Fairfield County Inmate Population
Fairfield County keeps a full set of inmate population records through the Sheriff's Office in Lancaster, Ohio. The county jail holds both pretrial and sentenced inmates, and the public can look up who is in custody at any time. Fairfield County sits in central Ohio and is part of the Columbus metro area with a population of more than 157,000 people. If you need to find someone in the Fairfield County jail or check on a case, the sheriff and the local courts both give you ways to search. State records through the ODRC can also help if the person has moved to a state prison. This page walks through the main tools for searching the Fairfield County inmate population.
Fairfield County Quick Facts
Fairfield County Jail Bureau
The Fairfield County Jail Bureau runs the main jail at 345 Lincoln Avenue in Lancaster. This facility holds inmates on both misdemeanor and felony charges. Lt. Lee Hawks serves as the Jail Bureau Commander. You can reach the jail at 740-652-7256 for questions about inmates or visits. The jail uses a video visitation system, so all visits happen by screen rather than in person. This setup lets families stay in touch while the jail keeps things safe and orderly.
Visits must be set up at least 48 hours ahead of time. You can book through the kiosk in the jail lobby or go online at www.icsolutions.com. If you need help with scheduling, call 888-506-8407. Arrive on time. Anyone who shows up 10 minutes late or more will not get in. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff will check it and send you to a booth next to the lobby. Each inmate gets one 20-minute visit per week. In-person lobby visits run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Off-site video visits are open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM through ICSolutions.com.
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 341.01, the sheriff has charge of the county jail and all persons held there. The sheriff must keep inmates safe and run the jail according to state standards set by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Fairfield County Sheriff Resources
The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office website provides access to jail information, inmate programs, and contact details for all eight bureaus.
The Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Alex Lape, with Chief Deputies Jared Collins and Scott Ervin. The main office phone is 740-652-7900, and hours run Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. The office covers corrections, patrol, investigations, communications, community services, civil services, major crimes, and SWAT across all 509 square miles of Fairfield County.
In 2021, Fairfield County had a violent crime rate of 234 per 100,000 residents. The sheriff's office works to keep that number down through active patrol and community outreach. The county has 23 cities and towns, with Lancaster as the biggest and the county seat. Fairfield County is part of the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area, which means it ties in closely with the state capital's law enforcement and court systems.
Inmate Population Money and Phone
The Fairfield County Jail Bureau page shows how to put money on an inmate's account and make phone arrangements.
You can add funds through the lobby kiosk, which takes $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills along with credit and debit cards. It does not take $1 bills or coins. For remote deposits, call 866-345-1884 or go to www.accesscorrections.com. Inmate phones are provided by ICSolutions, and collect phones sit in all housing units. Under ORC Section 2929.37, county jails can charge inmates for part of their confinement costs, which may include room, board, and medical care.
Fairfield County Inmate Mail Policy
Since January 2021, the Fairfield County Jail uses TextBehind for all incoming mail. This system scans and prints letters during business hours to keep contraband out of the facility. Family and friends should send electronic letters through TextBehind.com or the free mobile app by 11:00 AM Monday through Friday for same-day delivery.
You have two ways to send mail. The first is electronic through TextBehind, where you can create letters, greeting cards, photos, and even children's drawings at low cost. The second is handwritten mail sent to TextBehind's address at P.O. Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Staff will photocopy the letter before sending it to the jail. Make sure you include the inmate's first and last name, their offender ID, and the full facility name "Fairfield County Sheriff's Office" with no shortcuts or abbreviations.
Do not send legal mail, money orders, personal checks, gift cards, or cash through TextBehind. Those items will be sent back to you.
Note: All TextBehind mail is processed Monday through Friday only.Fairfield County Jail Programs
The jail runs several programs for inmates. Educational classes are taught by the Fairfield County Adult Education Department. These classes aim to help inmates build reading and math skills and work toward a GED certificate. Drug and alcohol programming is available too, with volunteer counselors leading group sessions when they can. The jail also has an "Inmates-at-Work" program, though that is handled case by case at the discretion of the Jail Administrator.
The Fairfield County Reentry Coalition started in May 2010 to help people coming back to the community from jail or prison. The coalition's goal is to build a safer community and cut recidivism through programs based on evidence. The jail follows PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) standards and has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse. Reports can be filed by phone at 740-652-7313, email at preacomplaint@fairfieldcountyohio.gov, or mail to the PREA Coordinator at 345 Lincoln Ave, Lancaster, OH 43130. This is required under state and federal law, and the facility takes every report seriously.
Fairfield County Court Records
The Fairfield County Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings that tie into the inmate population. The court's online system lets you search by defendant name, case number, citation number, or filing date range.
The Municipal Court has jurisdiction over civil matters up to $15,000 and handles eviction cases. The Small Claims Division covers disputes of $6,000 or less. Court records show case status, hearings, and basic disposition info. Arraignments for inmates may be held any time during regular hours, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. The court website links to case status, court dates, and bail or bond details for people held in the Fairfield County Jail. This makes it a useful tool when you are tracking the Fairfield County inmate population alongside the sheriff's resources.
Ohio's public records law under ORC Section 149.43 sets the rules for what you can and cannot access. Court records are generally open to the public, but certain inmate records held by the ODRC are exempt. The law does allow release of an inmate's name, convictions, photo, supervision status, and disciplinary history. Medical records and other sensitive files stay closed unless the inmate gives written consent.
State Inmate Population Search
If someone from Fairfield County has been sentenced to state prison, you can find them through the ODRC Offender Search Portal. This free tool covers all state facilities. Search by name or county of commitment. Results show the inmate's facility, sentence dates, and release eligibility. Under ORC Section 5120.21, the ODRC keeps a record of every inmate including their name, age, sex, occupation, date of entrance, and terms of discharge.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction also runs victim notification through Roberta's Law. If the inmate was convicted of aggravated murder, murder, or a first, second, or third degree offense of violence, victims get automatic notice of status changes. You can register for these alerts through the ODRC website.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Fairfield County. Each has its own jail and inmate records.
Fairfield County's largest city, Lancaster, has a city page with more details: Lancaster.