Find Perry County Police Blotter

Perry County police blotter records capture arrests, incident reports, and booking information from law enforcement in this part of southeastern Ohio. New Lexington is the county seat, and the sheriff's office handles most police blotter data for the area. You can search for arrest logs, crime reports, and related court cases through both local offices and state databases. Getting copies of these records is your right under Ohio law, and the steps are fairly simple.

Perry County Sheriff's Office Records

The Perry County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for police blotter records in Perry County. The office is at 160 Main St, New Lexington, OH 43764. Call (740) 342-4101 for records help. Deputies patrol all unincorporated areas and manage the county jail.

Police blotter data from the Perry County Sheriff covers arrest records, incident reports, and crash reports. Arrest records list who got booked, the charges, and the date. Incident reports describe what happened, even if nobody was arrested at the scene. Crash reports are kept when deputies respond to accidents on county roads. These are all public records under Ohio law. You can ask for copies, and the office will help you during normal hours at the New Lexington location.

Perry County does not offer an online search tool for police blotter records from the sheriff. You will need to call or stop by. A case number, date, or name helps the staff find what you are looking for more quickly.

Perry County Court Records

The Perry County Clerk of Courts maintains all court case files for the county. Their office is at 105 N Main St, New Lexington, OH 43764. The phone number is (740) 342-1325. Once an arrest on the police blotter leads to formal charges, the case moves here.

Court records in Perry County cover criminal filings, civil cases, and traffic matters. You can check dockets, look at charge details, and see whether a case is still open or closed. The Perry County court system includes the Court of Common Pleas, which handles felonies and major civil matters. Misdemeanors and traffic offenses go through the county court. The clerk manages files for all courts in Perry County, so this one office is your main stop for court-related police blotter records.

Looking at records in the office is free. Copies cost a small per-page fee.

The screenshot below shows the Ohio Clerk of Courts Association page, which can help you find contacts for Perry County court records.

That association site links to every county clerk office in Ohio.

Perry County Public Records Requests

Perry County follows Ohio Revised Code § 149.43 for public records. The law says that any record held by a public office is open unless a specific exemption applies. Police blotter data, arrest logs, and incident reports all count as public records. You do not need to give your name or say why you want a record.

The county has a public records request page where you can learn the steps for making a formal request. Perry County charges only for the cost of copies. Viewing records in person is always free. If a request is denied, the office must give you the specific legal reason. That is the law, not a suggestion.

Some police blotter records may be partially redacted under ORC § 149.43(A)(1)(h). Names of uncharged suspects, confidential informants, and certain investigation details can be held back. Core arrest and booking data stays public in most cases though.

Ohio State Police Blotter Resources

Several state agencies hold records tied to Perry County police blotter activity. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation maintains a statewide criminal records database. Under ORC § 109.60, the Perry County Sheriff sends arrest data and fingerprints to BCI after every arrest. So BCI has records of most Perry County arrests going back years.

A BCI criminal record search through WebCheck costs $22 to $27 for a state-only search. A combined BCI and FBI check runs $52 to $57. You submit fingerprints electronically and get results in about two business days. Some cases with hits take longer to process.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol also keeps reports from incidents troopers handle on Perry County highways. Crash reports cost $4.00 each. Order them through the OSHP records request portal after waiting seven business days from the incident.

Below is the Ohio Attorney General's BCI page, the state's central hub for criminal records.

BCI handles roughly one million criminal record searches a year statewide.

Getting Perry County Arrest Records

Start at the Perry County Sheriff's Office for recent arrest reports or incident logs. Call (740) 342-4101 or visit 160 Main St in New Lexington. Try to have a date, name, or case number ready when you call.

For court records tied to a Perry County police blotter entry, go to the Clerk of Courts at 105 N Main St in New Lexington. The clerk has criminal case files from filing through sentencing. You can see dockets, charging documents, and disposition records. Copies cost a small fee, but looking at the files is free.

If a Perry County agency denies your request, the Ohio Attorney General's Sunshine Laws office can help. You can also file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims under ORC 2743.75(D) at 65 South Front Street, 3rd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.

• Sheriff's Office: (740) 342-4101 for incident and arrest reports
• Clerk of Courts: (740) 342-1325 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

Perry County is in southeastern Ohio. Neighboring counties keep their own police blotter records through local sheriff offices and court clerks.