Search Cleveland Background Checks
Cleveland residents looking for a background check have several options in the city and across Cuyahoga County. The BCI WebCheck system is the main way to get a criminal history report in Cleveland. Fingerprints are scanned at authorized locations and sent to BCI for processing. Cleveland also has private fingerprinting companies that offer both BCI and FBI checks with fast turnaround. The Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office, and area police departments all play a role in the records side of the background check process. This page covers the key resources for getting a background check done in Cleveland.
Cleveland Background Check Overview
Cleveland Background Check Locations
Cleveland has multiple WebCheck locations where you can get fingerprinted for a background check. The Ohio Attorney General's WebCheck page maintains the full list of approved providers. Some are run by law enforcement. Others are private companies. Each one can submit your prints to BCI electronically. No ink is involved. The scan takes just a few minutes.
The Cleveland Heights Police Department is one local option. They process BCI and FBI WebChecks as well as FD258 ink fingerprint cards. Walk-in times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM and again at 4:30 PM. Call before you go to confirm hours. This is a popular location and times can shift.
The Cleveland Heights Police Department fingerprinting page is shown below, where you can find walk-in hours and service details for background checks near Cleveland.
This page has the most current schedule for walk-in fingerprinting in the Cleveland Heights area.
Private Fingerprinting in Cleveland
Collaborative Fingerprinting Services is a private provider in the Cleveland area that offers both BCI and FBI checks. They use a glass scanner for electronic WebCheck submissions. An Ohio BCI background check costs $40. An FBI check is $45. If you need both, the combined price is $80. They also do ink fingerprinting for out-of-state agencies like FINRA and FDLE.
One thing that sets this company apart is mobile fingerprinting. Their technicians come to your location. This is useful if you need prints done for a group or can not travel to a fixed site. Call ahead to set up a mobile visit.
Here is the Collaborative Fingerprinting Services website, a Cleveland-area provider handling BCI and FBI background check submissions.
Bookmark this site if you want a private option outside of law enforcement offices in Cleveland.
Note: Cleveland background check results typically arrive in four to five days for clean records, but cases with a criminal history can take four to six weeks.
Cleveland Police Records Access
The Cleveland Division of Police handles all police records for the city. Incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records can be requested through the Records Division. The address is 1300 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44113. Non-emergency calls go to (216) 621-1234. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or through authorized channels. The department works with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office for certain background check services that extend beyond city limits.
Ohio's public records law, ORC 149.43, gives anyone the right to request records from a public office. You do not need to state your name or reason. Cleveland police must respond within a reasonable time. Some records are exempt from release. Investigatory records, sealed cases, and juvenile files fall outside the public access rules.
Cuyahoga County Background Check Services
The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement and records services for the entire county, including Cleveland. The Records Division keeps arrest records, incident reports, and inmate information. Background checks and fingerprinting are available through the Sheriff's Office at 1215 W 3rd St, Cleveland, OH 44113. Phone: (216) 443-6000. Sex offender registration and warrant information are also accessible online through the county website.
Under ORC 109.572, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation sets the rules for criminal records checks in Ohio. This statute defines when fingerprinting is required and what offenses may appear on a report. Cleveland and Cuyahoga County both follow these state rules. BCI processes about a million background checks each year statewide. Results go directly to the requesting agency, not to the person who was fingerprinted.
Cleveland Background Check Fees
Costs vary by location in Cleveland. Here is a general breakdown:
- BCI check only: $22 to $40
- FBI check only: $24 to $50
- Combined BCI and FBI: $46 to $91
The state base fee for a mailed fingerprint card is $22 through BCI's e-Payment system. WebCheck vendors add their own service charges, which is why prices differ. Collaborative Fingerprinting Services charges $80 for a combined check. Other locations may be more or less. Always confirm the total cost and accepted payment methods before your visit. Some places take only cash. Others accept cards.
The Ohio Attorney General's Sunshine Laws page explains how public records access works across the state, including in Cleveland. This resource covers the rules that govern what records are open and which ones are protected.
Cuyahoga County Resources
Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County. For more details on county-wide background check services and court records, see our Cuyahoga County background check page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Cleveland with background check resources include Parma, which is just south of the city and also in Cuyahoga County. Lakewood and Euclid are nearby Cuyahoga County cities with their own police departments. Strongsville is another option in the county. To the south, Akron in Summit County and Canton in Stark County both have local background check services.