Coos County Arrest Records

According to ORS 133.235, peace officers can arrest an individual anywhere in Oregon. An arrest may be made pursuant to an arrest warrant or without one per ORS 133.310.

In Coos County, after an arrest, the arresting officer typically prepares a detailed report containing pertinent information about the incident. This report is commonly known as an arrest record. Law enforcement agencies generate and maintain arrest records and share them with other criminal justice agencies when needed. For instance, arrest records are usually shared with the local judicial system when an arrest leads to a criminal case. They are also shared with the Oregon State Police so as to be included in the arrestee's Criminal History Records. As a result, arrest information may be featured in Coos County court records and criminal history records held by Oregon State Police.

Are Arrest Records Public in Coos County?

Yes. Coos County arrest records are subject to the Oregon Public Records Law. Under the law, everyone has the right to access public records maintained by public bodies in Oregon. As a result, interested persons can query local law enforcement agencies in Coos County for arrest records.

However, several state and federal laws exempt arrest records from public inspection in certain cases. For instance, an arrest record connected to an ongoing investigation may be conditionally exempt from disclosure if it is necessary to protect the complaining party or the victim per ORS 192.345. Additionally, arrest records of juvenile offenders may also be restricted from being public. Generally, exempt arrest records are only released to eligible persons and entities, such as the subject of the record, their legal representative, qualified government agencies, and pursuant to a court order.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Coos County records records may contain the following information:

• The arrestee's name, age, address, and similar biographical information;
• The arrestee's charged offense.
• The condition of release
• The arresting agency's information
• The circumstances of the arrest, including the place and time.

Coos County Arrest Statistics

According to the Oregon Uniform Crime Reporting Data, in 2023, there were 2,685 distinct arrests made in Coos County. Of this total, 237 arrests were made for traffic violations, 208 for DUIs, 237 for larceny/theft offenses, and 122 for traffic crimes, making them some of the most common crimes committed by arrestees that year. By comparison, in 2022, 2,646 arrests were made in Coos County, which accounted for a meager 1.5% increase in reported arrests in 2023.

Find Coos County Arrest Records

Generally, local law enforcement agencies in Coos County, such as the Coos County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments, are responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records. Hence, those looking for Coos County arrest records can query these agencies. They usually have a record unit or department where record seekers can submit requests.

Although each agency's procedures and cost for requesting arrest records may differ, most agencies accept in-person and mail-in requests. Nonetheless, requesters are required to provide sufficient information about the desired arrest record to facilitate their request. This includes, but is not limited to, the arrestee's name as well as the arrest date and location. Requesters must also provide their contact information.

Some local law enforcement agencies provide dedicated request forms that record seekers can complete and submit to request public arrest records. Examples include the Coos County Sheriff's Office Record Request Form, the Coos Bay Police Department Public Records Request Form, and the Coquille Police Department Record Request Form.

In cases where an individual was arrested and booked in the Coos County jail, interested persons can review the Jail's Online Roster to find specific information about the arrest, such as the offense committed.

Free Arrest Record Search in Coos County

Unfortunately, most local law enforcement agencies in Coos County charge requesters certain fees for arrest record search requests. These include a research fee for the agency staff's time spent searching for the requested arrest record and fees for producing copies of the record.

Record seekers can search for Coos County arrest records online on certain third-party websites. Some of these third-party websites allow free access to basic arrest information. However, they typically charge users a fee or recurring subscription for more detailed arrest records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Oregon's Statutes do not specify a general timeframe for the retention of arrest records. Instead, Coos County law enforcement agencies follow the General Records Retention Schedules codified in Oregon Administrative Rules in determining how long they retain arrest records before destroying or otherwise disposing of them.

According to the General Records Retention Schedules, original arrest reports of cases involving crimes with no statutes of limitations may be retained for 75 years after the case closes. Meanwhile, the retention time for mugshots of arrestees varies depending on the alleged offense. For example, the minimum retention time for mugshots of arrest connected to misdemeanors, felonies, and homicides is 5, 20, and 10 years, respectively.

Expunge Coos County Arrest Records

The first step in applying to expunge Coos County arrest records is to ascertain if the record is eligible for sealing or expungement under Oregon statutes. Per ORS 137.255, an arrest record may be eligible for expungement if the arrest was for:

• A Class C felony and five years have passed from the conviction date or the person's release from imprisonment.
• A Class A misdemeanor and three years have passed from the conviction date or the person's release from imprisonment.
• A Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, or being found in contempt of court and a year has passed from the conviction date/finding or the release of the person from imprisonment.
• A Class B felony and seven years have passed from the conviction date or the person's release from imprisonment.

An arrest record may also be eligible for expungement if it leads to no charges being filed against the arrestee or for other reasons outlined by applicable statutes. Prospective applicants can consult a licensed attorney to ascertain if their record is eligible for expungement.

If an arrest record qualifies for expungement, applicants can complete the OJD Criminal Set-Aside form and submit it to apply for record expungement. Applicants must prepare a form for each arrest record and submit the complete form(s) to Coos County's Circuit Court and the District Attorney's office at:

Coos County Circuit Court
Attn: Set Asides
250 N. Baxter Street
Coquille, OR 97423

Coos County District Attorney
Attn: Set Asides
250 N Baxter Street
Coquille, OR 97423
Phone: (541) 396-7550

Thereafter, applicants must obtain a complete set of their fingerprints using the FBI standard blue applicant fingerprint card (FD-258). Applicants can contact the Coos County Sheriff's Office at (541) 396-7800 to schedule a fingerprinting appointment. Note that the sheriff's office charges a $30.00 fingerprinting fee. Applicants who reside outside Coos County can contact a local police agency to request to have their fingerprints taken on a fingerprint card.

After obtaining their fingerprint card, applicants can complete the OSP Request For Set Aside Form. The completed request form, the applicant's fingerprint card, and the $33.00 request fee for setting aside convictions or arrest (via Check or money order payable to Oregon State Police) should be mailed to:

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

Once the necessary forms have been submitted and the required fee paid, the court will set a hearing date for the expungement request. The OSP will also review the Set Aside Request and send the results to the District Attorney. Subsequently, the DA's office will file a response to the motion to set aside/seal with the clerk's office. If the DA objects, the hearing date will remain; otherwise, it will be automatically canceled.

Coos County Arrest Warrants

A Coos County arrest warrant is a court order issued by magistrates that authorizes peace officers to arrest an individual for an alleged crime committed within the County. Per ORS 133.030, magistrates include;

• Supreme Court judges
• Court of Appeals judges
• Circuit Court judges
• County judges and justices of the peace
• Municipal judges.

Under ORS 133.110, a magistrate may issue an arrest warrant pursuant to a complaint containing sufficient probable cause to believe that the named in the complaint has committed a specific crime being filed with them. Law enforcement officials like the Coos County District Attorney and local peace officers may file a complaint. According to ORS 133.140, an arrest warrant must be in writing and contain the following information:

• The name, designation, or description of the person to be arrested
• Details about the nature of the crime
• The date and County of issuance
• Be in the name of the State of Oregon or the city in which it was issued, and include the title of the office of the issuing magistrate and their signature.
• Command any law enforcement officer to arrest the subject of the warrant and bring them before the issuing magistrate.
• Specify the amount of security required for release.

Do Coos County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Generally, an arrest warrant never expires and remains active until the warrant's subject appears in court or gets apprehended by law enforcement agencies. Nonetheless, the issuing court can decide to cancel an arrest upon a party's request if they can prove that the warrant was unfairly issued.