Find Mason County Criminal History

Mason County criminal history records are held by the Superior Court Clerk and District Court in Shelton, with the Sheriff's Office maintaining arrest records and jail booking data. The county seat of Shelton is where most filings happen, but the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal lets you search case summaries for free from anywhere. This guide covers each record source, how to request copies, what fees apply, and how state law governs what gets released to the public.

Mason County Superior Court Criminal Records

The Mason County Clerk of Superior Court keeps official records for all felony criminal cases filed in Mason County. This includes charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, judgment rolls, and any conditions attached to the sentence. The clerk's office is at 419 N. 4th Street, Shelton, WA 98584. You can visit in person Monday through Friday during normal business hours to view or request records.

Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. Bring the defendant's name and any case number you have. The clerk also handles family law, probate, and civil cases over $100,000. All of these are public records under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless sealed by a judge's order.

Recent Mason County Superior Court cases are searchable through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal at no cost. The portal shows basic case data, including who was charged, what they were charged with, hearing dates, and how the case ended. Full documents must be ordered from the clerk directly, but the portal is useful for confirming a case exists before making the trip or sending a request.

Mason County District Court Cases

The Mason County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, and civil matters under $100,000. Cases that fall below felony level, such as DUI, simple assault, or misdemeanor theft, are filed here. The District Court is also at 419 N. 4th Street, Shelton, sharing the courthouse complex with Superior Court.

District Court records are also searchable through the Odyssey Portal. Walk-in visits, phone requests, and written mail requests are all accepted at the clerk's office. Have as much identifying information as possible ready, such as name, date of birth, and approximate case date. The court provides forms for self-represented litigants who need help navigating their own records.

Mason County Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail Data

The Mason County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated parts of the county. The records division maintains arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking information. These are public records under Chapter 42.56 RCW, though records tied to active investigations are generally exempt until the investigation closes.

Conviction records held by the Sheriff can be released to the public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not result in a conviction and where the case is no longer pending, is protected under RCW 10.97.080. Under this statute, non-conviction data may only go to criminal justice agencies or to the person whose record it is. If a record contains both types, the agency redacts the non-conviction information before release.

The Mason County Sheriff's Office image below shows the current public web portal for submitting records requests. The Sheriff's Office also operates the county jail and maintains booking data that can be requested separately from incident reports.

The Mason County Sheriff's Office website lists current records request procedures and contact information for the records division.

Use the Sheriff's Office portal to submit public records requests for arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking data from Mason County.

Statewide Background Checks for Mason County

The best way to get a complete, official criminal history for a Mason County subject is through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) runs an online search of a fingerprint-linked statewide database for $11.00. You pay by credit or debit card and get results right away. Because WATCH links records through fingerprints rather than names, it catches cases that a simple name search might miss.

Mail requests use the official Request for Conviction Criminal History Form. The name-based mail fee is $32.00, or $58.00 if you submit a fingerprint card for a more precise match. Mail processing takes about 7 to 10 business days. In-person service is at the WSP office at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

More detail on the process is at the WSP Criminal History Records page. To review your own complete record, including non-conviction data, visit the Olympia office in person at no charge for up to thirty minutes. A valid photo ID is required. You may need to be fingerprinted for identity confirmation before the review.

Public Records Act Requests in Mason County

For county agency records that are not court documents, use the Mason County Public Records portal. This covers Sheriff's Office incident reports, county agency emails, permits, meeting minutes, and similar records. Court records are handled separately by the court clerks under Washington Court General Rule 31.

Under RCW 42.56.520, Mason County must respond to any public records request within five business days. The response may deliver the records, estimate when they will be ready, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. You do not need to give a reason for the request. The agency cannot ask why you want the records except in narrow circumstances. Fees cover only the cost of copying, not staff time for locating records.

Electronic delivery is cheaper than paper. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the superior court in the county where the record is held, and the agency must prove the exemption applies. MRSC has a useful reference at Criminal History and Arrest Records explaining how these rules work in practice.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

If someone from Mason County is in a Washington state prison, find them through the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows the person's name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For release dates or supervision conditions, contact DOC directly. The search does not include federal inmates; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those.

For registered sex offenders in Mason County, check the statewide registry maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Adults convicted of Class A sex offenses register for life; Class B for fifteen years; Class C for ten years. Offenders must register in person at the Sheriff's Office in their county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130. Mason County residents register at the Sheriff's Office in Shelton.

Older Mason County Court Records

For Mason County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may have what you need. The archives hold Superior Court records from many counties, including older criminal case files and judgment rolls. Availability varies by county and time period, but some records date back many decades. Mason County falls within the Western Washington regional archives coverage area.

If a record has been sealed by court order or the conviction has been vacated, it is not available through public channels. Sealing and vacating procedures are governed by state statute and must be requested through the court. If you believe your own record has errors, submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol under the procedures in RCW 10.97.060.

Cities in Mason County

All criminal cases in Mason County, whether from Shelton, Belfair, Hoodsport, or other communities, are processed through the Mason County Superior or District Court in Shelton. No cities in Mason County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Mason County borders five other Washington counties, each maintaining their own criminal history record offices.