Whitman County Criminal History Records
Whitman County criminal history records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Colfax, the District Court operating in both Colfax and Pullman, and the Sheriff's Office. The Superior Court handles all felony cases for the county, including cases involving students and residents in Pullman, home of Washington State University. The District Court covers misdemeanors. The Sheriff's Office keeps arrest logs and jail records for unincorporated areas. This guide explains each office, what they hold, how to make requests, and how to use the statewide WATCH system for a full background check on any Whitman County subject.
Whitman County Overview
Whitman County Superior Court Criminal Records
The Whitman County Clerk of Superior Court maintains official records for all felony criminal cases in the county. This includes charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, judgment rolls, and post-conviction filings. The office also holds civil cases, family law matters, probate, and juvenile records. All records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has ordered them sealed.
The courthouse is at 400 N. Main Street, Colfax, WA 99111. You can visit in person Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Copy fees follow the standard Washington state schedule: non-certified copies are $0.50 per page, and certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. Bring the full name of the party or a case number to make the search faster.
Recent case summaries are also available online. The Washington Courts Odyssey Portal gives free access to party names, charges, hearing dates, and disposition data for Whitman County cases. Full case documents are not posted online and must be ordered from the clerk's office.
Whitman County District Court
The Whitman County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims. The court operates in both Colfax and Pullman, which serves the large student population around Washington State University. Common cases include first-offense DUI, minor in possession of alcohol, simple assault, trespass, and other misdemeanor-level offenses. These records are public and searchable through the Odyssey Portal.
Pullman has a large number of young adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two due to the university. The District Court in Pullman sees a significant volume of cases related to that population. If you are searching records for someone who lived in Pullman, checking both the District Court and the Pullman City Court (if one exists for that period) may be needed for a complete picture. The court provides self-help forms for unrepresented parties.
Note: Pullman has a municipal court that handles some misdemeanor cases within city limits. County District Court handles unincorporated areas and matters where jurisdiction falls outside city court authority.
Whitman County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Whitman County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas of the county and operates the county jail. The Records Division maintains arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking information. These records are public under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, with exemptions for active investigations and legally protected categories of information.
Conviction records are available to the public. Non-conviction data is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, records from arrests that did not result in a conviction and where the case is closed can only go to criminal justice agencies or to the subject of the record. If your request turns up an arrest with no conviction, that portion will be redacted before any release.
Whitman County covers a large agricultural area in the Palouse. The Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for most of the county. Because Pullman is incorporated and has its own police department, Sheriff records primarily cover rural and unincorporated parts of the county. For cases involving the city of Pullman, contact the Pullman Police Department for police records.
Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH
For a complete official conviction record covering all Washington state convictions, the Washington State Patrol is the right source. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) delivers results online right away for $11.00 per search. Pay by credit or debit card and get immediate access. WATCH draws from a fingerprint-linked statewide database, so results include convictions from any Washington county, not just Whitman.
Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based search, or $58.00 with a fingerprint card for improved accuracy. Processing takes about 7 to 10 business days. Full details are at the WSP Criminal History Records page. To review your own complete record at no cost, including non-conviction data, visit the WSP Olympia office at 106 11th Ave SW, Suite 1300, for up to thirty minutes. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
Note: WATCH shows conviction records and pending arrests under one year old. Non-conviction data older than one year is not included in general public searches.
Whitman County Public Records Requests
For county agency records that are not court documents, use the Whitman County Public Records request process. This covers Sheriff's Office incident reports and county department records. Requests can be submitted online or in person. Court records must be requested directly from the Superior Court Clerk or District Court, not through the county's general public records office.
Under RCW 42.56.520, Whitman County must respond to any public records request within five business days of receiving it. The response may provide the records, give a production estimate, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Fees are limited to actual reproduction costs, and electronic delivery is available when possible.
Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, controls what Whitman County agencies can release. Conviction records from cases ending in a guilty plea, verdict, or adverse finding are public under RCW 10.97.050. Anyone can request them without giving a reason.
Non-conviction data is restricted. Under RCW 10.97.030, this covers records from cases that did not result in a conviction and where the case is no longer active. These records can only go to criminal justice agencies, to the person whose record it is, or to others specifically allowed by statute. If a report contains both types of data, the agency must redact the non-conviction parts before any public release.
To fix errors in your own record, submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. If the challenge is substantiated, the Criminal History Records Section corrects the record. Rules for deleting old non-conviction data are in RCW 10.97.060, which requires no prior convictions and sets specific waiting periods.
DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry
If someone from Whitman County is currently incarcerated in a Washington state prison, you can find them through the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For federal inmates, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator separately.
For registered sex offenders, the statewide registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B offenses carry a fifteen-year registration period. Class C offenses require ten years. Offenders register in person at the Whitman County Sheriff's Office in Colfax under RCW 9A.44.130. Students convicted of sex offenses who attend WSU must also register in Whitman County if they reside in the county during the school year.
Historical Records and Archives
For older Whitman County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may have what you need. The Eastern regional branch in Cheney is closest to Whitman County and serves counties in southeastern Washington. Some records date back to the territorial period. The MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records guide is useful for anyone who is not familiar with Washington's public records disclosure rules.
Cities in Whitman County
All felony criminal cases in Whitman County are processed through the Superior Court in Colfax. Pullman is the largest city in the county and has its own municipal court for misdemeanor cases within city limits.
Nearby Counties
Whitman County borders several eastern Washington counties and shares a border with Idaho.