Klamath County Arrest Records

Law enforcement often needs a legal reason to make an arrest. This arrest can be due to a violation of criminal statutes, immigration laws, civil judgments like refusal to pay court-ordered child support or alimony, or an extradition process where an individual is wanted for a crime in another jurisdiction (ORS § 133.005).

Individuals arrested by law enforcement in Klamath County are transported to the Klamath County Jail, where they are held until released on bail or arraigned in court. Sometimes, due to the nature of the crime, offenders are transferred to a state or federal jail after their case has been processed. Information on the individual and why they were arrested will be in an arrest record. These records are generated and managed by the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, arrest records are integral to other criminal justice records like Klamath County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Klamath County?

Arrest records in Klamath County, Oregon, are generally public records. Nevertheless, specific exemptions under the Oregon Public Records Law (ORS 192.311) may limit access to certain details (e.g., juvenile records, ongoing investigations, or sealed records).

Requestors of arrest records should note these exemptions and follow the proper procedures for obtaining access. For example, while the public may access other arrest records, only individuals with a direct interest in the case may access sequestered arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Klamath County, Oregon, contain the following details:

• Biodata: Full name, aliases, age, birthday, and gender.
• Physical description: height, weight, eye color, hair color, etc.
• Arrest details: Date, time, and location of the arrest.
• Charges: List of charges filed, description of each charge (e.g., felony, misdemeanor), Statute or code violated.
• Booking information: Booking date, time, number, and mugshot, fingerprint classification.
• Bail and bond Information: Bail amount, bond type (cash/surety), and bail conditions.
• Court Information: Court date, time and location, case number, assigned judge.
• Additional Information: Aliases or names used by the individual in the past, prior arrest records(if applicable), and remarks from the arresting officer.

Klamath County Arrest Statistics

According to the Oregon State Police Uniform Crime Report, Klamath County reported 2,466 arrests in 2023. 216 (8.8%) of charges were simple assault, 294 (11.9%) were larceny, 324 (13.1%) arrests were made for "All other Offense," and 878 (35.6%) arrests were for Part 3 crimes.

NB: All Other Offenses describe offenses like animal cruelty, animal ordinances, garbage littering, minors in possession of tobacco, unlawfully being where minors congregate, trespassing, and escape from custody.

Find Klamath County Arrest Records

Individuals arrested by law enforcement in Klamath County are taken to the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Klamath County Jail. The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online lookup page where anyone may find information on arrested persons. To facilitate a search, requestors will need to provide the subject’s full name and the booking date.

For additional information, contact the Sheriff’s Office in person, by phone, fax, or email.

Klamath County Sheriff’s Office
3300 Vandenberg Road
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
Phone: (541) 883-5130
Fax: (541) 883-4271
Email: civil@co.klamath.or.us.

Also, requestors can get information on arrests from other jurisdictions across Oregon by searching the criminal history record portal maintained by the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. This service costs $33.00 per search. Other resources for finding information on persons in the custody of law enforcement include the Oregon Department of Corrections offenders search portal and the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

Free Arrest Record Search in Klamath County

Oregon Public Records Law (ORS 192.311) permits anybody in Klamath County to seek arrest records from the local police departments. Booking details for criminals apprehended in Klamath County are generally handled at the sheriff's office and posted to the jail viewer website as a public service, intended only for official purposes. To learn more about an arrest, requesters can visit the Klamath County Sheriff's Office Jail viewer website.

As an alternative, these records can be accessed online through third-party websites. Third-party sources are not affiliated with government agencies in Oregon or Klamath County. As such, while these sources are more convenient for finding Oregon public records, the information they provide may vary in accuracy. Furthermore, records from third-party sources are not suitable for official purposes like employee or tenant background checks.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Oregon, arrest records generally remain on a person’s record indefinitely. They stay accessible unless removed through an expungement process. However, Oregon state law allows expungement of arrest records involving misdemeanors, Class B and C felonies, dismissed charges, or acquitted persons. This process is not automatic as a court order is often required to facilitate an expungement.

Expunge Klamath County Arrest Records

Expunging an arrest record prevents the record from appearing in background checks conducted by a prospective employer, landlord, or the general public.

Information on the eligibility requirements for each offense category mentioned above can be obtained by reviewing ORS § 137.225. Generally, Oregon’s expungement laws apply to certain criminal offenses like misdemeanors, and Class C & Class B felonies. To apply for an expungement, requestors should start by reviewing their eligibility according to the statutory requirements. The Oregon Judicial Branch provides expungement forms and step-by-step instructions for eligible persons.

Persons with cases that qualify for an expungement can petition the Klamath County Circuit Court to have the incident expunged from their record. Requestors generally make at least two copies of their petitions, one kept for record sake and the other served to the prosecuting attorney. After filing, the prosecutor has 120 days to notify the court if they disagree with the motion. If the prosecutor objects, the court will notify the petitioner and schedule a hearing.

For a successful expungement petition, the court will issue an expungement order. Copies of the expungement order will be sent to the relevant agencies. Once a record is sealed, requestors can legally respond as though the arrest never occurred. However, certain government agencies e.g. law enforcement and the court may still be able to access such sealed records under specific circumstances. Requestors can consult their legal counsel for more advice concerning this caveat.

Klamath County Arrest Warrants

In Klamath County, an arrest warrant is a writ that gives the police the right to arrest an offender. The Court only issues such directives with evidence of probable cause. Arrest warrants can also be issued for probation violations or nonattendance at court (ORS § 133.120; ORS § 133.140).

Generally, an arrest warrant contains:

• The subject’s name, aliases, and known address
• The offense and statutes or codes violated
• The judge’s name and signature.

Do Klamath County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Klamath County, arrest warrants are valid until executed or revoked by a court. Police officers can execute a warrant at any time or place once the offender has been identified. Oregon has no statute of limitations on warrants. Hence, an arrest may happen years after the warrant is issued. An arrest warrant may be revoked if an individual, self-represented or through an attorney, petitions the law court to revoke the warrant or willingly turns themselves over to a law enforcement agency.