Search Free Stark County Public Information & Records

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Free Stark County Public Records Search

Access Stark County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Access to Stark County public records is granted under Ohio’s Sunshine Laws and anyone can access them for free through the local agencies below.

No matter the reason for the search. all the following public information and more can be searched using free online databases, in-person and over the phone:

• Arrests
• Marital certificates
• Criminal case information
• Prisoner details
• Probation status
• Property records
• Warrants

Many of these are classified as Stark County judicial records, but background checks can be performed to track down further information on anyone local.

Particular records can only be viewed in custodians’ records offices, which may charge nominal fees for research and duplication, but most information is available at no cost to the searchers. Most of Stark County records can be requested by phone, mail, email, and via request forms online.

Ohio law defines a public record as a document, device, or item that comes under the jurisdiction of any public office and its subdivisions. This includes documents about how the public office is organized and functions, and its policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities. Public records can be in any physical form, including electronic records.

Public records are available for inspection to any person or organization that asks for them by phone, mail, email, submitting a specific website request form, or in person during office hours. People who ask to see public records do not have to provide a reason.

Stark County does not have a general public records repository. Its Records Center archives public records from departments that administer the county’s general funds. These documents include administrative documents, journal entries, fiscal records, and appearance dockets.

How To Look Up Arrest Records & Mugshots in Stark County Ohio

Arrest records and mug shots are considered public records in Stark County and throughout Ohio.

While everyone has the right to request a free public records search, there are no defined timeframes to fulfill requests. This makes online searching through a public index, when available, the quickest way to obtain them.

At this time, Stark County jail records do not provide arrest records and mugshots through publicly-available databases.

However, anyone looking to find someone’s mugshot taken for Stark County bookings can view and retrieve one from the appropriate Stark County law enforcement records office. Visitors can also look up someone’s criminal record. Records can be viewed for free and photographed.

There are small fees to obtain reproductions for most records.

Following Ohio law, requests can be sent via a web form, email, phone request, and US mail from the records office within the Stark County Sheriff’s Office and the Police Department records offices in Alliance, Canton, and Massillon.¹

Track Down Someone Who Was Arrested in Stark County Ohio

The Stark County Sheriff and the police departments of Canton, Alliance, and Massillon maintain public records offices with the most current arrest information. These offices are open to the members of the public, who can also obtain copies of arrest information on specific people for a fee.

Arrest information for persons facing criminal charges are Stark County court records and can be viewed on the County Court of Common Pleas Criminal Justice Information System database.² Users can search the database as a guest using criteria like last name, case number, and Social Security number.

Find Arrest Information & Police Reports via Law Enforcement Agencies in Stark County

There are four law enforcement agencies that create Stark County arrest records: the Stark County Sheriff, and the police departments in the cities of Alliance, Canton, and Massillon. All have records offices that act upon requests for arrest information and police (called incident) reports. Using online request forms can expedite the process.

Stark County Sheriff – The Stark County Sheriff’s Records Office is open to the public from 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday. Appointments are not necessary. Records can be photocopied for a fee or photographed for free.

Stark County Sheriff
4500 Atlantic Blvd., NE
Canton, OH 44705

Phone: (330)430-3800
Fax: (330)451-3937
Email: [email protected]

The email box is not monitored at all times, so it may be worthwhile to call the office. Incident reports can be requested through a web portal as well.³

City of Canton Police  – The City of Canton Police Records Office fulfills requests for individual arrest records.⁴ There is a $1.00 fee for each copy of each arrest record to cover various dissemination services and other expenses.

The Police Records Room is open from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm and is closed on holidays. Copies of other records related to law enforcement activity, including citations and call logs for a particular address, cost $1.00 each.

Canton Police Records Room
221 3rd St SW
Canton, OH 44702

Phone: 330-489-3127
Fax: 330-489-3264
Email: [email protected]

Or, request a Canton incident report online.⁵

City of Alliance Police — The Alliance Police Department’s online directory of Police Reports can be searched for free.⁶ It may take a few days for reports to enter the system to retrieve. Please note that the website is not a secure site.

The Records Department is open from 9 am to 4 pm. Users who want copies of police records are requested to fill out a police records request form that can be sent via email or retrieved from the office. Record requests can also be printed and mailed anonymously to the Records Office using the pdf form at the bottom of the webpage.

City of Alliance Police
Alliance Freedom Center
470 East Market Street
Alliance, OH 44601

Several records department staff can be called or emailed to respond to specific questions.

City of Massillon Police Department — The Massillon Police Department Records Office is normally open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm except holidays.⁷ Visitors who plan to come to the office should first call 330-830-1739.

Reports are usually available within one day and can be accessed in person at the office for five cents per page paid in cash. Users who want reports mailed to them should provide a self-addressed stamped envelope and pay a $2 fee plus 50 cents per page. Questions can be sent via email to the Records Specialist at [email protected] or [email protected].

Massillon Police Department
2 James Duncan Plaza, S.E., Suite 1
Massillon, Ohio 44646

Incident records are temporarily unavailable online.

How To Access Stark County OH Criminal History Information

One way to conduct a free criminal record check in Stark County is through its Criminal Justice Information Website (CJIS) database. This database holds docket records for the County’s Court of Common Pleas, including its Criminal and Domestic Relations Divisions.

Criminal cases brought by the cities of Alliance, Canton, and Massillon are also on this database. Use to find out if a person has been charged with a crime anywhere within Stark County.

Search Criminal Records & Cases Via the Court of Common Pleas

The Criminal Justice Information System database creates and updates Stark County criminal records of individuals who have come before the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas.⁸

CJIS tracks every step of the criminal justice process:

• Arrests and warrants for arrest
• Bond information
• Case assignment to one of the court’s five judges
• Evidence (DNA)
• Hearings and court dates
• Pretrial meetings
• Subpoena and service dates

Use CJIS to conduct a simple and advanced Stark County case search.

Click on the Search tool in the left sidebar to do a more targeted simple search using the drop-down boxes to specify the court a case was heard in and type of case – Civil, Criminal, or Traffic.

The Search tool also provides access to more advanced search criteria. Click on the Advanced tab and check off items such as name, Social Security Number, court case number, and other identifiers.

How To Check for Arrest Warrants in Stark County Ohio

The Criminal Division for the Stark County Clerk of Courts prepares and schedules arrest warrants and summonses for criminal cases. Copies of individual Stark County warrants can be obtained by contacting the Division office at (330)451-7929 or emailing [email protected] and providing the name of the individual in question.

The Stark County Sheriff also keeps a Most Wanted page with links to submit tips.⁹

How To Perform a Probation Search in Stark County Ohio

The Stark County Court of Common Pleas established a General Supervision Probation Division to oversee adult probationers through a structured Intensive Supervision Program.¹⁰ The program can be contacted to confirm the participation of individuals.

Stark County Intensive Supervision Program
201 Cleveland Ave SW, Suite 103
Canton, OH 44702

Director Contact:

Phone: 330-451-7835
Fax: 330-451-7745
Email: [email protected]

Day Reporting Program Director Contact:

Phone: 330-451-7036, Ext 5112
Fax: 330-451-7557
Email: [email protected]

The City of Canton runs its own probation program.

City of Canton Probation Office
218 Cleveland Avenue SW
Canton, OH 44702

Phone: 330-489-3218
Fax: 330-580-1956

The Ohio Offender Search database can be searched for free to find records for offenders residing in Stark County who are currently on parole.¹¹ Each screen is linked to more information about the parolee’s case.

Select Stark County from the drop-down list for the County of Commitment and click APA Supervision for Status to see all people currently on parole in the county. To see Stark County residents who are on parole as well, choose Stark for Residential  County.

The listing shows photos, prison number, date of birth, status, and offense.

Click on the photo or number to pull up an individual’s record. The record includes additional details about the parolee, including the institution where the individual served time and details about the offense itself.

The page includes links to the state law the offender violated, sentencing ranges, and explanations about how good time credits are earned and month conversion rates.

How To Conduct Background Checks in Stark County Ohio

Potential employers in Stark County can request background checks run by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI). BCI recommends using local authorized businesses to coordinate the process. Search the WebCheck Community Listing database by county or ZIP code.¹³

Many listings display the cost for background checks by the BCI or FBI (or both), hours of operation, whether an appointment is needed, and accessibility options. Some bundle fees for employers who need to conduct both BCI and FBI background checks.

Respond to an Employee Background Check Request in Stark County – The Stark County Sheriff’s Office provides civilian fingerprinting services for people who need to undergo a pre-employment background check.

Civilians must first complete a WebCheck waiver that can be downloaded from the Sheriff’s webpage on Civilian Fingerprinting and Sheriff’s Location webpages.

Among other questions, it asks for the Ohio Revised Code that requires the background check. This information should be provided by the potential employer. It also asks for the type of background check needed: by Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) or nationwide through the FBI.

Fingerprinting through the Sheriff’s Office is performed at two locations:

4500 Atlantic Blvd NE
Canton, OH 44646

Office Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

143 1St SE
Massillon, OH 44646

Office Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

A fingerprinting location map page should be used to make an appointment by clicking on the arrows next to each site address below the map. (Two offices are located at the same site.) The WebCheck Waiver must be completed before making an appointment. Wednesdays are reserved for persons who need to be fingerprinted for employment reasons.

Fingerprint charges through the Stark County Sheriff are $40 for a BCI check and $40 for an FBI check.

The City of Massillon Police will only fingerprint through court order.

How To Perform a Ohio Criminal Record Search Utilizing State & Federal Agencies

Anyone can ask the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) to provide a statewide criminal record and a national one regarding an individual’s potential criminal activity. One way is to use a vendor who participates in the Bureau’s WebCheck program to gather and process paperwork.

Once a request is sent to BCI, it checks for fingerprints obtained from potential employees who have submitted fingerprints through an authorized party. Their prints are run through a database of criminals’ fingerprints to identify any matches.

BCI also facilitates national background checks conducted through the FBI. However, Ohio law only allows it to process FBI checks for specific types of employment.

The state keeps a search tool to find areas where sex offenders reside.¹⁴

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) keeps an Inmate Locator for every person who has been incarcerated in the federal prison system since 1982.¹⁵

Inmates can also be searched by numbers assigned by the BOP, the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), or an INS number assigned by the Department of Homeland Security for non-US citizens.

Listings for current prisoners include a link to the website for the facility where they are incarcerated. Ohio has two federal prisons.

Click on any listing to see details about the inmate’s age, race, sex, and release date.

The Inmate Locator does not provide information on the whereabouts of people who have been released from custody.

How To Review Court Records in Stark County Ohio

Court records for Stark County’s Court of Common Pleas can be searched for free using the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) database.

The database also hosts court records from the Municipal Courts of Canton, Alliance, and Massillon, the three major cities in the county. It’s one of the most useful tools for searching Stark County public records, and follows all civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases.

Start by entering a name, case number, or social security number of the person in question.

A random search of a common last name brings up a list with details like the court that provided the record, a case number, the type of case, and charges.

A simple search defaults to show all records. CJIS can also be searched by the type of case – civil, criminal, traffic, or a combination of all three by using the Search button on the homepage’s  left sidebar.

Review the results for the person in question; if the name comes up, click on the case number to see the docket report.

Click on the Advanced Search tab to find a menu of search options:

• Last Name
• Company Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• Case Number
• Case Type
• Court
• Attorney Registration Number

Probate Court: The Stark County Probate Court database can be searched by name or case number for information on virtually all probate issues, including disposing property left by a person who has died, supervising trusts and wills, and overseeing guardianships. This probate database can be searched by name or case number. Please note that the website is not secure.¹⁶

Probate records can also be viewed in the court’s record office and photocopied for ten cents per page.

Stark County Probate Court
110 Central Plaza South, Suite 501
Canton, Ohio 44702

Telephone: (330)451-7755
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:15 pm

Court of Appeals: Stark County is home to Ohio’s Fifth District Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from defendants or litigants challenging a lower court’s decision.

Recent Fifth District opinions are available online and can be searched by the case file name or date.¹⁷ The Court’s Schedule of Cases provides documents submitted before oral argument, as well as documents related to past cases going back to 2015.

All oral arguments before the court are recorded on Zoom for audio retrieval. Any member of the public can request to hear recorded arguments by emailing the Court the day after arguments at [email protected] to get the link or by calling the Court at 330451-7765.

The public may attend court proceedings in person, provided they meet courthouse security and other requirements.

Court of Appeals
110 Central Plaza South, Suite 320
Canton, OH 44702

How To View or Obtain Stark County Vital Records (Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death)

These Stark County public records can also be acquired from the county and state health departments and local offices that host vital statistics.

How to Obtain Birth and Death Certificates in Stark County

All original birth and death certificates are on file with the state Department of Health. Official copies these certificates in Stark County are maintained by four health departments that also process requests for certified copies:

• The Stark County Health Department
• Alliance City Health Department
• Canton City Health Department
• Massillon City Health Department

Each health department maintains death records for every person declared dead within its jurisdiction. This address lookup tool determines which department would store a death record according to location.¹⁸

Ohio law allows anyone to obtain a certificate of death for anyone who died in the state without obtaining the social security number of the deceased. Certificates issued in response to this type of request do not include social security numbers.

Stark County Health Department – Copies of certified birth and death certificates can be purchased online from the County through a private agency the County Health Department has contracted with. Certificates cost $25 each, plus a $4 processing fee for credit card payments. Standard shipping charges cost $1.50, and priority shipping is $9.95.

The Stark County Coroner keeps a searchable database of county certificates of death mailed out within the past 90 days.

The database can be organized by any of the headers shown above.

Alliance City Health Department —The Alliance City Health Department maintains records of all births and deaths that occur in the city. Certified copies are available for $25 and can be ordered over the phone by calling 330-821-7373, extensions 10 or 11. Payment through Visa, MasterCard, and Discovery credit card are accepted.

Applications can be sent through the mail by downloading an application from the city’s webpage for death and birth certificates.²⁰ Please note the webpage is not secure.

City of Canton Public Health — Canton’s Public Health Department keeps records of all births in Ohio, and death records for people who died in the city itself and can process requests for certified copies online. Each certificate costs $25 each.

There is a credit card fee for $2 or 3% of the total order, depending on the greater amount. Certificates can be expedited via UPS for an additional $19.

Birth and death certificates can also be sent in by mail by downloading the Vital Statistics Division mail-in form.

Certificates can also be purchased at the Vital Statistics office.

Canton City Public Health
420 Market Ave. N.
Canton, Ohio 33702

Hours: 8am – 4:30pm M-F
Phone: 330-489-3231
Fax: 330-489-3335

In-person orders can be paid for by cash, credit card, personal checks (no starter checks), and through contactless payment methods.

Massillon City Health Department — The Massillon City Health Department’s Vital Statistics Office processes requests for a certificate of birth for anyone born in Ohio, and death certificates of anyone who died within City limits. The cost is $25 per certificate.

Download an application for certified copies from the website to mail in with a money order, bank check, or personal check accompanied by a copy of a valid ID.

Requests can also be made in person at the office.

Massillon City Health Department
611 Erie St. S.
Massillon, Ohio 44646

Personal checks shown with valid ID are accepted, as well as bank checks, money orders, and Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards. There is a small fee to use credit cards.

The Department does not have records for deaths at the now-closed Doctor’s Hospital or at nursing homes. These records can be obtained through the Stark County Health Department.

Genealogy researchers can get historical records from The University of Akron’s Archival Services including:

• Original birth and death records from 1867 – 1908
• Death index to 1940
• Marriage dockets from 1809 – 1901
• Marriage index from 1809 – 1857 (approximately)

Contact:

University of Akron, Archival Services
Polsky Building, Room LL10
225 S. Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44325-1702

330-972-7670
[email protected]

Search Stark County Marital Records (Marriage, Divorce & Dissolution of Marriage) Through the Stark County Probate Court

Unlike most probate services, the Stark County Probate Court records marriage, divorce, and birth records in addition to death records and wills and trusts. These items can be located through the Probate Court’s Case Search tool for free. However, a full name or case number may be required for search. Please note that this website is not secure.

Some browsers won’t work with an insecure website. It’s still possible to find out if someone is married by calling the court’s general number at 330-451-7755 and requesting a check for specific Stark County marriage records.

Interested parties could also mail a request to the address below or visit the courthouse in person at:

Stark County Probate Court
110 Central Plaza South
Ste. 501
Canton, OH 44702

Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:15 pm.

The Probate database goes back to April 23, 1986 and offers non-certified marriage certificates for just $1 and certified documents for $2.

The State Archivist handles the Probate Court’s oldest and historic documents to preserve them. Many vital records, including original birth certificates and death records from 1867-1908, are archived at the University of Akron.

The Stark County Public Library has birth records from 1867 – 1909, and death records from 1867 -1908 on microfilm, an old analog storage medium. Thankfully, the Library has also made a lot of historical data–including old Public Notices that often announce births and deaths–available to search by date online.

The Probate Court keeps a list of archived records available for public view at both the University and the Library.²¹

In addition, the Library’s Index Files link to dozens of old Stark County Public Records, including:

• Quaker membership lists, births, deaths, and marriages
• Stark County Republican newspaper’s index to births and deaths in the County
• Obituaries in various Canton newspapers from 1859 – 1865
• Stark County Pedigree charts
• Indexes to Notices in the Ohio (Canton) repository from 1815 – 2020

Find Stark County Birth & Death Information via the Ohio Department of Health

The Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, keeps a registry of all births and deaths in Ohio. This includes birth records from December 20, 1908, and death records from 1971, including fetal death records and stillborn certificates. Visit the Bureau’s How to Order Certificates web page for full information.²²

Fees for online, mail, and in-person orders:

• Certified birth, death, and fetal death records: $25
• Stillbirth certificate: No charge
• Heirloom birth certificates for genealogy purposes: $25
• Adoption file release: $20
• Acknowledgement of paternity: $7

Certified copies of birth, death, and Acknowledgement of Paternity records can be ordered online. Click on the applicable tab for specific information to provide with each order. Processing and delivery time takes about three weeks.

Use the Department’s online order form to mail in requests for certificates. Checks and money orders only are accepted. Please allow four to six weeks for processing and delivery.

In-person requests can be made at more than 100 locations in Ohio. Check this health department location map to find a location and get more information.

Ohio law allows death records older than 50 years and birth records older than 125 years to be transferred to the Ohio History Collection to be archived. The Collection has a searchable death records index for Ohio.

How To Access Stark County Property & Tax Records for Free

An online real estate database tracks property ownership and tax records in Stark County. The database is free to use.

There are several ways to search this database:

• Parcel ID
• Owner’s last name
• Full street address

Users can also retrieve bulk records by city, ZIP code, or both. The database allows wildcard searches using an asterisk (*) to substitute for letters. This is helpful when a name might be misspelled and possibly overlooked.

Clicking on any entry brings up a screen that shows a detailed record on the property, including:

• Property class
• Tax Roll
• Acreage
• Taxing District
• District Name
• Gross Tax Rate
• Effective Tax Rates
• Credits

A sidebar to the left of the record displays links to additional property data and history, such as tax details, special assessments, and the property’s values history.

An Overview of Citizens’ Rights & Using Stark County Public Records Responsibly

Ohio’s Public Records and Open Meetings Act, also known as “Sunshine Laws,” guides government offices on responding to records requests.²⁴

Public records document how a public office operates and its activities and includes decisions, functions, policies, and procedures. Records can be electronic (including email) and paper.

Additional laws allow certain records or parts of records to be withheld from public view or release by redacting (blackening out) certain parts. This includes trade secrets and social security numbers.

Personal Requests for Public Records — Persons who request public records for personal use should understand that they cannot use information provided for any kind of criminal activity, including harassment, intimidation, or stalking. They also cannot be used to make business-related decisions such as renting out a home.

While consent is not required by the person behind a Stark County public record, requesters should respect that person’s privacy.

Denials are accompanied with an explanation from the office acting upon the request.

Professional Requests for Public Records — Certain laws and agencies guide how public records can be used for business purposes:

• Ohio law prohibits questions about criminal activity on applications for employment in the public sector.
• The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates how consumer information is collected and shared.
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) addresses how background checks are performed.
• The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces anti-discrimination laws.

Employers and others considering background checks should read  FTC/EEOC guidance to understand their responsibilities.

Requests for public records should be detailed and submitted through the appropriate agency or office that created the record. Using web-based forms ensure that all necessary information is captured and goes to the appropriate place.

Expect to see more Stark County public records online in the future, and rely on the streamlined step-by-step instructions here to find them in person, by mail, or via other methods today.