Washington County Arrest Records

Washington County arrest records are official documents comprising information on the arrest of individuals by law enforcement agencies within the county. According to the Oregon Revised Statutes 135.280, peace officers in Washington County, Oregon, may apprehend individuals they witness or suspect involvement in unlawful activities. These offenses can be categorized as felonies, misdemeanors, or infractions, each bearing unique legal repercussions. The Washington County Sheriff's Office is required to provide access to Washington County Court Records upon request.

Are Arrest Records Public in Washington County?

Yes. The Oregon Public Records Law guarantees the civil rights of the general public to access arrest records generated, owned, utilized, or stored by law enforcement agencies while conducting public business.

Nevertheless, the Law restricts public access to some arrest records through specific conditional and unconditional exemptions. Some of these exemptions consist of:

• Records concerning victims of domestic, child, elder, or sexual abuse are withheld for privacy and safety concerns.
• Records that contain personal identifying information like social security numbers, credit card numbers, unlisted phone numbers, and driver's license numbers unless released in an official report.
• Juvenile records.
• Personnel records of public employees
• Arrest or conviction records that a court has set aside
• Records of cover law enforcement agents operating undercover.
• Access to investigatory records gathered for criminal law purposes.
• Personal information that, if disclosed, would constitute an unjustified breach of privacy.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

According to Oregon State laws, the elements of an arrest record available to the public include:

• The arrestee’s name
• Physical descriptors such as height, weight, hair and eye colors, race, and gender
• Charges filed against them
• Arrest details such as arrest date and agency
• Case number
• Court location, if applicable
• Scheduled release date

Washington County Crime Rate

According to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported 513 violent crimes in 2022. This figure represents a decrease of 14.78% compared to the 2021 figures (3602 offenses).

A breakdown of all violent crime offenses in 2022 showed that aggravated assault constituted more than half (64.13%) of all reported violent offenses. Other violent crime types were rape with 23.78% (122), robbery with 10.92% (56), and homicide with 1.17% (6).

The NIBRS statistics also showed that the property crime rate in Washington County decreased by 0.17% between 2021 (2,901) and 2022 (2,896). Further analysis showed that larceny-theft was the most prevalent property crime, with 68.08% (1,971). Others include motor vehicle theft, 17.41% (504), burglary, 13.68% (396), and arson, with 0.86% (25).

Washington County Arrest Statistics

The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) figures for 2022 showed that the number of arrests made by the Washington County Sheriff's Office for different offenses was 5,251. A figure breakdown revealed that all other offenses (except traffic) constituted the most significant proportion, with 68.61% (3,603 arrests). Driving under the influence was next with 10.85% (570 arrests), and simple assault with 6.25% (3 arrests). Other arrest types include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary, with 2.95% (155 arrests), 2.84% (149 arrests), and 1.18% (62 arrests), respectively.

Find Washington County Arrest Records

Washington County residents have various state and federal resources to look for inmates. Some of these resources are as follows:

• Oregon Judiciary Branch: Requesters can access court records, which may include booking details, through the Oregon Judiciary Department's website. Using the Oregon Judiciary Information Network (OCJIN Online), visitors can access judgment dockets and official Register of Actions from Oregon State Courts. However, users must sign up for an account and pay a subscription fee to use this service.
• Oregon Offender Search (OOS) System: The Oregon Department of Corrections provides this public service. It allows users to search for information about individuals in custody. To use the search tool, users must enter the individual's first name followed by the last name. They can also search by partial name or ID number. Requesters seeking official or certified copies of inmates’ information must submit a Record Request.
• Victim Information System in Oregon (VISOR): VISOR is a free and anonymous telephone service designed to provide crime victims with criminal case information and notifications about changes in offenders' custody status. VISOR is available all year round. Interested parties may visit the VISOR website for more information.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator: This search tool allows interested parties to find federal inmates incarcerated from 1982 to the present. Visitors may search by name, BOP register number, FBI number, or INS number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Washington County

Individuals seeking free resources to search for arrests in Washington County may visit the County Sheriff's Office website to use their inmates' search tool. Using the website's public search tool, users can access information about offenders in custody, their charges, and bail amounts.

Visitors can also review the arrest and release log for the past 24 hours and download booking reports for each offender profile generated from a search result. However, requesters who wish to obtain official or certified copies of arrest records must submit a record request, which typically attracts a charge.

Alternatively, searchers may visit the Washington County Sheriff's Office to submit their written request in person. The County Sheriff's Office headquarters and Jail is located at:

215 SW Adams Ave,
Hillsboro,
Oregon 97123
Headquarters & Jail: (503) 846-2700
North Precinct: (503) 846-5570
North Precinct: (503) 846-5900
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Requesters seeking free Washington County arrest records may want to look into third-party public record databases. These web-based companies usually specialize in providing public records to customers online and collating public information from various official sources, including law enforcement. Visitors can do simple searches for free, but they must typically pay for an in-depth report on a topic of interest.

Get Washington County Criminal Records

Criminal records, also known as rap sheets or criminal background checks, are legal documents that reveal a person's past interactions with the criminal justice system. These records typically include arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences. The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) of the Oregon State Police is the legal custodian of criminal offenders' information in the state. These records, domiciled with the CJIS, are used for various purposes, including background checks, employment screening, and legal proceedings.

To obtain Washington County criminal records, an applicant can follow these steps:

1. Open Record Requests: Under the authority of the Oregon Revised Statutes 181A, an interested person can request a copy of another individual's Oregon Criminal History record via a name-based search of the Oregon Computerized Criminal History Repository. This service costs $33.
2. Copy of Own Oregon Record Request: Requesters wishing to obtain a copy of their own criminal history record must undergo a fingerprint-based search of the Oregon Computerized Criminal History Repository. This search will yield a copy of their Oregon Criminal History Record and attracts a fee of $33.
3. Public Fingerprinting Services: For a fee of $30, applicants can access fingerprinting services through the Salem Headquarters Office of the Oregon State Police (OSP). The Office is open to applicants from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm PST, Monday-Friday, excluding observed holidays).
4. Notary Services: The Oregon State Police only provides notary services for Copy of Own Record. This service costs $5 per copy. Applicants can avail themselves of these services at the Salem Headquarters Office.

The offices of the CJIS are located as follows:
Salem Headquarters
3565 Trelstad Ave SE
Salem, OR 97317
Hours: 8:00 am- 4:30 pm (PST), Monday-Friday (excluding observed holidays)

Oregon State Police – CJIS Division
Unit 11
P.O. Box 4395
Portland, OR 97208-4395
Phone: (503) 378-3070

Washington County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records register situations where someone has been detained by law enforcement. This process, otherwise known as booking, takes place immediately after an offense has allegedly been committed or after an investigation.

Arrest records usually comprise information like the date and time of the arrest, the charges, and the arresting agency. These records only show that an arrest took place and do not imply that the person was guilty.

Conversely, criminal records provide a holistic view of a person's relationship with the court system, including sentencing.

Criminal records consist of details about charges, court proceedings, convictions, and sentences, including misdemeanors and felonies. These records are usually helpful in tracing a person's criminal antecedents during investigations or legal proceedings.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Oregon State, arrests remain on a person’s record indefinitely unless expunged. However, anyone seeking an expungement in the state must wait three years from the date of arrest and have no new convictions.

Expunge Washington County Arrest Records

Applicants wishing to expunge arrest information in Washington County must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants can only set aside their convictions after a three-year waiting period from the date of judgment.
• Applicants may only set aside convictions if they are no longer on probation, parole, or post-release supervision.
• Applicants may set aside convictions if they have not been convicted of another crime (other than motor vehicle offenses) within the ten years before the motion filing.

Process for Expungement

1. Applicants seeking to set aside Washington County arrest records must obtain an adequately rolled, complete set of fingerprints using the FBI standard blue applicant fingerprint card (FD-258). They can do this at the Washington County Sheriff's Office or a public fingerprinting location.
2. Next, they must complete the Oregon State Police Request for Set Aside Form and pay the $33.00 fee for an Oregon fingerprint-based criminal record check.
3. The applicant must then mail the packet containing the completed fingerprint card, Set Aside Request form, and payment to the Oregon State Police, CJIS – Unit 11, ATTN: SET ASIDE, P.O. Box 4395, Portland, OR 97208-4395.

Washington County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official document issued by a court authorizing law enforcement to arrest a particular individual. In Washington County, a judge will issue an arrest warrant when someone fails to comply with the conditions of their release agreement or personal recognizance. This often happens when the person does not appear in court as scheduled or breaches court-imposed conditions.

When the court decides that an arrest warrant is necessary, it will be issued and executed by any authorized peace officer. The warrant includes vital information such as the name of the person to be arrested, the reason for the arrest, and any special instructions for law enforcement.

If the person does not comply with the terms of their release, the court may also order the forfeiture of any security amount (bail) that was posted. This means the state or local government will keep the bail money. The court will notify the individual and any sureties (those who guaranteed the bail) of the seizure. If the person fails to appear in court within 30 days or provides a good reason for their absence, the court will enter a judgment for the entire bail amount.

Washington County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals seeking active arrest warrants in Washington County should visit the Oregon Judicial Department’s website to use their online record search tool. The search feature allows users to find case information, including active warrants. To see active warrants, users must click the “Advanced Filtering Options” and scroll down to the “Warrants Search Criteria”. Searchers can refine their warrant search by type, status, and date.

Do Washington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Washington County arrest warrants will only expire after the subject of the warrants has appeared in court, passes away, or a judge revokes the warrant.