Hillsboro Background Check Services
Hillsboro is the county seat of Washington County. The city sits west of Portland in the Tualatin Valley. The Hillsboro Police Department offers criminal background clearance letters through its records division. Founded in 1876, the department now has nearly 200 full-time staff and over 150 community volunteers. This page explains how to get a background check in Hillsboro, what the clearance letter covers, and how to access other records.
Hillsboro Quick Facts
Hillsboro Criminal Background Clearance
The Hillsboro Police Department issues a criminal background clearance letter. This is a notarized document. It states whether a person has a criminal record with the Hillsboro Police Department. The letter does not show specific charges or case details. It only confirms whether a record exists or not. The clearance covers HPD custody records only. It does not include other agencies.
To get a background check clearance letter in Hillsboro, you must complete a form at the records division. The fee is $10. This is one of the lowest background check fees for any city police department in Oregon. The letter is notarized by department staff, which adds a layer of official verification to the document. Keep in mind that this clearance is limited to records the Hillsboro Police Department holds. It will not reflect arrests or charges from other jurisdictions in Washington County or elsewhere in Oregon.
Under ORS 192.314, every person has the right to inspect public records of a public body in Oregon. The Hillsboro Police Department follows this law when processing background check requests and other records inquiries.
Hillsboro Police Records Division
| Address | 250 SE 10th Ave Hillsboro, OR 97123 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (503) 681-6175 |
| Fax | (503) 681-6267 |
The records division at the Hillsboro Police Department handles all public records requests. This includes background clearance letters, police reports, and other documents. The division is a full-service unit within a department with nearly 200 full-time staff. Staff process requests during normal business hours. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting the records office in Hillsboro.
Hillsboro Police is a full-service department. It handles patrol, investigations, community outreach, and records management. The department has served the Hillsboro community since 1876. Over 150 volunteers support the department in various roles. This long history means the records division holds decades of local data for background checks in Hillsboro.
Hillsboro Police Report Requests
You can also request police reports from the Hillsboro Police Department. This is a separate process from a background check. To get a police report, you download the HPD public records request form. Fill it out with the date, time, case number, location, names of people involved, and your relationship to the case. The fee is $12 per report.
Processing time for police reports in Hillsboro ranges from 24 hours to 14 days. It depends on the complexity of the request and current workload. The department contacts you when your report is ready. You can pay with cash, check, money order, MasterCard, or Visa. Payment must be made in person at the records division. If you do not pick up your report within seven days, fees are forfeited. Denied requests result in a refund within 10 business days.
The Oregon State Police maintain a statewide criminal history program through CJIS. You can view detailed information about the state criminal records system at the OSP Criminal Justice Information Services page. This resource covers records from all Oregon law enforcement agencies.
The state system provides a broader search than the Hillsboro local clearance letter.
Washington County Court Records
A Hillsboro background check through the police covers local records only. Court records add another layer of information. The Washington County Circuit Court handles criminal cases for all of Washington County, including Hillsboro. Since Hillsboro is the county seat, the courthouse is right in town. Court records show charges filed, plea agreements, trial outcomes, and sentencing details.
Oregon courts offer online access to case information. The Oregon courts online records system lets you search by name or case number. Results cover circuit courts statewide. This tool can show criminal cases from Washington County that a local Hillsboro police check would not include. Combining a local clearance letter with a court records search gives a more complete picture.
Under ORS 181A.220, the Oregon State Police maintain the central repository for criminal records in the state. All law enforcement agencies, including the Hillsboro Police Department, report arrest and disposition data to this repository. A state-level check through OSP draws from this central database.
Hillsboro Record Expungement
Some criminal records in Oregon can be set aside. ORS 137.225 allows people to petition the court to expunge certain convictions. If a record has been set aside, it will not show up in a standard background check. This applies to both local Hillsboro checks and statewide searches. Not all convictions qualify. Serious offenses and certain categories are excluded from the expungement process.
The waiting period varies by offense type. Some misdemeanors can be set aside after one year. Felonies may require a longer wait. The court in Washington County handles these petitions for Hillsboro residents. If you believe a record should have been expunged but still appears, contact the court clerk. Oregon law requires that set-aside records be treated as if they never occurred.
Oregon Statewide Records Search
For a search that goes beyond Hillsboro, you have several options. The Oregon Judicial Department offers a statewide records request process. You can learn more at the OJD records request page. This covers court records from every circuit court in the state. It is useful when you need records from multiple counties or do not know where a case was filed.
Under ORS 192.324, public bodies may charge fees that reasonably reflect the actual cost of providing records. Both the Hillsboro Police Department and the state courts follow this principle when setting their fee schedules. Expect to pay separate fees for local and state-level searches.
The state courts system handles records from all 36 Oregon counties.
Hillsboro Background Check Payment
Payment for a background check in Hillsboro happens in person at the records division. The $10 clearance letter fee and the $12 police report fee are both paid at the office. Accepted payment methods include cash, checks, money orders, MasterCard, and Visa. You cannot pay online or by phone for Hillsboro police records at this time.
The department contacts you when your records are ready. Pick them up promptly. If seven days pass without pickup, fees you paid are forfeited and the request may be closed. If the department denies your request, you receive a refund within 10 business days. Always keep your receipt until you have your records in hand. For questions about payment or processing, call the records division at (503) 681-6175.
Washington County Background Check
Hillsboro is the county seat of Washington County. The county courthouse, sheriff, and circuit court all operate in Hillsboro. For county-level records, court searches, and broader background check options, visit the Washington County page.