Oregon Public Records Key Terms

Learn the basic terms when it comes to Oregon public records

Finding public records can be an overwhelming task without a good understanding of how and where records are kept. Make sure you know a few key terms before you begin a records search.

Whether you are conducting a criminal background check or looking for a driving history report, you'll need to know where to begin your search and what specific terms you may run across.

 

Public records unit

The Oregon State Police Public Records Unit is in charge of securely distributing criminal history reports to those who request them. The unit provides criminal history record checks for those looking for their own history report and those looking for a third party report.
Try: Review the criminal history record check information available at the Oregon State Police Public Records Unit website.

Public records petition

A public records petition is a request made to the Oregon attorney general to view public records that have been denied to an individual. The petition is made if citizens think they are being denied access to any form of public record that should be viewable by all. The attorney general responds to the petition with an order determining whether the record should be public.
Try: The Oregon Department of Justice explains how the public records petition works and in what instances it may be needed.

Vital records

The term vital records refers to important life documents such as birth, death, marriage or divorce certificates. Each state handles the distribution of vital records differently. Oregon's vital records are available through the Center for Health Statistics.
Try: Review all the vital records information at the Oregon Center for Health Statistics.

Court records

Court records can be public or closed (private) depending on the case circumstances and ages of those involved in the case. The public records section of the Oregon Courts Systems explains the differences.
Try: Review court records basics and find out how to access them via the Internet at the Oregon Judicial Department website.

Oregon Public Records Law

The Oregon Public Records Law is a compilation of several laws passed to make government records available to the public. The law is designed to make the government accountable and accessible to all.
Try: Review information about the Oregon Public Records Law at the Sunshine Review.

Control document index

The control document index is a set of records kept by the Oregon Bureau of Land Records. The microfilm index includes copies of land deeds, titles and patents to and from the federal government.
Try: The Oregon/Washington Bureau of Land Management Land Records website provides access to the control document index and explains what records are available.

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