Search Perry County Background Check
Perry County background check services operate out of New Lexington, the county seat. The Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Courts both play roles in providing criminal history records and public records access. If you need a background check in Perry County, the Sheriff's Office handles fingerprinting and local checks while the Clerk of Courts maintains court case records. Wes Harlan serves as Clerk of Courts, and the office is located at 105 North Main Street in New Lexington. The WebCheck system is available for electronic BCI and FBI background checks.
Perry County Background Check Overview
Perry County Criminal History Checks
The Perry County Sheriff's Office handles local criminal history checks and fingerprinting. Local checks cover Perry County arrest and booking records. They won't show court outcomes from the Common Pleas or Municipal courts. For that, you go through the Clerk of Courts office. A BCI state check searches the full Ohio criminal database. An FBI check covers the national system. Most people needing a thorough background check in Perry County will want both levels.
The Perry County Ohio official website lists county offices and services. The Commissioners meet every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. at 212 South Main Street in New Lexington. County government is small here, so most things happen in the same building complex. Background check requests start at the Sheriff's Office, which is nearby.
Bring a valid photo ID and know your reason code under ORC 109.572.
Background Check Fees in Perry County
A BCI check is $22 through the state ePayment system with mailed cards. At the Perry County Sheriff's Office in New Lexington, fees usually range from $27 to $37 for a state-level check. FBI checks cost $24 to $50. Combined BCI and FBI checks run between $46 and $91 total. Cash and money orders are the standard payment. Some sites may take cards, but it is best to call the Perry County Sheriff's Office first to verify.
Fees go to the provider at the time of fingerprinting. They are non-refundable.
Perry County Public Records Access
Ohio law gives you wide access to public records. Under ORC 149.43, you can request records from any government office without identifying yourself. The Perry County Clerk of Courts office at 105 North Main Street, P.O. Box 67, New Lexington, Ohio 43764, maintains Common Pleas Court and Municipal Court records. You can reach the office at 740-342-1025 or by fax at 740-342-5527. The email is wes.harlan@perrycountyohio.net.
Court records include criminal cases, civil filings, and traffic matters. These add detail to a background check. If an arrest shows up, the court records reveal whether it ended in a conviction or not. The Ohio Sunshine Laws page explains the full scope of your access rights under Ohio law.
Note: Perry County Clerk of Courts records can be requested by phone at 740-342-1025 or in person at 105 North Main Street in New Lexington.
WebCheck in Perry County
The Ohio Attorney General's WebCheck program handles electronic fingerprinting for background checks across Ohio. The Perry County Sheriff's Office is an approved WebCheck location. Prints are scanned and sent to BCI for processing against the state criminal database. If you also need an FBI check, the prints go to the federal system at the same time.
Results take about 4 to 5 business days when no record is found. A hit on the database means 4 to 6 weeks of processing. BCI handles about a million checks per year statewide. For questions about a pending Perry County background check, reach BCI at 877-224-0043.
Steps for a Perry County Background Check
Start by deciding which type of check you need. A local check is quick and limited to Perry County. A BCI search covers the state. An FBI check goes national. Many licensing boards require both under ORC 109.572. Head to the Sheriff's Office in New Lexington to get the process started.
Bring the following:
- State-issued photo ID
- ORC reason code
- Cash or money order for the fee
- Mailing address for results
- Social Security number and date of birth
People who have lived outside Ohio in the past five years should plan on both BCI and FBI checks. Results go to the requesting agency in most cases. The Perry County Sheriff's Office will not select your reason code. Know it before you arrive. If you need help finding the right code, check the list in ORC 109.572 or ask the agency that requires your background check.
Court Records and Perry County Checks
Court records provide the context that a fingerprint check cannot. The Perry County Clerk of Courts manages both Common Pleas Court and Municipal Court records. Criminal filings, civil actions, and traffic cases are all in the system. When a background check in Perry County shows an arrest, the court files tell you whether it led to a conviction, a plea, or a dismissal. For a full picture of someone's record, both the criminal history check and court files may be needed.
The Perry County official website below shows the county's main portal for government information and department contacts.
Perry County Ohio is the official county government website.
This site lists county offices, meeting schedules, and department contact information for Perry County residents.
Cities in Perry County
Perry County includes New Lexington, Crooksville, Thornville, and other small communities. None of the cities in Perry County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All residents use county-level background check services through the Sheriff's Office and Clerk of Courts in New Lexington.