HCSO Alerts

Background Checks

Office Location

Hamilton County Justice Center
1000 Sycamore Street, Room 100

Background Check Options*

*closed on all federal holidays

Payment Methods**:

Monday-Friday 7 AM-3 PM

  • Cash
  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Mastercard
  • Visa
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Samsung Pay
  • And Tap

After 3:00 PM or on weekends, it must be cash with exact change.

** All card payments are subject to a processing fee:

  • $2.00 for Debit
  • 3% Of Total for Credit
  • Local:
    • Hamilton County only ($5) 
    • Available 7 AM-3 PM, Monday-Friday
    • Immediate Results
  • BCI***:
    • State of Ohio ($32) 
    • BCI Reason Codes
    • Available 7 AM-7 PM, 7 days a week
    • Results available in 2-7 weeks
  • FBI***:
    • Nationwide ($36) ($39 as of October 1, 2026)
    •  FBI Reason Codes
    • Available 7 AM-7 PM, 7 days a week
    • Results available in 2-7 weeks 
  • Inked Fingerprints***:
    • $10 per card
    • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
    • You are responsible for mailing the cards to the proper destination
    • Results will vary on why the inked card is required
***If needing FBI, BCI, or inked fingerprints AFTER 3:00 PM, please ring the doorbell to Room 101 for service.
 

Each of the above background check options must be completed in person at the Records Division of the Hamilton County Justice Center. 

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Jail Services

Corrections Officers play a critical role in the custody, security, and treatment of inmates or detainees while learning and developing the interpersonal skills required to perform a range of corrections officer assignments. Working in the jail provides valuable experience, knowledge, and communication to prepare Deputies to move into various roles within the Sheriff’s Office.

Our employment process is rigorous, and we only select those few who are passionate about engaging with their community and serving those around them. Due to the significance of the sworn position, applicants must always be truthful in their application responses and during the entire certification/hiring process. Failure to be truthful during the certification/employment process may disqualify an applicant. Truthfulness and candor in this application process are important requirements for becoming a Correctional Officer.

Corrections Academy

Corrections Officers are hired into our 10-week, paid Corrections Academy, where they learn Teamwork, Inmate communication/de-escalation tactics, Teamwork, physical conditioning, defensive tactics, first aid, and laws/regulations. Students must meet the testing, attendance, and physical conditioning requirements to complete the Academy successfully. Recruits learn a sense of community and Accountability the HCSO way:

Minimum Requirements:

  • Candidate must have a High School Diplo9ma or GED equivalence
  • Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and a clean driving history
  • Candidate must be able to pass a drug screening, medical examination by a licensed physician, and a CVSA (lie detector)
  • Candidate must be 18 years of age prior to the hire date
  • Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or Naturalization Certified
  • Candidate must have a clean criminal record, including no felony convictions
  • Candidate must not have had a DUI conviction within the past five years and no more than two in a lifetime
  • Candidate must have an Honorable Military Discharge, if applicable

Applicants may be disqualified from consideration for certification/employment as a Correctional Officer if it is determined that the applicant:

  • Was untruthful, deliberately omitted, concealed, or falsified relevant facts during the certification/employment consideration process;
  • Been convicted of a felony;
  • Committed serious employment-related crimes;
  • Sold illegal drugs;
  • Used illegal drugs within a specific period of time; OR
  • Acquired extensive debt or evidence of extreme financial negligence


Schedule:

Corrections Officers work 12-hour shifts: 7 am – 7 pm or 7 pm to 7 am. There is occasionally mandatory overtime in 4-hour increments. There is also a mandatory shift that is worked once every 30 days.

Please note:  If you apply for a corrections officer position, most communication(s) from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will be via email. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure your email address is current in your online profile and that you check your email, including “Spam” and “Junk” folders, to ensure you do not miss any notifications. In addition to checking your personal email account, you may also check for notifications by logging in to the online application system and utilizing your login and password.