The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is January 2025)
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Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. Records were kept, from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
Ohio Criminal Records
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Ohio
- Allen County, Jail Register, 1870-1902, 1907-1923
- Belmont County, Jail Registers, 1866-1922
- Clinton County, Jail Register, 1917-1927
- Coshocton County, Criminal Execution Dockets, 1866-1917
- Erie County, Jail Registers, V. 3-4, 1909-1925
- Executions in Ohio
- Fairfield County, Fairfield School For Boys Cemetery AKA Boys Industrial School Cemetery
- Guernsey County, Index to Pending Suits and Living Judgments and Executions and Criminal Execution Dockets, 1881-1993
- Hancock County, Will Record, 1829-1903; Index, 1828-1970
- Harrison County, Jail Register, 1913-1936
- Highland County, Court of Common Pleas Records, 1805-1876
- Knox County, Case File, 1808-1901
- Knox County, Probate Case Files, ca. 1808-1920
- Lake County, Index to Jail Register, 1869-1908
- Lake County, Index to Justice Criminal Record, 1889-1894
- Lake County, Criminal Journal: 1926-1940
- Lake County, Criminal Record: 1840-1877
- Lawrence County, Index To Register of Prisoners Ohio Penitentiary (1829-1883)
- Lawrence County, Jail Register, 1867-1923
- Licking County, Jail Register, 1875-1878, 1904-1914
- Lucas County, Jail Register, 1857-1859
- Madison County, Institution Cemetery
- Madison County, Jail Register, 1875-1928
- Mansfield, Richland County, Prisoners Paroled From Reformatory, July, 1901
- Mansfield, Richland County, Prisoners Paroled From Reformatory, October, 1901
- Mansfield, Richland County, Prisoners Transferred from Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus, 1896
- Marion County, Inmates of the Ohio State Penitentiary, 1834-1875
- Meigs County, Sheriff’s Cash Book, 1904-1908
- Mercer County Home, Record of Inmates, 1888-1938
- Miami County, Jail Register, 1882-1920
- Morgan County, Court Records, 1833-1940
- Morgan County, Court Records, 1846-1957
- Morgan County, Criminal Dockets and Records, 1852-1911
- Morgan County, Manchester Township, Criminal Docket, 1894-1939
- Muskingum County, Criminal Dockets, 1845-1900
- Noble County, Court Records, 1851-1938
- Ohio, Boys Industrial School Inmate Case Records, 1858-1918
- Ohio, Burials and Civil War Prisoners’ Records, 1861-1896
- Ohio, Girls Industrial School Inmate Case Record, 1869-1911
- Ohio, Inmates of the Ohio State Penitentiary from Marion County 1834-1875
- Ohio, Meigs County Prisoners in the Ohio State Penitentiary
- Ohio, Wardens of State Penitentiary
- Ohio, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, Prisoners, Insane, In Hospitals, 1917-1918
- Ottawa County, Court Docket, 1852-1876
- Ottawa County, Genoa, Civil and Criminal Dockets, 1869-1925
- Paulding County, Jail Registers, 1868-1940
- Pickaway County, Jail Register, 1861-1880
- Richland County, Ohio State Reformatory Cemetery AKA Mansfield Prison Cemetery
- Richland County, Prisoners brought to Ohio State Reformatory from Ohio Penitentiary
- Richland County, Residents of the County Jail in 1920 Census
- Richland County, General Index to Miscellaneous Records, V. 1, 1813-1900
- Richland County, Journals 1852-1886
- Ross County, Chillicothe Correctional Institute Prison Cemetery
- Toledo, Jail Registers, 1907-1921
- Trumbull County, Court of Common Pleas Records, 1811-1920
- Trumbull County, Justice Court Records, 1853-1933
- Tuscarawas County, Jail Register, 1904-1929
- Union County, Criminal Docket and Records, 1852-1914
- Union County, Criminal Trial Docket, 1825-1914
- Union County, Prison Infirmary Records, 1867-1974
- Van Wert County, Court Records, 1837-1907; Index, 1838-1912, 1921
- Van Wert County, Jail Register, 1874-1912
- Warren County, Chancery and Final Records 1852-1886
- Warren County, Court Records, 1852-1918
- Washington County, Justice of the Peace Records, 1783-1904
- Williams County, Civil and Criminal Court Cases, 1824-1900
- Wood County, Jail Register, 1864-1922
- Wyandot County, Jail Register, 1848-1868
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!