Search Oregon Criminal Court Records
Oregon criminal court records are public documents held by the Circuit Court in each of the 36 counties and by the Oregon Judicial Department. These records cover felony and misdemeanor cases heard in state courts across Oregon. You can search criminal court records online through the Oregon eCourt Case Information system, through the OJCIN subscription service, or in person at any county courthouse. Each court maintains a case register that logs all events from arrest through final disposition. Finding criminal court records in Oregon starts with knowing which county handled the case.
How to Find Criminal Court Records in Oregon
Oregon gives the public several ways to look up criminal court records. The fastest option is the free OJD Records and Calendar Search. This tool covers all 36 circuit courts plus the Tax Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court. No sign-up is needed. You can search by party name, case number, or date range. Results show basic case details like the type of charge, filing date, and case status. The free search does not show full documents. It works well for quick lookups of criminal court records in Oregon.
The OJCIN OnLine system offers deeper access. OJCIN stands for the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network. It holds judgment dockets and the Register of Actions from all state courts. A subscription costs $27 per month for basic access. Setup requires a $150 fee. Subscribers can search criminal court records by name, case number, attorney, or court location. OJCIN covers both misdemeanor and felony cases. Law firms and background check firms use this tool often to search Oregon criminal court records.
Each courthouse also has a free public access terminal. These sit in the lobby and let you search the OECI database at no cost. Staff can help you use the terminal. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at most courts in Oregon.
Search criteria include record number, case number, warrant number, citation number, attorney name and bar number, business name, party name, and judicial officer name. You can also filter by case type, date filed, and case status. This range of options helps you find the right criminal court records even when you have limited details.
Oregon Criminal Court Records Online Access
The Oregon Judicial Department provides two main online portals for criminal court records. The OECI portal covers Circuit Courts and Tax Court records. The ACMS portal covers Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records. Both are part of the OJCIN subscription. Technical support is available at 503-986-5582 or toll free at 877-826-5010.
Court staff update case data each day. They enter new filings as soon as they can after receiving them. There can be short delays between when a document lands at the court and when it shows up online. The physical court file is always the official record. Online data is for reference. If you need a certified copy of criminal court records in Oregon, request it from the court where the case was filed.
OJCIN records go back decades. Criminal history data in the system spans many years of Oregon court activity. This makes it a strong tool for looking into past criminal court records. However, expunged cases will not appear in the results.
Note: Online records do not include sealed cases, juvenile matters, mental health cases, or cases under the Violence Against Women Act in Oregon.
Oregon State Police Criminal History Checks
The Oregon State Police run a separate system for criminal history. The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division handles fingerprint-based background checks. This is different from court records. A CJIS check covers arrests, charges, and dispositions from across the state. Oregon criminal history files date back to the 1920s.
To request your own record, you complete a fingerprint card at an authorized location. The fee is $33. You mail the card to Oregon State Police, CJIS Division, Unit 11, 3565 Trelstad Ave SE, Salem, OR 97317. Results take 7 to 10 business days. The OSP mails them only to the person who asked. They will not send results to a lawyer, friend, or family member on your behalf.
If no criminal record exists in Oregon, you get a notice saying so. Criminal history files can only be removed through expungement by court order, confirmation of death through fingerprints, or when a subject reaches age 99 with no arrests in the past 10 years. The CJIS division processes about 400 criminal arrest fingerprint cards each business day.
Requesting Criminal Court Records in Oregon
You can request copies of criminal court records from any Oregon circuit court. The Oregon Judicial Department sets the fee schedule for all courts. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document on top of the page fee. Exemplified copies run $10.00 per document. A double-sided page counts as two pages.
Normal processing takes about 10 minutes of staff time per request. If the court needs more time to locate, compile, or redact records, extra charges apply. For requests over $25, the court gives you a written estimate first. Payment must clear before release. Courts accept cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards for in-person requests.
Under ORS 192.311, every person has the right to inspect public records in Oregon. This includes criminal court records. A public record is any writing that relates to public business, held by a public body. Court records fall under this law. If a court denies access, you can petition the District Attorney or Attorney General for review.
Free Oregon Criminal Court Records Search
The OJD free records search is the best place to start. It covers all circuit courts with no cost and no registration. Case data available through the free search includes party names, case number, case type, filing date, case status, next hearing date, and assigned judge. This is enough to track case progress and find court dates for criminal cases in Oregon.
The free search updates in near real time. New filings should appear within 24 to 48 hours. Attorneys use it to check case loads. Journalists research court cases through it. Individuals look up their own records or those of family members. For more detail than the free search offers, the OJCIN subscription or an in-person visit to the courthouse is the next step for criminal court records in Oregon.
Oregon Criminal Record Expungement
Oregon law allows certain criminal records to be set aside through expungement. Under ORS 137.225, a person convicted of a crime other than a Class A felony or a felony sex crime may apply to the court. When granted, the record is sealed. The person can then legally say they have not been convicted of that crime.
Waiting periods depend on the offense. Class C felonies require 5 years from release or conviction. Class B felonies need 7 years for non-person offenses. Class A misdemeanors take 3 years. Class B and C misdemeanors need just 1 year. Arrests without conviction can be expunged right after dismissal or 60 days if no charges were filed.
As of January 2022, the filing fee for expungement petitions was eliminated. The Oregon State Police background check fee dropped to $33. You file the motion with the court where the conviction happened. The District Attorney gets notice and can object. If the court grants the motion, it orders all agencies to seal or destroy those criminal court records in Oregon.
Legal aid groups can help with expungement at low or no cost. The Oregon Judicial Department provides forms and guides for the process. Local clinics offer free help in many counties across the state.
Historical Criminal Court Records in Oregon
The Oregon State Archives holds historical court records from counties and cities across the state. These include criminal case files, judgment dockets, and registers from the 1800s and early 1900s. Many have been put on microfilm. Some are available through the Oregon Digital Archives online.
Justice court records, including traffic citations and misdemeanor cases, are stored at the Archives when those courts close. Municipal court records from cities that dissolved their courts end up here too. The Archives facility is in Salem. Staff can help you find records and explain old legal terms. Fees apply for copies based on format and volume.
Oregon Public Records Law and Court Access
Oregon has strong public records laws. ORS 192.314 says every person has the right to inspect public records, except where the law provides otherwise. Criminal court records are public under this statute. The law defines public record broadly. It covers any writing that contains information about public business, held by a public body, no matter the form.
Courts must respond without unreasonable delay. There is no fixed deadline, but prompt action is expected. If access is denied, the denial must be in writing and cite the specific law. You can appeal denials. State agency denials go to the Attorney General. Local agency denials go to the District Attorney. If you win in court, the judge may award attorney fees. A custodian cannot destroy or alter records in response to a request. This protects the integrity of criminal court records across Oregon.
Exemptions exist under ORS 192.501 through 192.505. These cover personal privacy, trade secrets, law enforcement investigations, and attorney-client privilege. Exemptions must be read narrowly to favor disclosure. Most criminal court records in Oregon remain open to the public despite these limits.
Correcting Errors in Criminal Court Records
The Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division handles complaints about inaccurate criminal record reporting. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Oregon state law, agencies must follow reasonable steps to ensure accuracy. If your criminal court records contain errors, you can file a complaint with the DOJ.
Oregon also has a Ban the Box law. This is enforced by the Bureau of Labor and Industries. The DOJ works with BOLI on issues related to criminal records. You have the right to get a copy of any report about you. You can dispute wrong information. The DOJ can mediate disputes and take legal action against firms that break the rules.
Browse Criminal Court Records by County
Each county in Oregon has its own Circuit Court that handles criminal cases. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for criminal court records in that area.
Criminal Court Records in Major Oregon Cities
Residents of major cities file criminal cases at their county courthouse. Pick a city below to learn about criminal court records in that area.