Multnomah County Criminal Records
What Is Multnomah County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Multnomah County are official documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the county's jurisdiction. These records are maintained pursuant to Oregon Revised Statutes § 181A.225, which establishes the framework for criminal history record information in the state.
Criminal records in Multnomah County encompass several distinct categories:
- Arrest Records: Documentation of when an individual is taken into custody by law enforcement, including the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office or Portland Police Bureau, regardless of whether charges are filed
- Conviction Records: Official documentation of guilty verdicts or pleas, which carry more legal weight than mere arrests
- Felony Records: Documentation of serious crimes punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year
- Misdemeanor Records: Records of less serious offenses typically punishable by less than one year in jail
- Adult Records: Generally accessible to the public unless sealed or expunged
- Juvenile Records: Typically sealed and not publicly accessible under ORS § 419A.255
- Active Warrants: Current orders for arrest issued by judicial authorities
- Historical Records: Documentation of past interactions with the justice system
Multiple agencies maintain different components of criminal records in Multnomah County:
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Suite 350
Portland, OR 97214
503-988-4300
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail records.
Multnomah County Circuit Court
1021 SW 4th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
971-274-0561
Multnomah County Circuit Court
The Circuit Court maintains case files, dispositions, sentencing records, and court proceedings.
Oregon State Police - Criminal Justice Information Services
3565 Trelstad Ave SE
Salem, OR 97317
503-378-3070
Oregon State Police Criminal History Records
The Oregon State Police maintains the statewide criminal history repository.
Comprehensive criminal records typically include documentation of charges, arraignments, pleas, trial proceedings, verdicts, sentencing, and probation or parole information. These records form the official history of an individual's involvement with the criminal justice system in Multnomah County.
Are Criminal Records Public In Multnomah County
Criminal records in Multnomah County are generally considered public information under Oregon's Public Records Law, codified in ORS Chapter 192. This statute establishes the presumption that government records, including criminal records, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law.
The Oregon Public Records Law states in ORS § 192.314(1): "Every person has a right to inspect any public record of a public body in this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by ORS § 192.338, 192.345 and 192.355."
While the law establishes a presumption of openness, certain categories of criminal records are subject to restrictions:
- Adult Conviction Records: Generally accessible to the public
- Court Proceedings: Most hearings and trials are open to public observation
- Ongoing Investigations: May be exempt from disclosure under ORS § 192.345(3) until the investigation concludes
- Sealed Cases: Records that have been sealed by court order are not publicly accessible
- Expunged Records: Records that have been expunged pursuant to ORS § 137.225 are removed from public view
- Juvenile Records: Protected under ORS § 419A.255, with limited exceptions for certain serious offenses
- Mental Health Diversion Records: Often protected from general disclosure
- Victim Information: Personal identifying information may be redacted to protect privacy
The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office serves as the custodian for determining public records appeals within the county, as established under ORS § 192.415. When a request for criminal records is denied by a county agency, the District Attorney reviews these denials to ensure compliance with state law.
Multnomah County District Attorney's Office
1021 SW 4th Avenue, Room 600
Portland, OR 97204
503-988-3162
Multnomah County District Attorney
It is important to note that while many criminal records are public, accessing them may require formal requests, payment of fees, and adherence to established procedures. Additionally, the accessibility of records may change based on legislative updates or court rulings interpreting the Public Records Law.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Multnomah County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Multnomah County may utilize several methods to obtain this information. The county maintains multiple access points for criminal record retrieval, each serving different purposes and containing varying levels of detail.
For in-person requests at the Multnomah County Courthouse:
- Visit the Multnomah County Circuit Court Records Department during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
- Complete a records request form, providing the subject's full name and, if possible, date of birth
- Present valid government-issued photo identification
- Pay applicable search and copy fees (currently $10 for record searches plus $0.25 per page for copies)
- Allow processing time, which varies based on request volume
For mail requests:
- Download and complete the Public Records Request form from the Multnomah County Circuit Court website
- Include the subject's full name, date of birth (if known), and case numbers (if available)
- Enclose a check or money order for applicable fees
- Mail the completed form and payment to:
Multnomah County Circuit Court Records
1021 SW 4th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
971-274-0561
For comprehensive criminal history reports:
- Submit fingerprints through an authorized fingerprinting agency
- Complete the Oregon State Police Criminal History Request Form
- Include the required fee (currently $33 per record)
- Submit the request to:
Oregon State Police - Criminal Justice Information Services
3565 Trelstad Ave SE
Salem, OR 97317
503-378-3070
For specific case information:
- Contact the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office Records Division
- Submit a written request specifying the case number or defendant name
- Pay applicable fees for search and copies
Multnomah County District Attorney's Office
1021 SW 4th Avenue, Room 600
Portland, OR 97204
503-988-3162
For active warrant information:
- Contact the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Records Division
- Provide the subject's full name and date of birth
- Be prepared to show identification for certain requests
Pursuant to ORS § 192.324, agencies must acknowledge receipt of records requests within five business days and complete the request within ten business days. Complex requests may require additional time, in which case the agency must provide an estimated completion date.
How To Find Criminal Records in Multnomah County Online?
Multnomah County offers several online resources for accessing criminal records information. These digital portals provide convenient alternatives to in-person requests, though the scope and depth of available information may vary by platform.
The primary online resources include:
Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN) The Oregon Judicial Department maintains this comprehensive database of court cases. Users may:
- Search by name, case number, or citation number
- View case summaries, charges, and disposition information
- Access case calendars and scheduled hearings
- View judgment information and sentencing details
OJCIN requires registration and subscription fees for full access. Basic case information is available through the free Oregon eCourt Case Information portal, though document viewing is limited.
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Jail Information System The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate lookup tool that provides:
- Current custody status of individuals
- Booking information and charges
- Scheduled release dates when available
- Bail amounts
This system is updated regularly and is free to access without registration.
Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registry The Oregon Sex Offender Inquiry System allows searches for:
- Registered sex offenders by name
- Geographic searches by address, city, or zip code
- Notification registration for specific areas
This registry is maintained pursuant to ORS § 181A.290 and is free to access.
Oregon State Police Open Records The Oregon Criminal History Record Check system allows:
- Name-based criminal history checks (fee required)
- Results delivered electronically or by mail
- Official record checks for employment or licensing purposes
This system requires payment of fees and submission of required forms.
Portland Police Bureau Crime Statistics The Portland Police Bureau maintains dashboards showing:
- Crime statistics by neighborhood
- Arrest data and trends
- Calls for service information
While not providing individual criminal records, this resource offers contextual information about criminal activity in Multnomah County.
When using online systems, users should note:
- Not all case types are available online
- Some sensitive information may be redacted
- Historical records may have limited availability
- Document downloads may incur additional fees
- Official certified copies typically require in-person requests
Online access to criminal records is governed by the same statutory provisions that apply to physical records, including exemptions under ORS § 192.345 and § 192.355.
Can You Search Multnomah County Criminal Records for Free?
Multnomah County provides several options for free access to criminal records, though the scope and depth of freely available information is more limited than what may be obtained through paid services. Oregon law, specifically ORS § 192.324(4), permits agencies to charge reasonable fees to recover the actual cost of making records available.
Free in-person inspection options include:
Multnomah County Circuit Court Public Access Terminals
1021 SW 4th Avenue, Room 131
Portland, OR 97204
971-274-0561
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
These terminals allow visitors to search case information and view limited case documents without charge. Printing documents from these terminals incurs a fee of $0.25 per page.
Multnomah County Law Library
1021 SW 4th Avenue, Room 240
Portland, OR 97204
503-988-3394
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The law library provides public access computers for legal research, including limited criminal record searches through public databases.
Free online resources include:
Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) This free portal provides basic case information including:
- Party names
- Case types and filing dates
- Charges and case status
- Hearing dates
While searching is free, viewing documents requires a subscription to OJCIN.
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Inmate Information The Sheriff's Office maintains a free online database showing:
- Current inmates in custody
- Booking information
- Scheduled release dates
- Basic charge information
Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registry The public sex offender website allows free searches for registered sex offenders in Multnomah County.
Portland Police Bureau Daily Booking Data The Portland Police Bureau publishes recent booking information online at no cost.
While these free resources provide valuable information, they have limitations:
- Historical records may not be available
- Document downloads typically require payment
- Detailed criminal history reports require fees
- Certified copies always require payment
- Some case types may be excluded from free access
For comprehensive criminal history information, the Oregon State Police charges a fee of $33 per record check, as authorized by ORS § 181A.230. This fee covers the cost of processing fingerprints and maintaining the criminal history database.
What's Included in a Multnomah County Criminal Record?
Criminal records in Multnomah County typically contain comprehensive information about an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. The content and structure of these records adhere to standards established by the Oregon Criminal Justice Information Standards, maintained by the Oregon State Police.
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Mugshot photographs when available
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID)
- FBI number (if applicable)
- Driver's license number
Arrest Information:
- Date and time of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer information
- Booking number and facility
- Charges filed at time of arrest
- Bail or bond information
- Detention facility location
- Arresting agency case number
Court Case Information:
- Court case number
- Court of jurisdiction (Circuit Court, Municipal Court)
- Filing date and prosecutor information
- Formal charges filed with statutory citations
- Classification of charges (felony class A-C, misdemeanor class A-C)
- Plea information
- Defense attorney information
- Pretrial release conditions
- Court appearance dates
Disposition Information:
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed)
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details:
- Incarceration terms and location
- Probation conditions and duration
- Fines, fees, and restitution ordered
- Community service requirements
- Treatment program mandates
- Appeal information (if applicable)
- Probation/parole status and violations
- Completion or termination of sentence
Additional Information:
- Active warrants or pending charges
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration requirements
- DUI/DWI history
- Traffic violations connected to criminal cases
- Diversion program participation
- Probation or parole officer contact information
The comprehensiveness of criminal records may vary based on the age of the record, the maintaining agency, and the specific case circumstances. Records maintained by the Oregon State Police Criminal Justice Information Services Division typically provide the most complete criminal history information, while court records focus primarily on case proceedings and outcomes.
Certain information may be redacted from publicly available records, including:
- Social Security Numbers
- Financial account information
- Medical and mental health information
- Information about confidential informants
- Victim identifying information in sensitive cases
- Information sealed by court order
Criminal records in Multnomah County are subject to the accuracy requirements of ORS § 181A.230, which establishes procedures for challenging and correcting inaccurate information.
How Long Does Multnomah County Keep Criminal Records?
Multnomah County maintains criminal records according to retention schedules established by the Oregon State Archives under the authority of ORS § 192.105. These schedules vary by record type and maintaining agency, with some records preserved permanently while others are retained for defined periods.
The Multnomah County Circuit Court adheres to the following retention periods:
- Felony Case Files: 75 years from date of final disposition
- Misdemeanor Case Files: 25 years from date of final disposition
- Violation Case Files: 10 years from date of final disposition
- Traffic Offense Records: 10 years from date of final disposition
- Domestic Violence Cases: 75 years from date of final disposition
- Sex Crime Cases: 75 years from date of final disposition
- Juvenile Delinquency Records: Until the subject reaches age 25, unless expunged earlier
- Grand Jury Records: 10 years from date of proceedings
- Court Dockets and Indexes: Permanent retention
- Judgment Records: Permanent retention
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office maintains records according to the following schedule:
- Arrest Records: 75 years from date of arrest
- Booking Photos: 75 years from date of booking
- Jail Records: 10 years after release from custody
- Investigation Reports: 75 years for felonies, 25 years for misdemeanors
- Sex Offender Registration Records: 75 years from date of registration
- Warrant Records: Until warrant is served or recalled, plus 3 years
The Oregon State Police maintains criminal history records according to the following schedule:
- Criminal History Repository Records: 75 years from date of last entry
- Sex Offender Registration Information: Lifetime for Level 3 offenders, otherwise according to statutory requirements
- Fingerprint Cards: 75 years from date of collection
- DNA Profiles: Permanent retention unless expunged by court order
It is important to note that retention does not necessarily equate to public accessibility. Records may be sealed, expunged, or restricted from public view while still being retained by agencies for official purposes.
Expungement of records, governed by ORS § 137.225, allows for the removal of certain criminal records from public access after specified waiting periods, typically:
- Most misdemeanors: 3 years after conviction
- Most Class C felonies: 5 years after conviction
- Cases dismissed or resulting in acquittal: 1 year after disposition
Expunged records are sealed from public view but may be retained by agencies for limited law enforcement purposes as authorized by statute.
The retention of criminal records is subject to periodic review and may be modified by changes to state law or administrative rules. Current retention schedules are available through the Oregon State Archives.
Lookup Criminal Records in Multnomah County
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Multnomah County Circuit Court