Criminal Records in Benton County

Benton County criminal records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk and District Court in Kennewick, which serves as the county seat. Benton County is one of the more populated counties in eastern Washington, covering the Tri-Cities area including Kennewick, Richland, and Prosser. If you need to search felony case files, misdemeanor records, arrest history, or conviction information for Benton County, this page covers the main sources and how to access them.

Benton County Superior Court Clerk

The Benton County Clerk of Superior Court holds all felony criminal case files for the county. The Records Department handles requests for case files, document copies, and case information. You can submit requests in person, by mail, or online. The Clerk's office keeps records dating back many years, covering all felony convictions, sentencing orders, and related court documents from Benton County Superior Court.

Copy fees at Benton County are set under Washington State law. Uncertified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. If you need a certified copy of a judgment or sentencing order, plan for those costs. You can also submit a search request if you do not have the case number, though some offices charge a search fee for requests without a case number.

Note: Records requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or through the county's online request process. Check the website for current online request instructions.

Benton County District Court

The Benton County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, gross misdemeanors, and traffic violations. DUI cases, minor assaults, and lower-level theft charges are all handled at this court level. District Court records are separate from Superior Court records. Both courts are located at the same address in Kennewick.

If you are looking for misdemeanor criminal records, contact the District Court directly or use the statewide Washington Courts case search. The portal covers both Superior and District Court cases from Benton County. You can search by name or case number for free. The District Court also handles civil cases up to $100,000 and small claims matters up to the state limit.

Benton County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Benton County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and also operates the county jail through its Corrections Division. The Sheriff maintains arrest records, incident reports, and booking information. To request arrest records or incident reports, submit a public records request to the Sheriff's Office. They process requests under RCW Chapter 42.56 and must respond within five business days.

Arrest records are public under Washington law in most cases. However, investigative records tied to an open case may be withheld under RCW 42.56.240(1) until the investigation is closed. If you are requesting records related to an older case, you generally have better access than if the case is still active. Ask the Sheriff's Office about the status of the case when you submit your request.

Benton County Criminal Records Online

The free Washington Courts Name and Case Search is the easiest online tool for finding Benton County criminal records. Search by person name, case number, attorney, or judge. The portal returns filing dates, party names, case status, charge descriptions, and scheduled hearing dates. It does not provide copies of documents, but it tells you enough to decide whether to submit a formal request to the Clerk's office.

Benton County is part of the larger Tri-Cities area. If you are not sure whether a case was filed in Benton County or neighboring Franklin County, the statewide portal can search both counties at once. This saves time if you are trying to track down a case and are unsure which court has it.

WATCH Background Checks for Benton County

The Washington State Patrol's WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov lets you search criminal conviction history for anyone in Washington State, including Benton County. Each search costs $11. You enter the person's exact name and date of birth and get results within seconds. The system returns a RAP sheet if a criminal history record is found. That record includes Washington State convictions, recent arrests with pending dispositions, sex offender registration status, and Department of Corrections information.

WATCH is name and date of birth based. It is not a fingerprint comparison. That means if two people have the same name and birth date, the system may return a list of candidates. For a more thorough check involving fingerprints, you can submit a mail-in request to the Washington State Patrol Identification Section. Mail requests for name-based checks cost $32. Fingerprint-based requests cost $58. Mail requests go to: Washington State Patrol, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633.

Under RCW Chapter 10.97, non-conviction data is restricted. If you run a WATCH check, you will only see conviction information and pending arrest data within the past year. Charges that were dropped or resulted in acquittal do not appear on public WATCH results.

Benton County Jail Roster and Inmate Records

The Benton County jail roster is available online through the county website. The roster at co.benton.wa.us/166/Jail shows current inmates, their booking information, charges, and bond amounts. This is updated regularly and is a quick way to see who is currently in custody at the Benton County jail. For state prison inmates, use the Washington State Department of Corrections search at doc.wa.gov.

The DOC inmate search covers people who are currently incarcerated in a Washington State correctional facility. You can search by name or DOC number. It shows the person's current facility, age, and custody status. This tool is free and does not require an account.

Sex Offender Registry in Benton County

The Benton County Sheriff's Office handles sex offender registration for the county. Offenders must register with the Sheriff within three business days of release and report any address or job changes within three business days. This requirement comes from RCW 9A.44.130. The Sheriff maintains the local registry and shares Level II and Level III offender information with the public.

You can search registered sex offenders in Benton County through the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry at waspc.org. The registry is managed by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Level I offenders are considered low risk and are not listed on the public site. High-risk Level III offenders may be subject to active community notification in addition to the public registry listing.

How to Get Benton County Criminal Records

You have three main options for getting Benton County criminal records: walk in to the courthouse, mail a request, or search online. In-person requests are handled at 7122 W Okanogan Place in Kennewick. Go to the Superior Court Clerk for felony cases or the District Court for misdemeanor cases. Staff will search by name or case number and make copies on request. Bring a photo ID. Fees apply for copies.

To request records by mail, send a written request to the Benton County Clerk at 7122 W Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336. Include the subject's full name, approximate case filing year, and case number if you have it. State what documents you need. Ask for the current copy fee schedule. Send a check or money order made payable to the Benton County Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents if needed.

For online requests, the Benton County Clerk has an online copy request process. Check the clerk's website at co.benton.wa.us for the current online request form and instructions. Emailed copies cost $0.25 per page. Mailed copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. A $30 search fee may apply if you do not have a case number.

You can also use the Washington State court forms page to find standard request forms for court records across the state.

Privacy and Access Rules for Benton County Records

Criminal court records in Benton County are generally public. Washington's Public Records Act under RCW Chapter 42.56 requires agencies to make records available on request. Conviction records can be disclosed to anyone. Court case files, judgments, and sentencing orders are open to the public unless a court has entered an order to seal them.

The Criminal Records Privacy Act at RCW Chapter 10.97 draws the line between what the general public can access and what is restricted. Conviction records are unrestricted. Non-conviction data, such as arrests without prosecution or charges that were dismissed, is available only to criminal justice agencies. Under RCW 10.97.060, you can request deletion of non-conviction-only records from the state database if no proceedings are active. Under RCW 10.97.080, the subject of a record can review their own complete criminal history, including non-conviction data, after verifying their identity.

Cities in Benton County

Benton County covers the southern part of the Tri-Cities area. All criminal cases from these cities go through the Benton County Superior Court or District Court in Kennewick.

Other communities in Benton County include Prosser, Benton City, and West Richland. Criminal cases from all these areas are filed in Benton County courts.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Benton County. If you need records from neighboring areas, check the pages below.