Oregon Criminal Expungement Assistance

A new tool exists to help Oregonians quickly assess their eligibility for expungement and generate the forms they need to file with the court, the district attorney’s office and Oregon State Police.

RecordSponge was created by Portland lawyer Michael Zhang to simplify the process. The software pulls up any charges in the Oregon courts database and automatically calculates whether they meet the criteria to be set aside. It then fills out the paperwork that needs to be filed.

To use the tool, you do need access to the Oregon Judicial Case Information Network which is available at all DPL locations outside of Bend. If people need assistance, we can help. Email: jenniferp@deschuteslibrary.org or call: 541-617-7089.

Legal Aid Services of Central Oregon also runs an expungement clinic with a local law firm. You do need to meet their income requirements, but it’s worth checking, especially if you have more complicated charges. 

Access BarBooks from Anywhere

The best information about Oregon law comes from Oregon lawyers and you can now access Oregon State Bar (OSB) publications anywhere you have internet access and a digital access token from Deschutes Public Library. 

OSB’s publications cover a wide range of topics including family law, business law and criminal law. These books are among our best sources for current, accurate information about the Oregon legal system and often include sample forms.

DPL keeps print copies with the Law Library collection at Downtown Bend Library, but you can access digitized versions through DPL’s subscription to BarBooks Online. To get a digital access token, stop by the information desk on the second floor of the Downtown Bend Library or call: 541-617-7080. 

Landlord-Tenant Law Resources

One of the most common legal topics we’re asked about is landlord-tenant law. We regularly field questions from both landlords and tenants about rights, responsibilities and how to communicate properly. This can be a highly contentious area, but there are clear rules and procedures for both parties. 

Several organizations are invested in this topic, and they are able to help with both sides. Both renters and landlords can find excellent overview articles and videos from Oregon Law Help.

Renters can get help from:

·       Legal Aid Services of Oregon if they meet income requirements

·       Community Alliance of Tenant’s hotline. Jefferson and Crook county residents will need to register with the site to use it.

·       For eviction help, contact The Commons Law Center and Oregon Law Center

Landlords can get support from:

·       Central Oregon Rental Owners Association: https://centraloregonrentalowners.org/

·       Oregon Rental Owners Association: https://www.oregonrentalhousing.com/

For more resources available at the library, check out our landlord-tenant Law topics lists (one for landlords and one for tenants) on our catalog.