Search Benton County Criminal History
Benton County criminal history records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk, the District Court, and the Sheriff's Office, all operating out of Kennewick. The county also runs a dedicated online clerk portal that lets you order certified court documents by credit card. This guide covers every place you can find criminal records in Benton County, what each office holds, how to request copies, and how the Washington State Patrol WATCH system works for getting a full statewide background check on a Benton County subject.
Benton County Overview
Benton County Superior Court Criminal Records
The Benton County Superior Court has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases in both Benton and Franklin Counties. The Superior Court Clerk's Office is at 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. This office holds charging documents, arraignment orders, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls for every felony case filed in the district. Records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless sealed by judicial order.
Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. For records filed in recent years, the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal gives free online access to case summaries, charges, and dispositions. Documents themselves must be ordered from the clerk. Older case files may require in-person research with staff assistance.
The Benton County Clerk also provides an online ordering portal at bentonclerkpr.com. Through that portal, you can request certified or non-certified copies, CD copies of court proceedings, and record searches. Payment is by credit or debit card. Convenience and shipping fees may apply on top of the per-page copy rate. This is a useful option if you cannot visit the Kennewick courthouse in person.
The Benton County Clerk's online portal allows document ordering from anywhere with an internet connection.
Use the portal to order court documents or check case status before contacting the Kennewick courthouse directly.
Benton County Superior Court Portal
The Benton County Superior Court website redirects to the Odyssey Portal for online case searches. This shows case parties, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes for both Benton and Franklin County cases handled by the shared Superior Court bench.
Searches are free on the portal. For full document copies, contact the Kennewick clerk's office or use the bentonclerkpr.com ordering system.
District Court Misdemeanor Cases in Benton County
The Benton County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims. The court runs two offices. The Kennewick office is at 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Suite A110, Kennewick, WA 99336, phone (509) 735-8476. The Prosser office is at 620 Market Street, Prosser, WA 99350, phone (509) 786-5480.
District Court records are searchable online through the Odyssey Portal. For copies of documents or records not available on the portal, submit a written request to the clerk at either location with the case information and copy fee payment. Cases include first-offense DUI, simple assault, shoplifting, and similar misdemeanor-level offenses. These records are public in the same way felony court records are, subject to the same sealing and redaction rules.
Note: Kennewick and Richland both have municipal courts for city-level infractions. District Court covers unincorporated areas and overlapping jurisdiction cases.
Benton County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Benton County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county. The records division handles public requests for arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking data in line with the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW. The Benton County Corrections Department and jail are also at 7122 West Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336; phone (509) 783-1451 or (509) 786-5613 for inmate information.
Conviction records are available to the public without restriction under RCW 10.97.050. Non-conviction data, arrests that did not result in a conviction and where the case is no longer active, is protected under RCW 10.97.080. Only criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record can get non-conviction data. The Sheriff's Office will redact those portions from public releases. The office also refers anyone seeking a comprehensive background check to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system.
Benton County Public Records Portal
County agency records that are not court documents can be requested through the Benton County Public Records system. The county uses an online portal that lets you submit, track, and receive records electronically. This covers Sheriff's Office incident reports, county department emails, meeting minutes, and other government documents.
The portal streamlines requests and shows status updates as the county processes your submission.
Under RCW 42.56.520, Benton County must respond within five business days of receiving a request. The response may provide records, acknowledge receipt with a production timeline, or deny the request with the specific statutory exemption cited. You do not have to explain why you want the records. Fees may only cover actual copying and electronic delivery costs, not staff time spent locating the documents.
WSP WATCH Statewide Background Check
For a complete conviction record on a Benton County resident, use the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system. The $11.00 online search gives instant results. WATCH is fingerprint-linked through WASIS, so it avoids the name-matching errors that can occur with simple database searches. You pay by credit or debit card and get results right away.
Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based check or $58.00 with a fingerprint card. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days. In-person service is available in Olympia at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300. To review your own record including non-conviction data, visit the Olympia office in person at no charge. Full details are at the WSP Criminal History Records page.
DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry
If a Benton County resident is in a Washington state prison, find them through the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. Contact DOC for details on release dates or supervision terms. Federal inmates are not in the DOC database; check the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those.
Registered sex offenders in Benton County can be found through the statewide registry at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Adults convicted of Class A sex offenses must register for life; Class B requires 15 years; Class C requires 10 years. Offenders register in person at the Sheriff's Office under RCW 9A.44.130. Level II and Level III offenders may be subject to community notification.
Historical Records and Digital Archives
Older Benton County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey system may be available through the Washington State Digital Archives. The archives hold Superior Court records from multiple counties, including older criminal case files and judgment rolls. Benton County records go back to the county's formation in 1905. For general guidance on what criminal history records are public in Washington, the MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records overview covers the key disclosure rules that apply in every county.
Cities in Benton County
Several Benton County cities have populations large enough for dedicated pages on this site. Criminal cases for city residents are still processed through the Benton County Superior or District Court in Kennewick.
Nearby Counties
Benton County borders several other Washington counties. Each has its own courts and criminal record offices.