Clark County Criminal History Records

Clark County criminal history records are held by the Superior Court Clerk, the District Court, and the Sheriff's Office, all based at the Clark County Courthouse in Vancouver. Clark County is Washington's fourth most populous county, with active courts that process thousands of criminal cases each year. This guide explains where felony records, misdemeanor cases, and arrest data are kept, how to request copies, what fees apply, and how to run a statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol WATCH system for any Clark County subject.

Clark County Superior Court Criminal Records

The Clark County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction. It handles all felony criminal cases in Clark County, plus civil matters over $100,000, family law, probate, guardianship, and juvenile cases. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains the official record for every case, including charging documents, arraignment orders, plea agreements, sentencing records, and judgment rolls. The office is at the Clark County Courthouse, 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Copy fees are specific here. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page for physical copies or $0.25 per page for emailed copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 per additional page per document. For records filed before 1979, a $30.00 research fee applies on top of the copy fees. Written criminal record verifications for cases filed since 1979 cost $5.00 each.

The court provides online case access through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. Searches are free and show party names, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. Documents themselves must be ordered from the clerk. Public access terminals are also available inside the courthouse for walk-in searches.

The Clark County Superior Court page includes links to the Odyssey Portal, public records request forms, and fee schedules.

Search the Odyssey Portal for free case summaries before ordering certified copies from the clerk's office at 1200 Franklin Street.

Clark County District Court Misdemeanor Records

The Clark County District Court covers misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims for all of Clark County. The court is at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660, with operations Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The court handles thousands of cases each year, covering DUI offenses, simple assault, theft under $750, and similar matters.

District Court records are public and most recent cases appear on the Odyssey Portal. For copies of documents or older records not on the portal, submit a public records request to the District Court clerk or visit in person. For District Court administrative records, requests can be submitted through the county's public records portal. Case records themselves are governed by court rules, not the Public Records Act, and must be requested from the clerk directly.

The District Court at 1200 Franklin Street handles misdemeanor-level criminal cases for all Clark County residents and cities.

Clark County Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail Logs

The Clark County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated parts of Clark County and maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking data. The Sheriff's Office operates the Clark County Jail, which holds inmates from the Sheriff's Office and other local agencies. Public records requests are processed under Chapter 42.56 RCW.

One important note: as of January 1, 2017, the Sheriff's Office no longer handles police reports for the Vancouver Police Department. If you need records related to an incident in the City of Vancouver, contact the Vancouver Police Department Records Division directly. The Sheriff's Office only maintains records for incidents in unincorporated Clark County and for arrests made by Sheriff's deputies.

Conviction records held by the Sheriff are available to the public without restriction under RCW 10.97.050. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not lead to a conviction 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 access non-conviction data. The Sheriff will redact those parts from any public release. For a comprehensive statewide background check, the Sheriff's Office refers individuals to the WSP WATCH system.

Clark County Public Records Portal

Clark County uses a dedicated Public Records Request Portal for submitting and tracking records requests. To use it, create an account on the portal and submit your request with as much detail as possible. The county processes requests and allows you to track status and receive documents electronically when available. This covers county agency records such as Sheriff's incident reports, county department correspondence, and meeting minutes.

Court records are separate. For Superior Court case records, contact the clerk at the 1200 Franklin Street courthouse. For Superior Court administrative records under General Rule 31.1, the Public Records Officer is Cheryl Stone, reachable at Superior.CourtRecords@clark.wa.gov or (564) 397-2150. Under RCW 42.56.520, the county must respond to all public records requests within five business days, providing records, a timeline, or a denial with the specific statutory reason.

Clark County Auditor Recording Records

The Clark County Auditor's Office Recording Department maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land records. While these are not criminal records, they can come up in legal matters involving real property. The Recording Department is at PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666. Documents are searchable through the Auditor's online records system or in person at the office. The Auditor also issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records.

For anyone doing a comprehensive background or asset search, the Auditor's recording system is a separate resource from criminal court records. It may show civil judgments recorded against an individual, which can appear alongside criminal history research for certain purposes like tenant screening or employment verification.

WSP WATCH Statewide Background Check

For an official conviction record on a Clark County resident, use the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system. Online searches cost $11.00 and return results immediately. The system is fingerprint-linked through WASIS, which prevents false matches that occur with name-only searches, especially useful in a large county like Clark where common names appear frequently. Pay by credit or debit card.

Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based check or $58.00 with a full fingerprint card for a more precise result. Mail processing takes 7 to 10 business days. Send requests to: Identification and Background Check Section, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633. In-person service is 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.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data Rules

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, verdict, or adverse disposition, are available to anyone under RCW 10.97.050. Non-conviction data covers arrests and charges that did not result in a conviction and where the case is no longer active. Under RCW 10.97.030 and RCW 10.97.080, this data can only go to criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record.

If your rap sheet mixes both types, the releasing agency must redact non-conviction portions before handing it to the public. If you believe your own record has errors, you can submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. The Criminal History Records Section reviews and corrects substantiated challenges. RCW 10.97.060 covers deletion of old non-conviction records, with conditions including no prior convictions and specific waiting periods.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

If a Clark 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 directly for release dates and supervision conditions. The DOC search does not cover federal inmates; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those.

Registered sex offenders in Clark County appear in the statewide registry at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Class A sex offense convictions carry a lifetime registration requirement. Class B requires 15 years. Class C requires 10 years. Offenders register in person at the Sheriff's Office in their county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130. Risk level determines how broadly the information is shared with the public.

Historical Court Records for Clark County

For older Clark County criminal cases predating the Odyssey system, the Washington State Digital Archives may hold relevant records. The archives maintain Superior Court records from many counties, including criminal case files and judgment rolls going back to Clark County's formation in 1844. Availability varies by time period. For guidance on Washington criminal records disclosure rules that apply county-wide, the MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records page provides a clear overview of the legal framework.

Cities in Clark County

Clark County has several cities with large enough populations for dedicated pages on this site. All criminal cases, whether involving city or unincorporated county residents, are processed through the Clark County Superior or District Court in Vancouver.

Nearby Counties

Clark County borders several Washington counties to the north and east, plus Multnomah County, Oregon to the south across the Columbia River.