Portland Arrest Records

Arrest records in Portland refer to documents containing details of individuals taken into custody by the City of Portland Police Bureau (PPB), Oregon State Police (OSP), and other law enforcement agencies within the Portland limits. Arrests become necessary in Portland when a person commits a crime in the presence of law enforcement officers or there is probable cause to believe that an individual is guilty of an arrestable act. Law enforcement officers must also execute arrests if the courts issue arrest warrants, a person violates parole or probation, or disobeys court orders.
Law enforcement agencies within Portland detain arrestees at the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) or Inverness Jail (MCIJ). Portland arrest records are accessible through the Portland Police Bureau (PPB); they may also be accessible as part of Oregon court records for arrests that result in criminal trials under the City's justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Portland?

Yes, arrest records are public in Portland and other parts of Oregon. According to the Oregon Public Records Law, every person has a right to inspect and obtain copies of documents in the custody of government agencies unless the law states otherwise. However, there is an exemption to public disclosure of some Portland arrest records. Per Oregon laws, the Public cannot access a Portland arrest record if such a document relates to:

• Juvenile arrest
• Ongoing criminal investigations
• Confidential informants/police surveillance methods
• Abuse records
• Information whose public scrutiny will result in an unreasonable invasion of privacy
• Security-sensitive information
• Uncharged or dismissed arrests
• Police intelligence & investigative techniques
• Protected victim or witness information
• Sealed or expunged arrest records.

Access to restricted Portland arrest records is limited to:

• The subject of the arrests and their legal representatives
• Law enforcement agencies
• Judges and court clerks
• Prosecutors and district attorneys
• Probation, parole, and corrections officers
• Government licensing agencies
• Individuals with judicial orders.

Individuals seeking information about arrests in Portland should call, mail, or visit the Portland Police Bureau at:

1111 SW 2nd Avenue,
Portland,
OR 97201
Phone: (503) 823-0000

Portland Arrest Statistics

The City of Portland Police Bureau and other law enforcement agencies within the Portland municipality reported 34,342 arrests to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program between January 2021 and December 2023. This number comprises 10,728 arrests in 2021, 11,490 in 2022, and 12,113 in 2023. During the survey period, the most consistent arrest incidents were simple assaults (3,726), aggravated assaults (25,37), and motor vehicle thefts (2,364). There were also high numbers of arrests for larcenies (2,028), destruction of property (1,403), DUIs (1,359), and weapon law violations (1,141).

Find Portland Arrest Records

Individuals seeking access to information about arrests within Portland should create accounts and submit requests through the Portland Records Request Center. Alternatively, log in to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Find an Adult in Custody Portal, and search for Portland arrest records through inmate information.
Information seekers can also find Portland through mail or in-person requests to the Portland Police Bureau at:

1111 SW 2nd Avenue,
Portland,
OR 97201.

Portland Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Portland arrest and criminal records are related but distinct documents. Arrest records contain information about the apprehension and incarceration of individuals, while criminal records are legal documentation of criminal trials. The table below outlines the differences between Portland arrests and criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest information stays on records permanently unless the court seals or removes it. § 137.225 of the Oregon Revised Statutes grants individuals the right to petition the courts to set aside, expunge, or destroy their arrest records if they fulfill the qualifying conditions. In Portland, an individual with an arrest record can file "motions to set aside" with the Multnomah County Circuit Court if:

• The arrest did not result in a conviction and is not due to serious offenses such as sex crimes or homicides
• The owner of the arrest record completes probation, jail or prison time, restitutions, and observes a waiting period of 3 to 10 years (depending on the crime)
• The individual has no new arrests or convictions during that period.

Portland Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Portland are official documents issued by the Multnomah County Circuit Court authorizing law enforcement to arrest individuals guilty of arrestable offenses within the city's limits. The Multnomah County Circuit Court will issue an arrest warrant if law enforcement or prosecutors provide evidence or prove probable cause that named persons committed arrestable acts. The court may also issue arrest warrants for reasons such as disregard of court orders, violation of parole or probation, domestic violence, and intention to flee to avoid prosecution for crimes. A Portland arrest warrant contains the following information or more:

• Full name, date of birth, known aliases, and physical description of the wanted person
• Charges against the subject and sections of the Oregon Statutes allegedly violated
• Probable cause statement
• Date of issuance
• Name and location of the issuing court
• Name and signature of the authorizing judge
• Statement authorizing Oregon peace officers to take the subject into custody
• Instructions for law enforcement to return the warrant after execution
• Bail information (if applicable)
• Warrant/Case Number.

Do Portland Arrest Warrants Expire?

Portland arrest warrants do not generally expire once issued by a judge; they remain active until the subjects are taken into custody. However, various legal and procedural issues can nullify a warrant. These include:

• Insufficient evidence to justify the arrest
• Missing judicial authorization
• Incorrect or incomplete information
• Infringement on an individual's rights during issuance or execution
• Jurisdictional errors
• Failure to follow proper legal procedures.

Furthermore, the statute of limitations can influence the issuance of arrest warrants. If a crime has a statute of limitations, prosecutors must file a case within the specified period. If this timeframe expires, a court will not issue an arrest warrant for that offense.

Expunge Portland Arrest Records

The Oregon Expungement Law permits individuals to petition the courts to set aside their arrest records if they fulfill the qualifying conditions. In Portland, owners of arrest records can petition the Multnomah County Circuit Court to expunge their arrest information if the arrest does not result in a criminal conviction or the individuals make restitutions, complete probation, or serve sentences for their crimes. Furthermore, intending petitioners must observe applicable waiting periods and have no new arrest or conviction during these time frames.

Individuals who seek to set aside their Portland arrest information should:

• Obtain copies of their Oregon criminal histories from the Oregon State Police (OSP), and request court records and case numbers (if known) from the clerk of the Multnomah County Circuit Court
• Download and complete Criminal Set-Aside Packets and attach their criminal histories and court documents

• File the packet at the Multnomah County Courthouse at:

  1200 SW 1st Avenue,
  Portland,
  OR 97204

• Serve copies of their petitions to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, the Portland Police Bureau, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, and the Oregon State Police. The District Attorney's Office has 120 days to approve the motions or object and trigger court hearings
• Wait for the court to grant or reject the petitions. If the petitions are successful, the Multnomah County Circuit Court will order the relevant agencies to seal the arrest records.