Ross County Busted Mugshots
Ross County busted mugshots are public records you can search through the Miami Valley Jails system and the sheriff's website. The county jail at 28 North Paint Street in Chillicothe holds about 130 inmates. Sheriff George Lavender Jr. runs the department with Chief Deputy T.J. Hollis. Ross County covers 693 square miles in south central Ohio's Appalachian region and has a population of about 76,700. The county also hosts two state prison facilities and a community-based correctional facility. For local jail arrests, the sheriff's roster is the best starting point.
Ross County Quick Facts
Ross County Jail Roster Search
The Ross County Miami Valley Jails page shows current inmates at the county jail. The system requires a CAPTCHA check before you can search. Once through, you can look up inmates by name and see mugshots, date of birth, booking date, booking number, and charges. The Ross County Sheriff's website also has an "Inmate Roster" link that connects to the same system.
Ross County busted mugshots show up with the booking photo attached to each inmate listing. The jail holds pre-trial detainees and people serving misdemeanor sentences. Longer sentences get transferred to state facilities. The jail is at the Law Enforcement Complex at 28 North Paint Street in Chillicothe, OH 45601. Major W. White serves as jail administrator with Lieutenant D. Hayburn as assistant. The jail phone is 740-773-1187.
The jail offers programs including GED classes, substance abuse classes, anger management, and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Ross County Arrest Records Access
The Ross County Sheriff's Office is at the Law Enforcement Complex, 28 North Paint Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601. Main phone is 740-773-1186. The 24-hour dispatch line is 740-773-1185. Fax is 740-773-1248. For CCW permits and criminal records searches, call 740-779-1931. The Major Crimes Taskforce number is 740-775-1208. Sheriff George Lavender Jr. can be reached at g.lavender@rosssheriff.com. Chief Deputy T.J. Hollis is at t.hollis@rosssheriff.com.
Records requests can be submitted electronically through the sheriff's website. You need an incident number or location to file. Traffic accident reports and incident reports are both available. Standard Ohio copy fees apply. The sheriff's office runs the Corrections and Court Services division, Civil Processes division, and Law Enforcement division. Community programs include Project Lifesaver, Jr. Deputies, DARE, and Neighborhood Watch.
Visitation hours at the Ross County Jail are Thursdays from 6pm to 10pm and Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. Each visit lasts 15 minutes. Inmates must submit a visitor list ahead of time. Warrant information is only released in person with proper ID.
Ross County Correctional Facilities
Ross County has an unusually high concentration of correctional facilities for an Ohio county. Beyond the county jail, there are two state prisons and a community-based correctional facility. The Ross Correctional Institution at 16149 State Route 104 holds about 2,000 inmates at medium and close security. Phone is 740-774-7050. The Chillicothe Correctional Institution at 15802 State Route 104 North holds about 2,700 inmates at medium security. Phone is 740-774-7080.
The Ross County CBCF at 1848 Marietta Road offers a 4 to 6 month program focused on substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, and reentry planning. Phone is 740-773-2525. People at the state facilities show up on the ODRC Offender Search, not the county jail roster. Use the Miami Valley Jails system for county-level busted mugshots only.
Inmate funds for the county jail can be added through AccessCorrections online or at the kiosk in the jail lobby. Mail goes to the inmate's name at the Ross County Jail, Law Enforcement Complex, 28 North Paint Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601.
Ross County Busted Mugshots and Ohio Law
Under ORC Section 149.43, booking photos and arrest records are public in Ohio. Ross County follows these rules. The office cannot ask why you want the record or require your name. Copy fees are $0.05 per page. Exempt records include juvenile files, medical data, and certain investigation materials. Adult busted mugshots are not exempt.
If a public office refuses your request, you can go to court. A judge can award $100 per day in damages up to $1,000 per violation. The Ohio Attorney General has a Public Records Unit for complaints. Ohio also allows sealing of certain criminal records under ORC Section 2953.32. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and crimes against children are excluded. Ohio expanded eligibility in recent years so more people now qualify.
Note: Ross County hosts three separate correctional facilities beyond the county jail, so make sure you are searching the right system for the person you need.
State and Federal Mugshot Searches
The ODRC Offender Search covers inmates at Ross Correctional Institution and Chillicothe Correctional Institution. For county jail inmates, use the Miami Valley Jails roster. The Federal BOP Inmate Locator handles federal custody records.
The VINELink system covers all Ohio counties including Ross and provides free inmate status alerts. The Supreme Court of Ohio has a court directory that helps locate case records. The nearest major city with a page on this site is Lancaster in Fairfield County to the north.
Nearby Counties
Ross County is in south central Ohio. Each neighboring county runs its own sheriff's office and jail for busted mugshots and arrest records.