Kent Municipality, Ohio Criminal Records
Kent records are maintained by public agencies such as the Portage County Municipal Court. Generally, Kent criminal records pertain to cases heard by this court. These records may include any case where the person was charged with a crime by criminal complaint, appealed the case, or was found guilty or not guilty.
Generally, the Municipal Court hears cases involving violations of City Ordinances, and cases where the person is charged with a misdemeanor. The Portage Municipal Court may also hear cases where a person is charged with a felony; however, these cases are only heard at the preliminary stage of the case.
For cases affecting the City of Kent, records kept by the Court may include cases where a person is charged with a felony, a misdemeanor, or a City Ordinance Violation. Other case types include those in which the person has appealed a decision of a City Board. Generally, cases affecting the City of Kent and of a Felony nature are heard by the Portage County Court of Common Pleas.
What are Kent Public Records?
Public records in the city of Kent, Ohio, are papers, information, or other things made, obtained, or preserved by the city, other local offices, or departments while performing their functions or duties as the government. This includes documents of or from city departments and offices, courts, and other offices or departments of local government. Examples of public records are meeting minutes, budgets, contracts, and licenses, as well as reports and other documents or records of or relating to the functions and services of the government.
Pursuant to Ohio law, a requester is usually allowed to inspect or obtain copies of public records. There are, however, records that the government is not obligated to give out to the public. Examples of these are records that are protected or sealed by other state or federal laws, confidential or restricted records, and records that may affect the physical or mental health of an individual.
Persons wishing to make a request for public records should contact the office that has custody of the records. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 149 governs the public records request.
Kent Crime Statistics
The Kent Police Department’s latest annual crime report is from 2024. The department also releases crime statistics monthly for 2025. The city publicly releases these reports and statistics on its website.
According to the Kent Police Report for 2025, as of September, there were 356 crimes reported. Compared to the same time frame in 2024, there was a 30% increase in crimes reported. The total crimes reported in 2025 included 166 crimes reported as assault, 161 reported larceny, 14 reported burglary, 10 reported motor vehicle theft, 9 reported robbery, and 0 reported homicide.
Along with the reported crimes, the Kent Police Department reported 1,181 total arrests, 149 of which were juvenile arrests, and 86 of which were arrested for Operating a Vehicle under the Influence (OVI).
Are Kent Criminal Records Public?
Yes, Kent criminal records follow the laws of the state of Ohio, meaning under Ohio’s Public Records Act, Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, most of Kent’s criminal records are open records, but certain details may be omitted. The Kent Police Department keeps records created or received by the department. The Records Division of the department processes records requests.
Criminal and traffic records maintained by the Portage County Municipal Court, Kent Branch, are open to the public as well. The Kent Branch is located at:
Portage County Municipal Court – Kent Branch
303 East Main Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Phone: 330-678-9170
Not all records are all-inclusive. Certain particulars may be exempt or protected by both Ohio and federal laws.
No specific reason is required to be provided by the member of the public requesting a record, and a requesting person’s identity need not be disclosed.
How to Obtain Kent Police Reports and Arrest Records
The Kent Police Department Records Department collects and provides access to a variety of records, including incident reports, case reports, accident reports, and records of arrests and bookings. Reports are generally available to the public. However, there may be situations where a record is exempt from release under the Ohio Public Records Laws.
Case reports may be obtained at:
Kent Police Department
301 South Depeyster Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Requests can be made between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays in person at the department. Requests can also be submitted by email at kpdrecords@kentohio.gov or by contacting the department by mail. Reports are limited to 19 pages at no cost. Additional pages are $0.05 each. Certain information within a report may be redacted, including narratives regarding ongoing cases, names and addresses of victims, or any medical information.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Kent
Residents of Kent can find information about registered sex offenders through the State of Ohio’s Sex Offender Registry. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office maintains a search engine where the public can look up sex offenders by name and address. The public can also find registered sex offenders in the community by utilizing the Sex Offender Search engine.
The City of Kent does not have a separate Sex Offender Registry. The Kent Police Department, however, provides a report of calls for service to the public. The Kent Police Department’s report of calls for service does not include sex offense reports due to the privacy of the victim.
The Kent Police Department is located at:
Kent Police Department
301 South Depeyster Street
Kent, Ohio 44240
Phone: (330) 673-7732
The Kent Police Department is open to general questions regarding sex offenders and sex offenses.
What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Kent?
If a request for Kent records is denied, the agency is supposed to give a denial reason and cite the legal basis for the denial, per Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43. Possible reasons for denial may include the records being exempt from release, containing information protected from release, pertaining to an ongoing investigation, or not in the agency’s possession. The Kent Police Department has indicated that records pertaining to ongoing police investigations, victims of crimes, and individuals who have not been charged with a crime are also exempt from release. If requesters believe the denial was erroneous, they may file a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims or bring a mandamus action. For additional assistance with a denial, requesters should contact the Ohio Court of Claims or the Kent Police Records Department.
How to Expunge or Seal Kent Criminal Records
Residents of Kent, Ohio, can submit a petition to the court that oversaw their case in order to seal or expunge their criminal records in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 2953.32. The code outlines procedures for sealing or expunging criminal records and specific requirements that an individual must fulfill, and offenses that are not eligible for sealing or expungement. Misdemeanor and fourth- and fifth-degree felony records may be sealed after the individual has fulfilled the sentence and one additional year has passed. Sealing of records for third-degree felonies is granted after the individual has fulfilled their sentence and an additional three years have passed. Records may be expunged after the individual has fulfilled their sentence and ten additional years have passed from the sealing eligibility of the felony record.