Free Oregon Arrest Records & Criminal Records Search Guide

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Free Oregon Arrest Records & Criminal Records Search

Access Oregon Records: background checks, warrants, probation and parole, court records, and all criminal and arrest records.

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Find free Oregon criminal records and local arrests through official channels today in a matter of minutes.

While this information is made available through the (Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)) and Oregon’s Public Records Law, it can be difficult to find if you don’t know what type of records are available or where to look.^{1, 2}

This comprehensive search guide provides everything necessary to learn about someone’s past and outlines how to view Oregon arrest records, mugshots, criminal proceedings, warrant status, probation and parole details, prisoner records, nearby sex offenders, and background check reports.

Written or authored by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who possesses a Juris Doctorate in Law from Widener University School of Law and is a Licensed Attorney.

Are Criminal Records and Arrest Records Available to the Public in Oregon (OR)?

Federal and Oregon state laws authorize state and local agencies to make sure criminal and arrest records are publicly available. However, it does not mean that these records are easy to find. In Oregon, you have a few options to check whether someone has a public criminal record.

Databases and online search tools are often run by local and state agencies that work as a people finder with Oregon arrest and convicted information. If you’re looking to find out if someone is in jail, use this article to guide you on how to use various search engines to check daily arrests, past convictions, and other public information. You also have the option to call these various agencies directly by phone or visit in person.

If you are looking for other types of public information, our free Oregon state records search guide details how to find more than just criminal records.

FOIA and Oregon’s Public Records law authorize governments to provide a public repository of criminal records and arrest records for incidents that occurred in their state or individuals incarcerated in one of their prisons.³

Despite this federal and state right, both FOIA and Oregon’s public records laws place specific limitations on the type of information, and certain particular circumstances in criminal records should not be released. These restrictions usually occur when the release of those records is likely to have a detrimental impact on law enforcement investigations or related activities.

They may also be prevented from releasing the information if it would impact certain protected rights like the right to a fair trial. Both the Oregon and federal laws are consistent with those public access exemptions for criminal and arrest records.

Because different custodians are responsible for arrest and criminal records, you will have to follow different processes depending on which records you are searching for. Arrest records are the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. Criminal records are held by courts and/or state agencies.

The ability to access these types of records depends on some additional restrictions beyond the FOIA laws just mentioned. For example, certain criminal and arrest records of juveniles are not available to the general public for access.⁴ Also, when records are sealed or expunged, they are no longer available to the public through state or local agencies.

Records can be expunged for a variety of reasons by court order, and when this occurs, they are removed from the public domain.⁵

Criminal Records vs Arrest Records in Oregon

While both criminal and arrest records contain some similar information, there is different information as well. Arrest records are created as soon as someone is arrested and charged with a crime, allowing them to be accessed quicker than criminal records.

Here is the information that is available on arrest records:

• Name
• Birth Date
• Arrest Date
• Sex
• Address
• Descriptive Features (hair and eye color, height, weight)
• Charges
• Case Number
• Sentence (total length and date sentence begins, if applicable)
• Bail amount
• Attorney information

A criminal record is established once someone is convicted of a crime. The criminal record will provide detailed information from arrest to conviction. It will also provide additional information that an arrest record will not contain, such as their sentence length and where they are currently incarcerated.

Criminal records include:

• Inmate ID
• Full Name
• Age
• Ethnicity/Race
• Sex
• Physical description (eye, hair, weight, height)
• Age
• Admission Date
• Prison or Jail inmate is currently located
• Criminal Docket Number
• Date Booked
• All Offenses
• Arrest dates
• Sentence Dates
• Minimum/Maximum sentence length
• Incarceration history
• Alias(es)

How To Search Recent Arrests, Mugshots & Why Someone Is in an Oregon Jail: Free Inmate Search

You can use multiple ways to find arrests in Oregon for free. However, you have to figure out a good starting point for your search, and that depends on which agency made the arrest or where someone is incarcerated. To find out why someone was arrested, you will need some basic information.

When trying to figure out why someone is in jail, the individual’s full name (unless a common name) will provide a great starting point to find a Oregon arrest records on someone. That being said, you can also use other information to find recent arrest information, such as descriptive information about the individual, where they were arrested (e.g., county or specific city), charges, and the date (or date range) when the arrest occurred.

With this information in hand, the responsible agency should provide clear steps for searching arrest records using the individual’s general information. From there, the local agency should provide you with information on what led to their arrest and other relevant information.

Search Oregon Arrest Records Through County Jails & Sheriff Offices

If you are trying to find out if someone was arrested, there will be differences pertaining to the type of information each county requires to search their inmate logs. When beginning a county-level search, it is important to know the specific process you need to follow to get an arrest report in the specific Oregon county you are searching. Some counties will provide an inmate locator tool where you can find individuals by their names.

Some search tools will provide options to include secondary information such as birth date or state/agency identification number if a name search does not provide you with the arrest record you are looking for.

After inputting this information, the database will provide general information on any person you select, with a list of any past arrests and specific charges. This will also include information on where they are currently incarcerated, whether the individual was provided bail (including the amount), and other useful information.

While some counties provide free online search tools, many counties just have a jail roster. Others will require you to contact them directly to access their records.

Here is every Oregon county. You can click on any of the links below for their inmate search tool/jail roster and phone number. If the county does not have a search tool, we provide a link to the county sheriff’s contact page.

The chart below will also let you know if the county provides a mugshot database.

County Inmate Roster or Contact Page	County Jail or Sheriff’s Office Phone Number	Shows Mugshots?
Baker County	541-523-6415	X
Benton County	541-766-6858	X
Clackamas County	503-722-6777	X
Clatsop County	503-325-8641	X
Columbia County	503-366-4630	X
Coos County	541-396-7800	X
Crook County	541-447-6938	X
Curry County	541-247-3242	X
Deschutes County	541-388-6661	X
Douglas County	541-440-4450	X
Gilliam County	541-351-9530	X
Grant County	541-575-1134	X
Harney County	541-573-6256	X
Hood River County	541-386-2098	X
Jackson County	541-774-6800	X
Jefferson County	541-475-6520	X
Josephine County	541-474-5221	X
Klamath County	541-883-5130	X
Lake County	541-947-6027	X
Lane County	541-682-4263	X
Lincoln County	541-265-4277	X
Linn County	541-967-3950	X
Malheur County	541-473-5510	X
Marion County	503-581-1183	X
Morrow County	541-676-5317	X
Multnomah County	503-988-4300	X
Polk County	503-623-9254	X
Sherman County	541-565-3622	X
Tillamook County	503-842-2561	X
Umatilla County	541-966-3600	X
Union County	541-963-1017	X
Wallowa County	541-426-3131	X
Wasco County	541-506-2580	X
Washington County	503-846-6826	X
Wheeler County	541-763-4101	X
Yamhill County	503-434-7507	X

If you were unable to find the person you are looking for, you can contact Oregon’s Department of Corrections or search with their inmate lookup tool, as detailed below.⁶ While the ODOC doesn’t oversee jails, it may be that the individual has already been convicted and moved to a state prison or correctional facility.

Note: Law enforcement agencies do not provide mugshots due to a state law passed that prohibits mugshots except in limited circumstances.⁷

How To Contact Someone in an Oregon Jail & Initiate Security Release (Bail)

If you know the jail someone is located at, start by contacting them or the sheriff’s office in that county. They can inform you as to their specific process for contacting a person incarcerated in their jail and what steps you need to take to bail them out. Each jail usually has a set schedule for visitation and phone hours.

They can also provide you with any other communication rules they have for contacting an inmate.

The bail process in Oregon has recently been overhauled. Under a new Oregon law, Bail (called “security release” in Oregon) is determined based on a three-tier system.⁸ Lower-level offenses will not require any bail, while more serious offenses will prohibit releasing an inmate before their trial.

Typically, Oregon inmates with a set bail can be released if an individual posts a 10% deposit of the total amount.⁹ Payments are usually made in person at the county’s sheriff’s office or local jail. Use the contact information in the previous section to get specific information from the county in which the individual is incarcerated.

When trying to contact a state prisoner, The Oregon Department of Corrections provides basic information on their communication regulations.¹⁰ If you want to call a state prisoner, you need to set up a free ICS Corrections, Inc. account.¹¹ You can also use this account to put money into the incarcerated individual’s account so that they can make calls.

How To Look Up Oregon Criminal Records & See If Someone Has Prior Offences

Some law enforcement agencies and jails will have criminal records; however, your primary source for looking them up is the local court where their case was held or the state’s Department of Corrections. Another necessary option when searching for someone’s criminal record may be to contact the County Court of Clerks. As a last resort, there are services that provide background checks for a fee, but this option should be considered only if the below methods are unsuccessful.

There are a few free and straightforward ways to find criminal records in all Oregon counties. Below are the primary free options in Oregon:

• County Courts – For all courts in Oregon County, you can call or go in person to their courthouse (see addresses in the below section) and ask them how to access specific Oregon criminal records. These are your only options for Oregon county courts, as they do not have individual online search tools for criminal records.
• Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) – this website provides free online access to criminal records for all Oregon circuit courts.¹²
• Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) – the Oregon DOC provides a search of all criminal records in Oregon.¹³

Utilize County Courts and Clerk Offices to Perform a Criminal Record Search in Oregon

To start, determine the county where an individual had their case held. From there, you can go to their courthouse’s website to determine whether or not they have an online search tool. Alternatively, you can call the county courthouse to request a criminal record.

You can also take a trip to the county courthouse and make a request for criminal records in person.

If you do not know where to go when you get there, you can start by locating the Clerk of Court office for assistance. They may be able to direct you as to where criminal records are stored and how to request them.

It may be that you have already found criminal records at another courthouse in Oregon. That does not mean that the process will be the same in every county. When searching criminal records, each county provides its own process for how to access and request criminal records.

Oregon has 27 district courts throughout the state. Some of these district courts are shared between Oregon’s 36 counties, but each has its own courthouse. District courts are trial courts and have general jurisdiction over criminal matters.

None of the county courthouses in Oregon have an independent online search tool.

That means if you want to search criminal records through a county courthouse, you will have to call or go there in person to determine how to access county criminal records.

Below you can find every Oregon county courthouse along with their address. Click on a particular county link to visit their courthouse contact page.

County Courts	County Courthouse Address
Baker County	1995 Third Street, Suite #220, Baker City, OR 97814
Benton County	120 NW 4th St., P.O. Box 1870, Corvallis, OR 97339
Clackamas County	33 Winter Street, Suite 2, Keene, OR 03431
Clatsop County	749 Commercial Street, Astoria, OR 97103
Columbia County	230 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051
Coos County	250 N. Baxter, 1st Floor Room 127, Coquille, OR 97423
Crook County	300 NE Third Street, Prineville, OR 97754
Curry County	29821 Ellensburg Ave., Gold Beach, OR 97444
Deschutes County	1100 Bond NW, Bend, OR 97703
Douglas County	1036 SE Douglas, Justice Building, Room 201, Roseburg, OR 97470
Gilliam County	221 S. Oregon St., Condon, OR 97823
Grant County	201 S. Humbolt Street, P.O. Box 159, Canyon City, OR 97820
Harney County	450 N. Buena Vista, #16, Burns, OR 97720
Hood River County	309 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031
Jackson County	100 S. Oakdale, Medford, OR 97501
Jefferson County	129 SW E Street, Suite 101, Madras, OR 97741
Josephine County	301 NW F St., Grants Pass, OR 97526
Klamath County	316 Main Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Lake County	513 Center Street, Lakeview, OR 97630
Lane County	125 East Eight, Eugene, OR 97401
Lincoln County	225 W. Olive, P.O. Box 100, Newport, OR 97365
Linn County	300 Fourth Ave., Room 108B, Albany, OR 97321
Malheur County	251 B Street W #3, Vale, OR 97918
Marion County	100 High Street NE, P.O. Box 12869, Salem, OR 97501
Morrow County	100 Court Street, Heppner, OR 97836
Multnomah County	1200 SW 1st Ave., Room 02307, Portland, OR 97204
Polk County	850 Main Street, Dallas, OR 97338
Sherman County	500 Court Street, Moro, OR 97039
Tillamook County	201 Laurel Ave., Tillamook, OR 97141
Umatilla County	216 SE Fourth Street, Pendleton, OR 97801
Union County	1105 K Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
Wallowa County	101 S. River Street, Room 204, Enterprise, OR 97828
Wasco County	511 Washington Street, The Dalles, OR 97058
Washington County	150 N. 1st Ave., Room 105J, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Wheeler County	701 Adams Street, Fossil, OR 97830
Yamhill County	535 NE 5th Street, McMinnville, OR 97128

Contacting the county courthouse is often the easiest way to find criminal records with a particular court.

If you are having difficulty, try asking to speak with someone from the Clerk of Courts or administrative department. While they are not the actual custodian, they should be able to provide you with some direction for how or where to conduct your search.

Access Oregon’s eCourt Case Information to Obtain Public Criminal Records

Oregon provides a free search service through its OECI. Access to OECI does not require any type of registration or sign-in to use this search tool.

Simply follow the steps outlined below:

1. Click on “Smart Search” at the bottom of the OECI home page.
2. On the following page, enter either a record number or name.
3. Click the “I’m not a robot” button and select “Submit.”
4. This will take you to a page with a list of names and case numbers. Select the appropriate case or individual in order to access their criminal records.

The search page will display the following information: (1) warrants, (2) judgments, (3) cases, (4) case number, (5) file date, (6) case type, (7) status, and (8) what county the case was held. The OECI system does not allow you to filter your results for criminal cases, so you will have to search through them manually. Once you choose a particular case, you will receive detailed information regarding the case, including all events/hearings with their result.

If you need additional information on how to use this search tool, you can access a quick reference guide provided by the Oregon Judicial Department.¹⁴ You can also access their Frequently Asked Questions page if you need further assistance.¹⁵

Note: The information displayed through an OECI search is not an official criminal record. For official criminal records, you will be required to submit a public records request.¹⁶

You can also use a paid service, the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN).¹⁷

Check the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) Public Repository for Criminal Records

Oregon’s DOC hosts a public records repository with criminal records on both current and past inmates. The only option for using this search tool is to enter an individual’s first and last name or their State Identification number.

This search tool from Oregon’s Department of Corrections contains the following data for convicted individuals:

• Offender’s name
• Aliases
• Mugshot
• Age
• Birth Date
• Gender
• Race
• Height/Weight
• Hair/Eye color
• DOC Admission Date
• Earliest Release Date
• Status (e.g., incarcerated, probation/parole)
• Current incarceration location
• List of Offenses (including docket number, crime, county, sentence type, begin date, and termination date)

The Oregon Department of Corrections also provides a link to make a formal public records request for an individual’s criminal record.¹⁸

How To Get a Copy of Criminal Records in the State of Oregon (OR)

In Oregon, you can ask for a criminal history record check through the state police.¹⁹ A form is provided to request your criminal record.

To receive your criminal record, you must complete and mail this form, a fingerprint card, and the $33.00 fee to the below address:

Oregon State Police – CJIS Division
Unit #11
PO Box 4395
Portland, Oregon 97208

There is also a form to make a Record Request on Someone Else, which should be sent, along with the fee, to:

Oregon State Police
Criminal Justice Information Services Division
Attn: Open Records
3565 Trelstad Ave SE
Salem, Oregon 97317

When trying to obtain a criminal record locally, you should reach out to law enforcement or the local courthouse to ask for their process for requesting a person’s criminal record since it varies from county to county.

Regardless of where you get the criminal record from, there are still rules that must be followed. All federal and state laws apply, which means any request for professional reasons will require that you receive consent from the person whose record you are requesting. Whether you operate an adoption agency or an employer hiring a new employee, do not forget to receive consent before requesting Oregon criminal records on an individual – otherwise, you are breaking federal laws laid out by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

More details on these laws are discussed below.

How To Determine If a Person Is a Probationer or Parolee in Oregon

Generally, when a person is on “probation” in Oregon, that means they were sentenced to jail after being convicted of a misdemeanor or felony and have been released from jail but are under supervision. Paroled individuals are those that were sentenced to Oregon state prison for a felony and are now released by the Oregon parole board. In Oregon, for certain offenses, probation may be used as an alternative to serving time in jail.²⁰

If you are trying to figure out whether someone is on probation or parole in Oregon, your best option is to check the Oregon DOC offender search, which provides information on an individual’s current location, including whether they are currently on probation or parole.

The image below reveals the total population of probationers and parolees in Oregon and compares it with other states across the United States. Additionally, it showcases the ethnicities of individuals on community supervision in Oregon, including probation and parole.

Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons search tool when you need to search for federal prison inmates.²¹ It is important to note, however, that this search tool does not provide specific parole information. When conducting your search, if the database shows that an inmate was released recently, it is likely they are on parole.

If someone was convicted of a sexual offense, a useful tool to check their parole status is the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) National Sex Offender search tool.²²

You can look for offenders either by name or general location. To reiterate, neither of these tools is specific to probation/parole searches. However, they are an available and free option to find the information you are looking for.

Process for Sealing & Expunging Criminal Records in OR

When Oregon arrest records become conviction, an expungement (referred to in Oregon as “setting aside”) allows for a legal process which seals and restricts access to an individual’s arrest or criminal record.²³ Once an expungement is finalized, an individual can legally move forward as if the conviction no longer exists. This also means these records will not pop up on a background check.

In Oregon, eligibility for expungement depends on a variety of factors, including what crime you committed, how long ago the conviction occurred, and whether you are still on probation/parole when you make your expungement request.²⁴ The Oregon Judicial Department provides a detailed expungement packet with additional information and steps for filing an expungement.²⁵

Note: It’s recommended that you seek legal counsel to be sure you meet all eligibility requirements and follow the proper procedures.

How To Locate a Person in an Oregon State Prison or Federal Prison

Anyone can use the Department of Corrections’ offender search to locate someone in Oregon State Prison. Use this online tool to find specific people in state prisons throughout Oregon.

Searches only allow you to enter the individual’s name or state identification number. The offender search does not allow you to provide ancillary information such as an individual’s birth date, address, or distinguishing characteristics of the person (e.g., age, sex, hair color, DOB). When you search the Department of Corrections, among other things, it will let you know what state facility the inmate is currently located in if they are still incarcerated.

All federal prison inmate information is located at the Federal Bureau of Prison (BOP). You can use the Federal BOP search tool to search by someone’s name.

You can refine your results by including the following additional information: (1) sex, (2) age, or (3) race.²⁶ You also have the option to search with their assigned inmate number.

How To Find Out If a Person Has a Warrant Out for Their Arrest in Oregon

There is a state-wide warrant database through the Oregon Judicial Department’s Online Record Search feature although there are different ways to check for this as well.

Through the record search feature, simply input a name, select advance options and only keep the warrants box checked. When there are more than 10 results, it’s a good idea to scroll down to the bottom of the page and select 20-200 items per page. Note, when we ran a generic name search on this tool many names came up and the tool showed “Warrants (0).

So to be sure the person actually has a warrant, be sure the warrants section or column on the right has more than 0.

Furthermore, when you search for an Oregon arrest records through the county sheriff’s office or local police departments, many of their sites, which are listed above, contain a warrant list. However, you may also call your local law enforcement agency if they don’t have a strong online presence or warrant list published online.

The United States Marshall handles the issuing of federal warrants. You cannot simply access federal warrants through a public search tool since this data is accessible to those that need to know this information to fulfill their job responsibilities. Federal warrants are located with the Warrant Information System (WIN).²⁷

While you can search for certain case information with the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, you can only search active cases.²⁸

Be aware PACER is a paid service. For certain crimes, you can search the fugitive list hosted by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).²⁹

A Synopsis of Oregon Background Checks

Background checks are requested every day for professional and personal reasons. Here are some common reasons for requesting a background check:

• Seeking employment
• Security clearance for certain jobs
• Adoption
• Purchase of Firearm
• Complying with various federal and state laws
• People that work with youth and senior citizens

Unlike personal background checks, professional background checks are regulated to a greater extent. The use of professional background checks must be in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other federal and state laws.^{30, 31} While there are many examples, these laws most prominently require consent from the person whose background is being checked and prohibits using that information in a discriminatory fashion.

Background checks are primarily conducted at the following 4 levels:

• Level 1 – a basic name search and limits the scope to Oregon state and county employment and criminal records.
• Level 2 – a greater detailed search of local records than level 1, including a nationwide criminal record check. This is accomplished by running an individual’s fingerprints through the FBI database. In addition to criminal records, a level 2 background check lists civil judgments, any previous addresses, and one’s marital status.
• Level 3 – information on one’s education and employment
• Level 4 – detailed looked at someone’s finances and health

In Oregon, you can conduct a personal background check on your own by searching criminal and arrest records online or in person at various state and local agencies. You can also get Oregon criminal records by filling out a Criminal History Records Request and submitting it to the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) of the Oregon State Police. If you are requesting a criminal record for someone else, they have 14 days to review the information before it is sent to you.

If you are looking to obtain your criminal history nationwide (i.e.Level 2), then you can make a request through the FBI’s Identity History Summary Check.³² You have three options to submit your request: (1) online, (2) by mail, or (3) through an FBI-approved channeler. There is a $18 fee, and the timeframe for receiving your background check is 3-5 days if you submit your request online.

Personal background checks have far fewer restrictions than professional background checks and may be obtained by anyone without requesting an individual’s consent.

How To Find Nearby Sex Offenders in Oregon Through the State & National Registry

For convicted sex offenders, you can access Oregon’s Sex Offender Registry.³³ It’s important to know that Oregon’s registry is only for Level 3 sex offenders, which are those individuals that present the highest risk of reoffending.

On their website, you can search the entire offenders’ list, or you can search by location. When you enter the location, it provides a map, and you can click on offenders based on their location. Once you select a registered sex offender, you will see the following information:

• Name
• Mugshot
• Sex
• DOB/Age
• Address
• Descriptive information (e.g., Hair, Sex, Eyes, weight, and height)
• Scars, Marks, Tattoos, and piercings
• Charges (including the conviction date and offense name)
• Offender Status

If you do not find what you are looking for, try checking the U.S. DOJ’s National Sex Offender Registry. This is a nationwide sex offender registry for the entire United States.

Note: For a general felony registry, you will have to follow the previous steps outlined in this article. This registry is restricted to individuals found guilty of sexual offenses.

Rights & Restrictions Pertaining To Arrest Records & Criminal Records in Oregon

As discussed in this article, outside FOIA laws, there are not many restrictions for an individual who performs a personal background check without the person’s consent. The main exception is if they are prohibited from using this information to engage in criminal activity. However, for professional background checks, state and federal laws provide certain rules and regulations.

This is required primarily through the FCRA and EEOC. There are also state limitations on what information is provided, as well as the use of mugshots.

In addition, FOIA and Oregon’s Public Records Law provide restrictions on what information should be made public and what government agencies can restrict.

If you have any concerns about people viewing your criminal or arrest records, you may have options to protect yourself. First, you may use the information provided in this article to search online and see what information is publicly available. If there is criminal information you do not want others to see, you may want to conduct some research to see if your criminal record is eligible to be expunged.

In conclusion, the most effective way to access Oregon arrest records is by using a county’s inmate lookup tool or contacting the local sheriff/jail directly. For Oregon criminal records, choose from searching OECI, Oregon Department of Corrections, or contacting the appropriate county courthouse.