Criminal Records in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is the fourth largest city in Washington State and sits just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon. Criminal records in Vancouver, Washington are handled through Clark County courts. Misdemeanor violations within city limits go to Vancouver Municipal Court or Clark County District Court depending on whether they were charged under city ordinance or state law. Felony charges land in Clark County Superior Court. If you want to find Vancouver criminal records, the statewide Washington Courts case search, the Clark County Odyssey Portal, and the Washington State Patrol WATCH system each cover different parts of the record trail. The Vancouver Police Department holds local arrest and incident reports.
Vancouver Overview
Clark County Superior Court and Clerk
Felony cases involving Vancouver residents are filed in Clark County Superior Court. The Clark County Clerk manages the official case files and handles all records requests. The clerk's mailing address is PO Box 5000, and the phone number is (564) 397-2292. The clerk's website is at clark.wa.gov/clerk. To get certified copies of felony judgments or sentencing records, start with the clerk's office.
Each felony case file contains charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing records, probation orders, and any motions filed during the case. These are public records unless a court has sealed them. Cases can go back decades. If you know the approximate year a case was filed, that narrows the search considerably.
The screenshot below shows the Clark County Clerk of Superior Court page, which covers how to access felony case records for Vancouver residents:
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
Clark County District Court
Clark County District Court at 1200 Franklin Street handles state-level misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors. The phone number is (564) 397-2150. More information about the court is at clark.wa.gov/courts. This court handles lower-level criminal matters including DUI charges, domestic violence misdemeanors, and other gross misdemeanors filed under state law for Vancouver residents.
District Court records are public. You can find them through the statewide Washington Courts Name and Case Search or through the Clark County Odyssey Portal described below. Results show party names, charges, case status, and hearing dates.
Clark County Odyssey Portal
Clark County uses the Odyssey Portal for online court case searches. This statewide portal lets you search Clark County court cases by name or case number. For Vancouver residents, it covers both District Court and Superior Court cases in one search. The portal shows charges, case status, party names, and hearing dates.
The screenshot below shows the Odyssey Portal, which is used for searching Clark County court records including Vancouver criminal cases:
The Odyssey Portal is free and available 24 hours a day. It does not provide document images. To get copies of specific documents, contact the Clark County Clerk or the appropriate court directly.
Vancouver Police Department Records
The Vancouver Police Department records unit maintains arrest records, incident reports, and collision reports for events within Vancouver city limits. Police records are not the same as court records. An arrest report covers the incident itself. Court records cover what happened after charges were filed.
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW Chapter 42.56 gives the public the right to inspect and copy most government records. Some portions may be redacted to protect victims or active investigations. The Vancouver Police Department is located at 510 W 11th Street, Vancouver, WA 98660. Phone: (360) 487-7355. Submit a public records request through the records unit to get copies of specific incident reports.
WSP Criminal History and WATCH
The Washington State Patrol runs WATCH, a web-based name and date of birth background check system. WATCH pulls conviction history from the WSP central repository. It covers all Washington State criminal convictions, adverse findings, and arrests less than one year old without a final disposition.
WATCH costs $11 per search. You enter the person's exact name and date of birth. Within seconds you get a result. It is often the fastest way to get a full conviction picture for a Vancouver resident without contacting each court separately. More information is at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history. Mail-in requests cost $32 by name and date of birth. Fingerprint-based searches cost $58 and are more accurate when name-only searches return multiple candidates.
Note: WATCH covers only Washington State convictions. If you need records from Oregon or other states, you must contact those states' agencies separately.
Sex Offender Registry in Vancouver
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs runs the statewide sex offender registry at waspc.org. The Clark County Sheriff handles local registrations for Vancouver. Level II and Level III offenders are listed publicly at www.wasor.org. Level I offenders are considered low risk and are not on the public website.
You can also check the national registry at www.nsopw.gov, which covers Washington and all other states. Offenders must register within three business days of release and report address changes within the same window. Failure to register is a criminal offense under state law.
DOC Incarcerated Offender Search
The Department of Corrections has a public search tool for currently incarcerated individuals at doc.wa.gov. You can search by name or DOC number. Results show age, location, and custody status. This covers state prison holds, not county jail bookings. The DOC also handles public records requests through its Public Disclosure Unit at (360) 725-8213.
Clark County Criminal Records
Vancouver is in Clark County, and all state-level misdemeanor and felony cases run through Clark County courts. The county page has more detail on court locations, clerk contact information, and how to access county-level criminal records.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Vancouver and each has its own criminal records page.