Walla Walla County Criminal History
Walla Walla County criminal history records are split among three offices in downtown Walla Walla: the Superior Court Clerk for felony cases, the District Court for misdemeanors, and the Sheriff's Office for arrest logs and jail bookings.
Walla Walla County Overview
Walla Walla County Superior Court Records
The Walla Walla County Clerk of Superior Court holds official records for all felony criminal cases filed in the county. This includes charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and the judgment roll. Civil cases over $300, family law files, and probate proceedings are also kept here. All of these are public records under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has sealed them.
The courthouse address is 315 W. Main Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362. You can walk in Monday through Friday during business hours to view records at a public access terminal or ask for paper copies. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each page after that. Bring a case number or party name to speed things up.
The Washington Courts Odyssey Portal covers Walla Walla County Superior and District Court cases online. You can see case summaries, charge descriptions, hearing dates, and final dispositions at no cost. Full documents are not posted; you must order those from the clerk directly. The portal is a good first step before spending time or money on a formal records request.
The Odyssey Portal pulls from the same court system used by all 39 Washington counties. Searches are free and open to anyone. Results show the defendant name, charge, court, and outcome. Cases that are sealed or expunged will not appear.
District Court Records in Walla Walla County
The Walla Walla County District Court sits at 315 W. Main Street, sharing the courthouse complex with the Superior Court. It handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, including first-offense DUI, theft under $750, and simple assault charges. Traffic infractions and small civil claims are filed here too. These records are public and can be searched on the Odyssey Portal just like Superior Court cases.
Court hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If the record you want is not in the portal, you can visit in person or send a written request by mail. Include the defendant name, approximate filing date, and case type so staff can locate the record quickly. Copy fees are the same as Superior Court: $0.50 per page for standard copies, $5.00 plus $1.00 per page for certified copies.
Keep in mind that District Court covers misdemeanors only. If you are looking for a felony, that file is at the Superior Court Clerk one floor away in the same building.
Note: District Court records cover misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors. Felony records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in the same courthouse at 315 W. Main Street.
Walla Walla County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for unincorporated parts of the county. The records division keeps arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking data. These are public records under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW. Active investigation files are exempt from release until the case closes.
Conviction records held by the Sheriff can go to anyone who asks. Non-conviction data is a different story. Under RCW 10.97, arrests that did not result in a conviction and where proceedings have ended can only be released to criminal justice agencies or to the person whose record it is. The agency will redact those parts before releasing anything to the general public.
The Sheriff's Office is at 315 W. Main Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362. You can submit a public records request in person during business hours or by mail. For a full statewide picture, the Sheriff's Office will point you to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system, which draws from a larger fingerprint-linked database covering all of Washington.
The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and jail bookings for unincorporated Walla Walla County. For city incidents, contact the Walla Walla Police Department directly.
WSP WATCH Statewide Background Checks
The fastest way to get an official conviction record for a Walla Walla County subject is through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) runs online and returns results right away for $11.00 per search. Pay by credit or debit card. WATCH pulls from a fingerprint-linked statewide database, so it is more reliable than a name-only search that might mix up people who share a name.
Mail requests are also an option. The fee is $32.00 for a name-based mail search, or $58.00 if you send a full fingerprint card for a more precise match. Mail requests typically take 7 to 10 business days. In-person service is available 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. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.).
Full details on fees and forms are at the WSP Criminal History Records page. If you want to review your own complete record, including non-conviction data, you can do so in person at the Olympia office at no charge for up to thirty minutes. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
Note: WATCH results include conviction records and arrests less than one year old with pending dispositions. Non-conviction data older than one year is not included in public searches.
Public Records Requests in Walla Walla County
For county agency records that are not court documents, use the Walla Walla County public records process. This covers Sheriff's Office incident reports, county department communications, and similar administrative records. Requests can be submitted in person or by mail. The county must respond within five business days under RCW 42.56.520.
Court records are separate. They fall under Washington Court General Rule 31 rather than the Public Records Act and must be requested from the court clerks. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Fees cover only actual copy costs, not staff time spent searching. Electronic delivery is often cheaper than paper copies when both options are available.
If your request is denied, you can appeal to the superior court in the county where the record is held. The burden falls on the agency to prove the exemption applies. Most routine criminal record requests, especially conviction records, are not subject to denial.
Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data Rules
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, draws a firm line between conviction records and non-conviction data. Conviction records, cases that ended in a guilty plea, verdict, or other adverse outcome, can go to anyone under RCW 10.97.050. There is no restriction on who may receive them.
Non-conviction data is different. RCW 10.97.030 defines this as records from cases that did not lead to a conviction and where the matter is no longer active. These go only to criminal justice agencies, to the subject of the record, or to others specifically allowed by statute. If a rap sheet mixes conviction and non-conviction data, the releasing agency must redact the non-conviction parts before handing it to the public.
If you believe your own record has errors, you can file a Request for Modification of Record Form with the Washington State Patrol. If the challenge holds up, the Criminal History Records Section makes the correction. RCW 10.97.060 sets out the process for deleting old non-conviction records, including waiting periods and conditions like having no prior convictions.
DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry
If someone from Walla Walla County is currently in a Washington state prison, you can search 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. The DOC database does not cover federal inmates; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons site for those.
Registered sex offenders are tracked statewide by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The public registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Adults convicted of Class A sex offenses register for life. Class B carries fifteen years; Class C requires ten years. Offenders register in person at the Sheriff's Office in their county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130.
Historical Criminal Records
For older Walla Walla County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, check the Washington State Digital Archives. The archives hold Superior Court records from various counties, including older criminal case files, judgment rolls, and court proceedings. Walla Walla County is served by the Eastern regional branch in Cheney. Some records date back to territorial times, though what is available varies by county and era.
Older paper files that have not been digitized can still be requested from the county clerk. Processing time varies. Call ahead to confirm whether a specific record has been transferred to the archives or is still held at the courthouse.
Cities in Walla Walla County
All criminal cases in Walla Walla County are processed through the Superior or District Court regardless of which city or town the offense occurred in.
Nearby Counties
Walla Walla County borders several other Washington and Oregon counties, each with their own criminal history record offices.