Find Richland Criminal History Records

Richland criminal history records are held by three main offices: the Richland Police Department for arrest and incident data, the Richland Municipal Court for misdemeanor charges, and the Benton County Superior Court for felony matters. The Benton County Courthouse is in Kennewick, about five miles from Richland. Benton County also serves Kennewick and West Richland, so the county court handles a significant volume of Tri-Cities area cases. This page covers each source, fees, access methods, and the statewide WATCH system.

Benton County Superior Court Records

Felony criminal cases involving Richland residents are filed in Benton County Superior Court. The courthouse is at 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. The clerk's office holds charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and full case files for all felony matters heard in the county. The Benton County Clerk is a separate elected office that manages court documents for both civil and criminal cases.

Records at the Superior Court are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has ordered them sealed. You can search cases online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal, which covers Benton County and gives free access to case summaries, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. The portal does not post actual documents; those must be ordered from the clerk's office.

Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. In-person visits to the Kennewick courthouse are available Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

The Benton County Clerk's Office manages all Superior Court case files and records for the county, including Richland felony cases.

Contact the Benton County Clerk's Office to request certified copies or access court files for Richland felony cases.

Richland Municipal Court

The Richland Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance charges within Richland city limits. Cases at this level include first-offense DUI, simple assault, petty theft, and most traffic infractions. The court maintains records for every case and they are public under Washington Court General Rule 31.

Court records 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 directly during business hours. If you know the case number or party name, bring that information when you visit or include it in a written request to speed up the search.

Richland Police Department Records

The Richland Police Department Records Division handles requests for police reports, incident reports, and law enforcement records. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the Police Department. The department follows the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and the Criminal Records Privacy Act.

Conviction records 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. Active investigation files are also exempt while a case is open. Once the case closes, most records become accessible to the public.

The Richland Police Department collaborates with the Kennewick Police Department, West Richland Police Department, and the Benton County Sheriff on regional law enforcement matters. If the incident involved multiple agencies, you may need to request records from more than one office.

City of Richland Public Records

For Richland city agency records that are not court documents or police reports, use the City of Richland Public Records Request system. This covers city meeting minutes, permits, emails, and other administrative files. Under RCW 42.56.520, the city must respond within five business days. Fees cover only the actual cost of copying. Electronic delivery is available and costs less than paper.

Benton County Superior Court Additional Resources

The Benton County Superior Court and related county offices maintain additional public records resources for the Richland area. The county's public records portal and the clerk's LINX case lookup system both provide access to case data. For older records or complex requests, the Benton County Clerk's office at the Kennewick courthouse can assist directly.

The Benton County Superior Court redirect page links to the county's public court record search and document ordering system for Richland and other Benton County cases.

Use the Benton County court portal to look up Richland felony case information before visiting the Kennewick courthouse in person.

WSP WATCH Statewide Background Checks

For a full criminal history on a Richland resident, the Washington State Patrol WATCH system covers all Washington counties in one search. The WATCH online search costs $11.00, accepts credit or debit cards, and returns results right away. It checks a fingerprint-linked statewide database that is more accurate than a name-only search at a single court.

Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based search or $58.00 for a fingerprint-based search. Mail takes about 7 to 10 business days. In-person requests are accepted at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Full details are at the WSP Criminal History Records page.

To review your own record, including non-conviction data, visit the Olympia office at no charge for up to thirty minutes. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You may be fingerprinted for confirmation. The personal review shows everything, including data that is not available in the standard WATCH public search.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, draws a clear line between what is public and what is not. Conviction records, cases ending in a guilty plea or verdict, are fully public under RCW 10.97.050. Any member of the public can request them.

Non-conviction data covers arrests and charges that did not end in a conviction and are no longer active. Only criminal justice agencies and the subject of the record can receive this data under RCW 10.97.030. If a record includes both types, the agency must redact non-conviction data before public release.

Record errors 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. Old non-conviction records may be deleted under RCW 10.97.060, subject to waiting periods and conditions including no prior convictions.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

To find a Richland resident currently in a Washington state prison, use the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows name, DOC number, current facility, and age. Federal inmates are not included. For those, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

Registered sex offenders in the Richland area can be found through the WASPC Sex Offender Information registry. Class A sex offenses require lifetime registration. Class B requires fifteen years. Class C requires ten years. Offenders must register 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 help. The archives hold Superior Court records from various counties. Some records go back to the territorial period, though availability varies. The Eastern regional branch in Cheney serves Benton County and other eastern Washington counties.

County Records Office

All Richland felony cases are processed through Benton County. The Benton County Superior Court is at 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. The Benton County Clerk's office handles certified documents and full case files for the county.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities in the Tri-Cities area and nearby with their own criminal history record pages are listed below.