Columbia County Criminal Records

Columbia County criminal history records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk, the District Court, and the Sheriff's Office in Dayton. All three offices share the same courthouse location at 341 E. Main Street. This page covers where to find felony case records, misdemeanor filings, and arrest data in this small southeastern Washington county, along with request procedures, fees, and how to run a statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol.

Columbia County Superior Court Criminal Records

The Columbia County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction for the county. It handles all felony criminal cases filed in Columbia County, along with civil matters over $300, family law, probate, and juvenile cases. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains the official record for each case, including charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. The office is at 341 E. Main Street, Dayton, WA 99328. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

These are public records under Washington Court General Rule 31. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Staff can be reached at (509) 382-4321 for specific record inquiries. If you know the case number or party name, have it ready before calling or visiting to speed up the search process.

Recent cases appear on the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal, which shows case summaries, charges, and dispositions at no cost. Documents themselves are not posted online and must be ordered from the clerk. For older cases that predate the Odyssey system, an in-person visit to the Dayton courthouse or a written request is required. Columbia County is a small county with a low volume of cases, so the clerks are generally able to locate specific files without much delay.

Columbia County District Court Misdemeanor Cases

The Columbia County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims. The court is at 341 E. Main Street, Dayton, WA 99328, sharing the courthouse building with the Superior Court and Sheriff's Office. Misdemeanor cases covered include first-offense DUI, simple assault, low-value theft, and similar matters.

District Court records are public and most recent cases are on the Odyssey Portal. For older records or copies of documents, contact the clerk in person or by written request with the relevant case information and copy fee. The court also provides standard forms for self-represented litigants filing small claims or other civil matters. For comprehensive criminal history, the District Court refers individuals to the Washington State Patrol.

Columbia County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and the City of Dayton. The office is at 341 E. Main Street, Dayton, WA 99328. The records division handles public requests for arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking information under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

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 pending, is restricted under RCW 10.97.080. Only criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record can obtain non-conviction data. The Sheriff redacts those portions from any public release. Active investigation files are generally exempt until the case closes.

Because Columbia County is small and remote, the Sheriff's Office handles both patrol duties and jail operations for the county. For a full statewide conviction record, the Sheriff's Office directs requestors to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system, which pulls from a larger fingerprint-linked database covering all Washington counties.

Columbia County Public Records Requests

For county agency records that are not court documents, submit a written request to the Columbia County Public Records office or the relevant department. Requests can be submitted in person at the courthouse or by mail. Under RCW 42.56.520, Columbia County must respond within five business days. The response may provide records, acknowledge receipt with a timeline, or deny the request with the specific statutory basis.

You do not need to explain why you want the records. Fees may only cover actual copy costs. Court records must be requested directly from the Superior Court or District Court clerks, as those records operate under court rules rather than the Public Records Act. Electronic delivery is available when possible, which tends to cost less than paper copies.

WSP WATCH Statewide Background Check

For an official conviction record on a Columbia County resident, use the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system. Online searches cost $11.00 and return results right away. WATCH is fingerprint-linked through WASIS, which avoids the false matches that can occur with name-only searches. Pay by credit or debit card.

Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based check or $58.00 with a fingerprint card. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days. Submit 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. To review your own complete record, including non-conviction data, visit the Olympia office in person at no charge for up to 30 minutes. 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, governs what Columbia County agencies can release. Conviction records, cases that ended in a guilty plea, verdict, or other adverse disposition, are public under RCW 10.97.050. Anyone can get them. Non-conviction data covers arrests that did not lead to a conviction where the matter is no longer pending. Under RCW 10.97.030 and 10.97.080, that data can only go to criminal justice agencies or the person whose record it is.

If a record contains both conviction and non-conviction entries, the releasing agency must redact the non-conviction portions before handing anything to the public. If you think your own record has errors, 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 conditions for deleting old non-conviction records, including waiting periods and the absence of prior convictions.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

If a Columbia County resident is currently held in a Washington state prison, search the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. It shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. Call DOC directly for release dates and supervision conditions. The DOC database does not include federal inmates; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those cases.

Registered sex offenders in Columbia County are listed in the statewide registry at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Adults convicted of Class A sex offenses register for life. Class B requires 15 years of registration. Class C requires 10 years. Offenders register in person at the Sheriff's Office in their county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130. The WASPC registry includes residence, work, and school information where public disclosure is authorized.

Historical Records and Digital Archives

For older Columbia County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey system, the Washington State Digital Archives may have what you need. The archives hold Superior Court records from multiple counties in eastern Washington, including historical criminal case files and judgment rolls. Columbia County records go back to the county's formation in 1875. Availability varies by time period and record type.

For a general overview of Washington criminal records disclosure rules that apply to all counties including Columbia, the MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records page explains which records are public, which are restricted, and what agencies must do when requests come in for mixed conviction and non-conviction data.

Cities in Columbia County

All criminal cases in Columbia County, whether involving residents of Dayton or smaller communities like Starbuck and Waitsburg, are processed through the Columbia County Superior or District Court at the Dayton courthouse. No cities in Columbia County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Columbia County borders four other Washington counties in the southeastern part of the state.