Dayton Municipal Court
Clerk of Court, Mark E. Owens

The Clerk of Court’s Office is the repository of public records for the Dayton Municipal Court. The Clerk, elected by the citizens of Dayton to a six year term, and his management and support staff of 50 Deputy Clerks assure that the tasks of the office as set forth in the Ohio Revised Code, are adhered to and carried out. Established administrative functions and legal processes insure that municipal court case documentation is recorded and maintained appropriately for the public record.

Clerk of Court Table of Organization

The Clerk of Court’s Office is divided into four divisions: Civil, Central Payments, Traffic, and Criminal. The Civil Division is comprised of the General Division, Small Claims, Rent Escrow, and Trusteeships. The General Division annually processes over 10,000 civil suits initiated by attorneys. In addition, the division processes nearly 25,000 wage and bank attachments, 2,000 foreign certificate of judgment transfers, and over 1,000 small claim cases annually. The office records all case document filings and receipts and then disburses funds according to the orders and directives of the court. In 2007 the Civil Division disbursed more than $5.6 million dollars.

The Central Payments Division collects money due and payable for nearly 31,000 parking citations as well as criminal minor misdemeanors and marriage fees. This division processes fees, makes appropriate case docketing and disburses money according to law. During 2007, over $3.7 million was collected in fines and costs.

The Traffic Division processes cases such as driving under the influence offenses and financial responsibility act suspensions. In 2007, nearly 26,000 traffic cases were processed. The Traffic Division makes sure the entries and orders of the court are docketed, establishes and monitors payment plans for the defendants, and accepts bail and bond.

The Criminal Division processes criminal misdemeanor complaints that occur in Dayton. Over 20,000 such complaints were processed in 2007. The division also records felony charges from a defendant’s arrest through preliminary hearing and then transfers felony cases to the Common Pleas Court. Court costs, fees, fines and bail are collected and disbursed according to law.

The Clerk’s Office provides 24 hours a day, 7 days a week bail service to ensure that due process is provided for all persons having business with the Municipal Court. Additionally, the Clerk provides countywide bail services for Montgomery County through a contract with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. On weekends, holidays, and after 4:30pm on weekdays, citizens can pay tickets or post bond at the Montgomery County Jail, 330 West Second Street, Dayton. The bail clerks processed over $2 million of bail in 2007.

The Clerk of Court’s Office, serving in the appointed capacity as the Jury Commission for the Dayton Municipal Court, manages the administration, certification and notification process for approximately 8,000 prospective jurors annually. Summonses are issued for individuals to appear at court for jury duty on an as needed basis. Municipal court jury trials are short in duration, usually lasting only one or two days.

Office hours for the Clerk of Court are 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, for the acceptance of case filings and payments. Traffic and Criminal payments can also be paid online at www.paymyfine.org.