Warrants are public records in Henry County, Ohio, pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code § 149.43). This legislation establishes that government records shall be accessible to the public to maintain transparency and accountability in governmental operations. The Act provides citizens with the right to request access to various records, including warrants, unless specific statutory exemptions apply.
In Henry County, warrant records are maintained by the Henry County Sheriff's Office and the Henry County Clerk of Courts. These records are available for public inspection during regular business hours. The accessibility of warrant information serves to inform citizens about legal proceedings within the county and allows individuals to verify their legal status regarding any potential outstanding warrants.
The Ohio Supreme Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access court records, including warrants, as established in State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer v. Winkler (2004), which affirmed that court records are presumptively open to public inspection.
Warrant records maintained by Henry County authorities typically contain the following information:
Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 2935.09, warrants must contain sufficient information to identify the individual and specify the offense for which the person is being sought.
Members of the public may utilize several no-cost methods to determine if warrants exist in Henry County:
Individuals seeking warrant information should be prepared to provide proper identification and the full name of the person for whom they are searching. Under Ohio Administrative Code 4501:2-10-06, certain identifying information may be redacted from public records to protect privacy interests.
The Henry County Sheriff's Office is the primary agency responsible for executing warrants within the county jurisdiction. Sheriff warrants are official documents issued by a judge or magistrate that authorize law enforcement officers to take specific actions, such as arresting an individual or searching a property.
The Sheriff's Office maintains a comprehensive database of all active warrants issued within Henry County. These warrants are categorized as follows:
The Henry County Sheriff's Office, located at 123 East Washington Street, Napoleon, OH 43545, processes and serves these warrants in accordance with Ohio Revised Code § 2935.12, which governs the execution of warrants by peace officers. The Sheriff's Records Division can be contacted at (419) 592-8010 for information regarding the warrant process.
To determine if a warrant exists in one's name in Henry County as of 2025, individuals may utilize several official channels:
Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 2935.27, individuals with outstanding warrants may face additional penalties for failure to respond to the warrant. Therefore, it is advisable to regularly verify one's status, particularly if there is reason to believe a warrant may have been issued.
The verification of outstanding warrants in Henry County may be accomplished through several authorized methods:
In accordance with Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(8), individuals who are incarcerated may have limited access to public records, including warrant information. Such requests must demonstrate that the information sought is necessary to support a justiciable claim.
Individuals seeking to access warrant records in Henry County may utilize the following resources:
Henry County Clerk of Courts 660 North Perry Street Napoleon, OH 43545 (419) 592-9841
Henry County Sheriff's Office 123 East Washington Street Napoleon, OH 43545 (419) 592-8010
The Henry County Child Support Enforcement Agency, located at 104 E. Washington St., Suite 100, Napoleon, OH 43545, may also maintain records related to warrants issued for non-payment of child support. This agency can be contacted at (419) 592-0926.
When requesting warrant records, members of the public should be aware that certain information may be redacted pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(A)(1), which exempts confidential law enforcement investigatory records from disclosure. Additionally, records related to juvenile offenders are generally not available to the public under Ohio Revised Code § 2151.14.