Frequently Asked Questions

If you have an emergency please dial 911. 

Check the list of frequently asked questions below, if you don't find the answer to your question please contact our office and we will do our best to assist you.

Most felony cases are handled by this office and in most instances misdemeanor cases are handled by the Columbus City Attorney (614-645-7483). Felony and misdemeanor cases are distinguished by the format of the case number: felony cases are in the format of yy-cr-12345(or yy-cra-12345), misdemeanor cases are yy-crb-12345.
Victims of crimes may contact VINE at 1-800-770-0192 to be notified when offenders will be released.
Please contact the Franklin County Clerk of Court by going to http://clerk.franklincountyohio.gov. If you wish to call the Clerk’s Office, please call (614) 525-3600 for felony criminal cases or for municipal cases visit http://www.fcmcclerk.com (614) 645-6121.
If you have any questions regarding your subpoena please contact the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney assigned to the case whose name, phone number and email address should appear on the subpoena.
A victim advocate is an employee of the Prosecutor’s Office who provides assistance to victims of crime. The advocate acts as a liaison between the victim or witness and the assistant prosecuting attorney. Advocates understand the criminal process and will attempt to explain each step of the criminal process to the victim or witness and answer any questions they might have.
More information on Victim & Witness Advocate Program
If you are the victim of a crime or believe a crime has occurred, please contact the police department where the offense occurred. The police will investigate and file a complaint if sufficient evidence is found. These complaints are then forwarded to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office for further review and presentation to the Grand Jury for prosecution.
Contact the City Prosecutor’s Office (614) 645-7483
Our Juvenile Intake Unit, 399 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43215 will assist anyone who desires to file a complaint for a criminal offense (misdemeanor or felony) against a juvenile. Please call ahead at (614)525-7388 to determine if the situation constitutes a delinquency charge.
The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office opens at 8:00 A.M. and closes at 5:00 P.M., excluding weekends and holidays.
Please contact the Columbus Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service at (614) 221-0754.
Contact your attorney or the Franklin County Clerk of Court at (614) 525-3621 or the Franklin County Municipal Small Claims Court at 614-645-7381.