​File a Report or Request Public Records

Request a Public Record

Public Records may be requested online by filling out our Records Request form, which is located at the bottom of this page. 

REVIEW THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING A REQUEST, TO SEE IF THE RECORDS YOU ARE REQUESTING ARE EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE.  

There are many, many statutes that exempt public records from disclosure. Even if the records you request are releasable, there still may be some redactions to the records.  

EXAMPLES OF EXEMPT RECORDS:

1. Body Camera Video Footage.  We can only release body camera video if you can prove that the information primarily benefits the public, not you personally.  As an example, if you are making the public records request in order to fight a traffic ticket, that primarily benefits you personally and we cannot release the video.
   
   -  If you can prove that release is in the public interest, we are required to blur the faces of anyone who appears in the video.  You will be required to pay the full costs of blurring the faces of participants, which can be very expensive.   You must provide the approximate date and time of the incident you are requesting video about.  ORS 192.345(40)
   
   
2. Medical information.  Exempt from disclosure.  ORS 192.255(2)
   
   
3. Information about an ongoing police investigation. Exempt from disclosure, except for specific information about an arrest can be released in most cases.   ORS 192.345(3)
   
   
4. Information about employee personnel investigations.  Exempt from disclosure.  ORS 192.345(12), ORS 181A.674
   
   
5. Information about concealed handgun licenses.  Exempt from disclosure.  We cannot release information about whether a person has a concealed handgun license or not.  ORS 192.374
   
   
6. Mugshots.  Exempt from disclosure, until the person is convicted of the crime(s).  ORS 133.870
   
   
7. Juvenile Records.  Exempt from disclosure (specific information about an arrest may be available from Juvenile Department).  ORS 419A.255
   
   
8. Sex Offender Records.  Exempt from disclosure.  May be obtained from Parole and Probation department in some cases.  ORS 163A.215. 
   
   
9. Autopsy Reports.  Exempt from disclosure.  ORS 192.345(36)
   
   
10. Child abuse or elder abuse reports.  Exempt from disclosure.  ORS 419B.035, ORS 124.090. 
    
    
11. Law Enforcement Drone video.  Exempt from disclosure.  ORS 837.310
    
    
12. Social Security Numbers.  Exempt from disclosure.  ORS 192.345(28).

What are the fees for obtaining a copy of a record?

Our current fee for a police report is $20 for the first 8 pages and $1.00 a page after 8 pages. Most reports are less than 8 pages. ​

For requests other than police reports, you will be charged the estimated fee for our staff time to provide the records. Fees are determined per ORS 192.324(4)(a).  Records will not be provided until the estimated fee is paid in full.  If the actual cost of providing the records is more than the estimate, you must pay the full cost before getting the records.  If the actual cost is less than our estimate you will be given a refund.

If you request records and pay the estimated fee, you will not get a refund if the records turn out to be exempt from disclosure or if we determine that we don’t have any responsive records. 

We may waive or reduce fees if the request if the public interest requires it.  This is normally when a media organization makes a request for use in a media publication or article.  If you are requesting a waiver or reduction of fees, you will need to provide detailed information demonstrating how the release of records primarily benefits the general public, as opposed to benefitting a specific person or entity. Also, please explain your ability to disseminate the records broadly to the public. All requests for a waiver can be emailed to SOLegal@deschutes.org.

How Long Does It Take to Receive the

Records I Requested?

We will send you an acknowledgement once we get your request, and an estimate of the fees to fulfill your request.  Once you pay the estimated fees, your request will be processed, and we process requests in the order they are received. The timeliness of our response will depend on staffing, the number of other requests we are working on, and the size of the records you are requesting. Our obligation is to fulfill your request as soon as practical and without unreasonable delay. Please allow up to 21 days for processing, especially if you have a time sensitive need for the record, such as a court date.  If we have a large number of requests, or if your request is large or complex, it may take well more than 21 days to complete.