Ellis County Criminal History Records
Ellis County criminal history records are filed at the courthouse in Arnett, Oklahoma. With a 2020 population of just 3,749, Ellis County is the fifth least populous county in the state. But the Court Clerk and Sheriff's Office still keep full criminal case files, arrest logs, and booking data. You can search Ellis County criminal cases online through OSCN or request copies in person at 100 Washington Street in Arnett. The jail books around 360 offenders per year. This page walks through every way to access criminal history records in Ellis County, from free online tools to in-person requests at the courthouse.
Ellis County Criminal History Overview
Ellis County Court Clerk Records
The Ellis County Court Clerk is Sally Wayland. The mailing address is PO Box 217, Arnett, OK 73832. The courthouse sits at 100 Washington Street in Arnett. Call (580) 885-7255 for court record questions. The fax is 580-885-7506. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The district court handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. Criminal records in Ellis County go back to 1896. Marriage records start from 1892. Divorce records date to 1893. Probate files begin in 1908. The Court Clerk is part of the Oklahoma State Courts Network, so many cases can be looked up online. For records not yet digitized, you need to visit or mail a written request.
Certified copies are available for a fee. The first page costs $1.00. Each page after is $0.50. Certification adds $0.50. Municipal courts in the county handle local matters like traffic tickets and city code violations.
Search Ellis County Criminal Cases Online
The Oklahoma State Courts Network lets you search Ellis County court cases for free. Enter a name, case number, or date range to pull up docket entries. Criminal felony cases use code CF. Criminal misdemeanor cases use CM. The system shows charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Electronic records typically start from the mid-1990s.
You can search Ellis County criminal cases through the OSCN portal at no cost.
OSCN is operated by the Oklahoma Supreme Court and updated regularly.
On Demand Court Records is a second option for Ellis County. ODCR pulls case data from participating courts and shows results close to real time. Basic search results are free. You can pay for deeper access to documents and case details. The system covers criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases.
Ellis County Sheriff and Jail Records
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office phone is (580) 885-7377, staffed 24 hours a day. The sheriff's office is at 210 E. Renfrow Ave. in Arnett. The jail sits at 212 East Barnes, Arnett, OK 73832. The jail holds an average of 18 inmates at any given time. About 360 offenders get booked each year, with a weekly turnover around 55%.
The facility is medium security. About 93% of inmates are male and 7% are female. The jail serves Arnett, Fargo, Gage, Higgins, and Shattuck. The sheriff works alongside the Arnett Police Department and the U.S. Marshal's Service on some cases. Booking logs and arrest data are public records.
You can check the jail roster through the sheriff's office or through VINELink to track an offender's custody status. To mail an inmate, address it to their name at Ellis County Jail, 212 East Barnes, Arnett, OK 73832. Written record requests should include the person's full name and date of birth.
Note: Ellis County was created on July 16, 1907, from parts of Day and Woodward Counties and is named for Albert H. Ellis of the 1906 Constitutional Convention.
Ellis County Records and Public Access
County Clerk Lynn Smith manages land records at the courthouse. The mailing address is P.O. Box 197, Arnett, OK 73832. Call (580) 885-7301. The email is ellis@pldi.net. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Land records have been indexed from January 1901, with scanned images going back to January 1938.
The OKCountyRecords portal gives free online access to Ellis County land records. You can search by name, instrument number, or legal description. E-filing is available through Simplifile, CSC, and ePN.
All revenue from printing copies through this portal supports Ellis County operations.
State Criminal History Searches for Ellis County
The OSBI CHIRP portal covers Ellis County in its statewide criminal history database. A name search costs $15. Add $2 for a sex offender check and $2 for a violent offender check. The $1 online fee applies to each search. You need a free account. Enter the person's name and date of birth. CHIRP checks three years on either side of that birth date.
The Oklahoma Sex Offender Registry is free to search. Under Title 57, Sections 581-590.2, sex offenders must register within three days of entering Ellis County. The DOC Offender Lookup shows current and past state inmates for free. The Open Records Act under Title 51 O.S. Section 24A.1 guarantees public access to these records.
Criminal Record Expungement in Ellis County
Oklahoma law under Title 22 O.S. Section 18 allows some criminal records to be sealed. A full expungement clears both the court file and the OSBI arrest record. Filing costs run $100 to $300 depending on the county, plus $150 for OSBI processing. The whole thing takes several months at least.
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma helps people who qualify based on income. They handle expungement cases but not criminal defense. Call (888) 534-5243 or go to oklaw.org to apply.
Nearby Counties
Ellis County sits on Oklahoma's western border. These neighboring counties may also hold relevant criminal history records.