How to Find and Access Oregon Criminal Records

Oregon criminal records contain the history of criminal files dating back to the 1920s. These records are kept indefinitely and may be removed only when the individual is confirmed to be deceased by his fingerprint records or through a court expungement order. The Identification Services Section of the Oregon State Police receives more than four-hundred fingerprint cards from criminal arrests and over three-hundred fingerprint card applications on a daily basis for processing.

Fingerprint Records

After a positive identification of fingerprints is made on a new file or added to an existing file, these are updated and maintained in the criminal arrest cards. However, each criminal arrest card is complete once the appropriate Oregon court provides the relevant deposition documents which are then entered into the arrest card.

The Identification Services Section (ISS) in general does not retain any applicant cards unless the requirements of a statute instruct to maintain it on file. The applicant cards received by the ISS are searched against the computerized criminal history files. After the search is completed, the applicant cards are then returned either to the requestor or the agency that had submitted the request for further action. Applicant cards contain requests pertaining to licensing, permits, certification and employment.

In Oregon, the information in records of criminal history is kept confidential. These records are not disclosed to the general public unless it is authorized by a decree or law. However, open records such as a person’s own records are available to the individual.

Oregon Criminal History Record Checks

Oregon allows specific and limited public access to the information available in the state’s criminal history records. State law allows this limited access through various processes. An individual can access his own criminal history record. For complete access he has to provide his fingerprint identification. But access to the information on another individual’s criminal history record is limited. The information available in these records is based on name and date of birth.

An Oregon criminal record or criminal history record can only be accessed and obtained through the state’s Identification Services Section which is located in Salem. The ISS operates from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays. You can reach the ISS at:

Mailing Address
3772 Portland Rd NE
Salem, Or 97301
Phone: 503-378-3070
Fax: 503-378-2121
email: receptionist1.idservices@state.or.us

Accessing Your Own Records

An individual can obtain his own criminal record or criminal history through the Oregon Record Check and the National Record Check available with the FBI.

The process of retrieving information in your own record requires them to send a request to either the FBI or the Oregon Record Check. You need to send a written request containing information such as name, place of birth and date of birth along with an inked fingerprint identification and state the reason for fingerprinting; this should be other than employment reasons, otherwise the request will not be processed. You also need to provide a return address and send the request along with a money order or certified check payable to the Treasury Department of United States. The processing fee is $18. It takes 8 to 10 weeks to process a request.  
   
 Website: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/ID/docs/copy_own_or_record.pdf
                 http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/ID/docs/FBI_record.doc


FBI – CJIS DIVISION
ATTN:  SCU
MODULE D2
1000 CUSTER HOLLOW RD
CLARKSBURG, WV  26306

Phone: (304) 625-2000

Accessing the Criminal Records of Other Individuals

As stated above, limited access to open records is available to the public in Oregon. Oregon criminal history records contain arrest records in which there has been no acquittal and they contain any convictions that are less than one year old.

According to Chapter 81 of the Oregon Statute and Chapter 257 of the rules on Administration, complete information of criminal offenders in Oregon is available only to the criminal justice agencies and the law enforcement agencies. But an agency or an individual may get hold of the information on criminal offenders in Oregon.

The ISS will file the subject and notify the agency or individual making the request in fourteen days. The information provided by them will include details such as court of origin, arrest date, the nature of offense, disposition including parole dates, imposed sentence and records on parole revocation if any.

If the request for viewing the criminal record of another individual is made by an employer for service purposes, then he has to notify the individual and seek his permission before sending the request to the authorities.

If the information contained in an individual criminal record has no data on conviction, then it will not furnish any other details other than stating that the person had no criminal record.

The response time to any inquiries and request is dependent on the number requests pending. To find the information of another individual’s criminal history you need to first fill out the necessary details such as SSN , first name and last name, date of birth, place of birth, and the last known address of the individual, then send a written request along with a money order of $10 for fees. The check or money order should be payable to the Oregon State Police.

Oregon State Police, Unit 11
PO Box 4395,
Portland, Oregon 97208
 
Website: http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/ID/docs/open_rec_another_individual.doc