Malheur County Arrest Records

Malheur County arrest records are the official documentation of individuals taken into custody by the Malheur County Sheriff's Office, local police departments, including those in Ontario, Vale, and Nyssa, and other law enforcement agencies operating within Malheur County, OR. These include personal details, information outlining the reasons for arrest, and the conditions for the arrestees' release.

An arrest becomes necessary when law enforcement determines or suspects an individual of committing a crime. In addition to local police departments holding facilities, Malheur County law enforcement agencies detain the individuals they arrest at the Malheur County Jail; this facility accommodates arrestees awaiting trials and convicts serving short-term sentences. After trials and convictions, Malheur County arrest records become part of Malheur County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Malheur County?

According to ORS Chapter 192, Malheur County arrest records are public. This means that they are accessible to any interested individual. However, there are public access limitations to some Malheur County arrest records. For instance, Malheur County arrest records are exempt from public access if they relate to:

• Juvenile arrests
• Active investigations
• Sealed or expunged records
• Protected personal information such as Social Security Numbers, victim identity, and medical or mental health records
• Identities of confidential informants
• Law enforcement tactics or surveillance information.

Access to non-public Malheur County arrest records is limited to their owners, legal representatives, and authorized entities with legitimate rights.

Malheur County Arrest Statistics

Arrest reports from the Malheur County Sheriff's Office, Ontario Police Department, Oregon State Police, and the Nyssa Police Department show over 3,100 arrests within Malheur County between January 2021 and January 2025. This figure includes 2,211 and 928 male and female arrestees. According to FBI data, larcenies, DUIs, and simple assaults were the most prevalent incidents during this period, collectively accounting for 43% of arrests in the county. Additionally, there were significant numbers of arrests for drug/narcotic violations, aggravated assaults, and disorderly conduct. Below is a breakdown of arrests in Malheur County from January 2021 to January 2025.

Data source: FBI UCR database.

Find Malheur County Arrest Records

The Malheur County Sheriff's Office serves as the custodian of arrest records in Malheur County. Searchers looking for arrest records should reach out to them at:

151 B Street West,
Vale,
OR 97918
Phone: (541) 473-5126

The Oregon Department of Corrections Offender Search Portal offers access to inmate records from Oregon counties. Searchers may use names and state IDs (SID) tools to look for arrest records linked to Malheur County inmate records.

Alternatively, subscribe to the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN) and use the online tools to access Malheur County arrest records as part of Malheur County criminal case records.

Additionally, interested individuals may contact local police departments and request access to their arrest records or access Malheur County arrest records through Malheur County court records by visiting the Malheur County Circuit Court at:

The Malheur County Courthouse
251 B Street West,
Vale,
OR 97918
Phone: (541) 473-5171

Malheur County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Malheur County arrest and criminal records serve different purposes. Malheur County arrest records are law enforcement documents relating to the apprehension and detention of offenders. They provide crucial evidence during criminal trials and data for analyzing crime trends and law enforcement strategies. Malheur County arrest records do not confer guilt or innocence on their owners, and arrestees are innocent of their alleged crime unless the courts find them guilty.

In contrast to arrest records, Malheur County criminal records are court documents generated by Malheur County courts during criminal trials. A criminal record offers a more comprehensive detail of a person's interaction with the criminal justice system. Unlike arrest records, which do not necessarily indicate guilt or innocence, having a Malheur County criminal record implies that the owners are convicts.

Malheur County criminal records assist law enforcement agencies in tracking criminal activities and identifying suspects. Additionally, they serve as a resource for employers, landlords, and certification bodies seeking to evaluate tenants and applicants through background checks.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Although Malheur County arrest information is generally permanent, Oregon Revised Statutes allows arrest record owners to petition the courts to set aside their arrest information if:

• The arrests did not result in criminal convictions
• They observe the waiting periods for the underlying crime
• There have been no new convictions within the 10 years preceding the petitions
• They do not have pending criminal charges at the time of filing the petitions
• The arrests were not for non-expungeable crimes.

Malheur County Arrest Warrants

Malheur County arrest warrants are legal documents issued by the Malheur County Circuit, Justice, and Municipal Courts authorizing law enforcement to take individuals into custody. Judges/magistrates issue arrest warrants if law enforcement or prosecutors provide sworn statements establishing probable cause.

In Malheur County, judges or magistrates may issue arrest warrants in cases where:

• Where there is evidence of arrestable acts
• Individuals pose a public risk or attempt to flee to evade justice
• There are serious crimes that need immediate legal intervention
• Persons disobey court orders or violate the terms of parole or probation.

Generally, arrest warrant information includes:

• Names and physical descriptions of the defendants
• The specific offenses or reasons for arrests
• Sections of the laws allegedly violated
• Names and signatures of the issuing judges/magistrates
• Dates of issuance
• Orders to law enforcement to arrest a specific individual
• Instructions on how law enforcement should execute the warrants.

Do Malheur County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Malheur County arrest warrants do not expire. In Malheur County and across Oregon, arrest warrants remain active indefinitely until law enforcement apprehends the subjects. However, if the offense has a statute of limitations, prosecutors must commence trial before the limitation period elapses. Otherwise, the court will not issue an arrest warrant outside the limitation period. Also, a Malheur County arrest warrant will become inactive if the court recalls or revokes it or if the subject dies.