Adams County Released Inmates
Adams County released inmates records are kept by the sheriff's office in West Union. The county sits in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. If you need to find someone who was booked into the Adams County Jail or who has been released, the sheriff's office is your first stop. You can call them or go in person. For people sent to state prison from Adams County, the ODRC Offender Search is a free online tool that tracks current and past inmates. This page covers all the ways to search for released inmates in Adams County, Ohio.
Adams County Overview
Adams County Released Inmates Jail
The Adams County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail in West Union. This is where people arrested in Adams County are booked and held. The jail houses inmates charged with misdemeanor or felony offenses. Some are waiting for trial. Others are serving short sentences. When an inmate finishes their time or posts bond, the sheriff's office processes the release. All booking and release data stays on file at the jail.
You can reach the Adams County Sheriff's Office for inmate information. The office provides lookup services through its website and by phone.
The sheriff's office keeps records on every person who comes through the jail. That includes booking date, charges, bond amount, and custody status. When someone gets released, the date and terms of release go into the file too.
| Office | Adams County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 206 N. Main Street, West Union, OH 45693 |
| Phone | (937) 544-2317 |
| Website | adamscountysheriff.org |
Adams County also takes part in the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail system. This regional facility serves multiple counties including Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Jackson, Morgan, Perry, and Vinton. If an Adams County inmate is housed at the regional jail, their records may be accessed through that system as well.
Search Adams County Released Inmates
There are a few ways to look up released inmates in Adams County. The sheriff's office website has an inmate search or jail roster section. You enter a first and last name. Results show booking info, charges, and custody status for current inmates. For people who have already been released, you may need to call the office or visit in person to get details.
The state-level search is another option. The ODRC Offender Search covers anyone sent to an Ohio state prison from Adams County. It is free. You can search by name, offender number, or county of commitment. The system shows current and past inmates, including those who have been released, paroled, or placed on post-release control. It also lists mugshots, criminal charges, and sentence details.
For a broader search, the Ohio.gov offender search portal links to the same ODRC tool. It notes that the state system only tracks prison inmates. For county jail data, you go to the Adams County Sheriff.
Note: The ODRC search works best when you keep search criteria broad and then narrow down if you get too many results.
Adams County Court Records
The Adams County Clerk of Courts keeps criminal case records for the county. These files include charges, court dates, and disposition information. When a case ends in a conviction and jail time, the court record ties directly to the inmate's booking and release data at the jail. You can visit the clerk's office in person at 110 W. Main Street in West Union.
Court records show the full timeline of a case. You see when charges were filed, what happened at each hearing, and how the judge ruled. If the person went to jail or prison, the sentence details are in the file. For released inmates, the disposition record confirms the outcome of the case and any supervision terms that came with the release.
Common Pleas Court handles felony cases in Adams County. Municipal courts deal with misdemeanors. Both types of cases can result in jail time. The clerk's office can pull records by name or case number. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, most court records are public. You do not need to be a party to the case to ask for copies.
Ohio Laws on Released Inmates
Ohio law governs how released inmates records are handled across all 88 counties, including Adams. Under ORC Section 5120.21, the ODRC must keep a record for every inmate showing their name, residence, sex, age, date of entry, and the date and terms of discharge. These records are not fully public, but the department can share the inmate's name, convictions, photo, supervision status, current and past facility placements, and disciplinary history.
The Ohio Public Records Act in ORC Section 149.43 gives anyone the right to request government records. No ID required. No reason needed. Public offices must respond promptly during business hours and provide copies at cost. But inmate medical records, security plans, and victim impact statements are kept confidential. In Adams County, you can send a public records request to the sheriff's office or the county government at adamscountyoh.gov for released inmates data.
The county government offices are at 150 W. Main Street in West Union. They can direct you to the right department for any records request related to released inmates in Adams County.
Adams County Released Inmates Supervision
When someone leaves the Adams County Jail, it can happen in a few ways. Bond release is the most common for people awaiting trial. They post bail and go home until their court date. Time served release means the person finished their sentence. Transfer to state prison happens when someone gets a felony conviction with a long sentence. In that case, the ODRC takes over custody.
Parole is a release from state prison by the Adult Parole Authority. Under ORC Section 2967.01, a parolee stays under supervision until they receive a final release. Post-release control is a similar period of supervision after a prison term ends. Both are managed by the Adult Parole Authority, not the Adams County Sheriff. If you are tracking a released inmate who is on parole or post-release control in Adams County, the ODRC search is the tool to use.
Community control is Ohio's version of probation. Under ORC Section 2929.15, a judge can sentence a felony offender to community control for up to five years instead of prison. A local probation officer handles supervision. If the person violates the terms, they can be sent to prison.
Adams County Inmate Notification
VINE is a free service that lets you track an inmate's custody status in Adams County. You sign up for alerts by phone, text, or email. When the inmate's status changes, you get a notification. That includes release from jail or transfer to another facility. VINE covers county jails and state prisons across Ohio. It is open to anyone, not just crime victims.
The Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation also provides criminal background check services. The fee is $22 per request. You need the person's full name, a valid address, a complete set of fingerprints, and a signed consent form. BCI has offices in London, Bowling Green, Richfield, and Youngstown.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Adams County. If you are not sure where someone was arrested or held, check the neighboring county as well.