Woodward County Arrest Records

In Woodward County, when someone is arrested, they are taken into custody and transported to the Woodward County Jail, located at:

Woodward County Jail
1600 Main Street,
Suite 1, Woodward,
OK 73801

The booking process includes photographing the individual (mugshot), taking fingerprints, recording personal information, and documenting the charges. Inmates are usually held at the county jail facility, which houses approximately 43 inmates under the supervision of over 44 staff members and processes about 2,861 bookings annually.

The Woodward County Sheriff’s Office is the primary agency responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records within the county. These records become part of the Woodward County Court Records, which are criminal history files managed by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).

Are Arrest Records Public in Woodward County?

Yes, arrest records are generally public in Woodward County under the Oklahoma Open Records Act (Title 51 O.S. § 24A.1 et seq.). This law guarantees that citizens have the right to access government records, including arrest information maintained by law enforcement agencies.

However, certain arrest information is exempt from public disclosure. Records that are typically confidential include juvenile arrest records, sealed or expunged records, records that are part of ongoing investigations, and information that could compromise public safety or criminal prosecutions.

To access arrest records, individuals do not need to provide a reason for their request, though reasonable fees may be charged for document collection and copying under Section 24A.5 of the Act. Anyone may request public records without stating their purpose. The Woodward County Sheriff’s Office is located at:

Woodward County Sheriff’s Office
1600 Main Street,
Suite 1, Woodward, OK 73801
Phone: (580) 256-3264

Woodward County Arrest Statistics

In the absence of a county-specific FBI UCR arrest table published publicly for 2024, local justice system data and aggregated sources provide context for law enforcement activity in Woodward County.

County sheriff records show about 549 total arrests reported from 2013 through 2023. This includes a notable number of low-level offense arrests relative to population size. The local jail incarceration rate is about 749 per 100,000 residents.

Find Woodward County Arrest Records

Multiple state and federal resources are available for finding inmates and accessing arrest records in Woodward County.

Oklahoma Offender Lookup System
The Oklahoma Offender Lookup system, maintained by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, allows the public to search for individuals currently incarcerated in state facilities.

Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)
The Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN) provides access to court dockets and case information, often including arrest details for cases that resulted in criminal charges.

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation offers criminal history record checks through its Criminal History Information Request Portal (CHIRP), which requires creating an account and costs $15 per name-based search. This search reveals arrest records throughout Oklahoma if fingerprints were collected.

Woodward County Sheriff’s Office
To request records in person, visit the Woodward County Sheriff’s Office and provide identifying information such as the subject’s full name, date of birth, and any known case numbers to facilitate the search process:

1600 Main Street, Suite 1,
Woodward, OK 73801
Phone: (580) 256-3264

An alternative to finding county-level inmates in Woodward County is to contact the Woodward County Jail directly at (580) 256-3264.

Woodward County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record documents when law enforcement takes someone into custody based on probable cause that they committed a crime. This record contains:

• The arrestee’s name
• Physical description
• Photograph (mugshot)
• Fingerprints
• Date and location of arrest
• Booking number
• Charges filed at the time of arrest, and the arresting agency information

Importantly, an arrest record does not indicate guilt; it merely shows that a person was arrested and charged. Meanwhile, a criminal record documents convictions and adjudications through the court system. Criminal records contain:

• Information about court proceedings
• Guilty pleas
• Jury verdicts and sentencing
• Probation terms and final case dispositions

A person may have an arrest record without having a criminal record if charges were dropped, dismissed, or resulted in a not-guilty verdict at trial.

Both records are maintained separately. Arrest records are held by law enforcement agencies like the Woodward County Sheriff’s Office, while criminal records are maintained by courts and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation through its criminal history database system.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Under Oklahoma law, arrest records remain on a person’s record unless they are expunged or sealed through legal proceedings. The Oklahoma Records Management Act (Title 67, Sections 201-215) governs record retention schedules, but the Woodward County Sheriff’s Office generally maintains arrest records permanently in its systems.

The availability and timing of expungement depend on the outcome of the case. Under Title 22, Section 18, individuals may qualify for expungement if:

• No charges were filed, and the statute of limitations has expired
• Charges were dismissed
• They were acquitted at trial
• They received a full pardon from the Governor
• They completed a deferred sentence more than one year ago

For certain misdemeanor and non-violent felony convictions, waiting periods apply before expungement eligibility. In 2022, Oklahoma also implemented automatic “Clean Slate” expungement for eligible records, where the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) identifies qualifying cases monthly. Violent felony convictions are generally not eligible for expungement.

Once expunged, records are sealed from public view but may remain accessible to law enforcement for investigative purposes.

Woodward County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest a specific individual.

In Woodward County, arrest warrants are issued in several circumstances:

• When a crime has been committed, and the suspect cannot be immediately located
• When a grand jury returns an indictment
• When someone fails to appear for a court hearing (bench warrant)
• When someone violates probation or bond conditions
• When there is probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime.

The process begins when law enforcement or the district attorney presents evidence to a judge, typically through a sworn affidavit. The judge reviews the information and determines whether sufficient probable cause exists to justify the arrest.

An arrest warrant contains important information such as the full legal name of the person to be arrested, physical description, the specific criminal charges or offenses alleged, the date and location where the warrant was issued, the judge’s signature and court seal, and the bond amount set (if applicable).

Do Woodward County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Woodward County arrest warrants generally do not expire. According to Oklahoma law, arrest warrants remain in effect regardless of the amount of time that has passed since their issuance. This means a warrant issued years or even decades ago remains valid and enforceable today.

The type and severity of the offense influence how actively law enforcement pursues warrant execution. Warrants for serious violent crimes receive higher priority, and fugitive task forces actively seek these individuals. Misdemeanor warrants may receive less immediate attention but remain enforceable at any time.

The statute of limitations affects the underlying criminal charges but not the warrant itself. If the statute of limitations expires before arrest, prosecution may be barred, but the warrant remains active. The only ways to resolve an outstanding warrant are through arrest and court appearance, voluntary surrender with legal representation, or a court order recalling the warrant.

Expunge Woodward County Arrest Records

Oklahoma law provides several pathways for expunging arrest records in Woodward County. Expungement seals arrest information from public access, preventing it from appearing on background checks conducted by employers, landlords, and others, though certain law enforcement agencies retain sealed records for investigative purposes.

Eligibility requirements in Woodward County depend on the circumstances of arrest and case outcome. Under Title 22, Section 18, individuals may qualify for expungement if:

• Charges were dismissed
• They received a full pardon
• No charges were filed, and the statute of limitations expired
• They were acquitted (found not guilty)
• They completed a deferred sentence more than one year ago (Section 991(c))
• They meet specific criteria for misdemeanor or non-violent felony convictions after waiting periods

In Woodward County, an expungement process involves the following steps:

• Obtain a criminal history report from OSBI to verify what appears on the record (cost: $15).
• File a Petition to Expunge Records with the district court in Woodward County, and send it to OSBI. The petition must include: petitioner's name, social security number, date of birth, the crimes charged with, the date of arrest, and the disposition (end result) of arrest and/or charges in court.
• The court schedules a hearing and provides 30 days’ notice to the district attorney, Sheriff’s Office, arresting agency, and OSBI. These agencies may object to the expungement. At the hearing, the judge determines whether private interests outweigh public interest in keeping records accessible.
• If granted, pay the $150 OSBI expungement fee. The OSBI accepts cashier’s checks (no personal checks) or money orders.

The process typically takes one month from filing to completion. OSBI strongly recommends consulting an attorney to navigate the legal requirements.