Arrest records are public in Moore, Oklahoma, pursuant to the Oklahoma Open Records Act (51 O.S. §§ 24A.1-24A.31). This legislation establishes that government records, including those pertaining to arrests, are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Oklahoma Open Records Act serves to promote transparency in government operations and accountability in law enforcement activities. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of arrest records maintained by the Moore Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies.
The public nature of these records supports several governmental and societal interests:
Certain portions of arrest records may be redacted or withheld in accordance with privacy protections established under Oklahoma law, particularly when disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or compromise an ongoing investigation.
The City of Moore provides multiple channels through which members of the public may access arrest records. Individuals seeking such information may utilize the following methods:
Pursuant to Oklahoma Statute Title 51 § 24A.5, governmental bodies may charge reasonable fees for document retrieval, review, and copying. The current fee schedule for arrest record requests in Moore is as follows:
Requestors must provide proper identification and, in some cases, notarized authorization when requesting records on behalf of another individual. Processing times typically range from 3-10 business days, depending on the complexity of the request and current departmental workload.
Standard arrest records maintained by the Moore Police Department contain comprehensive information regarding the circumstances and processing of an individual's arrest. These records typically include the following elements:
In accordance with Oklahoma Statute Title 51 § 24A.8, certain information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, including:
The City Clerk's office serves as the official custodian of many municipal records, including certain arrest documentation, and is located at 301 N. Broadway, Moore, OK 73160. The office can be contacted by phone at 405-793-5020.
Under Oklahoma law, eligible individuals may petition for the expungement of arrest records maintained by Moore law enforcement agencies. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest records are sealed from public view, though they remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for official purposes. The authority for expungement is established under Oklahoma Statutes Title 22 § 18 and § 19.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Moore include:
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Cleveland County District Court, located at 200 S. Peters Avenue, Norman, OK 73069. Petitioners must provide notice to all agencies maintaining records subject to the expungement request, including the Moore Police Department, Cleveland County District Attorney's Office, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Upon court approval of an expungement petition, all affected agencies must comply with the court order by sealing the specified records. Pursuant to Oklahoma Statute Title 22 § 19(D), agencies must respond to inquiries regarding expunged records as if the events never occurred. Violations of expungement orders may result in contempt of court proceedings.
The Moore Municipal Court, located at 301 N. Broadway, Moore, OK 73160, can provide information regarding the expungement process for cases handled within its jurisdiction. The court can be contacted at 405-793-5060.