Oregon's criminal history system has an unusual public access structure: criminal history record information is generally confidential under ORS 181A.220, but Oregon Revised Statute 181A.245 creates an Open Record Request pathway that allows anyone to run a name-based search on another person's record. What that public search returns is narrow -- convictions and arrests less than one year old. Older non-conviction arrests do not appear. Oregon's record relief is called a "set aside" under ORS 137.225 rather than expungement, though the practical effect is the same: upon granting, the event is deemed not to have occurred and the person may legally state they were never arrested or convicted. One 2024 development worth noting: a set aside no longer restores firearms rights in Oregon -- that requires a separate legal process. This guide covers the full system.
What Makes Oregon Arrest Records Public
Oregon's public records framework is governed by the Oregon Public Records Law at ORS 192.311 through 192.478. Criminal history records carry their own specific access rules.
Under ORS 181A.220, criminal history record information is generally confidential and exempt from public inspection. However, ORS 181A.245 provides for Open Record Requests -- a public name-based search of another person's Oregon criminal history. Under this pathway, the requester receives a record of convictions and arrests less than one year old that have not resulted in a dismissal or acquittal.
The CJIS Division of Oregon State Police is designated by law as the central repository for criminal offender information. CJIS provides Open Record Requests (name-based, public, for another person's record) and Copy of Own Oregon Record Requests (fingerprint-based, personal).
Exemptions from public access include older non-conviction arrests, records protected by court order, juvenile records, and sealed or set-aside records.
What an Oregon Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A public Open Record Request from OSP-CJIS returns conviction records and arrests less than one year old where there has been no dismissal or acquittal. A personal fingerprint-based request returns a complete personal criminal history including all arrests and dispositions regardless of age.
Criminal records in Oregon typically include personal identifying information (name, aliases, date of birth, physical description), arrest data (arresting agency, date, charges), and court dispositions. Local law enforcement records at county sheriff and police department levels include full booking information: name, DOB, date and time of arrest, location, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph.
How to Search Oregon Arrest Records
The OSP-CJIS Open Data Portal allows online name-based criminal history searches for public Open Record Requests. The online fee is $10 per search. Results are available by email or mail. For in-person requests, the completed form, rolled fingerprints, and $33 fee are submitted to OSP-CJIS headquarters: Oregon State Police--CJIS Division Unit 11, P.O. Box 4395, Portland, OR 97208-4395. Phone: 503-378-3070. Personal fingerprint-based requests also require the $33 fee.
The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) Online Records Search provides free public access to court case records at publicaccess.courts.oregon.gov. The system covers criminal cases handled by Oregon's circuit courts and allows name-based and case number searches. Records include charges, docket entries, dispositions, and sentencing details. This is a useful complement to the CJIS record check, particularly for older non-conviction case information.
County sheriff offices are the practical tool for recent arrest information and booking rosters. Oregon has 36 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. Most publish online inmate rosters or booking information.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Oregon's 36 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Oregon DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Oregon
Oregon has 36 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences.
When someone is sentenced to state prison, they enter the Oregon Department of Corrections system. Oregon DOC provides a free online offender search at oregon.gov/doc (the Oregon Offender Search tool). You can search by name or SID number to locate current state inmates and get facility, offense, and sentence information.
Federal Arrests in Oregon
Federal arrests in Oregon are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. After federal sentencing, individuals enter the Bureau of Prisons rather than the Oregon DOC.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the OSP-CJIS criminal history system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Oregon's public Open Record Request pathway returns convictions and recent arrests (under one year) without dismissal or acquittal. Older non-conviction arrests are not included in what the public receives from OSBI.
A common misconception is that dismissed charges automatically disappear from public records in Oregon. They do not. The arrest and dismissal remain in criminal history until the person completes the set-aside process under ORS 137.225.
Oregon Set-Aside Under ORS 137.225
Oregon's record relief statute is called a set aside. Under ORS 137.225, when a court grants a motion to set aside, the order seals the public record of the arrest, citation, charge, or conviction. The event is deemed not to have occurred, and the person may legally state on most applications that they were never arrested or convicted of that offense. The set aside removes the record from public criminal history checks and from the OJD court records system.
For non-conviction records -- dismissed charges, cases where prosecution was declined, and acquittals: persons may file a motion for set aside, generally after 60 days from the prosecuting attorney's formal notice of no complaint or after dismissal, provided there are no pending charges and no other arrests within the past 3 years.
For conviction records: Class C felony and misdemeanor convictions are eligible. The motion may be filed 3 years after the date of pronouncement of judgment, provided: the person has fully complied with the sentence; they are not still on probation, parole, or post-prison supervision; and they have not been convicted of another crime (excluding motor vehicle violations) within the 10-year period preceding the filing. If there have been additional arrests since the conviction, the waiting period extends to 10 years with no arrests.
Ineligible offenses include: sex crimes, Class A and Class B felonies (generally), traffic offenses, and crimes involving harm or threat of harm to another person in certain categories.
Firearms rights: As of 2024, Oregon State Police policy changed such that a set aside no longer restores firearms rights in Oregon. A separate legal process is required to restore firearms rights after a conviction, even after a set aside is granted.
InmateAid's guides on expungement and set aside cover Oregon's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after a set aside is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Oregon arrest records public?
Oregon criminal history information is generally confidential under ORS 181A.220. However, ORS 181A.245 allows anyone to submit an Open Record Request to OSP-CJIS for a name-based search of another person's record. That public search returns conviction records and arrests less than one year old without a resulting dismissal or acquittal. Older non-conviction arrests, set-aside records, and juvenile records are not accessible through the public record request.
How do I search Oregon arrest records?
The OSP-CJIS Open Data Portal allows online name-based Open Record Request searches ($10 per search). In-person requests require completed forms, rolled fingerprints, and a $33 fee to OSP-CJIS, P.O. Box 4395, Portland, OR 97208-4395, phone 503-378-3070. The OJD Online Records Search at publicaccess.courts.oregon.gov provides free public access to court case records. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For custody notifications, VINELink at vinelink.com is free. For Oregon DOC inmates, use Oregon Offender Search at oregon.gov/doc.
What does an Oregon arrest record contain?
A public Open Record Request returns conviction records and arrests less than one year old that have not resulted in dismissal or acquittal. A personal fingerprint-based record returns complete criminal history including all arrests and dispositions. Local law enforcement records include name, DOB, arrest date/time, location, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Oregon?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. Oregon's public record request returns only conviction records and very recent arrests. A dismissed case does not automatically disappear -- the arrest and dismissal remain in criminal history until a set aside is granted under ORS 137.225.
How do I find someone in an Oregon county jail?
Check the county sheriff's website where the arrest occurred. Oregon's 36 counties each operate a county jail and most publish online booking information. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many Oregon facilities and provides free notification registration. For someone in state prison, use the Oregon Offender Search at oregon.gov/doc.
Can I search federal arrest records in Oregon?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the OSP-CJIS system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Oregon?
Oregon criminal history records remain in the OSP-CJIS system indefinitely unless a set aside is granted under ORS 137.225. The public Open Record Request only returns convictions and arrests less than one year old, so older non-conviction arrests are effectively not visible in the public check -- but they remain in the full system. A set aside seals the record from public view.
Who qualifies for set-aside in Oregon?
Under ORS 137.225: Class C felony and misdemeanor convictions are eligible after 3 years from pronouncement of judgment (extended to 10 years if there are subsequent arrests or convictions), with all sentence terms completed, no pending charges, and no probation/parole/post-prison supervision. Non-conviction cases (dismissed charges, declined prosecution, acquittals) are also eligible, generally 60 days after formal notice or dismissal. Sex crimes, most Class A and B felonies, traffic offenses, and certain offenses involving harm to others are not eligible.
Does Oregon's set-aside restore firearms rights?
No, as of 2024. Oregon State Police policy changed in 2024 such that a set aside under ORS 137.225 no longer restores firearms rights. A separate legal process is required to restore firearms rights after a conviction in Oregon, even when a set aside has been granted. This is a significant limitation that anyone with a conviction-related firearms disability should be aware of before relying on a set aside alone.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Oregon's public Open Record Request should not return older non-conviction arrests (only those under one year old without a dismissal). However, court records in the OJD Online Records Search may still show dismissed cases. Local law enforcement booking records may also surface older arrests. A set aside under ORS 137.225 is the legal path to seal qualifying non-conviction arrest records. The motion can generally be filed 60 days after the prosecuting attorney declines to pursue the case. ---
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