Search Portland Criminal Records
Portland criminal records span the full range of case types heard in Multnomah County. As the largest city in Oregon with more than 650,000 residents, Portland sees a high volume of criminal cases each year. The Portland Police Bureau handles law enforcement and generates police reports. All felony and misdemeanor cases go to the Multnomah County Circuit Court at 1200 SW 1st Ave. You can find Portland criminal records through the court, the police bureau, or the Oregon State Police. Each source holds a different part of the record. This page walks through how to search for criminal records in Portland and where to get them.
Portland Criminal Records Quick Facts
Portland Police Bureau Criminal Records
The Portland Police Bureau is the main law enforcement agency in the city. Its headquarters sits at 1111 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97201. The bureau creates police reports, arrest records, and incident files. These records are a key part of any criminal case that starts in Portland.
You cannot get police reports by phone or email. The Portland Police Bureau requires all records requests go through its GovQA portal. This is an online system that tracks your request from start to finish. Visit portland.gov/public-records to submit your request. You will need to give details about the report you want. Include dates, names, and case numbers if you have them. The portal sends updates as your request moves through the process.
The Portland Police Bureau website at portland.gov/police has more details on how the department handles criminal records. It also lists contact numbers. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency calls, dial 503-823-3333. The general line is 503-823-0000. But remember that police report requests must go through the GovQA portal, not by phone.
The screenshot below shows the Portland Police Bureau website where you can find more about their criminal records services.
This is the main page for the Portland Police Bureau, which handles all law enforcement in the city.
Note: The City Attorney also accepts public record requests through a separate portal at portland.gov/attorney/request-public-record.
Portland Criminal Court Records
All criminal cases in Portland are heard at the Multnomah County Circuit Court. The courthouse is at 1200 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97204. This court handles felonies, misdemeanors, and violations from Portland and other cities in the county. Criminal records at the court include charging documents, plea entries, trial records, and sentencing orders.
The court has public access terminals on site. You can walk in and search for Portland criminal records at these terminals. They are free to use. You can look up cases by name or case number. The terminals show case details, hearing dates, and charges filed. Staff can help you use the system if you need it.
You can also reach the court records division by email at MUL.Records@ojd.state.or.us. This is a good option when you know the case number and need a specific document. The court staff can tell you what is in the file and how to get copies. Fees apply for certified copies of Portland criminal records from the court.
Visit the Multnomah County court records page for more details on what is available and how to request it.
The Multnomah County Circuit Court records page has instructions for searching Portland criminal records through the court system.
How to Search Criminal Records in Portland
There are several ways to search for criminal records in Portland. Each method gives you access to different types of records. The best choice depends on what you need and how fast you need it.
Oregon eCourt Case Information, also called OECI, is the state online court records system. It covers all courts in Oregon, including the Multnomah County Circuit Court that serves Portland. You can search OECI by name or case number. The system shows case type, charges, hearing dates, and case status. Access OECI through the Oregon Judicial Department at courts.oregon.gov. A small fee applies for detailed searches.
The GovQA portal at portland.gov/public-records is where you go for police reports. This is the only way to request Portland Police Bureau records. Court records and police records are different things. A court record shows what happened in the case after charges were filed. A police report covers what happened at the scene and during the investigation.
The screenshot below shows the Portland public records request portal.
This GovQA portal is the sole method for requesting police reports and other Portland Police Bureau criminal records.
Note: OECI does not include police reports. Get those from the arresting agency, which in Portland is usually the Portland Police Bureau.
Portland Criminal History Checks
The Oregon State Police run the state criminal records system. Their Criminal Justice Information Services unit, known as CJIS, maintains the central criminal history database for all of Oregon. This includes records from Portland. The OSP has a Portland office at PO Box 4395, Portland, OR 97208-4395.
Under ORS 181A.220, criminal records held by the Oregon State Police are confidential. They are not open to the general public without a specific legal basis. However, ORS 181A.245 does allow certain parties to access these records. The law spells out who can request them and for what reasons.
A state criminal history check through OSP costs $33. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days. You can learn more and start a request at oregon.gov/osp/programs/cjis. This check covers the entire state, not just Portland. It pulls from all agencies that report to the state system.
Types of Portland Criminal Records
Portland criminal records come in many forms. Each one serves a different purpose and is kept by a different agency.
- Arrest records from the Portland Police Bureau
- Police reports and incident files
- Court case records from Multnomah County Circuit Court
- Charging documents and indictments
- Sentencing orders and judgments
- State criminal history from Oregon State Police
Arrest records show that a person was taken into custody. They do not mean the person was convicted. A police report gives the facts as the officer recorded them at the scene. Court records track the legal case from charges through the final outcome. State criminal history records pull data from all agencies across Oregon, not just Portland.
Some records are public. Others have limits on who can see them. Oregon law under ORS 181A.220 keeps state-level criminal history records confidential. But court records at the Multnomah County Circuit Court are generally open to the public. Anyone can search the court docket for Portland criminal cases.
Note: Sealed and expunged records will not show up in public searches. Oregon law allows certain records to be set aside under specific conditions.
Reading Portland Court Case Files
A criminal case file in Portland holds many documents. The file starts with the charging document. This could be a complaint, an information, or a grand jury indictment. It names the defendant and lists the charges.
Next comes the arraignment record. This is where the defendant first appears in court and enters a plea. The file then grows as the case moves forward. Motions, orders, and hearing minutes all go into the record. If the case goes to trial, the verdict is part of the file too. The sentencing order shows what penalty the court imposed.
Portland criminal records at the court also include probation orders and any later modifications. If the defendant files an appeal, that creates a new record at the appeals court. But the original case file stays at the Multnomah County Circuit Court. You can review these records at the courthouse or request copies by mail or email.
Free and Paid Criminal Record Searches
You can search some Portland criminal records for free. The court has public access terminals at the courthouse. These let you look up cases at no cost. You can also check the Oregon Judicial Department website for basic case calendar and schedule information.
OECI gives more detail but charges a fee. The fee covers access to full case information across all Oregon courts. For a one-time search, the cost is small. Frequent users can set up an account with OJCIN at courts.oregon.gov for broader access. OJCIN has a $150 setup fee and per-transaction charges.
Police reports from the Portland Police Bureau may also have fees. The GovQA portal will tell you the cost after you submit your request. Fees depend on the size and type of records you ask for. State criminal history checks through OSP are $33 per check.
Multnomah County Criminal Records
Portland is in Multnomah County. All criminal cases from Portland go through the Multnomah County Circuit Court. The county court also handles cases from Gresham, Troutdale, and other cities in the county. For more on the county court system and how to access criminal records across the full county, visit the Multnomah County criminal records page.