Franklin County Criminal Records Search

Franklin County criminal records are filed and maintained through the Superior Court and District Court, both located at the courthouse in Pasco. The county seat serves the Tri-Cities area's Franklin County residents and handles all felony filings, misdemeanor cases, and related criminal matters. If you need to search for criminal records in Franklin County, this guide covers how to access court files through the local clerk's office, how to use the Sheriff's Office for arrest records, how to run a statewide conviction history search, and what the law says about who can access what information.

Franklin County Superior Court Clerk

The Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court is the official keeper of all felony criminal records filed in the county. This office stores case files for every felony charged in Franklin County, along with civil, family, and probate matters. The clerk's office is your first stop when searching for a felony criminal record in Franklin County. Staff can search by name or case number. An online records portal is available for case searches as well.

The office is at 1016 N 4th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301. Phone is (509) 545-3516. More information about accessing Franklin County criminal case records is at co.franklin.wa.us/clerk. You can visit in person, submit a mail request, or use their online portal to search case information. Certified copies follow Washington State fee schedules.

The Franklin County Clerk's online portal lets you look up case information and submit records requests. The office handles all felony criminal case files for the county.

Franklin County District Court

The Franklin County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, and civil cases under $100,000. This is where lower-level criminal charges are processed in Franklin County. If your search involves a misdemeanor offense, this is the right court. The District Court shares the courthouse address at 1016 N 4th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301. Phone is (509) 545-3545.

District Court records for Franklin County are searchable through the statewide Washington Courts portal at dw.courts.wa.gov. More information about the court and its procedures is at co.franklin.wa.us/district-court. The District Court handles cases filed by Pasco Police, the Franklin County Sheriff, Washington State Patrol, and other agencies.

Franklin County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and operates the county jail. The Sheriff's Office generates arrest records, booking records, and incident reports that are part of the county's criminal records system. For public records requests, contact the Sheriff's Office at 1016 N 4th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301. Phone is (509) 545-3510.

More information about the Franklin County Sheriff and their public records process is at co.franklin.wa.us/sheriff. Under RCW 42.56, the Sheriff's Office must respond to records requests within five business days. Most arrest records are public. Records tied to active investigations or involving protected individuals may be withheld or redacted.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office at co.franklin.wa.us/sheriff maintains arrest and booking records for the county and accepts public records requests for law enforcement documents.

Franklin County Criminal Records Online

For online searches of Franklin County criminal case records, the Washington State Courts portal at dw.courts.wa.gov is the primary free tool. This covers Superior Court, District Court, and municipal court cases from all 39 Washington counties. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or judicial officer. Results show case numbers, party names, charge descriptions, filing dates, and case status. The search is free and available around the clock.

Document images are not available through the statewide portal. It shows docket entries and hearing schedules. For actual court documents, contact the Franklin County Clerk directly by phone or in person. The online search is most useful as a starting point to confirm case existence and get the case number before submitting a formal request. The court directory at courts.wa.gov/court_dir has full contact details for all Washington courts.

WATCH: Franklin County Conviction History

WATCH, run by the Washington State Patrol, gives anyone access to statewide criminal conviction history by name and date of birth. A WATCH search costs $11 and runs immediately at watch.wsp.wa.gov. Results can include a full conviction RAP sheet showing all Washington State criminal convictions, adverse findings, and recent arrests with pending dispositions. The system also shows sex offender registration status and Department of Corrections information.

WATCH only covers Washington State records. It does not pull in out-of-state convictions. For a deeper check, the WSP accepts mail-in requests. A name and date of birth search by mail costs $32. A fingerprint-based check costs $58 and is more accurate since it matches to a physical record rather than just a name. You can find full instructions for requesting criminal history records at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history.

Inmate Lookup for Franklin County Cases

For people currently serving time in Washington State prisons, the Department of Corrections provides a free public search at doc.wa.gov/records/incarcerated-data-search. You can search by name or DOC number. Results show age, current facility, and custody status. Franklin County residents sentenced to state prison may be housed at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, which is located in the same region, or at other facilities statewide.

For DOC records on released individuals, contact the Public Disclosure Unit at publicdisclosureunit@doc1.wa.gov or (360) 725-8213. Printed copies cost 15 cents per page. Electronic records cost 10 cents per page.

Sex Offender Registry in Franklin County

The Franklin County Sheriff manages sex offender registration for the county. All registered sex offenders in Franklin County must register with the Sheriff within three business days of release from custody or any change in residence, employment, or school. This is required under RCW 9A.44.130. The Sheriff's Office at 1016 N 4th Avenue, Pasco handles these registrations.

Level II and Level III offenders registered in Franklin County appear on the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry managed by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. You can search the registry at wasor.org or get information about the registration system at waspc.org/sex-offender-information. Level I offenders are not listed publicly. Failure to register is a felony under RCW 9A.44.132.

Requesting Criminal Records in Franklin County

To request Franklin County criminal court records, contact the Clerk of Superior Court or District Court. Bring or include the full name of the person, the approximate year the case was filed, and the case number if you have it. You can visit in person at 1016 N 4th Avenue in Pasco, send a written mail request, or check if an online records request is available through the clerk's website.

For arrest records and incident reports held by the Sheriff's Office, submit a public records request to that office. Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56 gives you the right to request most government records. Agencies must respond within five business days. Court forms are available at courts.wa.gov/forms.

Conviction records are public under Washington law. Non-conviction records, which include arrests that did not result in charges or cases ending in acquittal or dismissal, are restricted under RCW 10.97. These are only available to criminal justice agencies.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County includes Pasco and several smaller communities. All felony criminal cases from across the county go through the Superior Court in Pasco.

Other communities in Franklin County include Connell, Mesa, and Kahlotus. Criminal cases from all of these areas are handled by the Franklin County Superior Court and District Court in Pasco.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Franklin County. You can use the statewide Washington Courts portal to search across county lines if you are not certain where a case was filed.