Find Criminal Records in Richland
Richland criminal records are managed through three separate court systems depending on the type of charge. City misdemeanors and ordinance violations go to the Richland Municipal Court. State misdemeanor charges are handled by the Benton County District Court. Felony cases move to the Benton County Superior Court. Richland is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities area in southeastern Washington, so records from neighboring Kennewick and Pasco cases may sometimes involve shared facilities or the same county court. This guide explains how to search for criminal records in Richland and where to request copies.
Richland Overview
Richland Court System
Criminal cases from Richland are handled at one of three courts. The Richland Municipal Court deals with city ordinance violations and misdemeanors filed under city code. You can reach that court at (509) 942-7366 or go to richlandwa.gov for information on case types, hours, and how to look up your case.
The Benton County District Court handles state misdemeanor charges for Richland residents. That court is part of the Benton County court system. Both District Court and Superior Court records can be searched through the statewide Washington Courts portal or by contacting the Benton County Clerk directly.
| Richland Municipal Court | 900 Amon Park Drive, Richland, WA 99352 | (509) 942-7366 |
|---|---|
| Benton County District Court | (509) 735-8388 |
| Benton County Superior Court | 7122 W Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336 |
| Benton County Clerk | 7122 W Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA | (509) 735-8388 |
The Benton County Clerk manages all Superior Court files, including felony cases from Richland. That office is in Kennewick, which is the county seat. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for uncertified copies. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
Searching Richland Criminal Records
The fastest way to search criminal records tied to Richland is through the statewide Washington Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov. Enter a person's name and the system will return results from municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts across Washington, including the Benton County courts that serve Richland.
The Washington Courts case search portal at dw.courts.wa.gov returns results from all court levels, including Benton County courts that hear Richland criminal cases.
Results from the statewide search show case numbers, party names, filing dates, case types, and scheduled hearings. Document images are not available through that tool, but the docket entries tell you what happened at each stage of the case. To get a copy of the actual court record, you need to contact the clerk of the relevant court.
You can also contact the Benton County Clerk at (509) 735-8388 to request records by mail or in person. For Richland Municipal Court records, call (509) 942-7366. Be ready to give the full name of the person and an approximate year of the case.
Note: Municipal Court records are not part of the county court system and must be requested separately from that court's own records office.
Richland Police Records
The Richland Police Department maintains arrest reports, incident reports, and related police records for Richland. These records are separate from the court system. Court records track what happened after a case was filed. Police records document the original contact, the arrest, and the initial investigation.
To request police records, contact the Richland Police Department at 871 George Washington Way, Richland, WA 99352. Their main line is (509) 942-7340. You can learn more about their records process at richlandwa.gov/government/departments/police. Public records requests are subject to Washington's Public Records Act under RCW Chapter 42.56.
Processing times vary. Some records can be released quickly. Others, especially records tied to open investigations, may be withheld or partially redacted until the case is resolved.
State Criminal History Tools
Washington State offers several tools that cover criminal history beyond local court records. These systems pull data from agencies across all 39 counties and give you a broader view of a person's record in Washington.
The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) at watch.wsp.wa.gov provides name-and-date-of-birth background checks. The fee is $11 per search. Results come back right away and show conviction records, sex offender status, and DOC information. This tool does not return out-of-state records or non-conviction information.
The Washington State Patrol criminal history page at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history explains all request methods including online WATCH searches, mail requests, and fingerprint-based checks.
Mail-based requests cost $32 for a name and date of birth search. Fingerprint-based requests cost $58 and are more thorough. You can send requests to the Washington State Patrol, Identification and Criminal History Section, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633.
For people currently in a Washington State prison, the DOC incarcerated search at doc.wa.gov lets you look up custody status by name or DOC number. For sex offender registration information in Richland, check the public registry at waspc.org/sex-offender-information.
What Records Are Public
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act under RCW Chapter 10.97 controls what parts of criminal history are open to the public. Conviction records are generally available. Arrests that did not result in charges and cases that were dismissed or acquitted are not public records. Those are restricted to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.
Court case dockets and filed documents that are part of the public case record are accessible under the Public Records Act. Some filings, like sealed records, juvenile records, or documents containing protected personal information, may be withheld or redacted even in public cases.
If you need a certified copy of a Benton County court record, the clerk's office can produce one. Fees are $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page for certified copies, or $0.50 per page for uncertified copies. Call (509) 735-8388 to ask about the process before you make the trip to Kennewick.
Benton County Criminal Records
Richland is in Benton County. Superior Court and county district court cases are filed with the Benton County court system. For more detail on the county courts, agencies, and records access in Benton County, visit the Benton County criminal records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Richland in the Tri-Cities area of southeastern Washington.