Portland Criminal History Records
Portland is the largest city in Oregon and home to more than 650,000 residents. Criminal history records here come from two main sources. The Portland Police Bureau keeps arrest data and police reports. The Multnomah County Circuit Court holds all case filings, charges, and court dockets. Searching for Portland criminal history starts with knowing which office has what you need. This page walks through the steps for getting records from both the police and the court system. Portland criminal history searches can be done online, by mail, or in person at several locations across the city.
Portland Police Bureau Records
The Portland Police Bureau Records Division handles all public records requests for police data. The division no longer has a public counter for walk-in service. All requests must go through the Portland Records Request Center online or by mail. You need to include a copy of valid picture ID with each request. This can be a scan, photo, or hard copy of your ID.
The fee for a name record search is $2.00 per person. Records are certified as a true copy when asked. Third party requests for name records must also go through the Portland Records Request Center. The Bureau keeps crime reports, arrest data, and incident records for Portland.
The Portland Police Bureau coordinates with the Multnomah County Circuit Court on criminal cases that move from arrest to prosecution. The Bureau also publishes press releases about major incidents and arrests on its main site at portland.gov/police.
Below is the Portland Police Bureau Records Division page where you can submit your request for Portland criminal history records.
Start your records request on that page. All results come back by mail due to state rules on how criminal history data is shared.
Note: All criminal history checks through the Portland Police Bureau are sent to the Oregon State Police at 503-378-3070 for processing.
Criminal History at Multnomah County Court
The Multnomah County Circuit Court handles all criminal cases for Portland. This includes felonies, misdemeanors, and violations. The Central Courthouse is at 1200 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97204. The Justice Center sits at 1120 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97204. Both locations process court records for Portland criminal history searches.
You can access court records through the OJD Records Search tool or by going to the courthouse in person. Each local circuit court has a free public access terminal where you can look up case data for most cases. For copies of documents, fees apply. You can also email the records team at MUL.Records@ojd.state.or.us to request specific Portland criminal history files.
The court keeps a case register for each filing. This log lists every event in a case, from documents filed to hearings, notices, and judgments. What it does not include are copies of the actual documents. To get those, you need to contact the clerk or visit the courthouse.
Search Portland Records Online
Free online access to Portland criminal history is available through the OJD Records and Calendar Search. This tool covers all Oregon circuit courts, including Multnomah County. You can search by name or case number to find basic case data like filing dates, charges, and case status.
Some records do not appear in this system. Juvenile cases, mental health records, and cases tied to the Violence Against Women Act are blocked. Sealed cases are also hidden from view. Technical help with the search tool is available at 503-986-5582 or toll free at 877-826-5010. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm.
For deeper access, the OJCIN OnLine subscription service gives you full docket entries, filings, and case details from all 36 Oregon circuit courts. Setup costs $150 with monthly fees from $27 to $1,620 based on your access level. Each user profile adds $16 per month. The Press Kiosk also provides on-site access to submitted filings at the Multnomah County Circuit Court.
Oregon State Police Criminal History
The Oregon State Police runs the central repository for criminal records in the state. The CJIS Division handles all formal criminal history checks. Portland residents who need a full record check must go through this office, not the local police.
Below is the Oregon State Police criminal history page where Portland residents can start a records request.
The fee is $33.00 for a copy of your own record or for an open record request on someone else. To get your own record, you must fill out the Request Own Record form, provide fingerprints, and pay the fee. Results go by mail only. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days, not counting mail time. The OSP will not send results to anyone else on your behalf.
Under ORS 181A.220, criminal history records are confidential and exempt from public inspection except through specific legal authority. When someone requests another person's record, the OSP sends written notice to the subject. That person has 14 days to challenge the accuracy before the record is released, as outlined in ORS 181A.245.
Note: The OSP cannot speed up requests, and they process them in the order they arrive.
Portland Criminal Case Types
Portland criminal history records cover a wide range of case types. These include:
- Felony charges filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court
- Misdemeanor arrests and cases
- Traffic violations and citations
- Sex offender registry records kept by the Portland Police Bureau
- Incident reports from Portland Police
The Portland Police Bureau keeps criminal history dissemination records that track certain crimes, criminals, and events. Sex offender registry records are retained for 60 years. These document the process of notifying the public about offenders. The Bureau follows retention schedules set under Oregon Administrative Rules.
Under Oregon law, House Bill 3355 allows the public to request the name and DPSST number for Portland Police Bureau officers. This request goes through the Identify Portland Police Bureau Officer page on the city site.
Portland Offender Search Tools
The Oregon Offender Search system lets you look up people held in state custody. This tool is run by the Oregon Department of Corrections and covers inmates from 1982 to the present. You can search by name or SID number. Results show name, aliases, sentence length, prison location, docket number, and physical details like height, weight, and tattoos.
For an official or certified copy of an offender record, you need to submit a public records request. Mail requests to OISC Information Request Specialist, Oregon Department of Corrections, 24499 SW Grahams Ferry Road, Wilsonville, OR 97070. You can also call 503-570-6919 or email OISCINFO@doc.state.or.us.
Multnomah County Criminal History
Portland is in Multnomah County. All criminal cases go through the Multnomah County Circuit Court. For more county resources visit the Multnomah County page.