Find Criminal Records in Spokane

Spokane criminal history records are spread across several agencies: the Spokane Police Department for arrest and incident reports, the Spokane Municipal Court for misdemeanor cases filed within city limits, and Spokane County Superior Court for felony cases. Each office maintains different records and uses different request processes. Spokane is Washington's second-largest city and the largest city in eastern Washington, with roughly 230,000 residents.

Spokane Police Department Records

The Spokane Police Department Records Unit processes public records requests for police reports, incident reports, and other law enforcement records. You can submit a request online, by mail, or in person at the Police Department. The department responds under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and the Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97.

Conviction records are public and can go to anyone. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not lead to a conviction and where proceedings are closed, is restricted. The department must redact non-conviction information from any rap sheet before releasing it to the public. Active investigation files are also exempt from disclosure until a case is closed.

The Spokane Police also publishes crime statistics and maps showing criminal activity patterns across the city. You can view these at Spokane Police Crime Statistics. For specific incident reports, you still need to file a formal public records request. Crime statistics are aggregate data and do not substitute for individual record searches.

Spokane Municipal Court Records

The Spokane Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations filed within Spokane city limits. This includes charges like DUI, theft under $750, simple assault, domestic violence misdemeanors, and most traffic offenses. The court maintains records of all cases and provides public access under Washington Court General Rule 31.

The Spokane Municipal Court page shows case information and how to contact the court for records requests.

Court records can be accessed in person during business hours or searched through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. The portal is free and shows case summaries, charge details, hearing schedules, and dispositions. Actual court documents must be ordered from the court clerk directly.

For criminal history background checks at the state level, the Municipal Court will refer you to the Washington State Patrol. The court cannot provide a comprehensive statewide background check, only records for cases that came through Spokane Municipal Court specifically.

Spokane County Superior Court Felony Cases

Felony criminal cases involving Spokane residents are handled by the Spokane County Superior Court. This includes all felony charges regardless of which city the person lives in or where the alleged crime occurred within Spokane County. The Superior Court Clerk maintains charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls for all felony cases.

You can search Spokane County Superior Court case information through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal at no cost. The portal shows case numbers, party names, charges, and outcomes. For the complete case file or certified copies, contact the Spokane County Superior Court Clerk. The courthouse is at 1116 W. Broadway, Spokane, WA 99260.

Copy fees follow standard court rates: $0.50 per page for non-certified copies and $5.00 for the first page of a certified copy plus $1.00 per additional page. If you visit in person, a public access terminal is available in the clerk's office to look up basic case information at no charge.

City of Spokane Public Records Portal

For city government records that are not police or court documents, use the City of Spokane Public Records portal. This covers city department emails, meeting minutes, administrative records, and similar materials. Police records must be requested through the Police Department. Court records must go through the Municipal Court or the County Superior Court clerk.

Under RCW 42.56.520, the city must respond to any public records request within five business days of receiving it. The response can provide the records, give an estimated timeline, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. Fees cover only actual copy costs. You do not need to explain why you want records, and the city cannot ask except in rare circumstances allowed by law.

Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH

The fastest way to get an official statewide criminal history record for a Spokane resident is through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) delivers results immediately online for $11.00 per search. WATCH is fingerprint-linked, which makes it more accurate than a simple name search. You pay by credit or debit card.

Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based search or $58.00 with fingerprints. Mail processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days. In-person service is available at the WSP office, 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. More information is at the WSP Criminal History Records page.

WATCH results show conviction records and arrests under one year old with pending dispositions. Non-conviction data older than one year is not included in public disclosures. To review your own complete record, including non-conviction data, visit the Olympia WSP office in person at no charge. You are allowed up to thirty minutes and must bring valid government-issued photo ID.

Spokane County Jail and Inmate Records

If you want to know whether someone is currently held in the Spokane County Jail, the Spokane County Inmate Roster is updated regularly and is searchable online. It shows current bookings, names, and charges. For release information or other details on people previously in custody, contact the Spokane County Jail Records division.

For people currently serving a sentence in a Washington state prison, use the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The DOC database shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For federal inmates, check the Federal Bureau of Prisons website separately.

Sex Offender Registry and Non-Conviction Rules

Registered sex offenders in Spokane are listed through the statewide registry maintained 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 carries fifteen years and Class C carries ten years. Offenders register at the Spokane County Sheriff's Office under RCW 9A.44.130.

Washington's RCW 10.97 draws a clear line between conviction records and non-conviction data. Conviction records are fully public. Non-conviction data, meaning cases that did not end in a guilty verdict or plea and where the case is no longer active, may only be shared with criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record. If your request turns up non-conviction data, the responding agency must redact that portion before releasing it to you.

Spokane County Records

Felony cases, county jail records, and the full Sheriff records database are all maintained at the county level. Visit the Spokane County Criminal History page for complete details on the Superior Court, District Court, Sheriff, and the Odyssey Portal case search system.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Spokane with dedicated criminal history pages include: