Multnomah County Inmate Search
Per ORS 133.005, an arrest is when a peace officer places a person under actual or constructive restraint or takes the person into custody to charge them with an offense. A person can be arrested with or without a warrant if there is probable cause to believe that the person has violated an ordinance of a county, city, or municipal corporation (ORS 133.070 & 133.110).
After an arrest, the peace officer will take the offender to Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) for processing and booking. There are times people are arrested and released without being processed or booked. If that happens, the arrested person will still have to attend the arraignment. MCDC processing and booking involves taking the suspect’s fingerprints, running their ID, and interviewing with the recognizance committee. This process takes between 6 and 8 hours. After the ID process, the suspect will be interviewed by MCDC personnel. The interview is to determine if the suspect will be released on their own recognizance ‘(ROR) or held in custody depending on the gravity of the offense.
After the processing and booking, the suspect must appear in court (arraignment). At the arraignment, the arrested person (defendant) will be reminded of their rights and will be allowed to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The judge will determine if the defendant can be released on bail or their own “recognizance”.
Most criminal cases in Multnomah County end in a plea agreement. This is where the defendant agrees to plead guilty so the prosecution can lower the charge and recommend a lesser sentence. The case will not go to trial if a plea agreement is reached. If not, a trial date will be set. During the trial, the attorneys will make opening statements, present evidence, and make closing arguments. The jury will deliberate the case after the judge has reminded them of their legal duties. Once the jury has reached a unanimous decision, the judge will enter a verdict, which could be fines, imprisonment, or both.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Multnomah County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The 2022 Uniform Crime Reporting Data provided by the Oregon State Police revealed that 10,972 arrests occurred in Multnomah County. That same year there were 11,004 distinct offenses. Most offenders were guilty of simple assault, aggravated assaults, motor vehicle theft, weapon law violation, and robbery.
Multnomah County Prison System
The Sheriff’s Office oversees the prison system in Multnomah County. It operates two corrections facilities:
- The Multnomah County Detention Center
- The Multnomah County Inverness Jail
As of January 2023, Multnomah County jails had a capacity of 1,117 beds. That same month, About 1,390 individuals booked these facilities, with average daily bookings of 45 people. The percentage of females and males booked in jails was between 17 - 22% and 78 - 83%, respectively. About 43 inmates were released per day from the jails. The average length of stay in jails was 20.62 days for inmates released in January, with an average daily population of 827 (74% of capacity). As of February 2023, about 231 people were held in pre-trial custody for over 150 days. About 125 of them were held on murder-related charges.
How to Find an Inmate in Multnomah County
There are three ways to find an inmate in Multnomah County. The options are:
- Online: Go to the Sheriff’s Office website. Click on “Jail” at the top bar of the homepage. Click on “Jail Overview” from the dropdown. Scroll down to the “Frequently Asked Questions” section. Click on the first question to find a link to the inmate search tool.
- Phone: Call (503) 988-3689 to inquire if a person is in custody
- In-person: Visit any of the jails in Multnomah County to retrieve information about an inmate.
All requesters must have basic information about an inmate to be able to find them. Commonly, the inmate’s name is very important in facilitating the search.
How Does a Multnomah County Inmate Search Work?
The Oregon Public Records Act allows law enforcement agencies to disseminate inmate information to members of the public. Therefore, anyone can request to inspect or copy inmate records in Multnomah County except if such record is not expressly exempted from public disclosure. Examples of confidential records are investigatory records, juvenile records, and records pertaining to litigation. Below is the information that can be found during a Multnomah County inmate search:
- SWIS ID
- Inmate’s full name
- Age, gender, race
- Height, weight, hair color, and eyes color
- Arresting agency
- Booking date
- Assigned facility
- Projected released date
- Charges
- Court case number
- DA case number citation number
- Bail amount
- Current status
Where to Find a Multnomah County Inmate Locator
Individuals can find a Multnomah County inmate locator on the Sheriff’s Office website. The inmate's first or last name must be provided in the search box, and the search type must be selected.
Record seekers who cannot find an inmate via the Multnomah County inmate locator can check state prisons. They can find an Inmate Locator on the Oregon Department of Corrections website that can be used to conduct a search. A search can be conducted by name or SID number. For a name search, the requester can enter the inmate's full name or partial name. A partial name search is possible using an asterisk ( * ) for unknown portions of names. Search result reveals:
- Offender’s full name
- Age, date of birth, gender, race
- Weight, height, eye color, hair color
- SID number
- Location
- Status
- Caseload
- Institution admission date
- Earliest release date
- Docket Number
- County
- Crime
- Sentence type
- Begin and termination date
- Names used by the offender
An Inmate locator can also be found on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website. At the homepage, click “Inmates” at the top bar. Click on the “Find an Inmate” link from the drop-down menu and conduct a search by number or name. The search result will reveal an inmate's first and last name, register number, age, race, sex, and release date.
Alternatively, one can find an inmate locator on third-party websites. The searcher must provide the inmate’s name, jail number, or jail location to facilitate the search. Some third-party service providers may require a search fee.
How to Send Money to a Multnomah County Inmate
Multnomah County inmates have trust accounts with which they receive money from family and friends. Depositors will be required to pay processing fees. An individual can send money to an inmate in any of the following ways:
- In-person: Depositors can go to jail and deposit money at the TouchPay Kiosks in the lobbies to deposit money. Only cash, debit card, ad credit cards are acceptable.
- Online: Individuals can use a third-party portal approved by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to make deposits. Take note that the MCSO Facility number is #297204.
- Phone: Call (866) 232-1899 and follow the prompts.
- Mail: Individuals can mail government-issued transfer and payroll checks to the Sheriff’s Office by US mail. The Office does not accept cash, money orders, and personal or cashier's checks sent via mail. The mailing address is:
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office FISCAL UNIT
501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 350
Portland, OR 9721
How to Visit a Multnomah County Inmate
Family, friends, business associates, and loved ones can visit an inmate in Multnomah County jail by video or in person. Inmates can only have a maximum of 3 visitors (including minors) per visit. Video visitation is available through an approved third-party service provider. Video visitation can be done online (at home) or in person at one of the kiosks located in the Inverness Jail lobby. As of February 2023, video visitation is restricted to inmates in Dorms 6 or 7 at Inverness. All video visits must be scheduled at least a day in advance. Visitors must sign up or login to the third-party service provider’s website to participate in the visit. Visitation only lasts for 20 minutes and costs $5. Visitors can use a credit or debit card to make non-refundable payments. Here are the rules for video visitations via the third-party kiosks at the Inverness lobby:
- Visitors must arrive at least 15 minutes before visitation time
- Check in at the Facility Security Officer desk
- Provide valid government-issued photo ID
- Visitors don't need to be on the inmates visiting list for video visits.
- Minor children must be under the supervision of their parents.
- There is no limit to the number of kiosk visits scheduled in a row.
In-person visits are only allowed if the visitor is on the inmate’s visitor list. Visitation is on a first-come, first-served basis. All visitors must arrive 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled visit. An inmate can only be visited twice per weekend, and the visitation length is 30 minutes. This is how to visit an inmate in Multnomah County in person:
- Go to the visiting window at the jail to sign up for a visit and request a “service request form”.
- Complete the form for each person visiting.
- Take the completed form (s) and the IDs of each visitor and bring each visitor to the Officer in charge to see before sign-up can occur.
Adult visitors must present current, valid, government-issued picture IDs like a state driver’s license, state ID card, military ID card, or passport. All minors (under 18) must visit the jail in the company of a parent, approved adult, or legal guardian. Minors who are spouses of an inmate must show proof of marriage. Emancipated minors or married to an inmate must be approved by the Officer in Charge before visitation. Adults accompanying a minor must submit proof of relationship. Acceptable documents are adoption papers, birth certificates, notarized permission from parents or legal guardians of the child, or court orders indicating child custody. If acceptable documentation cannot be attained, individuals can submit notarized documents which state the minor’s relationship to the inmate to be visited and to the parent or legal guardian.
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) also allows official, professional, and media visits. These visitors must present valid picture IDs and agency or professional IDs at visitor check-in. Media visitors must send requests to the MCSO Public Information Officer and the Jail Commander.
All visitors are expected to be properly dressed during video or in-person visitations. Review the Visitor Guide for more information on Musultnomah inmate visitation and dress code.
How to Send Jail Mail in Multnomah County
All mail must be sent to inmates through the Inverness Jail, even if the mail belongs to an inmate housed at the Detention Center. The mail should be addressed as follows:
INMATE MAIL
First Name, Last Name, SWIS #
11540 NE Inverness Dr.
Portland OR 97220
Writing the inmate’s information on the mail help to ensure that the mail is delivered to the right person. A return address must also be in the mail. Asides from using the US Mail, individuals can visit the jail between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. daily (except on holidays) and use the inter-departmental mail system. All that is required is to fill out an “Inmate Memo Form” and submit it to a Facility Security Officer. Personal mail cannot be sent through the inter-departmental mail system. However, it is acceptable via USPS or other commercial parcel services. Inmates can receive mail-in publications and other materials sent directly from a publisher or commercial retailer. Also, the publication, periodicals, calendars, and notebooks must:
- Not exceed 9” x 13” and 3” thick
- Not be leather bound or hardback
- Not be spiral binded
- Not be above 4 publications per delivery
Legal mail can be sent through the USPS, a commercial parcel service, or dropped off with a Facility Security Officer. However, the person dropping the legal mail in person with the Officer must have a valid ID. Also, the phrase “LEGAL MAIL” must be clearly written on the address side of the envelope or parcel. The Legal mail will be opened and inspected for contraband in the recipient's presence.
The following items are prohibited in the mail:
- Postage stamps
- Blank paper or blank cards
- Mail sent from a private party
- Wood, plastic, metal, or stone items
- Pictures, postcards, or cards that exceed 8.5” x 11”.
- Currency or currency equivalents (like gift cards or bus passes) other than government checks.
- Items that are difficult to search, like multiple layers of paper glued or bonded together, padded or bubble envelopes, or polaroid-type photos.
- Clippings from books (clippings from magazines or newspapers are allowed)
- Blank, pre-addressed, or pre-stamped envelopes in personal mail.
- Coded letters or other correspondence written in code.
- Mail requiring payment of postage or cash on delivery (COD).
- Negotiable instruments like checks, unless issued by a governmental agency.
- Packages from a commercial vendor containing anything other than the materials accepted in the jail
- Substances like glitter, lipstick, bodily fluids, glue, perfume, and other unidentifiable substances that may stain or put marks on Mail.
Multnomah County Jails and Prisons
Below is the list of the names, addresses, and contact information of all the jail facilities, prisons, and detention centers in Multnomah County:
Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC)
1120 SW Third Ave
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 988-3689
Multnomah County Inverness Jail (MCIJ)
11540 NE Inverness Drive
Portland, OR 97220
Phone: (503) 988-5060
Clackamas County Juvenile Detention Center
1401 Northeast 68th Avenue
Portland, OR 97213
Phone: (503) 988-3475
Fax: (503) 650-3176
Columbia River Correctional Institution
9111 Northeast Sunderland Avenue
Portland, OR 97211-1799
Phone: (503) 280-6646
Donald E. Long Home
1401 Northeast 68th Street
Portland, OR 97213
Phone: (503) 988-3475
Mult County Wapato Facility
14355 North Bybee Lake Court
Portland, OR 97203
Phone: (503) 988-3266
Fax: (503) 988-4320
Multnomah County Juvenile Detention Center
1401 Northeast 68th Avenue
Portland, OR 97213
Phone: (503) 988-3460
Fax: (503) 988-3218
Multnomah County Court Holding Facility
1021 Southwest 4th Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 988-3298
Fax: (503) 988-4320
Mult County Wapato Facility
14355 North Bybee Lake Court
Portland, OR 97203
Phone: (503) 988-3266
Fax: (503) 988-4320
