Camas Criminal History Records Search

Camas criminal history records are handled across three offices: the Camas Municipal Court for misdemeanor cases filed within city limits, Clark County Superior Court in Vancouver for all felony matters, and the Camas Police Department Records Unit for local incident and arrest records. Online case searches are available at no cost through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. This guide covers each office, what it holds, how to request records, and how to get a complete statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol WATCH system.

Camas Municipal Court Criminal Records

The Camas Municipal Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations within Camas city limits. This covers charges like first-offense DUI, simple assault, petty theft, and local code violations. All case records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has ordered a specific record sealed.

Case data is searchable at no cost through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. The portal shows party names, charge descriptions, hearing dates, and final dispositions. Actual case documents are not posted online. To get paper or certified copies, contact the Camas Municipal Court directly. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that.

For cases that predate the Odyssey system, court staff can search by name or case number during regular business hours. The court also maintains forms for self-represented litigants. Staff can point you to the right form but are not permitted to give legal advice. If your case involves a matter pending before the court, contact the court clerk directly for the status.

Clark County Superior Court and Camas Felony Records

Felony cases involving Camas residents or crimes committed within city limits are filed at the Clark County Superior Court. The Clerk of Superior Court is at the Clark County Courthouse, 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can review case records at a public access terminal in the courthouse or order copies from the clerk.

Non-certified copies from the Superior Court cost $0.50 per page for paper and $0.25 per page for emailed copies. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page per document. For records filed before 1979, a $30 research fee applies in addition to copy fees. A written verification for criminal searches costs $5.00 for cases filed since 1979. The Odyssey Portal is the fastest free option if you only need to confirm a case or check a disposition.

The Superior Court covers the full range of criminal proceedings, including charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. Camas is in the eastern part of Clark County. A portion of the Superior Court's criminal docket involves Camas cases, particularly drug charges, felony assault, and property crime matters.

Camas Police Department Records

The Camas Police Department Records Unit processes public records requests for police reports, incident records, arrest logs, and related law enforcement documents. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the Police Department. The unit responds under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

Conviction records held by the department are public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not result in a conviction where the case has ended, is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, this data can only be released to criminal justice agencies or to the person whose record it is. Active investigation files are also exempt until the investigation closes. Portions of a returned report that are blacked out typically reflect non-conviction data or protected third-party information.

For a broader statewide picture, the Records Unit refers requestors to the WSP WATCH system. Local police records only cover incidents handled by Camas officers and do not show convictions or charges from other counties or jurisdictions.

Statewide Criminal History Through WSP WATCH

The best way to get a verified criminal record for a Camas resident is through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) gives instant online results for $11.00 per search. Pay by credit or debit card and get results right away. WATCH uses a fingerprint-linked statewide database, so it is more accurate than name-only searches at the city level and covers convictions across all 39 Washington counties.

Mail requests are accepted too. Download the official Request for Conviction Criminal History Form from the WSP Criminal History Records page. A name-based mail request costs $32.00. A fingerprint-based mail request costs $58.00 and removes ambiguity for people with common names. Mail turnaround is about 7 to 10 business days. In-person visits are welcome at 106 11th Ave SW, Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If you want to review your own complete record, including non-conviction data, visit the Olympia office in person at no charge for up to thirty minutes. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You may be fingerprinted to confirm your identity. This option is not available online or by mail.

Clark County District Court and Camas Area Cases

The Clark County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases outside Camas city limits, traffic violations, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims across Clark County. The District Court is at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All District Court records are searchable through the Odyssey Portal.

Some misdemeanor cases involving Camas residents may end up in the District Court rather than Municipal Court if the offense happened outside city limits but within Clark County. If you are unsure which court holds a specific case, the Odyssey Portal search will find it regardless of which court it was filed in, as long as the case is loaded in the system. For certified copies or older records not yet online, visit the Vancouver courthouse in person.

City of Camas Public Records Requests

For records from other Camas city departments, use the City of Camas public records request process. This covers city emails, permits, contracts, meeting minutes, and similar government records. Police records must go to the Police Department directly. Court records are handled by the Municipal Court under GR 31, not under the Public Records Act.

Under RCW 42.56.520, Camas must respond to any public records request within five business days. The city might provide the records, give a timeline for completion, or explain why the request was denied, citing the specific statutory exemption. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Fees are limited to actual copy costs. Electronic delivery is faster and cheaper when it is available.

If a request is denied, you can appeal to the Clark County Superior Court. The city then has to prove the claimed exemption applies. Most routine requests for city government records are approved without much delay or dispute.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data in Washington

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, separates conviction records from non-conviction data. Conviction records, meaning cases that ended in a guilty plea, verdict, or adverse finding, are public under RCW 10.97.050. Anyone can request them.

Non-conviction data is different. Under RCW 10.97.030, this covers records from cases that did not lead to a conviction and where proceedings have ended. These records can only go to criminal justice agencies, the subject of the record, or others specifically allowed by law. If a rap sheet mixes conviction and non-conviction data, the agency must redact the non-conviction portions before releasing it to the public.

If you believe your own record contains errors, submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. The Criminal History Records Section will review the challenge and make corrections if the evidence supports it. The process for deleting old non-conviction records is covered under RCW 10.97.060, which sets specific eligibility conditions and waiting periods.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

To find out if someone from Camas is currently in a Washington state prison, use the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database lists name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For release dates or supervision status, contact DOC directly. Federal inmates are not in this system; check the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those cases.

For registered sex offenders living in or near Camas, the public registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information, maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B carries fifteen years. Class C offenses require ten years. Offenders must register in person with the Clark County Sheriff under RCW 9A.44.130. The Sheriff maintains the local registry for the Camas area.

Clark County Public Records Portal and Historical Archives

For county-level records beyond what the court clerks handle, Clark County maintains an online Public Records Request Portal. Requestors create an account, submit the request with as much detail as possible, and can track status online. The county responds within five business days. Court records must still go through the court clerks under GR 31, not through the county portal.

For older Camas or Clark County criminal cases predating the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives holds Superior Court records from various counties including Clark. Some records go back many decades. Older material may require an in-person visit to a regional archives branch. The MRSC overview of Criminal History and Arrest Records explains the statewide rules governing what is public and what is restricted.

Clark County Criminal History Records

Camas is in Clark County. Felony cases and county-level records are handled through Clark County agencies in Vancouver.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Camas with criminal history record pages.