Obtaining Old Prison Records?

Question

Looking for prison records for family member in Ohio around 1910-1930s. Not sure if federal or state custody. How would I go about obtaining these? I do not live in Ohio any more, nor do I have any living family members there.

Answer 1

The Ohio State Archives and Library holds all of the state prison records, as well as the transcripts from their trials. http://statearchives.us/ohio.htm

The National Archives and Records Administration has two offices with the Ohio records in them. Chicago will hold most of the older records, Dayton holds the more recent ones. Here's the link on that: http://www.archives.gov/great-lakes/

With either one, you can write to them or email to see if they have the records you need, then get an estimate on copying and mailing them. The more records you want, the more that would cost. My average bill from NARA is about $20.

Answer 2

Here are some links that hopefully will be helpful:

Ohio County Jail, 1930 Index of Prisoners

http://blacksheepancestors.com/usa/west_...

Residents of the County Jail 1920 Richland Co., OH

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohrich...

Southeast Ohio Regional Jail Inmates - Includes residents of Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry and Vinton Counties

http://xw.textdata.com:81/cgi/progcgi.ex...

Ohio Historical Society Library Archives - Incarceration/Prison Records

(email address at bottom of page)

http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/arch...