What is a background check?
A background check is an investigation into an individual’s criminal record, employment history, driving record, education, finances, or other aspects of their personal history.
Background checks are often performed by an organization or company in order to screen a subject before a significant financial or legal agreement. However, individuals regularly perform background checks on themselves to make sure that the public information on them matches their personal records.
For more general information on background checks, consult our Background Checks FAQS page.
How do I run a criminal background check in Oregon?
Oregon does not have an online criminal records search that is available to the public. However, individuals may request their own criminal history record or the criminal record of another person from the Oregon State Police – CJIS Division.
There is a separate process depending on whether you want to request your own record, or the record of someone else.
How to request a copy of your own criminal record from the OSP – CJIS
- Have your fingerprints taken on an official FD 248 fingerprint card at a local law enforcement agency, commercial fingerprinting service, or the Salem OSP office (Oregon State Police, 3565 Trelstad Ave SE Bldg 1, Salem OR 97317). The OSP charges $20 for the service.
- Print and complete a Request Form.
- Prepare a payment in check or money order for $33 payable to “Oregon State Police”. Alternatively, you can pay in-person by credit or debit card at the Salem office.
- Mail the form, payment, and fingerprint card to:
Oregon State Police – CJIS Division
Unit 11
P O Box 4395
Portland, OR 97208-4395
Expect to wait 7-10 business days for the request to be processed and the results to be sent out.
How to request another person’s criminal record from the OSP-CJIS
Following a request of this type, there will be a two-week waiting period which allows the subject of the request to review the information. The results will deliver any Oregon conviction records and arrest records less than a year old.
- Complete a Request Form.
- Prepare a payment in check or money order for $10 payable to “Oregon State Police”.
- Mail the form and payment to the following address:
Oregon State Police
Criminal Justice Information Services Division
Attn: Open Records
3565 Trelstad Ave SE
Salem, OR 97317
How do I search for Oregon court records online?
The Oregon Judicial Department Online Records Search grants individuals free access to public court records from the state’s circuit courts and tax & appellate courts. Users can search by record number or by name in “last, first, middle suffix” format.
However, for access to Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records, you must register an OJCIN OnLine Account. Subscriber fees vary depending on the level of access needed and professional affiliation (click here for fee information).
Additionally, court kiosks at most Oregon circuit courts provide additional access to court records and court documents that are unavailable through the Online Records Search.
Click here for Oregon court contact information.
Where can I find Oregon driving records online?
Oregon driving records can only be ordered online by DMV Record Inquiry Account Holders. In order to open a record inquiry account, you must pay a steep $70 fee.
If you don’t have a record inquiry account, you must request a record in person at a DMV field office or mail a request to the DMV headquarters.
How to request an Oregon driving record in person at a DMV
The record of anyone can be ordered at a DMV office, however, the record must be sent to the address of the person whose record has been ordered.
- Visit an Oregon DMV office
- Present your driver’s license. permit, or ID card and pay the associated fee for the type of record you wish to purchase.
- Provide an address to which you wish the record to be sent.
How to request an Oregon driving record through the mail from DMV Headquarters
- Write a written request that contains the following information:
- Personal information including full name, date of birth, place of birth, and address
- the type of record you are requesting
- The vehicle identification number, license plate number, and owner information of the subject’s vehicle
- Prepare a check or money order for the associated fee for the record you are requesting payable to “Oregon DMV”
- Mail the written request and payment to:
DMV Record Services
1905 Lana Ave. NE
Salem OR 97314
How do I look up Oregon vital records such as birth certificates and marriage licenses?
Vital records are records of important life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that are kept by government agencies and accessible upon request.
Vital records are not public records that can be viewed by anyone, but the subject(s) of the record and authorized family members can view them in-person or order copies through a number of means. Additionally, one or more vital records may be required to complete a background check.
The Oregon Center for Health Statistics enlists the services of the third-party vendor Vital Chek to enable individuals to order copies of vital records online. The government-endorsed service offers vital records from 50 U.S. states and territories.
Available vital records include:
- birth certificates
- death certificates
- marriage records
- divorce records
Click here to place an order with Vital Chek.
For more information, contact the Oregon Health Authority at 503-947-2340.
How do I search for a person’s sex offender status in Oregon?
Those convicted of sex-related crimes or certain crimes against children in Oregon are required by law to register as sex offenders. Additionally, offenders in the registry are required to notify law enforcement as soon as possible in the case of a physical address change or email address change, or they will be labeled “non-compliant”.
The Oregon State Police makes the Oregon Sex Offender Registry available online to the general public in the interest of public safety. Users may search by name, city, or area. However, certain low-risk offenders may not be viewable in the online database.
Click here to perform a search of the Oregon Sex Offender Registry. It’s important to stay informed about potential threats in your neighborhood in order to take the necessary precautions.
How do I perform a credit history background check in Oregon?
Performing a credit check in Oregon follows the same process as in other states. A federal law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) grants every American one free annual credit report each from the three main U.S. credit bureaus:
In order to obtain your free credit report from one of these three bureaus, you must provide the following information:
- Full name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social security number
