits, with their Records Division at 1215 West 3rd Street. They charge $10 per record for incident reports and criminal criminal record searches.

Some records may be partially redacted under ORC § 149.43(A)(1)(h), which protects uncharged suspect names and confidential informant details.

How to Get Cleveland Arrest Records

For a recent Cleveland police blotter entry, call the Records Section at 216-623-5352. Visit in person at the Justice Center, 3rd floor, 1300 Ontario Street. Bring the date of the incident, the names involved, and a case number if you have one.

Court records from Cleveland cases are available through the Cuyahoga County Clerk's online portal. Search by name or case number. The system covers criminal, civil, and domestic relations cases. If you need certified copies or older files, visit the first floor of the Justice Center at 1200 Ontario Street during business hours from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

If your Cleveland police blotter records request is denied, contact the Ohio Attorney General's Sunshine Laws unit at (614) 466-2872. You can also file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims. The OSHP records portal covers crash reports from state troopers on highways in the Cleveland area at $4.00 each.

• Records Section: 216-623-5352 for police reports
• Criminal Records: 216-623-5271 for arrest checks
• Clerk of Courts: 216-443-7999 for criminal court records
• BCI: 877-224-0043 for statewide criminal history

Cuyahoga County Police Blotter

Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office at 1215 West 3rd Street handles police blotter records for unincorporated areas and provides support to municipal departments. Their Records Division has 6 units covering records, warrants, imaging, identification, releases, and court liaison work. For more on county-level records, visit the Cuyahoga County page.

Nearby Cities

These Ohio cities near Cleveland also keep police blotter records through their own law enforcement agencies.