Union County Jail Records Search
Union County jail mugshots are managed by the Sheriff's Office in La Grande, Oregon. This eastern Oregon county processes roughly 1,200 bookings each year through its 37-bed jail. La Grande is the county seat and the hub for all booking records in Union County. You can look up jail mugshots and arrest records through the sheriff's office or by using state tools. Oregon law treats booking records as public, though HB 3273 now limits when jail mugshots can be shared. This page covers how to find Union County jail mugshots, check inmate status, and request booking records.
Union County Sheriff's Office Jail Mugshots
The Union County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and keeps all booking records for the county. The office is at 1109 K Avenue in La Grande. You can call the main line at (541) 963-1017 for general questions. For jail matters, call (541) 963-1020. Staff handle arrest records, custody checks, and booking data from this office.
Union County sits in the Grande Ronde Valley, surrounded by the Blue and Wallowa mountain ranges. The county has about 27,000 residents. La Grande is the largest city with around 13,000 people. Other towns include Union, Cove, and Elgin. All arrests in these areas are processed through the Union County jail in La Grande. The jail is a small facility with 37 beds. It handles short stays for people waiting for trial or serving brief terms. Those with long sentences go to state prisons run by the Oregon Department of Corrections.
The Union County Sheriff's Office website provides a current jail roster. You can view this roster at unioncountysheriff.us. The roster is shared as a PDF file. It lists inmates in order by last name. Each entry shows the name and basic charge details. The roster does not include jail mugshots due to state law changes that took effect in 2022.
Below is a look at the Union County Sheriff's Office website, which provides access to jail records and the current inmate roster.
The corrections page at unioncountysheriff.us/corrections/current-jail-roster/ is where you find the current roster. Check this page often, as it updates when new bookings or releases occur. The PDF format is simple and lists all inmates held at that time.
How to Find Union County Jail Mugshots
Oregon House Bill 3273 changed how jail mugshots are shared across the state. Since January 1, 2022, law enforcement in Union County cannot post booking photos on public websites or rosters. Before this law passed, some counties showed mugshots on their online jail rosters. That is no longer the case.
You can still get a Union County jail mugshot in certain cases. The law allows release of booking photos to specific people. You may receive a photo if you are the person shown, a victim of the related crime, or a party in the court case. Photos may also be released after a conviction. To ask for a jail mugshot, contact the Union County Sheriff's Office and cite the specific reason you qualify under the law.
For basic booking records that do not include photos, the process is more direct. Call the jail at (541) 963-1020 and ask about an inmate. Staff can confirm if someone is in custody and share charge details over the phone. You can also check the online jail roster PDF for a list of current inmates in Union County.
Note: The Union County jail roster PDF updates on a regular basis but may not reflect same-day bookings or releases.
Union County Booking Records Access
Under ORS Chapter 192, most booking records in Union County are public. You have the right to request arrest logs, booking sheets, and charge details. The law gives the sheriff's office five business days to respond. This applies to all types of jail records in Union County.
To make a records request, write to the Union County Sheriff's Office at 1109 K Avenue, La Grande, OR 97850. You can also call or visit in person. Include the full name of the person you want to look up. A date of birth helps narrow results. The more facts you share, the faster staff can pull the right records from Union County files.
Union County booking records often show:
- Full name and date of birth
- Date and time of booking
- Charges at time of arrest
- Bond or bail amount
- Custody status and release date
With about 1,200 bookings per year, Union County has a moderate volume of arrest records. The small staff at the jail handles records requests along with daily operations. Plan for the five-day window when you submit your request. If more time or cost is needed, the office must let you know in writing before proceeding.
Union County Jail Programs
The Union County jail runs a Work Crew program. This program lets eligible inmates work outside the jail on community projects. It runs from Sunday through Wednesday. Inmates earn $15 per day for their work. The program helps keep the small jail from getting too full. It also gives inmates a way to earn credit and stay active during their time in custody.
Participation in the Work Crew does not change an inmate's booking record or jail mugshot status. The person remains in the Union County jail system and shows up on the roster. Work Crew members are still subject to all rules that apply to inmates. Their arrest records stay public under Oregon law, just like any other booking in Union County.
Check Union County Inmate Status
There are a few ways to check if someone is in the Union County jail. The fastest method is to call. Dial (541) 963-1020 and ask the staff. They can tell you if a person is in custody and share basic charge details.
You can also check the online jail roster. Go to the corrections page on the Union County Sheriff's website. The PDF roster lists all current inmates by last name. If the person is not on the list, they may have been released or moved to another facility.
The VINE system is another tool for tracking inmates in Union County. VINE lets you sign up for alerts when an inmate's status changes. You get a call, text, or email when someone is released, moved, or escapes. This free service works around the clock. It covers jails across Oregon, including the Union County jail in La Grande.
Note: VINE alerts are free and work for any jail in Oregon, not just Union County.
State Tools for Union County Records
Several state tools can help you find records tied to Union County arrests. The Oregon Offender Search lets you look up people in state custody. It shows charges, sentence details, and facility location. This tool is useful if someone was booked in Union County and then moved to a state prison.
The Oregon Judicial Department keeps court records online. You can search by name or case number to find cases filed in Union County Circuit Court. This helps you track charges, court dates, and case outcomes that link to a Union County jail booking.
The VISOR system tracks sex offenders across Oregon. You can search by name, county, or zip code. VISOR shows photos, addresses, and offense details for people on the registry in Union County. The Oregon State Police maintain this tool and keep it current.
For statewide criminal history, the Oregon State Police handle formal records checks. You can request your own record or submit a third-party request. These checks pull data from all law enforcement in Oregon, not just Union County.
Jail Mugshots and Oregon Law
HB 3273 shapes how jail mugshots are handled in Union County and all of Oregon. The law took hold on January 1, 2022. It stops law enforcement from posting booking photos on public jail rosters. This was done to protect people who have not yet been found guilty of a crime.
A Union County jail mugshot can only go to certain people under this law. Those who may get a booking photo include the person in the photo, a law enforcement agency with an official need, a victim of the crime, a party in the court case, or the public after a conviction. If none of these apply, the sheriff's office will deny the request.
Commercial websites that post mugshots and charge fees to take them down also face rules under HB 3273. They must remove a photo within 30 days of a request. If charges were dropped, the photo must come down within seven days. The Oregon DOJ can answer questions about your rights under this law as it applies to Union County jail mugshots.
Note: Even after conviction, a Union County jail mugshot may only be released for the specific arrest that led to the conviction.
Nearby Counties
Union County borders several other Oregon counties. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, check where the arrest took place. Each county sheriff keeps records for arrests in their area. Union County neighbors include Wallowa County to the east, Baker County to the south, Umatilla County to the west, and Grant County to the southwest.