Search Brown County Police Blotter
Brown County police blotter records document arrests, incident reports, and booking information from law enforcement in this southern Ohio county. Georgetown is the county seat and where most records are kept. The Brown County Sheriff's Office handles the bulk of police blotter entries for the area. You can search for arrest logs, crime reports, and court case data through local offices or state databases. Ohio law makes these records public, and you can request them without giving a reason for your search.
Brown County Quick Facts
Brown County Sheriff's Office Records
The Brown County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for police blotter records in the county. The sheriff provides law enforcement for all unincorporated areas and operates the county jail in Georgetown. Arrest logs, incident reports, and accident reports are all maintained here. The address is 750 Mount Orab Pike, Georgetown, OH 45121. Call (937) 378-4435 for records information.
Brown County police blotter entries from the sheriff cover every type of call that deputies respond to. Arrest records list the person's name, charges, and booking date. Incident reports describe the crime, the location, and the people involved. Accident reports cover crashes on county roads. Each of these falls under Ohio's public records law and can be requested by anyone. The sheriff's office does not charge for looking at records in person, but copies come with a small fee.
There is no online search tool for Brown County police blotter records at the sheriff's office. You need to call or visit Georgetown to get specific reports.
Brown County Court Records
The Brown County Clerk of Courts maintains court case files for the county. Criminal cases that begin as police blotter entries and result in charges end up here. The office is at 101 S Main St, Georgetown, OH 45121. Call (937) 378-3100 for help.
The Brown County court system handles criminal, civil, and traffic cases. After an arrest shows up on the police blotter, the case moves to court if the prosecutor files charges. You can look up dockets, check case status, and review charging documents at the clerk's office. The Court of Common Pleas handles felony matters, while lower courts deal with misdemeanors and traffic offenses in Brown County.
The screenshot below shows the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association page, a useful starting point for finding clerk contact information statewide.
You can use this site to verify contact details for the Brown County Clerk of Courts before making a trip to Georgetown.
Brown County Public Records Requests
Brown County follows Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 for public records. This law says any record kept by a public office is open unless a specific exemption applies. Police blotter data, booking records, and incident reports are all covered by this law.
The county has a public records policy that outlines how to submit requests. You can send a written request to any Brown County department. No reason is needed. The office charges only for the actual cost of copies, and in-person viewing is free. If your request for Brown County police blotter records is denied, the office must explain exactly which legal exemption applies under ORC § 149.43.
Some records may be partially redacted. Names of uncharged suspects and confidential informants can be withheld under ORC § 149.43(A)(1)(h). But core arrest data stays public.
Note: Brown County responds to public records requests during regular business hours at its offices in Georgetown.
Ohio State Police Blotter Resources
State agencies also hold records linked to Brown County police blotter activity. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation keeps a statewide criminal records database. Under ORC § 109.60, the Brown County Sheriff sends arrest data and fingerprints to BCI after every arrest.
BCI checks cost $22 to $27 for a state-only search. A combined BCI and FBI check runs $52 to $57. Results take about two business days. The Ohio State Highway Patrol also keeps reports from crashes and incidents on highways in Brown County. OSHP crash reports cost $4.00 and can be ordered through the records request portal after a seven-day waiting period.
The image below shows the Ohio Attorney General's BCI page, the central hub for criminal records in Ohio.
BCI is the largest source of criminal record data in the state and covers Brown County arrests as well.
How to Get Brown County Arrest Records
Start with the Brown County Sheriff's Office for a recent arrest report or incident log. Call (937) 378-4435 or go to 750 Mount Orab Pike in Georgetown. Try to have the date, names, and a case number if you have one.
For court records tied to a Brown County police blotter entry, visit the Clerk of Courts at 101 S Main St in Georgetown. The clerk maintains files from the time charges are filed through final disposition. You can review dockets and charging documents for free. Copies have a small fee.
If a Brown County office denies your records request, contact the Ohio Attorney General's Sunshine Laws office for help. You can also file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims under ORC § 2743.75.
- Sheriff's Office: (937) 378-4435 for incident and arrest reports
- Clerk of Courts: (937) 378-3100 for court case records
- BCI: 877-224-0043 for statewide criminal history checks
- OSHP Central Records: (614) 466-3536 for highway crash reports
Nearby Counties
Brown County is in southern Ohio near the Ohio River. Several neighboring counties maintain their own police blotter records.