Kennewick Criminal Records Search
Kennewick criminal history records come from several sources depending on the type of case. The Kennewick Municipal Court handles misdemeanors, Benton County Superior Court handles felonies, and the Kennewick Police Department Records Division handles police reports and arrest logs. The Benton County Corrections Department operates the jail at 7122 West Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336, and maintains booking records for the Tri-Cities area.
Kennewick Overview
Kennewick Municipal Court Records
The Kennewick Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations within Kennewick city limits. This includes DUI first offense, simple assault, theft under $750, and traffic crimes. All records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has ordered them sealed.
Case information can be searched online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. The portal is free and shows party names, charge details, hearing dates, and how each case ended. For actual documents, you must contact the court. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies start at $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page.
The Kennewick Municipal Court is at 210 W 6th Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336. Business hours run Monday through Friday during normal hours. Written records requests by mail are accepted if you cannot visit in person. Include the case number or party name and list the specific documents you need.
Benton County Superior Court Felony Records
All felony criminal cases from Kennewick are filed at Benton County Superior Court. The Benton County Clerk of Superior Court maintains records for all felony charges, including charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. The courthouse is at 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336.
Benton County Superior Court case information is also on the Odyssey Portal. The clerk's public counter is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. For certified copies or complete case files, contact the Benton County Clerk directly. Mail requests are also accepted if you cannot visit in person. The Benton County Clerk's Office is notable in that it also handles probate, civil, and family law matters from the same courthouse complex.
Note: The Benton County Clerk's Office serves the Kennewick courthouse. For Prosser-area cases, a second courthouse is located at 620 Market Street, Prosser, WA 99350.
Kennewick Police Department Records
The Kennewick Police Department Records Division handles requests for police reports, incident records, and arrest logs. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. The department responds under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and must provide an initial response within five business days.
Conviction records are public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests without a resulting conviction where the case is closed, is restricted under RCW 10.97. The department will redact that data before releasing records to the public. Only the subject of the record or a criminal justice agency may receive non-conviction information. Active investigation files are generally exempt from release until the case closes.
Benton County Corrections Jail Records
The Benton County Corrections Department runs the county jail at 7122 West Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. The jail serves all of Benton County, including Kennewick, Richland, and West Richland. For inmate information, contact the jail at (509) 783-1451 or (509) 786-5613. Jail booking records are public records under the Washington Public Records Act, though current inmate status may also be checked through the jail's booking system.
The jail works with the Kennewick and Richland police departments, the Benton County Sheriff, and the courts. Booking records show when someone was taken into custody, the charges listed at booking, and, when updated, release status. These records are distinct from court conviction records and may not reflect the final outcome of the associated criminal case.
Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH
For a complete statewide criminal history on a Kennewick subject, use the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) delivers results online for $11.00 per search. Pay by credit or debit card and see results immediately. WATCH pulls from a fingerprint-linked statewide database that covers all 39 Washington counties.
Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based search or $58.00 with a fingerprint card. Mail processing takes 7 to 10 business days. Details are at the WSP Criminal History Records page. To check your own record in person at no cost, visit the WSP office at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring a valid photo ID.
Note: WATCH results include conviction records and arrests less than one year old with pending dispositions. Non-conviction data older than one year is not shown in public searches.
City of Kennewick Public Records Requests
For city records that are not court documents or police reports, use the City of Kennewick Public Records request page. This covers city emails, council meeting minutes, budget records, and similar documents. Police reports must be requested from the Kennewick Police Department; court records must go through the appropriate court clerk.
The city must respond to public records requests within five business days under RCW 42.56.520. Responses will deliver records, give an estimated timeline, or deny the request with a statutory reason. You do not need to state why you want the records. Fees are limited to actual copy costs.
Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, governs what gets released. Conviction records are public under RCW 10.97.050. Non-conviction data covers records from cases that ended without a conviction and are no longer active. Only criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record may receive non-conviction data.
If a record mixes both types, the agency must redact the non-conviction parts before releasing it to the public. Errors in your record can be challenged with a Request for Modification of Record Form submitted to the Washington State Patrol. RCW 10.97.060 sets conditions for deleting old non-conviction records, including specified waiting periods and no prior convictions.
DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry
To find someone from Kennewick currently in a Washington state prison, use the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For federal inmates, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website instead.
For registered sex offenders in Kennewick and Benton County, check the WASPC Sex Offender Information registry. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B requires fifteen years. Class C requires ten years. Offenders register in person at the Benton County Sheriff's Office under RCW 9A.44.130.
Historical Court Records
For older Benton County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may hold what you need. The archives have Superior Court records from various eastern Washington counties, including Benton County criminal case files. The Eastern regional branch in Cheney serves Benton County. Some records go back decades, though availability varies by year and record type.
County Criminal Records
All Kennewick criminal cases are filed and managed through Benton County. The Benton County Clerk at 7122 W. Okanogan Place handles all Superior Court records. The Benton County Corrections Department operates the jail at the same address.
Nearby Cities
Other Tri-Cities area cities with criminal record offices include: