Pullman Criminal History Records

Pullman criminal history records are maintained by the Pullman Police Department for arrest and incident data, the Pullman Municipal Court for misdemeanor cases, and the Whitman County Superior Court in Colfax for felony matters. Colfax is the county seat and is located about 30 miles north of Pullman, so felony court records require a trip to a different city unless you use the online Odyssey Portal. This page covers each office, access methods, fees, and statewide background check options.

Whitman County Superior Court Records

Felony criminal cases involving Pullman residents are filed in Whitman County Superior Court in Colfax, WA 99111, at 400 N. Main Street. The clerk's office holds charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and full case files for every felony heard in the county. The court also operates a branch in Pullman, so some proceedings take place closer to the city.

All records at the Superior Court are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has ordered them sealed. You can search cases in person at the Colfax courthouse or use the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal online at no cost. The portal shows case names, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions for recent filings. Actual documents must be ordered from the clerk's office directly.

Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. If you need records on an older case and the Odyssey Portal does not show it, call the clerk's office to confirm availability before making the drive to Colfax.

Pullman Municipal Court

The Pullman Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance charges within Pullman city limits. These include charges like first-offense DUI, simple assault, petty theft, and disorderly conduct. The court is located at Pullman City Hall and keeps records for every case it hears.

Municipal Court records are public and can be searched through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. The portal shows the case, the charges, and how it ended. For actual documents or certified copies, contact the court during business hours. Court staff can answer questions about how to request records and what fees apply. The court also provides forms for people who need to represent themselves.

Pullman Police Department Records

The Pullman Police Department Records Division handles public records requests for police reports, incident reports, and other law enforcement records. Requests can go in online, by mail, or in person at the Police Department on South Grand Avenue. The department follows the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and the Criminal Records Privacy Act.

Conviction records held by the Police Department are public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not result in a conviction and where the case has ended, is restricted under RCW 10.97. That statute limits release of non-conviction data to criminal justice agencies and to the subject of the record. Any request that turns up non-conviction data will have that portion redacted before the records are released to a third party.

Pullman is home to Washington State University, which also has its own campus police. WSU Police records are separate from Pullman PD records. If you need records related to an incident on campus, contact WSU Police directly. For off-campus incidents in Pullman, the Pullman PD holds the records.

City of Pullman Public Records

The City of Pullman Public Records Request system handles requests for city government records that are not court documents or police reports. This includes meeting minutes, city correspondence, permits, and other administrative files. Under RCW 42.56.520, the city must respond within five business days. You don't need to explain why you want the records. Fees cover only actual copy costs.

WSP WATCH Statewide Background Checks

For a complete criminal history on a Pullman resident, the Washington State Patrol WATCH system is the most comprehensive option. The WATCH online search costs $11.00, uses a credit or debit card, and returns results right away. It checks a fingerprint-linked statewide database, so it catches records across all Washington counties, not just Whitman.

Mail requests are also accepted. A name-based mail search costs $32.00. If you submit a fingerprint card, the fee is $58.00 and the match is more precise. Mail processing takes about 7 to 10 business days. You can also visit the WSP Criminal History office in person at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Full details are on the WSP Criminal History Records page. If you want to review your own record, you can do so at the Olympia office at no charge for up to thirty minutes. Bring a government-issued photo ID. This review includes non-conviction data, which is not available in the standard public search.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data Rules

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, draws a firm line between what is public and what is not. Conviction records, meaning cases that ended in a guilty plea, a verdict of guilty, or some other adverse disposition, are fully public under RCW 10.97.050. Anyone can request them, and agencies must provide them.

Non-conviction data is a different matter. RCW 10.97.030 defines this as records from cases that did not end in a conviction and are no longer active. These can only go to criminal justice agencies, to the person named in the record, or to others specifically permitted by statute. If an agency holds both types of data on a person, it must redact the non-conviction portion before any public release.

Errors in a record can be challenged by submitting a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. The Criminal History Records Section reviews the challenge and corrects the record if warranted. Certain old non-conviction records can also be deleted under RCW 10.97.060, subject to waiting periods and other conditions including no prior convictions.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

To find a Pullman-area resident currently held in a Washington state prison, use the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows name, DOC number, current facility, and age. For more detail on release dates or supervision conditions, contact DOC directly. This database does not include federal inmates; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those.

Registered sex offenders in the Pullman area can be found through the WASPC Sex Offender Information registry. The registry is maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B requires fifteen years. Class C requires ten years. Offenders must register in person at the Sheriff's Office in their county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130.

Historical Court Records

Older Whitman County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal may be available through the Washington State Digital Archives. The archives hold Superior Court records from across the state, including older criminal case files and judgment rolls. The Eastern regional branch in Cheney serves Whitman County. Some records go back to territorial days, though availability varies.

County Records Office

All felony cases for Pullman residents are processed through Whitman County. The Whitman County Superior Court is at 400 N. Main Street, Colfax, WA 99111. The District Court also operates in both Colfax and Pullman, so some misdemeanor cases handled above the municipal level may be in Colfax.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying Washington cities with their own criminal history record pages are listed below.