Search Free Knox County Arrest Records & Mugshots (Resource)

Check out Knox County arrest records for free using the linked search tools and databases throughout this guided resource.

Online search tools and various record custodians offer details about local arrestees; you can learn about the charges that were brought against them, when they were arrested, and if they are currently in jail.

Government information is made available to citizens through the Ohio Public Records Act; this law requires agencies to make arrest records available for inspection and to make copies.

While citizens are afforded broad access to arrest records, knowing how to track them down is key. Rest assured that this article walks you through the most effective ways to obtain arrest records (and more) in Knox County, Ohio.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How Do I Access Recent Knox County Arrest Records & Mugshots for Free?

Arrest records are a valuable tool that can tell you a lot about a person’s current criminal situation.

Because of the Ohio Public Records Act, anyone who wants to can search this information with options like viewing the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Inmate List.^{1, 2} This is a PDF document that is uploaded online on a daily basis.

Since this is not a search tool, if you want to find someone on this inmate list, you have a couple of options. One is to scroll through the list as it is in alphabetical order by the person’s last name. You can also select “ctrl+F” while on the inmate list and use this function to search for a person by their name.

The inmate list provided by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office contains the person’s full name, mugshot, initial arrest date and hold reason (criminal statute violated). The last section on the inmate list is labeled “Charges for All Hold Reasons” and contains more specific information on the alleged crimes that were committed.

You can also submit a request for recent arrest information and other reports with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Records Division.³ You can submit an arrest record request via email to either [email protected] or [email protected].

For record requests from 1 -19 pages, there is no charge. For twenty pages or more, the cost is $0.10 per page. You can also request the information on a compact disc ($1.00), DVD ($2.00) or USB stick ($7.00).

Payment must be made before additional information is released and can be done by either check or money order.

For additional questions about making a request for arrest records, you can call their records divisions by phone at 740-399-3904. You can also go in person at the address below:

Knox County Sheriff’s Office
11540 Upper Gilchrist Rd.
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050

You may also want to consider contacting someone at the Knox County Jail Division, which is located at the same address as above.⁴ You can call them at 740-392-5245.

The above resources allow you to search broadly throughout an entire county. You also have the option of searching for arrest information with a city-run police department. This may be the preferred option if the matter is time-sensitive.

Often, arrest information takes a few days to get to the county agencies. Also, you may want to contact a local police department if they are the arresting agency and you need a detailed police report.

The largest city in Knox County is Mount Vernon. You can obtain arrest record information here through their Police Department. A citizen can make a request with the Mount Vernon Police Department for arrest information.⁵

A record request can be submitted by phone at 740-393-9532 or by email at [email protected]. You can also mail or make a request in person at the address below:

Mount Vernon Police Department
Records Office
5 N. Gay St.
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050

When you make a request, make sure you provide as much information as possible. This will include the name of the person arrested, the date it occurred, and any other information that will assist the department in locating your record. The Records Division is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

In addition to these tools, there are also certain third-party services, such as VINELink, that can help you access arrest records.

You now have all the tools you need to search for recent arrest records in Knox County. However, this information may lead you to want to know more about a person’s prior criminal history. In the section below, you can learn how to search a person’s criminal history and see whether or not they have been convicted of any crimes and related details.

How To Look Up Prior Crimes & Arrests Made in Knox County Ohio

Searching prior crimes can provide you with information that you would not see if you only performed an arrest records search.

To access a person’s record of prior crimes and arrests, you can search online or in person with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office with the tools already provided. You can also access this information through the court that adjudicated the matter. In Knox County, two different courts handle criminal matters.

The Knox County Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over criminal felony cases. Felonies are serious crimes, the guilt of which will lead to a sentence greater than one year. You can access criminal records with the Court of Common Pleas Search Tool.⁶

This is a general search tool for all cases handled by the Court of Common Pleas, so you have to make sure to set your case search parameters appropriately.

You can use this search tool to access criminal records by name, case number, case type or the defendant’s attorney. The “case type” is a great option if you are not sure of the person’s name. Using this option allows you to narrow down your search even further to a specific city in Knox County.

However, most people will be conducting a name-based search, so the next steps will walk you through that process. The first filter you need to choose is “criminal” from the case type. Next, you can narrow down your search to a specific case status.

This is helpful if you only want to search either active or older cases.

Next, you will enter the defendant’s full name. You can also set a date range for when the case was filed, when the defendant was born or when they died. Once you enter your search criteria you can then go to the results page.

The results page will provide you with the following information for all matching criminal cases:

• Party’s Name
• Date of Birth (DOB)
• Party Type
• Case Number
• File Date
• Initiating Action (describes charges)
• Case Status

If you want to view a person’s complete criminal record you can click on the case number. The online criminal record is broken down into the following sections:

Party: This section provides you with the defendant’s full name, address and any aliases. You can also view the contact information of the attorney for both the defense and prosecution.

Charge: Here, you can find a description of the charge, the degree of the offense and the criminal statute associated with the crime. You can also view the disposition (e.g., convicted, not guilty) and the date that it occurred.

Docket: The docket provides a list of every action that was taken in a criminal case in chronological order. This includes warrants, an indictment, arrest and every action all the way through to the sentencing of the defendant.

Event: The list of events includes the date, court location, type of court event, judge and the result. This section focuses on the various hearings that have taken place for a criminal matter.

Financial: Any fees or costs associated with the case will be provided here. This may include filing and public defender fees.

Disposition: This last section includes the final verdict in a criminal case, the date it occurred and the judge that handed down the verdict.

For additional criminal records or questions you may have, you can contact the Court of Common Pleas in Knox County by phone at 740-393-6777 or in person at the address below:

Knox County Court of Common Pleas
111 E. High St. 
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050

The Knox County Court of Common Pleas is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Mount Vernon Municipal Court is responsible for handling traffic cases and misdemeanors throughout Knox County.

You can use their Case Lookup Tool to access criminal records online. To do so, on the home page, select “TR/CR Case Lookup.” This is the option you need to select to look up criminal cases.

From there, you can search available criminal records by a person’s name (including a phonetic spelling option), case or date of birth.

The results page will provide you with matching names and their case number, date of birth, offense description, date filed and current status. You can then click on any record to view additional information. This will allow you to view additional details on the charges brought against the defendant, arrest information and sentencing conditions.

For additional information on criminal records, you can contact the Mount Vernon Municipal Court by phone at 740-393-9510 or by going in person to the address below:

Mount Vernon Municipal Court
5 N. Gay St., Third Fl.
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050

If you are not sure what court handled a criminal matter, you can always start out by contacting the Knox County Clerk of Court. They are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can call them at 740-393-6788 or go in person to the address below:

Knox County Clerk of Courts
117 E. High St, Ste. 201
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050

At the state level, you can access prior crime and arrest information with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections Offender Search Tool.⁹

You can use this search tool to find criminal records of incarcerated and released inmates throughout the state by their name or inmate number. When conducting a name search, you can choose to search all records, those currently incarcerated, individuals under supervision or individuals with warrants out for their arrest.

The results page will provide you with an offender’s name, inmate number and current status (e.g., incarcerated, released, etc.). You can click on their name to get detailed criminal information. The top of the page contains the person’s mugshot along with a summary that includes their date of birth, sex, race, admission date and institution status.

Below that is an itemized list of offense information with all Ohio convictions against the person. The offense information includes the following information:

• Charge (including criminal statute)
• Degree of Offense
• Docket Number
• Judge
• County Where the Case was Tried
• Sentence Date
• Sentence Length (minimum and maximum)
• Jail Time Credit

Below that is a section on sentencing information that includes their overall sentence length and the expected date for their release and parole eligibility.

This wraps up everything you need to know to search for either current arrest or prior crimes. In the next section, you will learn the options you have for posting bail for someone who was arrested in Knox County.

How Do I Post Bail for Someone Arrested in Knox County?

If you know someone who is currently under arrest, depending on the circumstances, they may be able to post bail so that they can stay out of jail while their case is being adjudicated. If a person is unable to post bail, they will remain in jail throughout their criminal trial.

If you want to assist someone with posting bail, it’s important to carefully consider your options. When bail is posted, it is returned to the person or company that submitted it as long as the defendant abides by the court-ordered requirements for their release. If they do not abide by those requirements (e.g., fail to show up for a hearing), that money or collateral may not be returned.

Your first option is the self-bail process, which is when you post the entirety of the bail with your own funds. If available, you can use a cash bond to post your bail amount.

Alternatively, you can post a property bond. This requires you to sign over a piece of property as collateral to cover the bail amount.

Your second option is to use a bail bondsman. This option is less risky but comes with non-refundable fees. When using a bail bondsman, you will pay them a standard fee (typically 10% or the bail amount set), and they will handle the rest.

The bail bondsman will post the bail with the court, and they will be responsible if the defendant does not abide by any court-ordered requirements.

These are the options you need to consider when determining how you want to post bail for someone who has recently been arrested.

As you have learned, there are multiple ways to access Knox County arrest records and prior crimes for free; with the tools provided in this article, you will be able to quickly find the arrest information you seek.