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Apply for a Personal Safety Exemption Request for Public Records Requests

Label: Service
File a safety exemption request with the City of Portland to redact certain information from public records requests.

The form will take 10 to 30 minutes to complete. Reviews are typically completed within 10 business days.

Review Exemption Qualifications and Fill Out Exemption Form

In accordance with Oregon Public Record Law (ORS 192.368) the public can make individual requests for exemption from disclosing information when there are personal safety concerns.

You can make a request to exempt personal information from disclosure by providing satisfactory information for the City's review. The law requires a written request for exemption. Please follow the instructions below and provide all information required that will provide evidence sufficient to constitute a danger to the personal safety of you or a family member

Note: The term Family Member is a family member who resides with you.

Examples of documents to submit with a request for exemption under ORS 192.368 include:

  • Documentary evidence, including a written statement, that establishes to the satisfaction of the public body that disclosure of your home address, personal telephone number, or personal electronic mail address would constitute a danger to your personal safety or that of a family member.
  • A declaration, medical records, police reports, or court records showing that you or a family member has been a victim of domestic violence.
  • A criminal citation or an order issued under ORS 133.055 for your protection or the protection of a family member.
  • A declaration or police report showing that a law enforcement officer has been contacted concerning domestic violence, other physical abuse, or threatening or harassing letters or telephone calls directed at you or a family member.
  • A temporary restraining order or no-contact order to protect you or a family member from future physical abuse.
  • Court records showing that criminal or civil legal proceedings have been filed regarding your physical protection or for a family member.
  • A citation or a court's stalking protective order pursuant to ORS 163.735 or ORS 163.738, issued or obtained for your protection or for a family member.
  • A declaration or police report showing that you or a family member has been a victim of a person convicted of the crime of stalking or of violating a court's stalking protective order.
  • A conditional release agreement issued under ORS 13.250-260 providing for your protection or for a family member.
  • A protective order issued pursuant to ORS 135.873 or 135.970 protecting your or a family member's identity or place of residence.
  • A declaration from a district attorney or deputy district attorney stating that you or a family member is scheduled to testify or has testified as a witness at a criminal trial, grand jury hearing or preliminary hearing, and that such testimony places the personal safety of the witness in danger.
  • A court order stating that you or a family member is or has been a party, juror, judge, attorney, or involved in some other capacity in a trial, grand jury proceeding, or other court proceeding, and that such involvement places the personal safety of that individual in danger.

Online Exemption Request Form

Please be explicit about what records you want your information exemption from and what bureau(s). Please be sure to attach evidence that releasing your personal information would constitute a danger to you or a family member. This evidence may include:

  • Affidavits
  • Court records
  • Police reports
  • Restraining orders
  • Stalking protective orders

Review and Follow Up

The City will make all efforts to review the request for exemption within ten (10) business days. The City may request additional information from you to complete review of the request.

If the exemption is granted, the exemption is effective for five years from the date the request was received. The exempt personal information will not be disclosed except in compliance with a court order, an order from the district attorney's office, in response to a law enforcement agency request, or with your written request. A new request for exemption may be made at the end of the five years.

Apply Below

Which of the following best describes you?

Please make a selection to continue.

Confidentiality

I request that all the information I provide on this form, along with any attached documents, be kept confidential:
This confirms your intention is to submit this form in confidence regardless of whether your exemption is granted or not.
This could result in the subsequent public disclosure of any nonexempt information provided in this form.

Your contact information

The information in this section, including your name, is generally not eligible for redaction if it appears in a public record outside of this form. The primary exception is if your "Contact Email" is the same as your exempted "Personal Email."

Are you currently employed by the City of Portland?
Only include family members who currently reside with you.

This is the email we will use to communicate with you regarding your request.


NOTE: If this is the same as a personal email address you are seeking to withhold from disclosure you must include it both here AND in the "Personal email" field in the next section.

Personal information to exempt

I am requesting that the City of Portland withhold the following personal information and keep it confidential:

Personal phone number sought to be kept confidential.
Home address

Identify the records

Please indicate which records you would like the City of Portland to exempt by checking the appropriate boxes below. Providing as much detail as possible will greatly assist in successfully exempting your information.
I request that those portions of records containing my home address, email, or phone number (as specified above) be redacted or withheld from public disclosure:
Specify date(s)
Specify date(s); Case number(s)
Specify date(s); Case number(s)
In order to be granted, the law requires you to describe the records needing redaction with specificity.

The date of birth is used to confirm identities in Portland Police systems and is essential for redacting your personal information from those records.

If you have listed family members in the "Name of family members whose safety is at risk" field above, please include their name & birth dates as well.

 

PortlandMaps property ownership is County data

The City of Portland's PortlandMaps site relies on data owned and maintained by Multnomah County. The City can replace the data on PortlandMaps, but it may still be available elsewhere or be unexpectedly replaced during an update. To complete the exemption of your ownership information at its source you must contact Julia Liberman at julia.liberman@multco.us

This code can be found on the PortlandMaps Assessor page by searching your address and looking for the "Property ID" field in the results.
Provide enough information to locate and identify the records selected above. Include as much detail as possible for each selection. Helpful information might include:

  • Timeframes, dates, date ranges, approximate year.
  • Specific types of records, permits, forms submitted.
  • Names of classes, activities, events.
  • Employment positions applied for.
  • Bureaus or specific City employees with which you have worked or communicated.
  • Subjects or participants of messages or correspondence.

Eligibility for exemption (ORS 192.368)

To qualify for this exemption, you must provide evidence that disclosure of your home address, personal telephone number, or personal electronic mail address would pose a danger to your personal safety or that of a family member residing with you.

How to provide evidence

If you have supporting documentary evidence (e.g., police reports, court orders), please attach it below. If you do not have evidence to attach, provide as much detail as possible in your statement, including:

  • Specific incidents, such as threats or acts of violence.
  • Police report numbers, court orders, or references to criminal/civil proceedings.
  • Dates of 911 calls or non-emergency reports.
  • Contacts within the City of Portland who can verify your statements.

Examples of statements

  • "I am a victim of domestic violence and am including related police report numbers."
  • "I have a protective/restraining order, temporary restraining order (TRO), or other court order, and can attach evidence."
  • "I have a stalker with a history of violence. These are the dates of 911 calls I have made about my situation."
  • "I have received direct threats to my life or safety, including the following examples (e.g., threatening messages, confrontations)."

Details to include in your statement

Whether or not you have evidence to attach, include relevant details such as:

  • Documentation or reference numbers for legal, medical, or public safety records.
  • Dates and descriptions of incidents.
  • Information about individuals posing a threat (if safe to disclose).
  • Specific information about threats that have occurred (location, what was said, etc.)

Eligibility for exemption (ORS 192.345(32))

To qualify for an ORS 192.345(32) exemption you "must be a district attorney, a deputy district attorney, the Attorney General or an assistant attorney general, the United States Attorney for the District of Oregon or an assistant United States attorney for the District of Oregon, a city attorney who engages in the prosecution of criminal matters or a deputy city attorney who engages in the prosecution of criminal matters." (ORS 192.345(32)(b)).

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