Portage County, Ohio Inmate Search
In Ohio, Portage County law enforcement departments possess the legal authority to detain individuals based on active warrants, probable cause, or observed incidents. These agencies include the Kent Police Department and Streetsboro Police Department, which keep public safety in the county’s largest cities.
Generally, when attempting to locate a loved one in custody, family and friends can query the arresting police agency. Still, an inmate search through the Portage County Sheriff’s Office can reveal charges, booking data, and other crucial details for persons transported to the Portage County Jail.
Portage County’s jail confines adult suspects pending court proceedings or while they are serving judicial sentences; the Portage County Sheriff’s Office operates the facility. For inquiries regarding a juvenile suspect’s status, the Portage-Geauga County Juvenile Detention Center is the correct contact, as minors are housed there.
Of crucial note is that the Portage County Jail population may occasionally include federal detainees for the U.S. Marshals and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as the facility maintains specific contracts for that purpose. The jail population excludes long-term federal prisoners and state-sentenced inmates. Such inmates can be located through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction (state prisoners) or the Federal Bureau of Prisons (federal prisoners).
How to Find an Inmate in Portage County Jail
Locating an inmate in the Portage County Jail is possible by contacting the facility at (330) 297-3891. Unlike in multiple county/state jurisdictions, the Sheriff’s Office/Jail’s website does not host a public-facing database for looking up inmate records. Instead, families, friends, and other interested parties must rely on direct phone inquiries for custody data or use the Portage County Clerk of Courts’ online search tool to find filed charges or other related court records.
Both the Portage County Jail and Sheriff’s Office are located at the Portage County Justice Center, 8240 Infirmary Road, Ravenna, Ohio.
How to Use the Portage County Jail Roster
Portage County has no official online jail roster. Inquiries about an inmate’s custody or booking must be directed to the Portage County Jail by phone at (330) 297-3891. When calling to verify if someone is currently housed at the jail facility or for other inquiries, it will be necessary to provide the inmate’s complete legal name and, if known, their date of birth or arrest date.
In addition, a written or oral request can be made to the Sheriff’s Records Division via email, mail, fax, or in person to obtain inmate records.
What Information is Included in the Portage County Inmate Roster
Portage County has no online inmate roster. Nevertheless, the Sheriff’s Office maintains official inmate records containing information made publicly available under the Ohio Public Records Act (ORC 149.43). Standard inmate details that may be retrieved include
- Complete legal name and any known aliases
- Physical descriptors, such as height, weight, and hair/eye color
- The arrest date and arresting agency
- Any applicable holds for an external agency
- The charges resulting in detention, including the applicable Ohio statute
- Bond type and amount
Confidential data, such as medical information, financial account numbers, and sealed records, is not disclosed to the general public.
Contact Details for Portage County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
To contact the Portage County Jail or Sheriff’s Office, individuals can use the following information:
Agency/Facility | Physical Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
Portage County Justice Center 8240 Infirmary Road Ravenna, Ohio 44266 | (330) 297-3891 | |
Same location as above | Administration: (330) 296-5100 Non-Emergency: (330) 296-5100, option 9 CCW/Fingerprinting: (330) 298-4486 Records: (330) 297-3892 |
Jail Facility Overview in Portage County
Established in May 1995, the Portage County Jail is a 24-hour full-service facility located in the City of Ravenna, Ohio. This facility is the county’s primary adult detention center, housing both adult males and females charged with and sentenced for criminal offenses.
The total general housing capacity for the Portage County Jail is 362 inmates, as confirmed by the 2025 annual inspection conducted by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. According to the Sheriff’s Office 2025 Digital Annual Report, this facility processed 4,900 bookings over the year.
In Portage County, juvenile detention happens at the Portage-Geauga County Juvenile Detention Center, a 46-bed coed facility controlled by a Joint Board of Trustees composed of representatives from Portage and Geauga counties. The center is located on the same campus as the adult jail, but it operates independently in a separate building.
Agency | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Portage County Jail | Portage County Justice Center 8240 Infirmary Road Ravenna, Ohio 44266 | (330) 297-3891 | Admin: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays Jail/Detention: 24/7 | Email PCSORecords@portageco.com for public records requests |
Portage-Geauga County Juvenile Detention Center | 8000 Infirmary Road Ravenna, OH 44266 | (330) 297-5233 | 24 hours a day, full week | N/A |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Portage County Jail
Residents at the Portage County Jail are assigned commissary accounts for use when purchasing jail services, including snacks, phone credits, and other supplementary items. Funding of a Portage County Jail inmate’s commissary account can be made in person at lobby kiosks or remotely (online/by phone) through the jail’s contracted vendor.
To ensure funds reach the correct recipient, one will need the inmate’s full legal name or booking number. Deposit limits and transaction fees are specified upon registering with the vendor. It should be noted that if an inmate has a negative balance because of jail fees or services, the deposit will be applied first to the debt.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
The Portage County Jail is unique in that it does not provide an online inmate search tool. All inquiries must be directed via phone to the jail’s main line.
Similarly, custody information for the Portage-Geauga County Juvenile Detention Center is unavailable online. However, far from being an administrative practice-as adult inmate records are indeed public-this restricted access for minors is a statutory requirement under Chapter 2152 of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Juvenile Rule 32.
Ohio law opens juvenile records only to legally entitled persons. ORC 2152.71(A)(1), for instance, permits only the parents, guardian, or other custodian of the child, if they are living, or the nearest of kin, if the parents are deceased, to inspect such records.
Facility | Public Access? | How to Search | Exceptions/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Portage County Jail | Yes | Call the jail’s designated phone number: (330) 297-3891 | Confidential details (e.g., medical info) are not disclosed per ORC 149.43 |
Portage-Geauga County Juvenile Detention Center | No | Contact the Juvenile Detention Center by phone: (330) 297-5233 | Records are confidential by law (e.g., ORC 2152.71); only eligible parties, such as a parent/guardian, may receive information |
Portage County Visitation Rules and Schedules
In Portage County, inmate visitation is strictly conducted by video call. Family, friends, and professionals interested in scheduling a visit must register an account (at no cost) with the jail’s contracted vendor. On-site and remote (off-site) video visits are permitted, but on-site visitation at the jail facility’s video terminals is usually limited due to space constraints.
To participate in visitation sessions, visitors will need to download and test the vendor’s visitation application on their computer, tablet, or smartphone device. Available visiting days and timeslots, along with any relevant limitations or concessions, are provided to the account holder at the time of scheduling.
Off-site visits are fee-based, and internet connectivity issues are not refunded. On-site visits are available at no cost, but visitors must submit to a search before entering the facility and provide a valid government-issued picture identification.
All visitors and inmates are expected to conduct themselves appropriately, including dressing conservatively, remaining sober, avoiding disruptive behavior, and refraining from displaying or using contraband during the call. Because all social visits are monitored and recorded, violating any rule or regulation, even if unaware of the particular rule, can result in the immediate termination of the session, filing of criminal charges, or a permanent restriction from visiting the affected inmate during their incarceration.
For other jail visitation rules and policies, the Portage County Jail can be reached.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Letters, drawings, or photographs can be forwarded to and received from inmates at the Portage County Jail via the United States Postal Service. Senders should address inmate mail thus:
Portage County Jail - Ohio
[Inmate Full Name] [Inmate Number]
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
This out-of-state PO Box belongs to the jail facility’s mail vendor, which receives and processes such correspondence on the jail’s behalf. Mail sent to the vendor is scanned and delivered electronically to the inmate’s tablet or on shared kiosks in the jail’s housing units.
Personal mail cannot be sent directly to the Portage County Jail, and any mail received may be disposed of. However, books sent directly from publishers or authors, as well as legal mail, are accepted at the jail facility at 8240 Infirmary Road, Ravenna, OH 44266. The facility can be contacted for the mailing procedures.
The following items are not accepted by the vendor:
- Polaroid pictures
- Nude or partially nude photos
- Books
- Writing materials, such as cards, stamps, paper, or envelopes
- Pamphlets, magazines, or newspapers
- Perfume
- Lipstick
- Stickers, glitter, tape, or glue
- Unknown substances
Note: Money orders or checks are not accepted via mail. The Portage County Jail contracts with a third-party service for family and friend deposits into an inmate’s account.