Find Criminal History Records in Pasco

Pasco criminal history records are split across three main offices: the Franklin County Superior Court for felony cases, the Pasco Municipal Court for misdemeanor charges, and the Pasco Police Department for arrest reports and incident logs. Felony filings go to the county courthouse at 1016 N. 4th Street, which is also in Pasco, so the courthouse and city are in the same location. This page explains each office, what records they hold, how to request copies, and how the statewide WATCH system works for anyone who needs a full background check.

Franklin County Superior Court Records

Felony criminal cases for Pasco residents are filed in the Franklin County Superior Court. The clerk's office holds charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls for all felony matters. The courthouse is at 1016 N. 4th Street, Pasco, WA 99301. Franklin County is the county seat for the region, so Pasco residents deal with the same courthouse as the rest of the county.

Records at the Superior Court are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless sealed by a judge. You can visit in person Monday through Friday during normal business hours to look up cases at a public terminal or request paper copies. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page.

The Washington Courts Odyssey Portal covers Franklin County and gives free online access to case summaries, charge information, hearing schedules, and disposition data. You can look up a name or case number to see whether a felony case exists and how it resolved. The portal does not post actual documents, but it gives enough information to know what to order from the clerk.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office website shows law enforcement operations that support court proceedings in the Pasco area.

Contact the Franklin County Sheriff's Office Records Division for arrest logs and incident reports tied to Pasco cases.

Pasco Municipal Court

The Pasco Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance charges filed within Pasco city limits. This includes first-offense DUI, minor assault, petty theft, and similar charges. The court maintains records for every case it hears, and those records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31.

You can search Municipal Court cases through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. The portal lists the case, the charges, and the outcome. For actual documents or certified copies, contact the court directly. The Pasco Municipal Court is also located at the civic center complex, making it easy to handle multiple record requests in one trip.

Court hours run Monday through Friday during standard business hours. If you are looking for records on a specific person and already know the case number, bring it along to save time. Fees for copies are set by state rule and are typically $0.50 per page for non-certified copies.

Pasco Police Department Records

The Pasco Police Department Records Division processes public records requests for police reports, incident reports, and other law enforcement records. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the Police Department. The department responds to requests in line with the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

Conviction records held by the Police Department are public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests where the case ended without a conviction, is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under that statute, non-conviction data can only go to criminal justice agencies or to the subject of the record. If your request turns up an arrest with no conviction, the department will redact that before releasing the file.

Active investigation files are also exempt from release while a case is open. Once a case closes, most records become public. If your request is denied, the department must provide a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption. You can appeal a denial to the superior court.

City of Pasco Public Records Requests

For Pasco city agency records that are not court documents or police reports, use the City of Pasco Public Records Request system. This covers things like city council meeting minutes, department emails, permits, and similar government records. Court records go through the courts, and police records go through the Police Department directly.

Under RCW 42.56.520, the city must respond to any public records request within five business days. The response might deliver the records, give a timeline for when they will be ready, or deny the request with a legal reason. You don't need to say why you want the records. Fees cover only the actual cost of copying, not staff time spent finding the files. Electronic copies cost less than paper.

Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH

For a complete criminal history check on a Pasco resident, the most reliable method is the Washington State Patrol WATCH system. The WATCH online search costs $11.00, processes by credit or debit card, and returns results right away. It pulls from a fingerprint-linked statewide database, which means it is more accurate than a name-only search at any single court office.

Mail requests are also available. A name-based mail search costs $32.00. A fingerprint-based mail search costs $58.00 and provides a more precise match. Mail processing takes about 7 to 10 business days. The WSP Criminal History office is at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

More details on the process are on the WSP Criminal History Records page. If you need to review your own record, including non-conviction data, you can do that in person at the Olympia office at no charge, for up to thirty minutes. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.

WATCH covers conviction records and arrests less than one year old with pending dispositions. It does not include non-conviction data older than one year for general public searches. If you need a thorough check for employment or licensing purposes, the fingerprint-based search gives the most complete result.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, sets clear rules about what can be released. Conviction records, meaning cases that ended in a guilty plea, verdict, or other adverse disposition, are public under RCW 10.97.050. Anyone can get them.

Non-conviction data is different. Under RCW 10.97.030, this covers records from cases that did not result in a conviction and are no longer active. These can only go to criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record. If a rap sheet includes both kinds of data, the agency must redact non-conviction records before handing anything over.

If you believe your own record contains errors, you can submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. If the challenge is valid, the Criminal History Records Section makes the correction. Old non-conviction records can sometimes be deleted under RCW 10.97.060, which sets waiting periods and other conditions.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

If someone from Pasco is currently in a Washington state prison, search the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For release dates or supervision conditions, contact DOC directly. Federal inmates are not in this database. For those, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons site.

For registered sex offenders, the statewide registry is managed by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The public registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Adults convicted of Class A sex offenses must register for life. Class B offenses require a fifteen-year registration period. Class C offenses require ten years. Offenders register in person at the county Sheriff's Office under RCW 9A.44.130.

Historical Court Records

For older Pasco cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may help. The archives hold Superior Court records from various counties, including older criminal case files and judgment rolls. Some records date back to the territorial era, though availability varies. The Eastern regional branch in Cheney serves Franklin County and can assist with older eastern Washington records.

County Records Office

All felony cases for Pasco residents are filed in Franklin County. The Franklin County Superior and District Courts are located at 1016 N. 4th Street, Pasco, which is the same city, making access convenient. The Franklin County Clerk's Office handles certified court documents and case files for the full county.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Pasco with their own criminal history record pages include the following.