Find Criminal History Records in Yakima

Yakima criminal history records are held by the Yakima Police Department for police contacts and arrest reports, the Yakima Municipal Court for misdemeanor cases, and the Yakima County Superior Court for all felony matters filed against Yakima residents.

Yakima Police Department Records

The Yakima Police Department Records Division processes public records requests for police reports, incident reports, and other law enforcement records created by Yakima Police officers. You can submit a request online, by mail, or in person at the Police Department. All requests are processed under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and the Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97.

Conviction records are fully public under RCW 10.97.050. Anyone can request them. Non-conviction data is restricted. Under RCW 10.97.030, non-conviction data covers arrests and charges that did not result in a conviction and where the case is closed. Those records can only go to criminal justice agencies, to the person whose record it is, or to those the law specifically permits. If a file mixes both conviction and non-conviction data, the department redacts the non-conviction parts before release.

The city must respond to any public records request within five business days under RCW 42.56.520. The response might deliver the records, provide an estimate of when they will be ready, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Fees cover only actual copying costs. For a full statewide conviction history, YPD will refer you to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system, which covers all Washington law enforcement agencies.

Use the WATCH system for statewide conviction history. YPD records cover only contacts and arrests involving Yakima Police officers.

Yakima Municipal Court

The Yakima Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, gross misdemeanors, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations within Yakima city limits. First-offense DUI, simple assault, domestic violence misdemeanors, theft under $750, and most traffic infractions are filed here. The court maintains records for every case and releases them to the public under Washington Court General Rule 31.

Court records can be accessed in person during business hours at the Municipal Court clerk's office. Cases are also searchable online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. Yakima County uses the Odyssey case management system, so Yakima Municipal Court cases appear in the statewide portal. The portal shows case summaries, party names, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions at no charge. For actual documents or certified copies, contact the court clerk and pay the applicable fees.

The Municipal Court provides forms and help for self-represented parties. If you are not sure whether a matter is in Municipal Court or Superior Court, an Odyssey search will show you quickly. Felony charges always go to Yakima County Superior Court. Municipal Court jurisdiction covers only city-level misdemeanors and ordinance violations. Knowing that distinction saves time when you need records.

Yakima County Superior Court Felony Cases

All felony cases involving Yakima residents are filed in the Yakima County Superior Court. The Clerk of Superior Court is at 128 N. 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901. Because Yakima is the county seat, the courthouse is within the city. The clerk maintains charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls for every felony criminal matter in Yakima County. Public access terminals allow walk-in searches during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Recent cases are searchable through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal at no cost. The portal shows case summaries, docket entries, party names, and charge information. For actual documents or certified copies, contact 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 have a case number or know the party name, bring that information to speed up the search.

For older cases not in Odyssey, the Washington State Digital Archives may have historical Yakima County criminal records. The Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney serves Yakima County. Availability depends on what has been digitized for a given time period. For very old case files, a visit to the Superior Court Clerk's Office may also be needed. Staff can help locate older physical records or point you to the appropriate archive.

Yakima County District Court

The Yakima County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases originating in unincorporated Yakima County, traffic violations, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims. The court operates in multiple locations including Yakima and Grandview, making it accessible to residents across the county. District Court cases are searchable through the Odyssey Portal. For copies of specific case documents, contact the District Court clerk with party name, date of birth, case number if known, and the approximate date of the incident.

The court provides forms and assistance for self-represented litigants. If you are deciding whether to contact the District Court or the Superior Court for records, the case type is the key factor. Misdemeanors and lower-level matters are in District Court. Felonies are in Superior Court. If you are not sure which category a particular charge falls under, start with an Odyssey search by name. The results will show you which court holds the case.

Yakima County Sheriff and Jail Records

The Yakima County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking information. The Sheriff's Office operates the Yakima County Jail. Public records requests go through the Sheriff's Office under the Public Records Act and the Criminal Records Privacy Act. Conviction records are public. Non-conviction data is restricted to criminal justice agencies and the subject of the record.

If you need incident reports or arrest records from unincorporated Yakima County, the Sheriff's Office is the right contact. For incidents within Yakima city limits, those records go to the Yakima Police Department. Each agency holds the records created by its own officers. For a full statewide picture that goes beyond either agency, the WSP WATCH system is the right tool.

City of Yakima Public Records

The City of Yakima Public Records office, run through the City Clerk's Office, handles requests for city government records beyond police materials. This includes city council minutes, departmental correspondence, permits, contracts, and other administrative documents. Police records go to YPD. Court records go to the appropriate court clerk. The City Clerk's Office handles city administrative records only.

Under RCW 42.56.520, the city must respond to any public records request within five business days. Responses may deliver the records directly, provide an estimate of when they will be ready, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. You do not need to explain why you want records. Fees are limited to actual reproduction costs. The city encourages electronic delivery when possible, which is also cheaper than paper.

Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH

For a complete conviction record on a Yakima resident, the Washington State Patrol is the most reliable source. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) delivers online results immediately for $11.00 per search. You pay by credit or debit card. WATCH draws from a fingerprint-linked statewide database covering all Washington law enforcement agencies, so results are tied to biometric identity rather than just a name. This matters when a subject has a common name or has used multiple names.

Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based search or $58.00 with a fingerprint card for a more precise match. Mail processing takes 7 to 10 business days. In-person service is at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Full details are at the WSP Criminal History Records page. A notarized background check letter costs an extra $10.00 if you need formal documentation for an employer or housing provider.

WATCH results include conviction records and arrests under one year old with pending dispositions. Non-conviction data older than one year does not appear in public searches. To review your own full record including non-conviction data, visit the Olympia WSP office at no charge. You have up to thirty minutes and must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Fingerprinting for identity confirmation may be required.

WATCH is the most complete source for Yakima conviction history, pulling from fingerprint-linked records across all Washington agencies.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, divides criminal records into two groups. Conviction records, meaning cases ending in a guilty plea, verdict, or other adverse finding, are fully public under RCW 10.97.050. Anyone can request them without explaining why.

Non-conviction data covers cases where no conviction resulted and the case is no longer active. Under RCW 10.97.030 and RCW 10.97.080, non-conviction records may only go to criminal justice agencies, to the subject of the record, or to those the law specifically permits. When an agency holds a record that mixes both types, it must redact the non-conviction portions before public release. This applies to Yakima Police records, Municipal Court files, Yakima County court documents, and the Sheriff's Office records alike.

To challenge errors in your own record, submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. A successful challenge results in the Criminal History Records Section correcting the record. Rules for removing old non-conviction data are in RCW 10.97.060, which sets minimum waiting periods and other conditions. If the process is unclear, an attorney familiar with Washington record law can help guide you.

Yakima County Auditor Records

The Yakima County Auditor's Office Recording Division at 128 N. 2nd Street, Room 117, Yakima, WA 98901, maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land records. While these are not criminal history records, they sometimes come up in background research when verifying property ownership or financial judgments connected to criminal cases. Recorded documents are available for searching online or in person. The Auditor also issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records.

If you are researching a subject for civil judgment liens or other financial encumbrances that may relate to a criminal case, the Auditor's recording search can be a useful tool alongside the court record search. Search and copy fees apply as set by state law and county code.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

To find a Yakima resident currently in a Washington state prison, use 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; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those cases.

For registered sex offenders in Yakima, the statewide registry is maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Access it at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B requires fifteen years. Class C requires ten years. Under RCW 9A.44.130, offenders register in person at the Sheriff's Office in their county of residence. For Yakima residents, that means the Yakima County Sheriff's Office at 128 N. 2nd Street, Yakima.

Yakima County Records

All Yakima felony cases and county-level records are managed through Yakima County. Visit the Yakima County Criminal History page for details on the Superior Court, District Court, Sheriff, Auditor, and the Odyssey case search system.