Oregon Public Records Applications and Uses

Learn about the ways that professionals use a state of Oregon public record

Oregon public records applications and uses are becoming more common due to their increasing accessibility through the Internet. Increased access to public records has led to the growth of the information broker industry, which uses public records to build profiles on millions of people and provides information to anyone who pays a fee. Individuals who know where to look also may be able to search public records for free. Access to public records is controlled at the federal level by the Freedom of Information Act and Oregon has its own version of this legislation.

There are a variety of professionals who may have an interest in performing an Oregon public record search. These include the following three general categories:

1. Genealogical research on Oregon public court records. Researchers use older vital records to locate ancestors or other people of historical interest. These records may be available from genealogical societies, public libraries and government agencies.
2. Background checks. Employers are making more frequent use of criminal records to investigate the personal history of job applicants.
3. News reports. Reporters and other people with an interest in government activity may wish to access public records on meetings and voting records.
   

Use Oregon public records to research the founders of a business

Oregon vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates, frequently are helpful for getting information about the early owners of a company and researching the history of a business. Vital records in Oregon become publicly available after a specified period of time and are of genealogical, rather than personal, interest.
Center for Health Statistics provides instructions for obtaining vital records in Oregon and specifies when they become publicly available. The Oregon Secretary of State offers extensive resources for obtaining genealogical records.

Search public records to perform an Oregon background check

Law enforcement officials, private detectives and prospective employers may use Oregon bankruptcy records and criminal records to investigate an individual's background. Access to Oregon court records tends to be more restricted than access to other types of public records, and may require the subject's permission.
Oregon State Police provides access to specific criminal records in Oregon. The Sex Offender Inquiry System for the state of Oregon provides a search for registered sex offenders in Oregon.

Obtain public records in Oregon for the purpose of reporting on government activity

Reporters frequently use government records in Oregon, such as voting records and meeting minutes. Access to these types of public records is controlled by Oregon's Sunshine laws. There are organizations of journalists and ordinary citizens that work to keep government records in Oregon available to the public.
Oregon Government Ethics Commission provides government records in Oregon, such as the expenditures of lobby groups. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality provides specific instruction for obtaining public records on the environment in Oregon.

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