Oklahoma Criminal Records

An Oklahoma criminal record, often called a crime record or criminal history record, is a documentation of an individual's contacts with the criminal justice system. It typically includes details of the subject's arrests, detentions, parole violations, verdicts, and convictions within state limits.

These details are compiled from Oklahoma's criminal justice agencies, including courts, the state's police department, district attorneys' offices, local and state law enforcement agencies, and parole departments. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is the state's primary repository of criminal records and facilitates searches for publicly available documents.

The information found in an Oklahoma criminal record usually includes the subject's full name, fingerprints, criminal history, outstanding warrants, parole history, and sentences for every occasion they were convicted.

Are Criminal Records Public in Oklahoma?

Yes. The Oklahoma Open Records Act gives the public the right to access and review all official records, including criminal, court, vital, and arrest records, maintained by law enforcement and other government agencies in Oklahoma.

Under Title 51 § 24.A.5.2 of the Oklahoma Open Records Act, all requests for criminal history record information must contain at least the date of birth and full name of the subject of the searched records. The Act also stipulates regulations regarding the availability of non-public records to ensure appropriate and adequate protection of subjects' right to privacy.

Records that are exempt from public disclosure typically include those that contain identifying information about juvenile offenders, details about crime victims, and information whose disclosure may endanger a record's subject or a witness. Also, confidential information such as a record subject's social security number and credit card numbers are usually redacted from a record before the record's disclosure. Confidential criminal information is only available to the subject of a record, law enforcement agencies, and persons authorized by courts.

Oklahoma Crime Records by County

Oklahoma crime records are data sets in the form of reports or statistics detailing criminal activities in the state over a specified period. Government agencies maintain these records at different levels. They are used to monitor, measure, and analyze criminal activities using metrics such as the recurrence of various crimes, demographic data about involved individuals, and crime rate.

The OSBI deploys various tools for collating crime records, including the State Incident-Based Reporting System (SIBRS) and Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, and releases yearly crime reports. Reports are provided for individual counties for various crimes, including arson, rape, murder, robbery, and larceny.

Oklahoma crime records are generated by local, county, and state law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. Anyone may obtain Oklahoma crime records for any county through downloadable PDFs available on the Crime Statistics section of the OSBI website, the crime in the US portal provided by the FBI, or other third-party websites that serve a similar purpose.

Oklahoma Criminal Record Check

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is the primary custodian of statewide criminal records, and it facilitates record checks for interested members of the public. Records are obtainable via mail, in person, or online. In-person checks can be performed at the lobby of the OSBI headquarters. Mail requests are also addressed to the same address:

OSBI Headquarters

6600 North Harvey Place

Oklahoma City, OK 73116

Phone: (405) 848-6724

*Fax: (405) 879-2503. *

The office is only open during business hours for in-person criminal history record checks and fingerprinting. For online checks, interested persons may use the Criminal History Information Request Portal (CHIRP) at any time.

Alternatively, searchers can request records by filling out and submitting a Criminal History Request Form via mail, in person, or by fax. To access these documents, a searcher must pay a fee, depending on their preferred search method: $15 for name-based searches and $19 for fingerprint-based searches. Payments can be cash, through money orders, credit cards, and cashier's checks.

Find Criminal Records Online in Oklahoma

The CHIRP portal is the recognized platform for online criminal records searches in Oklahoma. To use the portal, inquirers must set up and log in to their CHIRP account. After logging in, they can search for and obtain any criminal record after paying the fee applicable to their chosen search method. To perform a search, a person must provide the full name (including aliases) or fingerprints of the record's subject.

Free Criminal Record Search in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State government does not offer free criminal record search platforms, and the OSBI does not provide fee waivers for record requesters. However, many third-party online platforms advertise free criminal record searches in Oklahoma. While some of these programs offer limited criminal information about the subject of the searched record, many will only inform the inquirer about whether the records exist.

What Does it Mean if You Have a Criminal Record in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, a criminal record associated with one's name attracts various implications and consequences that may affect a person's social life. Having a criminal record may affect a person's chances of getting a job or housing within the state because many employers check criminal records while conducting background checks on potential tenants and job applicants. Additionally, individuals with a criminal record may have their driver's license revoked or suspended or denied licenses to work in professions where they interact with vulnerable people.

Oklahoma has several policies in place to cushion the effect of these harsh implications, such as the "Ban-the-box" law. According to this law, employers are not allowed to ask questions about an applicant's criminal history during their applications until later in the interview process.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear After 7 Years in Oklahoma?

No. A person's criminal record is not cleared after 7 years in Oklahoma. An individual's criminal history stays on record indefinitely unless they qualify for expungement and follow due process to have their criminal records expunged. Under Oklahoma Expungement Laws, individuals with certain misdemeanor and felony charges in their record can appeal for their expungement if they meet the requirements outlined in 22 O. S. § 18, some of which are:

1. An individual must be acquitted of the charges.
2. They must have received a full pardon from the governor for the crime for which they were sentenced.
3. The charges were dismissed.
4. There are no pending charges or convictions against the person, and the statute of limitation for refiling the charge(s) has elapsed.
5. At least 10-15 years have elapsed since the last time the person was arrested or convicted of a crime.
6. The person was established to be factually innocent.
7. The crimes in question were committed when the arrestee was still a minor.
8. An appellate court of competent jurisdiction overturned the case.

Arrest Record Vs Criminal Record

Although often used interchangeably, there is a distinction between the terms "arrest records" and "criminal records."

An Oklahoma arrest record usually features details like the date and place the arrest took place, the charges filed against the arrestee, and the outcome of the arrest.

On the other hand, a criminal record is a thoroughly detailed record of a person's criminal history, including information about arrests and convictions. So, an arrest record can technically be regarded as a subset of a criminal record. However, because arrest records do not always include a conviction, they cannot be used as definitive proof of guilt. Both arrest and criminal records negatively impact their subjects' reputations, but criminal records have more severe implications.

Oklahoma Police Records

Oklahoma police records are documents describing the activities of the police department. They can include arrests, crimes, incidents, and other actions taken by police officers in the course of administering their official duties. While the exact contents of police records may vary, they typically include information such as the names and addresses of suspects and victims, warrants, information about missing persons, and details about Police investigations.

The records division of the police department and the OSBI typically maintains police records. Under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, Oklahoma police records are public documents, except those exempt by statute or court order. These records are essential tools for the public and law enforcement agencies and can help to increase transparency and hold local and state police departments accountable.