Oklahoma Background Checks

One of the goals of public records on individuals is that it allows people to learn more about the aspects of someone's life that should be made public. This information needs to be easily attainable, so that those that have reason to wonder about a person's past can quickly and easily search for their name and find what they're looking for.

Yet public records themselves can be a bit a bit difficult to handle. While the government has made it very easy in terms of things like:

  • Not requiring an explanation about why you would like to see the record.
  • Mandating the time it takes to provide you with the record.
  • Requiring that all governments provide the record unless the court argues they should not.

    • There is still the matter of finding the records, making sure they're on the right people, going to the right place, filling out the right paperwork, and so on. In order to perform complete Oklahoma background checks using this system, you would have to spend days at a time researching this information.

    Luckily there is a much easier process for performing Oklahoma background checks. One of the rules about public records is that they have to be made available for anyone for any reason. That allows companies to request all of the public records they can, enter them in a database, and create an easily searchable engine that will help you find the information you need.

    It's important to be able to find information about the people that interest you, and these search engines make the process much easier.

    Oklahoma Criminal Records

    The Oklahoma Criminal History information department adheres to the Oklahoma Open Records Act, which ensures the public's right to view and obtain government records. There are specific exceptions set up within the act that are designed to protect the privacy interests of individuals. In cases other than those specifically excepted, Oklahoma criminal records are deemed as such – open to the public unless otherwise indicated by a confidential privilege.

    The Oklahoma Criminal History web site offers several fee-based services. Name based searches of the OSBI Criminal History Database can be conducted for $15.00, fingerprint based searches for $19.00, and searches of the Department of Corrections' Violent Offender Database and Sex Offender Database are available for $2.00. All state fingerprint searches include a name based search.

    To access records by mail do the following

    For further information regarding accessing Oklahoma criminal records for your Oklahoma background check, contact the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation office at the address below:

    OSBI Headquarters
    6600 North Harvey
    Oklahoma City, OK 73116
    (405) 848-6724

    Resource Links
    Oklahoma Criminal History Checks
    Criminal History Information Request

    Oklahoma Court Records

    The Oklahoma State Courts Network (or OSCN) provides users conducting an Oklahoma background check with an easy to use, searchable database. Additionally, the OSCN website offers information on county court locations, court dockets, a legal research center, and the court calendar. Oklahoma court records searches are based on specific Oklahoma counties and then categorized by date range and case type. You can also input specific search criteria, such as case number and party name.

    Once the specific record is located, users are able to view all names involved with the case, case numbers assigned, filing and closing dates, presiding judges and lawyers and outcome of the case if closed. Dockets assigned to each case are listed, and in some cases, copies of the dockets must be ordered and picked up at the court clerk's office. Depending upon the type of court case, dockets assigned may be readily available online as an attached document to the record. These documents are saved in .tiff (graphic) format.

    To search for court records online do the following:

    For further information regarding accessing Oklahoma court records, contact the OSCN office at the address below:

    Oklahoma State Court Network
    Administrative Office of the Courts
    1915 N. Stiles, Suite 305
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
    (405) 521-2450

    Resource Links
    Oklahoma Docket Search

    Oklahoma Jail Records

    The Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) website houses a database for searches regarding offenders who are currently incarcerated or on probation. The website does indicate that the information contained within the records available only reflect any criminal activity within the state of Oklahoma, and that complete representations, should they be required, may be obtained from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The database is updated on a regular basis and reflects the last known locations and statuses of the offenders listed within its system.

    All Oklahoma jail records searches conducted on the database site are free. Searches can be made by ODOC #, first and last names, aliases, appearance, offense and facility. Search results show the offenders full name, ODOC #, pictures, aliases, and offense information.

    To search for jail records online do the following:

    For further information regarding accessing Oklahoma jail records, contact the central office at the address below:

    3400 N Martin Luther King Ave
    Oklahoma City, OK 73111-4298 or
    P.O. Box 11400
    Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0400
    (405) 425-2500

    Resource Links
    Oklahoma Offender Search

    Oklahoma Driving Records

    The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Records Management division is the central location on the Internet for locating all documents and records relating to driving records and traffic infractions. Records may be requested for yourself or for other drivers. To receive records on someone other than yourself, the “Consent to Release” portion of the records request form must be signed by the named record holder. Oklahoma driving records requests can be made either in person or by mail. Collision reports may also be requested by mail or in person.

    Collision reports are available in certified or uncertified formats for $10 and $7 respectively. Motor vehicle reports are also available in certified and uncertified formats for $13 and $10 respectively. Payments for any format or report can be made with cash or money order. Checks may be used to pay for collision reports only.

    For further information regarding accessing Oklahoma driving records, contact the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety office at the address below:

    Department of Public Safety
    Records Management Division
    P.O. Box 11415
    Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0415
    (405) 425-2059

    Resource Links
    Oklahoma Driving Record Information

    Additional Resources

    Oklahoma Sexual Offender Registry
    Oklahoma Attorney General