Reviewed by Harvey Handler Bail Bonds, October 2026.
After an arrest in Licking County, the hard part is often knowing which office to call. The jail, two courts and two clerks' offices each handle a different piece, and they are all within downtown Newark. This page sorts out who does what so you call the right place first. It is part of our Licking County guides, and our home page explains how Harvey Handler Bail Bonds helps once a bond is set.
The offices at a glance
| Office | What it handles after an arrest | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licking County Sheriff's Office, Justice Center | Custody, booking, visits, calls, release | 155 E Main St, Newark | Jail Division (740) 670-5501 |
| Municipal court clerk (City Building) | Misdemeanor, OVI and traffic dockets, and bond on those cases | 40 W Main St, 3rd Floor, Newark | (740) 670-7800 |
| Common Pleas, General Division | All felony prosecutions in the county | 1 Courthouse Square, Newark | Clerk legal division (740) 670-5791 |
| Licking County Clerk of Courts, legal division | Common Pleas records, filings, criminal case payments | 1 Courthouse Square, Newark | (740) 670-5791 |
| Clerk of Courts, domestic division | Civil protection orders, divorce, custody, support | 75 E Main St, Newark | Call the clerk's main line |
Phones and addresses come from the Licking County Sheriff's Office, the Licking County Municipal Court and the Licking County Clerk of Courts, checked October 29, 2026. Clerks' offices keep weekday hours; the municipal clerk closes from noon to 1:00 p.m.
The usual order of events
Most Licking County cases follow the same path, whether the arrest was made by the sheriff, the Newark Division of Police or another local department.
- Arrest. The arresting agency appears as a code on the inmate listing, such as LCSO for the sheriff or NPD for Newark police.
- Booking at the Justice Center. The person's name, booking number, charges and housing assignment are added to the sheriff's listing.
- The case lands in a court. Misdemeanor and traffic charges go to the municipal court. Felonies belong to Common Pleas; a fresh felony entry on the listing typically ends with a status mentioning "CPC", which reads as Common Pleas Court.
- Bond set. A scheduled amount covers some misdemeanors at booking. Everything else waits for a judge, and Ohio does not allow that wait to pass two court days for anyone still held.
- Bond posted. Cash, the court's 10% deposit when allowed, or a surety bond.
- Release. The jail processes the paperwork, and the person leaves with a court date.
How bail works explains the forms at each step.
Licking County Justice Center
"Licking County Justice Center" is the name the sheriff uses for the jail; questions about someone held there go to (740) 670-5501. Most family contact with the jail falls into two buckets: making sure the person is actually there, and keeping in touch until release. Visits are by video and must be booked ahead through the jail's vendor, and phone calls use a prepaid account. Our guide to Justice Center calls, visits, mail and money lays out each system.
Finding someone and reading the listing
The sheriff publishes an Active Inmate Listing that shows who is in custody, each charge and its level, and the bond once a court acts. Its codes are short and undefined, so our Licking County inmate list guide explains what the common entries appear to mean and what to do when a name is missing.
Licking County Municipal Court
Judge Stansbury and Judge George hear the county's misdemeanor, traffic and OVI dockets in three courtrooms at the City Building, whatever town the arrest happened in. The clerk's staff keeps those records and accepts bond on those cases. Our guide to Licking County Municipal Court case search shows how to look up a case and read the bond entries.
Court of Common Pleas
A felony charge, whether it began in Pataskala, Heath or Newark itself, is prosecuted at 1 Courthouse Square before the county's General Division judges. A felony moves there after indictment, and the bond can be reviewed at arraignment. Our page on indictment, arraignment and bond in Common Pleas follows that stage.
Clerk of Courts and court records
The Common Pleas Clerk of Courts keeps felony records and has an online case portal. Our Licking County Clerk of Courts guide covers both clerks' searches and what a docket says about bond.
When to call which office
| You want to know | Call or check |
|---|---|
| Is the person in custody? | Sheriff's Active Inmate Listing, then the Jail Division |
| How to set up calls or a video visit | ICSolutions, through the jail's instructions |
| The bond on a misdemeanor or OVI | Municipal court clerk |
| The bond on a felony after indictment | Common Pleas clerk, legal division |
| A protection order tied to the arrest | Clerk of Courts domestic division |
| Help posting a surety bond | Us |
Questions families ask
Where is the Licking County courthouse?
The felony court and the Clerk of Courts legal division share 1 Courthouse Square in downtown Newark. The municipal court is a separate building: the City Building at 40 West Main Street.
Is the Licking County jail in the courthouse?
No. The Sheriff's Office, which runs the Licking County Justice Center, is at 155 E Main St in Newark, a different address from the courthouse on the square.
Which court handles a first-time OVI in Licking County?
A misdemeanor OVI is heard in the Licking County Municipal Court in Newark, which takes traffic and misdemeanor cases from the whole county.
Does Licking County have more than one clerk of courts?
Yes. The municipal court has its own clerk for misdemeanor and traffic cases, and the Common Pleas Clerk of Courts handles felony, civil and domestic records.
Are Licking County court hearings streamed online?
The municipal court streams its three courtrooms on YouTube and posts courtroom calendars on the City of Newark site. Check the court's page for current links.
Call Harvey Handler Bail Bonds
Once this directory has told you which office has the case, the next call can be to us. Harvey Handler Bail Bonds works from 58 S 2nd St, Newark, OH 43055, and you can reach us at (740) 558-8070; tell us which court the bond came from and we will take it from there. Our Newark office page has a map.
We are not lawyers, and nothing here is legal advice. Offices sometimes move or change hours, so confirm on the official sites linked above before making the trip.