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Delaware, Ohio Criminal Records

In the City and Municipality of Delaware, criminal records provide a compilation of crime-related data generated by local police departments and the judicial system. The Delaware Police Department and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are responsible for creating arrest, booking, and custody information. In contrast, the Delaware Municipal Court and the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas provide case-related information in criminal records.

These entities submit crime-related information to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The state-level agency then compiles this information as criminal history records.

What are Delaware Public Criminal Records?

Public criminal records in Delaware are official documents that reveal an individual’s interactions with the criminal justice system. Such records are mostly accessible to the public under the Ohio Public Records Act. The state law generally allows the public to view the following details in criminal records:

  • Offender’s personal data, including the names, birthdate, and physical description.
  • Arrest information, such as the charges, arrest date, and arresting agency.
  • Mugshot.
  • Booking number and type.
  • Court-related data, such as docket numbers, case summaries, and dispositions.

Ohio laws, however, restrict public access to specific information in Delaware criminal records. These laws generally redact information whose disclosure is not in the public’s best interests. Examples of non-public criminal records include the following:

  • Juvenile records that are sealed under R.C. 2151.357.
  • Records that are sealed or expunged by court order.
  • Probation and parole proceedings.
  • Information that may expose the identities of confidential informants and undercover officers.
  • Records that may interfere with an ongoing investigation or prosecution.

Delaware Crime Statistics

Per the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the Delaware Police Department made 650 arrests for crimes committed in 2025. The agency made arrests for crimes like larceny, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and DUI. Larcenies and simple assaults had the highest arrest rates at 198 and 101, respectively. Based on gender, male and female arrestees were 74% and 27%, respectively.

Are Delaware Criminal Records Public?

Yes, most information in Delaware criminal records is accessible to the public. Ohio laws generally allow public access to records generated by government entities during official duties.

Thus, the public may request crime-related information by using resources provided by designated agencies. These agencies may maintain online search platforms or allow offline requests for records in their custody. For example, the City of Delaware Police Department allows in-person inquiries for arrest information in criminal records.

Note that the Ohio BCI only releases criminal history files to the record subject, their legal representatives, licensing boards, and criminal justice agencies. Eligible parties must provide a valid government-issued ID and relevant documents to obtain criminal history files.

How to Obtain Delaware Police Reports and Arrest Records

Record seekers may obtain Delaware police reports and arrest records by following these steps:

  • Determine the record custodians: Police reports and arrest records are under the purview of local, state, and federal level agencies. The Delaware Police Department and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office are the primary and local custodians of police reports and arrest records. These agencies allow online and offline access to records in their custody.

The Delaware County Clerk of Courts is another local custodian of arrest records. The agency may allow public access to arrest reports that were filed during criminal case proceedings.

In contrast, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction hosts the Offender Search, an inmate search database that may reveal arrest information.

  • Select an option to access arrest records: Record seekers may access arrest records using the Delaware County Jail Search platform. The platform may reveal arrest information, such as the booking date, arrest charges, date and location of the arrest, and bail amount. Users must enter the inmate’s last name to view relevant data. Alternatively, requesters may access records by submitting an in-person request to the county sheriff’s office and police department at these locations:

Delaware County Sheriff’s Office - Records Division

844 US Highway 42 North

Delaware, OH 43015

Phone: (74) 833-2850

Delaware Police Department

70 North Union Street #2

Delaware, OH 43015

Phone: (740) 203-1111

The county sheriff’s office also maintains an online request portal for arrest and police reports. Record seekers must complete and submit the form. After receiving the form, the agency may forward the requested documents to the record seeker’s address. Note that custodian agencies may charge fees based on the document type and request option.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Delaware

Concerned parties may find sex offender information using the county sheriff’s sex offender registration network. The online database allows name- or location-based searches for registered sex offenders residing in the city of Delaware.

Concerned parties may also find sex offender information via the eSORN database maintained by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Delaware?

Concerned parties may either choose to accept the reasons for the denial or file a complaint with the agency. Ohio laws require agencies to explain reasons in writing for denying a record request. Such reasons may include the following:

  • The record is not available in the requested format.
  • The requested document is sealed or expunged under court order.
  • The requester does not have the legal right to access such information.

For any other denial, concerned parties may send a complaint form to the agency and give them three business days to fix the issue. If the agency does not solve the issue, concerned parties may proceed to file the complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims or file a mandamus action in court.

Ohio Court of Claims

Thomas J. Moyer, Ohio Judicial Center

64 South Front Street

Third Floor

Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: (614) 387-9800

How to Expunge or Seal Delaware Criminal Records

Delaware City residents may petition the convicting court to seal or expunge their criminal records after fulfilling specific conditions. The conditions may include the following:

  • The charges were dismissed.
  • The court passed a not-guilty verdict.
  • There is no pending criminal case.
  • The conviction is not for an offense listed under Division (A) of ORC 2953.02.
  • The waiting period for expunging the record has elapsed. Petitioners can seal minor misdemeanors six months post-conviction or sentence completion.

Eligible parties may file a petition that contains the following details:

  • The petitioner’s personal data, including home address.
  • Arrest information.
  • Reasons for requesting an expunction.

The court will review the petition and make appropriate decisions after considering factors like eligibility, moral conduct post-conviction, and submissions from the prosecuting attorney.