Columbia County Arrest Records

Law enforcement agencies in Columbia County, Oregon, make arrests when they have probable cause to believe a person committed a crime. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office makes arrests and generates Columbia County arrest records. Persons arrested are held in Columbia County Jail.

Columbia County arrest records are considered public records and, in some instances, form part of the Columbia County court records by providing historical information about a criminal proceeding.

Are Arrest Records Public in Columbia County?

The Oregon Public Records Law requires Columbia arrest records to be public records. Therefore, interested persons can access Columbia County arrest records from the custodian agency. However, there are restrictions to public access to particular arrest information, including:

• Personal information of the victim or the person filing the complaint.
• Expunged or sealed arrest records.
• Information provided in confidence.
• Tips or reports submitted via anonymous tip lines.
• Footage from a law enforcement officer’s body camera.

Columbia County Arrest Statistics

The Oregon Uniform Crime Reporting Data (UCR) serves as the statewide platform for compiling crime statistics in Oregon. In 2023, Columbia County reported 228 arrests, including 116 violent crime arrests and 112 property crime arrests. The violent crime arrests included one for murder, two for robbery, one for sex offense-related, 31 for aggravated assault, and 81 for simple assault. For property crime, there were 25 burglary arrests, 79 for larceny, six for motor vehicle theft, and two arson arrests.

Find Columbia County Arrest Records

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office provides access to arrest records and inmate information through the Jail Inmate Census portal. The portal provides the name, booking date, charge, bail, and scheduled release date of inmates.

The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) provides inmate information online through the Oregon Offender Search portal. It can be searched by name and SID number.

Arrest records and inmate information are available at the federal level through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)’s Inmate Locator. The tool contains information about persons incarcerated in federal prisons.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Oregon Law does not prescribe a set period for an arrest to remain on a person’s record. Arrests can remain on a person’s record indefinitely. However, it can be expunged if the legal conditions below are satisfied.

Expungement, set aside, or expunction is a legal process of sealing or removing records of an arrest or conviction from public access. The record becomes inaccessible during most background checks by employers and the public. Certain government agencies, law enforcement, and entities with security clearance may still access the expunged records.

Oregon law sets out the eligibility for expunging arrest records, which depends on the nature of the crime, the time elapsed since the conviction or arrest, and whether the individual has satisfied all legal requirements, including fines and restitution. Some of the key eligibility criteria include:

• If the state decides not to pursue prosecution within 60 days of the arrest and no charges are filed, the individual can apply for expungement in the county where they were detained.
• Individuals acquitted or whose charges were dismissed may request the court in the county of arrest to set aside their arrest records.
• Misdemeanor Convictions:
• Class B or C Misdemeanor: Individuals may seek expungement one year after their sentence or release from jail, whichever is sooner.
• Class A Misdemeanor: Expungement can be sought three years after sentencing or release from jail, whichever is sooner.
• Felony Convictions:
• Class C Felony: Expungement is possible five years after the sentence or release from jail, whichever is sooner.
• Class B Felony: Individuals can seek expungement seven years after the conviction or release from jail, whichever comes first.

The process for expunging arrest records involves:

Fingerprinting

Obtain a complete set of fingerprints using the FBI standard blue applicant fingerprint card (FD-258). This can be done through a local criminal justice agency or a public fingerprinting service. Ensure all required fields on the fingerprint card are correctly completed, including the printed name, signature, date of birth, and the reason for fingerprinting, which must reference the applicable Oregon statute. This may be an Application for Setting Aside (ORS 137.225 - Order setting aside conviction or record of criminal charge) or an Application for Setting Aside (ORS 137.223 - Order setting aside judgment of guilt except for insanity).

Set Aside Form and Fee

Complete the Oregon State Police Request for Set Aside Form. A fee of $33 must be paid for the fingerprint-based criminal record check, regardless of the number of counties involved in the set-aside motion.

Mail the completed fingerprint card, set aside form, and payment (check or money order) to the Oregon State Police at the following address:

Oregon State Police, CJIS – Unit 11
ATTN: SET ASIDE
P.O. Box 4395
Portland, OR 97208-4395

Application to the Court

Fill out the Motion to Set Aside Form and file it at the circuit court in the county where you were charged or your citation was filed. If you were not charged, you can file it at the circuit court in the county where the charges would have been brought. You will require all the information about the case, including the case number and applicable mailing addresses for the court and the district attorney’s office. Check the link for the contact information for the Columbia County Circuit Court and the Columbia County District Attorney.

If you are filing an arrest record with no charges filed, complete the form as the Plaintiff and the prosecuting attorney as the Defendant. If you are filing for any other reason, the “State of Oregon” is the Plaintiff, and you are the Defendant. You should make two copies of the filled-out form and serve a copy to the prosecuting attorney (usually the District Attorney). You will find information on the prosecuting attorney in the charging instrument or citation.

The prosecuting attorney has 120 days after you file to notify the court if they object to your motion. If an objection is filed, the court will hold a hearing, and your appearance will be required. If your request is granted, the court will send copies of the Order to the appropriate agencies. All official arrest and conviction records will be sealed, removing the incident from public access.

Columbia County Arrest Warrants

In Columbia County, an arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement officers to apprehend and detain a specific individual. Arrest warrants are typically issued when there is probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime. They are also issued when law enforcement needs to arrest someone after an investigation rather than during the commission of a crime.

A warrant allows officers to legally pursue and apprehend the individual if the suspect is not present at the crime scene or has fled.

An arrest warrant in Columbia County typically includes the following information:

• The full name of the individual to be arrested, along with any identifying details such as physical description, date of birth, and sometimes last known address.
• A clear statement of the crime(s) the individual is accused of committing.
• A brief explanation of the evidence supporting the warrant’s issuance, showing why law enforcement believes the individual committed the crime.
• The name and signature of the judge who issued the warrant, along with the date of issuance.

Do Columbia County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Columbia County do not have an expiration date or time. They remain active indefinitely until the individual is apprehended. A warrant can only be dismissed if it is formally quashed by the court.