How to Remove Your Records from ODCR and OSCN

Have you ever been denied employment or housing because someone checked your criminal record? Or had the family of a potential partner find a mistake in your past? Even an arrest or charge that didn’t lead to a conviction can leave a bad impression. Chances are those people looked you up in OSCN and ODCR, Oklahoma’s two databases for court records.

What Is OSCN?

The Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN) is an online database of public court records. It includes information from the district courts in all 77 counties, plus the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, and Court of Civil Appeals. The records on OSCN include:

• Arrests and dismissed charges
• Criminal convictions
• Protective orders
• Traffic violations
• Civil cases, like evictions
• Probate court records

Anyone can search OSCN.net by name, case number, attorney’s name, and more. It’s free to search, and you can also see any scanned court documents for free, although they’re typically only available for cases within the past few years.

What Is ODCR?

ODCR stands for On-Demand Court Records. Like OSCN, it’s an online database that contains public court records. It currently has records for 73 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. It doesn't have records for Oklahoma County (the home of Oklahoma City) or Tulsa County, the two most populated counties in the state. However, it may contain records for some smaller counties that haven’t yet been posted on OSCN.

At ODCR.com, anyone can do a free search of all the court records provided by these counties. You can search by name, partial name, case number, date range, and more. They also have paid plans that let you do a more advanced search and view scanned court documents.

Both databases are free for a basic search and might show different records, so many smart searchers will use both when they’re looking for background information.

Who Can See the Records on OSCN and ODCR?

The records on OSCN and ODCR are public. On both websites, anyone can do a basic search and see the case information for free. They can also see the actual court documents if they’ve been scanned into the system. This means anyone who knows your name can see these records: neighbors, coworkers, family, romantic partners, and most of all, employers and landlords.

Benefits of Removing OSCN and ODCR Records

Once you realize that anyone can find your court records with a simple online search, it’s easy to see the biggest benefits of removing them:

• Employment: Employers often use OSCN and ODCR to perform background checks for job applications. Private background check companies that employers hire also use these databases. Clearing your record makes you more competitive in the job market.
• Housing: Like employers, potential landlords can easily find your records on OSCN and ODCR – and many won’t rent to those with a criminal past. You could also be denied public housing assistance, depending on the nature of your crime.
• Privacy: Court records often contain your full name, address, phone number, date of birth, and even the last four digits of your Social Security number. This has led to security and identity theft concerns.

Types of Records You Can Remove from the System

If you have a mistake in your past, you’ll be glad to know you can remove many types of court records from both OSCN and ODCR, including:

• Misdemeanor convictions
• Non-violent felony convictions
• Protective orders
• Dismissed Cases
• Charges that didn’t lead to a conviction

However, you typically can’t remove violent crime convictions from the system. You also can’t remove records of civil proceedings, which includes:

• Bankruptcy
• Eviction
• Divorce
• Civil lawsuits
• Small claims

The official process of removing your records from ODCR and OSCN is called expungement. The amount of time you need to wait to expunge your record varies from one year to ten years, depending on the type of information you want to remove and your recent criminal record.

What About Partial Expungement?

There are two types of expungement under Oklahoma law: full and partial. A partial expungement, also called a 991 expungement, happens when you’re given a deferred sentence. This means the judge withholds their finding of guilt and sentences you to probation. When you complete the requirements, your case is dismissed.

With a partial expungement, your case will be removed from the public record search on ODCR and OSCN after you complete your deferred sentence. However, you will still have an arrest record that will show that you plead not guilty and the case was dismissed when someone does a background search for you. A full expungement removes all traces of the case from both ODCR, OSCN, and other more complete background search tools, including the arrest, so you can legally state that you have no criminal record.

How to Remove Your Records from ODCR and OSCN

The benefits of fully expunging your record from ODCR and OSCN are clear. But how easy is it to do? The answer depends on the details of your case, so it’s always smart to hire an experienced attorney to help. For example, it might be harder to expunge a protective order because you’re required to notify the victim, who can oppose the expungement.

If you’re eligible and the required amount of time has passed, you can start the expungement process. The specific steps can vary, but it generally looks like this:

1. Your attorney will file a petition for expungement in the district where the case happened, including any supporting documentation, and pay a fee.
2. The court will set a hearing date to consider your petition.
3. Your attorney will notify the appropriate parties before the hearing date, including the law enforcement agency and district attorney or prosecutor in the district where the case happened.
4. Your attorney will attend your hearing and make your case, if needed.
5. The court will decide whether to grant your petition for expungement. If granted, the court issues an order for expungement.
6. ODCR ,OSCN, and OSBI seal your records when they receive the order, typically about 30 days after it’s issued.

The whole process takes about 60 to 120 days, depending on how backed up the court system is in your district. An attorney can help you speed up the process and make a convincing case at your hearing, especially if you think someone might oppose your expungement.

The Bottom Line

Removing your records from ODCR and OSCN through expungement can change your life. It can increase your employment opportunities and ability to find housing, and will have a positive impact on your reputation. The Tulsa Expungement Guy has seen it happen many times, and now it’s your turn. Contact us today for a fresh start.