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Newark City, Ohio Criminal Records

In the City and Municipality of Newark, Newark criminal records detail an individual’s interactions with the city's criminal justice system, including arrests, charges, convictions, and detention. Local law enforcement agencies, such as the Newark Police Department, local courts, and detention facilities, primarily generate these records.

Newark City does not have a centralized repository for local criminal records. Instead, local criminal justice entities independently generate and maintain specific types of criminal records. For instance, the Newark Police Department maintains arrest records, while local court records contain comprehensive information about convictions and charges. Similarly, Licking County has no countywide repository for criminal records. However, the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) serves as the state-level custodian of criminal records.

What are Newark Public Records?

Per the Ohio Public Records Act (Ohio Revised Code § 149.43), Newark public records are official documents created, received, or maintained by any of the city’s public offices that detail the office’s activities. Any person, including but not limited to journalists, media outlets, governmental agencies, businesses, and public officials, may request these public records. Furthermore, requesters do not need to be Newark or Ohio residents or identify themselves to request a public record. In some cases, however, a requester’s identity may determine their level of access to some records.

Notwithstanding, the Ohio Public Records Act is not all-encompassing. The Act lists several exemptions that protect specific types of records from public access. Additionally, other state and federal laws may prohibit the release of certain records per R.C. § 149.43(A)(1)(v). Examples of these exempt records include, but are not limited to:

  • Medical records
  • Records of adoption proceedings
  • Records of probation and parole proceedings
  • Juvenile records
  • DNA records
  • Sealed or expunged records
  • Sensitive personal identifiers, such as Social Security Number (SSN).
  • Child care records under R.C. §5101.29
  • Confidential law enforcement investigatory records. These include records that reveal the identity of an uncharged suspect, confidential source, or witness, confidential investigatory techniques or procedures, and specific investigatory work product. Information whose release would endanger the life or physical safety of a crime victim, confidential informant, witness, or law enforcement personnel is also confidential.

Newark Crime Statistics

According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, 153 violent crimes and 693 property crimes were reported in Newark in 2025. Of the 153 violent crimes, 116 were aggravated assault, 26 were rape, and 11 were robberies. Meanwhile, larceny-theft had the highest frequency among property crime categories, with 550 incidents. Other offenses in the category include burglary (83), motor vehicle theft (60), and arson (6). Overall, the city had a crime rate of 1633.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, based on the city’s estimated population of 51,776. Newark is the county seat of Licking County, Ohio.

Are Newark Criminal Records Public?

It depends. Specific types of criminal records, such as arrest, conviction, and detention records, are subject to the Ohio Public Records Act. As a result, anyone may request these records from their respective custodians.

However, statewide criminal history records compiled by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) are not public. These records are made up of different criminal records reported to the BCI by criminal justice agencies across Ohio, including those in Newark. Generally, the BCI only releases criminal history records to authorized parties, such as the record’s subject.

How to Obtain Newark Police Reports and Arrest Records

Record seekers may request Newark police reports and arrest records online through the third-party public records request portal used by the Newark Police Department. They may use the portal by following these steps:

  • Step 1: Visit the Newark Police Department official website and select either “Public Records Request” or “Request Copy of a Police Report” options on the site’s home page
  • Step 2: Agree to the portal’s terms and conditions
  • Step 3: Select the report type. The “incident report” option is appropriate for police reports or arrest records requests.
  • Step 4: Requesters must provide their contact information (i.e., phone number and email)
  • Step 5: Provide general information about the incident, such as its occurrence date, time, and location, the name of the reporting officer, report number, and involved party’s name(s) and date of birth(s)
  • Step 6: Submit the request

Alternatively, interested persons may visit the Newark Police Department during regular office hours (8:00 am to 4:30, Monday through Friday) to request public police reports and arrest records. Similar to online requests, in-person requesters must provide sufficient information about the sought-after record to assist in its identification. The Newark Police Department is located at:

39 South 4th Street,

Newark, OH 43055

Phone: 740-670-7200

Note: The agency may charge requesters a nominal fee for furnishing copies of a police report or arrest record, while in-person inspection is typically free.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Newark

Newark does not have a municipal sex offender registry. Instead, inquirers may find information about sex offenders in Newark through the Licking County Sheriff’s Local Sex Offender Registry. Ohio Attorney General’s Office also provides a statewide Sex Offender Registry that members of the public may use to search for individuals who have been convicted of a sex-related crime in Ohio. These registries are searchable by offender’s address, name, city of residence, internet name, email address, or phone number. Lists of all non-compliant offenders in the county and the state are also published on the respective registries.

What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Newark?

In Newark, a public office may deny a request for criminal records for several reasons, including:

  • The record may not exist or has not yet been created
  • The record may be in another public office's custody
  • The record is sealed
  • The record has been destroyed or disposed of due to the office’s record retention schedule.

A public office may also deny a request if the requester failed to identify the record with “reasonable clarity”. In such cases, the public office will explain how it organizes and maintains its records and will allow the requester to revise and resubmit their request.

In all other cases, requesters may file a lawsuit in the Ohio Court of Claims or a mandamus action in a court of common pleas, court of appeals, or the Supreme Court of Ohio for a public office’s failure to comply with the Ohio Public Records Act. Before filing a mandamus action or lawsuit, the requester must serve a complaint (may also be filed online) on the public office and allow three (3) business days for the office to respond.

How to Expunge or Seal Newark Criminal Records

In Newark, a criminal record may be eligible for expungement or sealing provided it meets the eligibility requirements under ORC Chapter 2953. Generally, criminal records resulting from an arrest that did not result in charge(s) being filed are eligible for expungement, and the record holder may submit a written request for expungement to the Newark Police Department chief at:

39 S. Fourth St.

Newark, OH 43055

Phone number: 740-670-7214

Fax number: 740-349-1599

Email: emck@newarkohio.net

On the other hand, criminal records related to cases that were dismissed or where an offender was found not guilty, the grand jury issued a no-bill, or a pardon was issued are also eligible for expungement. Meanwhile, records of convictions for specific types of offenses may be eligible for expungement or sealing after certain waiting periods, including:

  • Minor misdemeanor: six (6) months
  • Misdemeanor: one year
  • Fourth or fifth degree felony: one year (sealing) and 11 years (expungement)
  • Third degree felony: three (3) years (sealing) and 13 years (expungement)

Eligible applicants must have no pending criminal charges and show they have been successfully rehabilitated to the court's satisfaction to apply to expunge or seal their conviction record. They may apply by completing the appropriate request form (Expungement of Charge or Conviction Application or Expungement of Non-Conviction Application) and filing it with the Licking County Court of Common Pleas. Note: Applications are subject to a $50 filing fee, but this fee may be waived by completing a poverty affidavit.