Oklahoma Arrest Records

Oklahoma arrest records are official documents that provide information about a person’s arrest and subsequent events following the arrest. In addition to information about the person, an arrest record may also contain details on the sequence of events that take place when an individual is arrested, detained, and indicted. An Oklahoma arrest record typically carries identifying information about the arrested person, including:

• Full name and aliases
• Age and birth date
• Employment details
• Mugshot
• Sex
• Nationality
• Physical features, such as height, eye, and hair color
• Arrest date, location, time
• Type of charges
• Arresting officer and law enforcement agency
• Detention status and facility
• Arraignment date
• Case information and summary.

Law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma produce and maintain arrest records. Individuals who wish to obtain arrest records must contact the record custodian, provide necessary identifying information about the desired record person of interest, and may need to pay a fee for accessing the records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Oklahoma?

Yes. Under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, Section 24A.8, legal custodians of arrest records must make them available to the public for inspection and copying. Nonetheless, some arrest records may be exempt from public view per state laws.

Generally, arrest records restricted from public access pertain to active law enforcement investigations or those that may threaten a person's privacy or safety. Other legal reasons for sealing an arrest record could be if the record is related to a juvenile or a court order restricts unathorized access to the arrest record.

How Do I Look Up Arrest Records in Oklahoma?

Generally, requests for Oklahoma arrest records are sent to law enforcement agencies with either federal, state, or county limits.

County Law Enforcement Agencies

Local law enforcement agencies like the sheriff's department typically have an online database where interested persons may access arrest records. The records contained in the database may be updated daily, and comprise records that date back a few days or years.

Individuals may also file a formal request to inspect arrest records depending on the city or county they reside in. The record custodian may direct requesters to use specialized request forms found on their website. The duly completed request form can be submitted online, in person, through fax or mail. Record requesters must include adequate details to ease the search and may need to pay fees for reproducing the records.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation(OSBI)

The OSBI maintains a central repository for all arrests within the state and makes it available to the public on request. The OSBI provides the public with a name search and a fingerprint check option. The processing costs for OSBI record requests depend on the type of search and information desired. Name-based searches cost $15, while fingerprint-based searches cost $19 per record.

Interested persons can perform name-based searches online via the Criminal History Information Request Portal (CHIRP) provided by the State Bureau of Investigation on their website. The requester will need to furnish the search portal with information such as the name of the record subject, date of birth, race, gender, and social security number (if available).

Alternatively, persons unable to conduct an online search may submit arrest records physically or via mail. In-person and mail requesters are required to fill out a records request form and then attach proof or request fee payment (acceptable payment forms are cash for in-person requests only, money order, check, or credit card) enclosed in a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Submit the application to the OSBI at:

*Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation *

*6600 North Harvey Place *

Oklahoma City, OK 73116

Phone: (405) 848-6724

*Fax: (405) 879-2503. *

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

Oklahoma citizens who wish to conduct a national arrest record search on themselves can submit a written request to the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI charges a nominal fee of $18 and does not allow third parties to obtain copies of arrest records on their database.

Oklahoma State Courts Network(OSCN)

The judicial system in Oklahoma grants access to public criminal and arrest records via the Oklahoma State Courts Network(OSCN). Docket searches can be performed using the case parties names or a case number. Interested persons may also obtain case information by visiting the physical location of the court of jurisdiction.

Free Arrest Record Search in Oklahoma

Individuals can find free Oklahoma arrest records through the following means:

1. Requesting a fee waiver for inspecting and copying records from the record custodian in charge of the record
2. Utilizing the Oklahoma State Courts Network(OSCN) docket search.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Oklahoma?

Generally, arrests stay on a person’s record indefinitely because state laws do not specify a retention period for arrest records. However, an offender may petition for the sealing or expungement of their arrest records.

It is important to note that the retention period for an arrest record vary by record custodian. Internal policies, the nature of the offense on the record, and other legal constraints may also affect this retention period.

How to Seal Arrest Record in Oklahoma

State laws permit offenders to have their arrest records sealed or expunged by petitioning a district court. The statutory provisions for arrest record sealing and expungement are defined in Oklahoma Statutes Title 22 § 18 and § 19.

In Oklahoma, there are different types of expungements under state statutes:

• Expungement of arrest and conviction records for certain crimes and special circumstances (Section 18)
• Expungement of records involving deferred sentences or probation(Section 991C)
• Expungement of a restriction order issued against an individual (Section 60.18)
• Expungement for cases of identity theft (Section 19(A))
• Expungement of crimes perpetrated due to human trafficking(Section 19(C)).

The categories of arrest records eligible for expungement are outlined in Section 18( A), Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes and they include:

• Arrest records of persons who have been exonerated or whose convictions have been reversed
• An arrest record in which the offender's actual innocence was corroborated with DNA evidence
• Arrest records where no charges were filed
• Arrest records of a misdemeanor where ten year years have elapsed from the date the judgment was filed
• Arrest records related to nonviolent felonies.

To file a petition for expungement or sealing of arrest records:

1. An eligible person can obtain the appropriate petition form from the clerk of court and submit the completed form with relevant filing fees to the district court in the county where the arrest transpired.
2. After filing the petition, the court sets a hearing date and notifies the prosecuting agency, the arresting agency, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) within thirty (30) days.
3. If the judge presiding over the case grants the petition to seal and expunge the arrest record, the petitioner may send copies of the order to appropriate agencies like the OSBI.
4. Upon receiving a certified copy of the order, the OSBI requests an expungement fee of $150 from the petitioner and other details including the petitioner's full name, social security number, date of birth, court charges if any, the date of arrest, and the summary of the arrest. The processing time for expungements is usually about one month. Expungement fees can be paid via checks and money orders made payable to the OSBI.