Oklahoma Arrest Records

Oklahoma law requires law enforcement agencies to apprehend people who violate the state's Penal Code. After a person is arrested, the agencies detain them until they appear in court. If courts find the individuals guilty, they may serve time in prison or law enforcement facilities. The court may also release the individual on bail or without charges if prosecutors drop their charges or they find them not guilty of the charges against them. An Oklahoma arrest record documents this entire process and its outcomes.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, which is the central repository for all crime-related records in the state, maintains Oklahoma arrest records. These records contain the details of the arrest of individuals taken into custody by the state and local law enforcement agencies. Local law enforcement agencies such as Tulsa County Sheriff's Office and city police departments like those in Oklahoma, Norman, and Broken Arrow cities also maintain arrest records for cases within their jurisdiction.

Oklahoma Arrest Statistics

According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) database, 85,422 individuals were arrested by Oklahoma law enforcement agencies in 2023. This figure comprises 60,047 males and 25,337 females. Of the total arrests, 78,888 were adults and 6,496 were minors.

Oklahoma's arrest statistics for 2023 indicate high numbers of arrests for drug/narcotic violations (12,341), simple assault (9,432), DUI (9,123), and larcenies (8,823). There were also notable numbers for aggravated assault, weapon law violations, and disorderly Conduct as the table indicates.

Oklahoma's 2023 Arrest Statistics

Are Arrest Records Public in Oklahoma?

Yes, Oklahoma arrest records are available for public viewing, inspection, and copying per the Oklahoma Open Public Records Act. The Act stipulates that all records maintained by state or local law enforcement are accessible to the public.

However, there are exceptions to this Act. For instance, an Oklahoma arrest record is not open to public scrutiny if:

• It is sealed
• Relates to juvenile criminal history records
• It is part of an ongoing investigation.

Regardless of the restrictions on some arrest records, these documents may still be accessible to:

• Law enforcement agencies
• Courts and prosecutors
• Employers (with the subject's consent)
• Licensing boards (with the subject's consent)
• Armed forces (with the subject's consent)
• Authorized attorneys.

Find Public Arrest Records in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) partners with law enforcement agencies across the state to collect, maintain, and disseminate public arrest records to interested individuals. Thus, anyone who wants to access arrest records, regardless of the arresting agency, can use the OSBI Criminal History Information Request Portal (CHIRP) online portal to retrieve such data. Per Title 51 § 24.A.5.2 of the Oklahoma Statutes, all criminal history or arrest record requests must include at least the subject's full name and date of birth.

Inquirers can also find public arrest records in Oklahoma by filling out and submitting a criminal history record check form in person or by mail to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation headquarters. In addition, individuals requesting criminal history records are required to submit original fingerprint cards through mail or in person to:

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
6600 North Harvey,
Oklahoma City,
OK 73116

Alternatively, a requester may contact the county sheriff's office within an arrest jurisdiction for a paper copy of the arrest record. Every county in Oklahoma operates unique policies for processing public record requests, so the requester needs to consult with the appropriate law enforcement agencies to understand their requirements for obtaining arrest records. Furthermore, since Oklahoma courts maintain records of all criminal proceedings within their jurisdiction, one may also visit or mail them for arrest records at the court's disposal.

The FBI can also provide a person with an Identity History Summary, often called a criminal history or "rap sheet". This summary contains specific information about arrests, which the FBI generates from fingerprint submissions it keeps.

The OSBI database, county court, or sheriff's office may not provide the general public with access to restricted arrest records. However, one may subpoena the records if necessary. An individual subpoenas an Oklahoma arrest record when they have a valid reason and affirm that a criminal history or arrest record is relevant. In this case, a subpoena is simply a court order that mandates a person or agency to provide records. Anyone who needs to subpoena an arrest record from the OSBI must first submit a written request to the agency, and this should include:

• The case number
• Any useful reference associated with the matter
• A self-addressed, stamped envelope for mailing purposes.

How to Lookup Arrest Records Online in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is the state repository for criminal records, and it offers interested individuals online access to Oklahoma arrest records. The OSBI's Criminal History Information Request Portal (CHIRP) grants the public unrestricted access to Oklahoma's public arrest records. Individuals seeking access to Oklahoma arrest records through the OSBI are required to provide the subject's first and last name and date of birth. Additionally, access to Oklahoma arrest records through CHIRP requires user accounts. The OSBI criminal history records typically exclude unreported arrests, arrests where law enforcement did not collect fingerprints, or arrests with poor-quality fingerprints.

Oklahoma name-based searches cost $15.00 per search, according to Title 74 § 150.9.

Interested individuals can also look up arrest records of Oklahoma's current and former inmates, parolees, probationers, and convicts who absconded through the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Offender LookUp Portal.

What is Included in Oklahoma Arrest Records?

Oklahoma arrest records contain information about the arrest of individuals within the state. A typical arrest record may contain the following information:

• The suspect's Identifying Details, including:
  • Name
  • Age
  • Address
  • Mugshots
• Physical Descriptors, such as:
  • Gender
  • Ethnicity
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Hair/eye color
  • Tattoos or scars (if applicable)
• Description of the offense leading to the arrest. This could specifically be a felony, misdemeanor, or infraction
• Names of the arresting officers and the agency
• Booking information: This includes:
  • The arrest location, time, and date
  • Name of the arresting agency and officer
  • Booking date and time
  • Manner of release
• Bail/bond details.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Oklahoma

Oklahoma arrest information may stay on a person's record for different durations depending on the crime. In some cases, the arrests may appear on criminal records forever. For instance, arrests for minor traffic offenses may not be permanent on records. On the other hand, arrests for violent crimes and sexual offenses (especially those punishable by more than one year in prison) remain on file indefinitely. In Oklahoma, arrests for the following crimes may stay permanently on an offender's record:

• Firearm crime
• Drug abuse and possession
• Child abuse
• Driving under the influence
• Sexual offenses
• Domestic violence.

Arrests for theft, robbery, kidnapping, and prostitution may stay on file for ten to fifteen years.

Expunge an Arrest Record in Oklahoma

Expungement allows individuals to seal their Oklahoma arrest records. This means that the public may no longer access the information. A Section 18 expungement authorizes individuals to expunge their entire arrest record, while a Section 991(c) expungement permits persons who obtained deferred sentences to expunge their pleas and update their case dispositions to show that the cases have been dismissed (the disposition will say, "Not guilty, case dismissed"). However, this does not expunge (remove) the arrest record.

Expunging an Oklahoma arrest record costs $150 (payable to local law enforcement agencies responsible for expunging the record).

Eligible individuals may file an expungement petition with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). An Oklahoma arrest record may be eligible for expunction if the owner fulfills all court-imposed conditions and does not attract any arrests for 5 years from the date of the last conviction.

A request for the expunction of an Oklahoma arrest record must include:

• Arrestee's name
• Social security number
• date of birth
• Alleged crimes
• Date of arrest
• The disposition (outcome) of the arrest and/or charges in court.

To prevent delays in the expungement process, an individual who was incarcerated for domestic-related charges must provide a police narrative or report that states their relationship to the victim. The OSBI will examine the request and determine if the individual is eligible for record expungement. If the OSBI approves the request, it will send an approval letter to the court, informing the court of its decision to expunge the records. The court will then forward the order to expunge the records to all agencies that have custody of them.

A petitioner is required to send a completed expungement form along with a check or money order to cover the $150.00 filing fee to:

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
6500 N Harvey Avenue,
Oklahoma City,
OK 73116-7909.

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in Oklahoma

Individuals searching for arrest records in Oklahoma should visit the record custodian websites and seek out information on how to access their documents. Additionally, some Oklahoma local police departments and sheriff's offices may have online repositories and inmate lists where members of the public can find information about recent arrests in Oklahoma. For instance, the Oklahoma County Detention Center maintains an Inmate Search tool where interested individuals can search for and retrieve information about recent arrests within the county.

Are Oklahoma Arrest Records Free?

Yes, the public may access Oklahoma arrest records for free through county sheriff's offices, local law enforcement agencies, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). While anyone can search for arrest records on the OSBI's website, they must pay a processing fee to obtain copies for official purposes. Requesters may also receive arrest records from the OSBI by mail, fax, or in person.