Columbia County Jail Roster Database
Columbia County posts its jail roster online through the Sheriff's Office in St. Helens, Oregon. The county has about 52,000 residents and sits along the Columbia River northwest of Portland. Sheriff Brian E. Pixley, the county's 33rd sheriff, runs the office. The Columbia County jail roster lists all current inmates with their booking dates, charges, and bail amounts. The jail averages 180 inmates per day in a 258-bed facility. This page walks through how to search the roster and what records are available to the public.
Columbia County Quick Facts
Columbia County Jail Facility
The Columbia County Jail sits at 901 SW 5th Street in St. Helens. Built in 2000, the facility holds 258 beds and averages 180 inmates each day. The jail houses people with misdemeanor convictions who are sentenced to less than one year. It also holds pre-trial detainees and those with federal holds. Early releases due to overcrowding were common before 2015. Since March 12, 2015, the jail has not needed to release anyone early for capacity reasons.
Running the Columbia County Jail takes a large team. The corrections staff works with the Sheriff's Office, county IT, finance, and legal counsel. MedTrust provides medical and mental health services. Trinity Food Services handles meals. Securus runs phone services. Keefe handles the commissary. Columbia County Mental Health offers support. Local police and the U.S. Marshals Service also play roles. Sheriff Pixley has called the jail "much like a small city" because of how many people and services it takes to run.
The jail is funded in part by a levy that voters first passed in 2013 and renewed in May 2020. The Jail Operating Citizens Advisory Committee, a group of eight citizens picked by the Board of Commissioners, reviews how levy funds are spent. The U.S. Marshals Service contracts beds at the Columbia County Jail at $92 per day per inmate. As of a recent count, 68 federal inmates were housed at the facility alongside local inmates on the Columbia County jail roster.
| Jail |
Columbia County Jail 901 SW 5th Street St. Helens, OR 97051 Phone: (503) 366-3651 |
|---|---|
| Sheriff |
Sheriff Brian E. Pixley Phone: (503) 397-3333 |
| Built | 2000 |
Search the Columbia County Inmate Roster
The Columbia County jail roster is called the "Current Inmate Listing" on the Sheriff's Office website. Go to the Columbia County inmate listing to view it. The page shows a data table with each inmate's name, book date, charges, bail amount, and scheduled release date. Each entry also shows which pod the person is housed in. This pod reference is important for anyone who wants to visit, as each pod has its own visiting schedule.
Below is a screenshot of the Columbia County inmate listing page. Visit the Columbia County Sheriff's Office to access the full roster.
The Columbia County jail roster shows a wide range of charges. Common ones include attempt to commit a crime, criminal mischief, menacing, resisting arrest, and probation violation. You may also see fail to appear, DUI, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, parole violation, contempt of court, assault in various degrees, robbery, burglary, and identity theft. Bail amounts can range from $0 for holds to $575,000 for serious cases. If bail is set at $0, the person usually has a hold from another agency like the U.S. Marshals.
A printer-friendly version of the roster is also available for those who want a clean copy. The site includes a disclaimer: "This information is provided to promote community safety. Any harassment of the offender will not be tolerated and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Note: The Columbia County jail roster updates as bookings and releases happen throughout the day.
Columbia County Inmate Custody Services
Inmates at the Columbia County Jail receive basic care. Medical and mental health services come through MedTrust. Three meals a day are provided by Trinity Food Services. Each inmate gets bedding and hygiene items. Beyond these basics, services depend on how long the person stays and how they behave. Mail services, commissary accounts through Keefe, and phone access through Securus may be available.
The jail also runs programs for those who qualify. These programs teach life skills and support emotional and spiritual growth. Good behavior earns access to more programs and privileges. The Columbia County jail roster does not list program participation, but jail staff can provide details if you call (503) 366-3651. For visiting, each inmate gets two half-hour visits per week. Schedules vary by pod. Call (503) 366-4630 for C-Pod visiting times. Full visitor rules are posted on the Columbia County inmate visiting page.
Public Records and Columbia County Jail
Oregon law makes jail records public. The Columbia County jail roster is posted online as part of this duty. Under ORS 192.314, anyone can access booking data without stating a reason. The roster shows names, charges, bail, and release dates. This is standard across Oregon counties. Columbia County follows the same rules that apply statewide.
If you need records that go beyond the online roster, contact the Sheriff's Office at (503) 397-3333. You can also send a written request to 901 5th Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. State what records you need and include the person's name and any other details you have. Under ORS 192.324, copy fees must match the actual cost of making them. The office cannot charge more than $25 without giving you an estimate first. HB 3273 limits how mugshots can be used online, which is why photos may not appear on the Columbia County jail roster.
The jail received a strong inspection result in February 2019 from the Oregon State Sheriff's Association. It earned full compliance on 312 of 315 standards and partial compliance on the remaining three. The Department of Corrections inspection found no problems at all. These results show the Columbia County Jail meets high standards for record keeping and operations.
Columbia County Court Records
Criminal cases tied to bookings on the Columbia County jail roster go through the Circuit Court. Reach the court at (503) 366-4645. Court records include filings, hearings, and outcomes that add context to what the jail roster shows. Use Oregon eCourt to look up cases by name or number. This tool covers all Oregon counties.
Bail amounts on the jail roster are set by judges. If bail is paid, the inmate leaves custody until their court date. If not, they stay at the Columbia County Jail. Some charges carry no bail, which means the person must wait for a hearing. Court orders can change release dates at any time. The Oregon Judicial Department website has forms and self-help resources for anyone involved in a criminal case in Columbia County.
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners can be reached at 230 Strand Street, St. Helens, or by phone at (503) 397-4322. They oversee the jail levy budget and set the inmate cap.
Note: ORS 192.345(3) allows certain records to be withheld if they would compromise an active investigation.
Columbia County Jail Roster Resources
The Columbia County jail roster reflects a facility that depends on community support. The jail levy is the main source of local funding. Without it, the jail would not be able to hold as many inmates. Voters renewed the levy in 2020. The JOCAC keeps the public informed about how those tax dollars are spent. This level of oversight helps build trust between the community and the jail.
For inmates who move to state prison, use the Oregon Offender Search tool. The Oregon Department of Corrections manages state facilities. VINE Link at vinelink.com is a free tool that sends alerts when a person's custody status changes anywhere in Oregon, including at the Columbia County Jail. The Oregon State Police CJIS Division handles full criminal background checks for those who need more than what the jail roster provides.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office homepage includes links to the jail roster, most wanted lists, concealed handgun licensing, alerts, and emergency information.
Nearby Counties and Cities
Columbia County borders Multnomah County to the southeast, Clatsop County to the west, and Washington County to the south. It also sits across the river from Cowlitz County, Washington. St. Helens is the county seat. Other communities include Scappoose, Rainier, Clatskanie, and Vernonia. All arrests in these areas lead to bookings at the Columbia County Jail and entries on the same roster. If you cannot find someone here, try the jail roster for the county where the arrest occurred.