Do My DUI Arrest Record & Mugshot Show Up Online in Oregon?
Key Takeaways
Whether a DUI arrest record or mugshot shows up online in Oregon depends on the county and whether you were formally booked into a detention center. In many misdemeanor cases, people are cited and released, which often means no mugshot appears online.
In counties like Multnomah, mugshots may appear on the sheriff’s booking page if you are lodged in the county jail. In some areas, local media or “crime watch” social media pages may repost booking photos, which can make them circulate more widely.
Oregon passed a 2019 law banning websites from charging people to remove mugshots, but legitimate news outlets can still legally publish arrest photos and related information.
How long information stays online varies. Jail rosters are usually temporary, but court records can remain searchable for years, and news articles or background check databases may keep information available much longer.
Do my DUI arrest record & mugshot show up online in Oregon? It’s a question we hear all the time, usually right after someone starts worrying about what friends, coworkers, or family might see if they search their name. The honest answer is sometimes yes, but it depends on the county, and in most cases, it’s actually not that likely. As you keep reading, we’ll fill you in on the important details, including which counties tend to post booking information online and what that really means for you.
Multnomah County Mugshots
In Multnomah County specifically, DUI mugshots can appear on the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office website, specifically on their public booking page. But it doesn’t just automatically show up there just because you were arrested. For a photo to show up there, you must actually be taken into custody, transported, and formally booked at the Multnomah County Detention Center. That booking step is what triggers the online listing.
If you’re cited and released, or processed somewhere else without being lodged at the county detention center, your mugshot won’t appear on that site. The same applies to arrests handled in other cities. For example, a DUI arrest in Salem wouldn’t land on the Multnomah County page unless you were specifically transferred and booked into the Multnomah County facility.
It’s also important to know that DUI bookings into the detention center are much less common than they used to be, especially for misdemeanor charges. Many cases now involve a citation and release instead of a full booking.
Dechutes and Marion County Mugshots
In some Oregon counties, booking photos don’t just stay on a sheriff’s roster. They can also get picked up and shared in other online spaces, including local media pages and community-run social media accounts. For example, smaller news outlets in places like Medford or Eugene sometimes repost arrest photos they obtain from county records onto their own websites or Facebook pages that focus on crime and court updates. Once those images are shared beyond the official source, they can circulate much more widely.
A similar pattern happens in other parts of the state where local “crime watch” style pages repost Marion, Lane, or Jackson County bookings shortly after they’re released. Unlike official jail listings, which are often temporary, it’s not always clear how long those reposted images remain online. Even if the original custody page updates or removes the photo, copies on third-party pages may stay up indefinitely, which can make the impact feel longer-lasting than people expect.
Oregon Legislature on Mugshots
A few years ago, Oregon took steps to crack down on websites that were making money off people’s booking photos. In 2019, the state passed a law aimed at stopping the commercial use of mugshots, especially by companies that would post arrest photos and then charge people a fee to have them taken down. That kind of pay-for-removal setup is no longer allowed under Oregon law.
That said, the rule doesn’t apply to everyone. Legitimate news outlets are still legally permitted to publish mugshots as part of their reporting. So while you’re less likely to run into a private website trying to profit off your photo, media organizations can still post arrest images if they choose to cover the story.
Portland Arrest Records
When people talk about “Portland arrest records,” they’re usually referring to arrests handled by the Portland Police Bureau or cases filed through the Multnomah County Circuit Court. While arrest information is generally public, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s widely visible or easy to stumble across. Court records typically show the charge, case number, and procedural history, along with the final outcome once the case is resolved.
Court Records and Calendars
In several parts of Oregon, arrest information can also surface through online court calendars. Courts in places like Beaverton, Hillsboro, Salem, Bend, Lake Oswego, Eugene, Medford, and Portland often publish daily or weekly dockets that list upcoming hearings. These calendars can include things like a person’s name, charge, courtroom, and hearing date. That said, they’re not something that randomly pops up in a search. Someone would usually have to intentionally look up your name or know you have a case pending to find that information.
How to See Your Arrest Record Online
If you’re trying to check your own arrest information, start by identifying which county handled the arrest. Most counties in Oregon have online portals where you can easily look up case activity. This would include hearing dates and charge details using your full legal name. You can also contact the clerk of the court directly if you’re not sure where the case was filed. If the arrest was recent, the county jail may have had a temporary custody listing, but for longer-term records, court databases are usually the most reliable place to confirm what’s officially on file.
How Long Does Your Information Stay Online?
How long your information stays online really depends on where it shows up in the first place. Not all online records are treated the same. A short-term jail roster is very different from a formal court record, and both are different from a news article. Here’s a simple breakdown of what that usually looks like in Oregon:
1. County Jail or Sheriff Booking Pages
These are typically temporary. In many counties, including Multnomah, booking listings and mugshots often stay online for only a few days before they’re removed from the public-facing site.
2. Court Records
If a case is filed in court, the basic case information can remain searchable for years. In some situations, it may stay accessible indefinitely unless it’s sealed or expunged.
3. Court Calendars
Daily court dockets are usually posted for short periods. Once the hearing date passes, those listings often rotate off the public calendar.
4. News Articles
Media coverage can remain online permanently. News organizations are legally allowed to publish arrest information, and articles may stay up unless the outlet chooses to update or remove them.
5. Background Check Databases
Private databases may retain information for extended periods, depending on their update policies and whether the record has been cleared or expunged.
DUI Arrest Record & Mugshot in Oregon Conclusion
Most people don’t start worrying about online records until it suddenly becomes very personal. Seeing your name connected to an arrest, even before a case is resolved, can create stress that goes far beyond the courtroom. The reality is that how and where information appears varies a lot, and there might be practical steps you can take depending on your situation. If you’re facing a DUI and have concerns about your record or online visibility, our team at Powell Law in Beaverton is here to talk it through and help you figure out a smart path forward.
*Nothing herein constitutes legal advice. You should obtain independent legal counsel regarding your specific factual situation.
