Josephine County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Josephine County serve as foundational documentation related to an individual's apprehension by law enforcement. These records include the arrest's date, time, location, and reason. Additionally, they feature the person's name, physical descriptors, mugshot, and specific charges.

Arrests become imperative when law enforcement agents have reasonable cause to believe someone has committed a crime. To conduct an arrest, a judicial official issues a warrant after being presented with sufficient information supporting probable cause.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office and other local police departments create and maintain arrest records as part of their law enforcement duties. These records—a historical log of an individual's interactions with the legal system—are closely linked to other public records, including Josephine County Court Records. Thus, arrest and criminal records constitute the bedrock of a transparent and accountable administration of justice.

Are Arrest Records Public in Josephine County?

Yes. Under the Oregon Public Records Law, anyone can inspect or obtain copies of unclassified public records "owned, used, or retained" by records custodial agencies. Consequently, interested parties may inspect or receive copies of arrest records maintained by Josephine County law enforcement agencies while discharging their constitutional duties and responsibilities.

Regardless, the Oregon Public Records Law restricts the disclosure of certain arrest records.

Some of these exemptions are as follows:

• Records identifying confidential informants and undercover law enforcement agents
• Arrest and conviction records set aside by a court
• Juvenile records
• Pending criminal investigation files
• Booking photographs
• Records identifying witnesses, victims, and complainants of elderly abuse
• Physical and mental health records
• Personnel records of public safety officers
• Law enforcement agents' body camera videos
• Home or private phone numbers and email addresses

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Josephine County arrest records typically contain the following information:

• The offender’s first, middle, and last name
• Physical characteristics of the offender include sex, height, race, hair and eye color, weight, and complexion.
• Intake/ Booking Details: case number, intake date, intake number, time, arresting agency
• Charges filed against the arrestee
• Bond number, type, and sum, if applicable
• Court of arraignment

Josephine County Arrest Statistics

A 5-year crime statistics report by the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) revealed that the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office reported 2,106 arrests between 2019 and 2023. The gender distribution of the arrest data indicated that males constituted 75.12% (1,582) of all arrests within the period, while females accounted for 24.88% (524).

The racial composition of all arrests in the period under review showed that Whites were the predominant racial group arrested for various offenses, with 92.45%. Others include American Indians or Alaska Natives, Asians, and individuals whose identities were unknown constituted 3.32% (70), 1.57% (33), and 1.42% (30) of all arrests, respectively. Blacks and African Americans accounted for 1.09% (23) while Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders constituted 0.14% (3).

Further analysis of the type of offenses law enforcement officers arrested suspects for between 2019 and 2023 showed that all other offenses aside from traffic were the most prevalent, with 20.99% (442), followed by simple assault at 15.34% (328) and driving under the influence at 12.87% (27). Others include unspecified assault, vandalism, and unspecified larceny-theft, with 8.64% (182), 6.55% (138), and 5.27% (111), respectively. Individuals apprehended for disorderly conduct accounted for 4.99% (105)

Find Josephine County Arrest Records

At the state level, requesters seeking arrest records may adopt the Oregon Offender Search Tool on the Department of Corrections's website. By entering a first, middle, or last name or an offender ID, the platform returns current information on inmates incarcerated in the state’s prison facilities. Visitors may also conduct partial name searches using an asterisk (*) for unknown portions of names.

Per ORS 192.324, requesters may submit a record request to the Oregon Department of Corrections for certified copies of inmate records. The contact details of the Oregon DOC is as follows:

Oregon Department of Corrections
3723 Fairview Industrial Drive SE 200
Salem, OR 97302

Those seeking federal inmates held in Josephine County may wish to use the Federal Inmate Locator. Individuals detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may also be found using the agency's Online Detainee Locator System.

Free Arrest Record Search in Josephine County

Record searchers seeking free arrest records in Josephine County may access public arrest information by visiting the County Sheriff’s Office’s website to view the Inmate Roster online.

The List contains details such as offenders' physical characteristics, custody status, booking date, holding facility, and arresting agency.

Requesters who choose to submit a record request to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office may appear in person at the following address:

1901 NE F Street
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Phone: (541) 474-5123 option #3
Visiting hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Although non-classified arrest records are available to browse online or inspect in person, making copies of such records attracts fees.

Josephine County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Josephine County arrest records are official reports created by local law enforcement agencies after someone has been arrested for an alleged offense. These documents usually comprise the offender's personal information, location, date of the arrest, and the charges against the offender. In addition, an arrest record may include information on the jail or prison where a suspect is being detained.

Having an arrest record does not imply that someone is guilty. The essence of the document is to detail the circumstances surrounding an individual's arrest and lay the foundation for possible criminal charges.

On the other hand, Josephine County criminal records are legal files that provide an extensive view of an individual's interaction with law enforcement and the penal system. Criminal records typically consist of the offender's personal information, booking photographs, fingerprints, charges filed against, pleas, indictments, and conviction details.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Expunging or sealing a record is the only path to limit the number of individuals or organizations accessing one's arrest information. Arrest records and rap sheets are kept on file by the US Justice Department, state agencies, and local law enforcement agencies. These agencies have varying record retention policies and do not instantly remove arrest data.

Expunge Josephine County Arrest Records

In Josephine County, a petitioner is eligible for arrest records expungement if they have undergone a five-year waiting period since the termination of their case, they do not have any new convictions, or are the subject of an ongoing juvenile or criminal court case or criminal police investigation. Applicants must also not be within the jurisdiction of any juvenile court.

Interested persons may also seek expungement of their arrest records if they are over 18 years old and were never within the court’s jurisdiction or if expunging their record is in their and the court's best interests.

However, Oregon laws do not permit citizens to expunge the following types of records:

• Records found within the court's jurisdiction for certain serious violent or sexual crimes
• Department of Transportation records
• State Marine Board records
• State Fish and Wildlife Commission records
• Blood or buccal samples, other physical evidence, and identification data stored by Oregon State Police
• Transcript of Youth Corrections Education Program
• Medical records

Due to the complexity of Oregon's expungement laws, prospective applicants in Josephine County may need to consult legal practitioners. Those looking to expunge eligible arrest records under ORS 137.225 may access relevant information and forms on the State of Oregon Circuit Court website.

Josephine County Arrest Warrants

Josephine County arrest warrants are legal orders issued by a judge or magistrate authorizing law enforcement agents to take someone into custody for an alleged crime.

When a magistrate receives a complaint about a specific alleged offense within their jurisdiction and has reasonable cause to believe that a designated person committed the offense, they issue an arrest warrant. The warrant directs any law enforcement officer in the state to arrest the suspect.

Josephine County arrest warrants typically contain the identity of the person law officers are to detain, the suspected offense, the signature of the issuing authority, and law enforcement instructions related to the arrest.

Arrest warrants may be issued for severe crimes, such as murder, criminal sexual conduct, and assault. They may also be issued for less severe offenses, such as situations in which someone has failed to follow court orders.

Do Josephine County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants do not have an expiry date. Once issued, they remain active until the person named in the warrant appears before a judge, dies, or, in rare cases, the court revokes the warrant.