Lincoln County Criminal Records
Lincoln County criminal records are held by the Superior Court Clerk and the District Court in Davenport. Anyone can search case files by name or case number, either through the statewide online portal or by visiting the courthouse in person. Lincoln County is a rural county in eastern Washington, served by one circuit court and one district court. Criminal cases range from misdemeanors handled at the district level to felony charges filed in Superior Court. If you need to look up an arrest record, check a court case, or find out about a past conviction in Lincoln County, this page walks you through the options available.
Lincoln County Overview
Lincoln County Superior Court Clerk
The Lincoln County Clerk of Superior Court keeps all felony case files for the county. This office processes new filings, stores court records, and handles copy requests from the public. The clerk's office is located at the courthouse in Davenport, which is the county seat. Staff can look up cases by name, date, or case number. If you know the case number, that is the fastest way to pull a record.
Lincoln County Superior Court handles felony charges, which include crimes like robbery, assault in the first or second degree, drug trafficking, and other serious offenses. Each case filed in Superior Court creates a paper record that includes the charging documents, court orders, plea information, and the final disposition. These records are maintained at the clerk's office and are open to the public under Washington's public records law.
| Office | Lincoln County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 Logan Street Davenport, WA 99122 |
| Phone | (509) 725-3081 |
| Website | lincolncountywa.gov |
Lincoln County District Court Records
Lincoln County District Court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and civil cases under $100,000. Misdemeanor criminal cases heard here include things like DUI, simple assault, theft under a certain value, and trespassing. Each case generates a court record with the charge, the outcome, and any sentence imposed. These records are maintained at the District Court office, also located at 450 Logan Street in Davenport.
You can reach the District Court at (509) 725-3066. The Lincoln County District Court website has contact details and general information. For online searches, the statewide Washington Courts case search covers both Superior Court and District Court cases filed in Lincoln County. You can search by name or case number at no cost through that portal.
Note: The statewide portal shows case status and hearing dates but does not provide document images. For actual copies, you need to contact the clerk's office directly.
Lincoln County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and jail records for the county. When someone is arrested in Lincoln County, the sheriff's office creates a record of the arrest that includes the name of the individual, the date and location of the arrest, and the charges. These records are separate from court records. An arrest record exists even if charges were later dropped or the case was dismissed. Under RCW Chapter 10.97, Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, access to non-conviction information is limited. Conviction records are generally public.
The sheriff's office is at 404 3rd Street in Davenport. You can reach them at (509) 725-3501. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office website has more contact information. For public records requests, contact the office directly and submit a written request under Washington's public records law, RCW Chapter 42.56.
Online Search for Lincoln County Criminal Records
The main online tool for searching Lincoln County criminal records is the Washington Courts Name and Case Search. This statewide system pulls case data from municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts. You can search by person name, case number, attorney name, or judicial officer. The portal is free to use and does not require an account. Results show case numbers, filing dates, party names, case status, and scheduled hearings.
The Washington Courts case search portal is available at dw.courts.wa.gov. It covers Lincoln County Superior Court and District Court records. The system does not include document images, so you can see that a case exists and what its status is, but you cannot read the actual filings online. For document images or certified copies, contact the Lincoln County Clerk directly.
The Washington Courts portal lets you search Lincoln County criminal cases by name or case number without any fee.
Washington State Patrol Criminal History
Beyond the court system, the Washington State Patrol maintains a centralized criminal history database covering all 39 counties, including Lincoln County. The WSP Identification and Criminal History Section stores fingerprint-based records and disposition data submitted by courts and law enforcement agencies statewide. This is separate from what you find in the court case search portal.
The WSP offers two main ways to access criminal history. First, the WATCH system lets you run an online name and date-of-birth check for $11.00. Results come back within seconds and show Washington State conviction history, any arrests under one year old with pending dispositions, and sex or kidnapping offender status. Second, you can submit a mail-in request to the WSP for a more detailed record. Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name and DOB search or $58.00 for a fingerprint-based search.
The WSP criminal history page explains request options, fees, and what information is included in a Washington State conviction record.
The WSP office is located at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501. Phone: (360) 534-2000. One thing to keep in mind: WATCH does not report out-of-state convictions. If you need a nationwide check, you will need a different source.
WATCH Online Background Check System
WATCH stands for Washington Access to Criminal History. It is the state's web-based system for running name and date-of-birth checks against the WSP criminal history database. Anyone can use it. You pay $11.00 per search by credit or debit card. The system returns one of several responses: no record found, no exact match, a list of candidates, or a full RAP sheet showing Washington State conviction history.
WATCH provides immediate results for Washington State conviction checks and includes sex offender registration status in the results.
The RAP sheet from WATCH shows all Washington State criminal convictions, adverse findings, and arrests under one year old with no disposition yet. It also notes sex and kidnapping offender registration status and Department of Corrections information. Keep in mind this is a name-based search, not a fingerprint comparison, so there is a small chance of a false match or a missed record if someone used an alias.
Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search
If you are looking for someone who may be currently incarcerated in a Washington State prison, the Department of Corrections runs a free online search at doc.wa.gov. You can search by DOC number or by first and last name. Results show age, location, and custody status. This covers state prisons only, not county jails. Lincoln County jail records are held by the sheriff's office.
The DOC also handles public disclosure requests for records it maintains. Contact the Public Disclosure Unit by email at publicdisclosureunit@doc1.wa.gov or by phone at (360) 725-8213. Their mailing address is Department of Corrections, P.O. Box 41100, Mail Stop 41100, Olympia, WA 98504-1100.
Lincoln County Sex Offender Registry
Sex offender registration in Lincoln County is handled by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. Under RCW 9A.44.130, registered sex offenders must report to the sheriff's office in their county of residence. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs administers the statewide public registry.
The public registry is searchable at waspc.org. Washington uses a three-level risk classification. Level I offenders are considered low risk and their information is shared with law enforcement only. Level II and Level III offenders are listed on the public registry. Level III offenders are considered high risk and may be subject to active community notification. The national registry at www.nsopw.gov covers offenders registered in other states as well.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Lincoln County. If you are not sure which county filed a particular criminal case, check the city or town where the offense occurred.