Search Oregon Criminal History
Oregon criminal history records are held by the Oregon State Police and the court system in all 36 counties. The state keeps arrest data, conviction records, and case filings in a central database run by the Criminal Justice Information Services Division. You can search Oregon criminal history records online, by mail, or in person at courthouses and state offices. Court records for criminal cases are also available through the Oregon Judicial Department. This guide covers how to find and request criminal history records across Oregon.
Oregon Criminal History Quick Facts
Oregon Criminal History Record Checks
The Oregon State Police CJIS Division is the central repository for criminal offender records in Oregon. This office stores and manages all criminal history data reported by law enforcement across the state. It is the main source for criminal history checks in Oregon.
OSP provides these criminal history services in Oregon:
- Open Record Requests for another person's criminal history
- Copy of Own Record through fingerprint-based search
- Public fingerprinting at Salem headquarters
- Notary services for Copy of Own Record requests
Both types of record checks cost $33 in Oregon. You can submit requests through the OSP Open Records Portal online, by mail, or in person. The OSP Salem office is at 3565 Trelstad Ave SE, Salem, OR 97317. Walk-in hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Results take 7 to 10 business days. OSP mails all responses only to the person who asked. They will not send criminal history results to a third party. If you need a notarized copy for apostille, OSP charges an extra $5 fee in Oregon. A photo ID is required for all in-person requests at the Salem office.
Note: OSP cannot speed up criminal history requests in Oregon. They process them in the order they arrive.
How to Search Criminal History in Oregon
Oregon provides free and paid tools to look up criminal case records. The fastest free option is the OJD Records and Calendar Search. It covers all 36 circuit courts plus the Tax Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court. You can view case data at any time from home. Due to state and federal law, some records are not shown online. These include adoption, juvenile, mental health, and cases under the Violence Against Women Act.
The Oregon Judicial Department lists three ways to find a criminal case. Use the free online search for basic case details and court calendars. Use the OJCIN OnLine paid service for full case data. Or call, email, or visit your local circuit court in person. Each court has a free public access terminal where you can look up most criminal cases at no cost. Court staff can provide case details by phone but cannot give legal advice about criminal history in Oregon.
To search criminal history records in Oregon, provide these details:
- Full name of the person
- Date of birth or date of conviction
- Approximate year the case was filed
- County where the case was heard
For help with online criminal record searches in Oregon, call 503.986.5582 or the toll-free line at 877.826.5010. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm PST.
Oregon Criminal History Court Records
The OJCIN OnLine system gives paid access to court case data from all 36 Oregon circuit courts. OJCIN stands for the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network. It holds judgment dockets and the official Register of Actions for state courts. This is the most thorough way to search criminal case records across Oregon.
Subscribers can search criminal, civil, small claims, tax, and domestic cases. A new OJCIN account needs a signed Terms of Use Agreement, a completed customer form, and a $150 setup fee. Monthly costs range from $27 to $1,620 based on access level. Each user profile costs $16 per month. For subscriber support, call 1-800-858-9658 during business hours in Oregon.
The OECI portal provides access to Oregon eCourt Case Information for circuit courts and the Tax Court. It shows data in near real time including parties, charges, court dates, judgments, and case status. Court staff updates the system daily. There can be short delays between a filing and when the data appears. OJCIN data is not the official record of the court. The official criminal history record is kept at the court where the case was filed in Oregon.
Note: Criminal history records in OJCIN include misdemeanor and felony cases from all Oregon circuit courts.
Criminal History Confidentiality in Oregon
Oregon law treats criminal history data as confidential in most cases. Under ORS 181A.220, fingerprints, photos, and criminal records held by OSP are exempt from public inspection. This does not mean the records are sealed. The law sets out clear paths to obtain criminal history records in Oregon through approved channels.
The main exceptions allow access when ordered by a court, through rules adopted by OSP, through the open records process under ORS 181A.245, and for specific purposes in other statutes. Crime reports to OSP and arrest records made by OSP are not confidential. They follow the same rules as records from other law enforcement agencies in Oregon under ORS 192.345(3).
When someone requests your criminal history in Oregon, OSP sends you a written notice first. This goes to your last known address. The notice says who asked for your record. You then have 14 days to challenge any errors before OSP releases the data to the requester. The record released includes the date of arrest, the offense, the arresting agency, the court of origin, and the case disposition in Oregon.
OSP tells the requester that the match is based on name and description only, not fingerprints. If OSP has no conviction data, they state that the person has no criminal record in Oregon. They release nothing more in that case. OSP also keeps a log of all persons and agencies that make criminal history inquiries. These logs are public records available for inspection under Oregon law.
Oregon Offender Search Database
The Oregon Department of Corrections runs a free offender search tool online. It holds records of offenders incarcerated from 1982 to the present. You can search by SID number or by name. The tool is free and does not need an account. It covers all state prison facilities in Oregon.
Each record shows the offender's name, aliases, sentence length, prison location, and docket number. Physical details include height, weight, race, scars, tattoos, eye color, and hair color. For an official or certified copy of an offender record, submit a public records request. The Oregon DOC main office is at 2575 Center St NE, Salem, OR 97301. Their phone number is 503-945-9090. Pen Pack requests go to the OISC at 24499 SW Grahams Ferry Road, Wilsonville, OR 97070. You can also email OISCINFO@doc.state.or.us or call 503-570-6919 for help with Oregon offender criminal history records.
Oregon Public Records and Criminal History
The Oregon Public Records Law under ORS Chapter 192 gives every person the right to inspect public records. This includes criminal history records held by public agencies in Oregon. Record custodians must provide proper and reasonable access during normal business hours. Agencies may charge fees to cover their actual costs for making records available.
If records are in electronic form, the agency must provide copies in the format you request, if that format is available. If a state agency denies your criminal history request, you may petition the Oregon Attorney General for review. A court can order the release of records improperly withheld from the public in Oregon. Fee waivers are also available. Under ORS 192.324(5), a custodian may waive fees if making the record available primarily benefits the general public.
Criminal investigatory records in Oregon are conditionally exempt under ORS 192.345(3). The record of an arrest or the report of a crime must still be disclosed. The only exception is when there is a clear need to delay for an active investigation. Under OAR 257-010-0020, OSP has full statutory and administrative responsibility for maintaining and sharing criminal offender data in Oregon. Only terminals at the OSP Identification Services Section can enter, update, or change records in the Oregon Criminal History file. This rule ensures the accuracy of criminal history data across the state.
Note: If you believe a criminal history record is wrong, you may challenge the data through OSP under rules adopted by the Department of State Police in Oregon.
Oregon Court Records by County
Each of Oregon's 36 circuit courts keeps its own criminal case records. The Oregon Judicial Department provides statewide forms and tools for accessing court records at any location. You can request criminal history records in person, by mail, or by email at most courts across Oregon.
For criminal case requests in Oregon, provide the full name to search, date of birth or date of conviction, and the year the case was filed. Most courts charge $0.25 per page for copies. Certified copies cost $5. Exemplified copies cost $10. Each circuit court follows the Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules. Select a county below to find local contact information and resources for criminal history records in that part of the state. Under ORS 137.225, some types of criminal records in Oregon may be eligible for set aside, commonly known as expungement.
Note: Confidential or sealed cases such as juvenile and mental health records are not available through online searches in Oregon.
Browse Oregon Criminal History by County
Each county in Oregon has its own circuit court that maintains criminal history records and case files. Pick a county below to find local contact information and resources for criminal records in that area.
Criminal History in Major Oregon Cities
Residents of major Oregon cities file criminal cases at their county courthouse. Pick a city below to learn about criminal history records in that area.