About
The Hocking County Sheriff's Office is a full service law enforcement agency, an arm of the courts, and the custodial keeper of those who break the law. It is the mission of the Hocking County Sheriff's Office to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Hocking County, to preserve the peace, and to prevent crime and disorder while constantly guarding personal liberties as prescribed by law. This must be done with honor and integrity, conducting ourselves with the highest ethical standards to maintain public confidence.
First to Serve, Since 1788
Hocking County has a population of nearly 30,000 and encompasses 424 square miles. The County was organized on March 1, 1818, from land given by Athens, Fairfield, and Ross counties. Its name originates from the Hocking River, which flows through it from Fairfield County to Athens County.
Before Ohio achieved statehood in 1803, the Office of Sheriff was filled through appointment by the Territorial Governor, Arthur St. Clair. The first Sheriff on record in Ohio was Colonel Ebenezer Sproat. Sproat served from 1788 to 1802. "First to Serve Since 1788" is the motto on many Ohio Sheriff's vehicles. This is a reference to the service of Sheriff Sproat. Sheriff Sproat died in 1805 and is buried in Washington County, Ohio.
Mobile App
The Hocking County Sheriff's Office mobile application is an interactive app developed to help improve communication with area residents. This app allows residents to connect with the Hocking Sheriff's Office by reporting crimes, submitting tips, and other interactive features, as well as providing the community the latest public safety news and information.
The app is another public outreach effort developed by the Hocking County Sheriff's Office to improve communication with county residents and visitors.
This app is not intended to be used to report emergency situations. Please call 911 in an emergency.
To better serve the residents of Hocking County, Sheriff North has elected to use the Smart911 system to communicate with residents. Sign up at Smart911.com to receive alerts about weather, traffic, and other emergencies in your community, from state and local authorities across the country.
Sign up for Smart911Jail Information
Hocking County Sheriff's Office uses Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail (SEORJ) to house its inmates. If you would like information about a prisoner, or would like to see if a particular person is in jail, please use the links below.