Oregon Inmate Search
The Oregon prison system dates back to 1842, with the state operating a sole prison - the Oregon Territory Jail - in Oregon City. Today Oregon operates 12 state-run prisons (one of which is a women-only facility) that house approximately 12,000 adult offenders. Oregon's overall prison system also includes 31 local jails holding approximately 6,500 offenders, one federal correctional institution holding approximately 1,100 inmates, and nine close-custody facilities (also known as secure facilities) collectively housing about 500 youth offenders. These figures indicate an incarceration rate of about 494 per 100,000 people in Oregon.
Oregon's state prisons are managed by the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC), while the local jails are run by county sheriff's offices. However, the DOC provides funding and administrative oversight for community corrections programs across the state's 36 counties. This includes helping prepare standard operating procedures, providing resources where necessary, and ensuring consistency in implemented county-level community corrections programs. Similarly, the Bureau of Prisons operates the federal correctional facility located in Oregon, while the state's close-custody facilities are managed by the Oregon Youth Authority.
According to the Oregon Department of Corrections, the state's correctional system includes 12 state prisons (including 1 women-only facility), 31 local jails, 1 federal facility, and 9 juvenile facilities. The system houses approximately 12,000 state inmates, 6,500 county inmates, 1,100 federal inmates, and 500 youth offenders, with an incarceration rate of 494 per 100,000 residents.
Oregon Department of Corrections Inmate Search
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 423 empowers the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) to exercise custody over adults sentenced to prison terms longer than 12 months and supervise offenders sentenced or released to community service (parole or probation). In carrying out its duties, the department creates and manages records of all offenders under its custody or supervision. The DOC also allows interested members of the public to access these records through several methods. These include the Oregon Offender Search (OOS) and Victim Information System in Oregon (VISOR) online tools.
The Oregon Offender Search tool is the DOC's primary database for providing online access to inmate records. This tool offers details on individuals currently in DOC custody and can be searched using an inmate's name or ID number. Information obtainable from this search includes the inmate's full name, aliases (if any), age, gender, height, weight, current location, status, offense/sentence history, admission date (into the DOC), and earliest release date.
The VISOR tool can also be searched by name and ID and provides similar information (to what is obtainable from the OOS tool). However, this tool can also be used to look up inmates in county jails and offenders under community supervision. In addition, the VISOR tool offers users the option of receiving notifications about major status changes concerning an offender of interest.
Find Inmate by Name
Performing a name-based search online is the most common method for finding inmates in Oregon. These name-based searches can be conducted using both the Oregon Offender Search (OOS) and Victim Information System in Oregon (VISOR) tools.
To find an inmate by name using the OOS tool, simply input their full name in the provided fields (First, Middle, Last) or provide a partial name in any of the fields. Note that these searches typically return a list of names that are an exact match for whatever letters are indicated in any (or all) of the search fields. For instance, inputting the name "Rob" in the first name field will only return a list of all inmates whose first name is Rob, without any variations to this name (these inmates may have varying middle and/or surnames).
However, partial name searches can also be conducted by including an asterisk sign (*) in the name that is not known. This is known as a wildcard search and it indicates that the search should return any entries that match letters typed before or after the asterisk sign. For example, running a search for "Rob*" will return a list that includes "Robert," "Roberto," "Robson," and any other names (in the filled field) that begin with "Rob." Likewise, running a search for J*son", would match, "Jacobson", "Jefferson," "Johanson" and all other names for that field starting with a "J" and ending in "son".
On the other hand, name searches on the VISOR tool simply require the user to input either a full or partial name in the search field (this tool utilizes a single search field for all inputs). Users searching by full name should ensure to include a space between each name.
Find Inmate by Number
Number-based searches can also be performed on both the OOS and VISOR tools – this search method is considered more direct and effective for locating specific inmates. Offenders in Oregon are issued identification numbers once they are admitted into the prison system; this may be an SID (for inmates in a state prison) or a county ID (for inmates in county jails). These numbers are unique identifiers that can be used to track the inmate in the system and each inmate's ID is specific to them. SIDs can be used to search for inmates on the OOS tool, while both an SID and county ID can be used on the VISOR tool.
Find Inmate by Jail Type
The OOS and VISOR tools do not have options for finding inmates by jail type. Nevertheless, information generated from conducting an inmate search with any of these tools will include the inmate's current location. On the OOS tool in particular, clicking on the indicated location directs the user to a webpage listing contact information and other pertinent information on the facility.
What Information is Contained in an Oregon Inmate Record?
An Oregon inmate record typically contains the following details:
- Offender Details: this includes the offender's full name, known aliases, date of birth, age, booking photograph, gender, race, hair and eye color, height, weight, and ID number.
- Offense Information: this includes a list of offenses for which the individual was convicted, the docket number for each offense, the county where the crimes were committed, the sentence type, and the sentence begin and termination date.
- Sentence Information: this includes the date the offender was admitted into the prison system (for their current incarceration or community service), the prison/jail where they are being held, their custody status, and their earliest release date. The earliest release date refers to the earliest date when the offender may be released from incarceration (or community service where applicable). Note that this date is determined by several factors (such as the offender's behavior) and is subject to change.
Oregon Inmate Records by Counties
County jails in Oregon typically hold individuals awaiting trial and offenders sentenced to jail terms that do not exceed one year. County jails are typically managed by county sheriffs (in the jurisdiction where the jail is located) who are also responsible for maintaining records of the offenders under their custody or supervision. These records are similar to the state-level inmate records generated by the DOC; as such, they contain details like the offender's name, offense(s), ID number, gender/sex, custody status, and estimated release date.
To this end, interested parties looking to access county inmate records in Oregon may do so by contacting the sheriff's office in the appropriate county. Most county sheriffs also offer search tools that can be used to locate inmates (and recently released offenders in some cases) in their respective jails; these search tools can usually be accessed through the sheriff's official website. Information on offenders in county jails can also be obtained by running a name or ID number-based search online via the VISOR tool.
- Baker County
- Benton County
- Clackamas County
- Clatsop County
- Columbia County
- Coos County
- Crook County
- Curry County
- Deschutes County
- Douglas County
- Gilliam County
- Grant County
- Harney County
- Hood River County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Josephine County
- Klamath County
- Lake County
- Lane County
- Lincoln County
- Linn County
- Malheur County
- Marion County
- Morrow County
- Multnomah County
- Polk County
- Sherman County
- Tillamook County
- Umatilla County
- Union County
- Wallowa County
- Wasco County
- Washington County
- Wheeler County
- Yamhill County
Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Oregon?
Any document regardless of its physical form, that contains information about the activities of a governmental body, entity, or agency in Oregon is considered a public record. The state's Public Records Law (Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 192) grants interested members of the public the right to inspect these documents, which include inmate records. Notwithstanding this, certain incarceration-related information/records are considered confidential and restricted from public access. These include:
- An inmate's medical records – these records may only be accessed by members of the public with the written authorization of the person named on the record.
- Juvenile offender records. However, certain details like the youth's name, age, and offense for which they were taken into custody may be disclosed on request.
Federal Prisons in Oregon
The U.S. federal prison system was officially established in 1891 and currently comprises 120 correctional facilities across the country that house offenders convicted of federal crimes. These federal prisons are managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP); there is currently one such BOP-run facility located in Oregon:
| Prison Name | Location | Total Inmate Population | Security Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Correctional Institution (FCI), Sheridan | Sheridan | 1,570 | Medium Security | FCI Sheridan is an all-male facility with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp and a detention center. Approximately 16% of its total inmate population is housed in the satellite camp, with the other 84% held in the FCI facility and detention center. |
Members of the public looking to access information on inmates housed in this facility may do so by utilizing the inmate locator tool that the BOP provides for this purpose. Searches can be done on this tool via name or ID number. However, it is important to note that information on inmates incarcerated before 1982 is not available in this database.
Frequently Asked Questions about Inmate Records
You can request official copies of inmate records from the DOC by completing and submitting an OISC Information Request Form and/or an OISC Pen Pack Request Form (depending on the type of records required) to the department's Offender Information and Sentence Computation (OISC) Unit.
You can look for offenders in custody online in Oregon using either the Oregon Offender Search (OOS) tool or the Victim Information System in Oregon (VISOR) tool. Note that the OOS tool only provides details on inmates in DOC custody, while the VISOR tool may be used to search for offenders in both state and county facilities.
You can request access to old inmate records in Oregon by submitting a written request to the facility where the inmate was housed. This request should include as many details as possible, including the inmate's full name and ID number, the type of record, a date range for when the record was created, and your contact information.
You may also find old Oregon inmate records through the Oregon State Archives and other public databases; however, availability may be limited.
Interested parties may obtain copies of an inmate's death records by contacting the facility where the inmate was held in custody or requesting a copy of their death certificate from the Oregon Health Authority. Be aware that access to death records in Oregon is restricted for 50 years (from the date of the date); copies of records less than 50 years can only be obtained by specific eligible parties, such as the decedent's immediate family or legal representative.
Inmate information in Oregon is typically updated in real-time; however, it may take a few hours before it is available for public viewing via state or county online offender search tools.
You can fund the commissary account of an inmate in DOC custody through any of the following approved third-party financial service institutions:
These companies offer users the option of depositing funds to an inmate's account online, by telephone, or in person at designated locations.
The DOC also provides the option of funding an inmate's account by mailing money orders or cashier's checks to:
Central Trust, Inmate's Name, and SID Number
Oregon Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 14400
Salem, OR 97309-5077
The money order or cashier's check should be made payable to "DOC, and then the inmate's name and SID number" (for example, if the inmate is named John Smith, the funds should be made payable to "DOC for John Smith, SID Number 123456"). You must also include your full name and mailing address on the money order or cashier's check as well as on the return address area of the mailing envelope.
Be aware that the procedure for sending funds to the account offenders in county jails may differ. As such, it is recommended that you contact the jail where the inmate of interest is being held to find out their available options and requirements.