Yakima County Criminal Records
Yakima County criminal records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk, the District Court, and the Department of Corrections in Yakima, Washington. If you need to search for felony cases, misdemeanor charges, inmate booking data, or a full background check tied to Yakima County, this guide covers each office, what they hold, and how to reach them. The county courthouse sits at 128 N 2nd Street in Yakima, and the statewide Washington Courts portal at dw.courts.wa.gov provides free online case searches for both courts.
Yakima County Overview
Yakima County Superior Court Clerk
The Yakima County Clerk of Superior Court is the official keeper of all felony criminal records in the county. This office stores charging documents, sentencing orders, probation records, case judgments, and motions for every felony case filed in Yakima County. Both open and closed cases are kept here. The clerk's office is on the third floor of the courthouse at 128 N 2nd Street, Room 314.
You can request records in person or by mail. In-person visits are the best option if you need to review a full case file or pick up certified copies right away. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Written requests are processed within about 48 hours. The clerk can search by party name or case number. Staff can also help you figure out which court division handled a specific case type.
The Yakima County Superior Court Clerk page lists contact information, office hours, and details on how to request certified copies of criminal court records in person or by written request.
| Office | Yakima County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 128 N 2nd Street, Room 314 Yakima, WA 98901 |
| Phone | (509) 574-2700 |
| Copy Fees | $5 first page, $1 each additional page (certified) |
| Processing Time | Requests typically completed within 48 hours |
| Website | yakimacounty.us/162/Clerk-of-Superior-Court |
Yakima County District Court Criminal Records
The Yakima County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions with criminal components, and civil matters under $100,000. If the record you need involves a DUI, assault in the fourth degree, reckless driving, or a similar lower-level charge, this is the court that filed it. District Court records are kept separately from Superior Court records, even though both courts are at 128 N 2nd Street in Yakima.
Copy fees at the District Court differ from the Superior Court. Criminal history copies run 25 cents per page. Audio recordings of hearings are available on CD for $20. General records copies cost 50 cents per page. These charges apply to in-person and written requests. You can reach the District Court at Room 226, and the phone number is (509) 574-1450.
The Yakima County District Court page covers contact information, fee schedules, and record request procedures for misdemeanor criminal cases filed in Yakima County.
| Office | Yakima County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 128 N 2nd Street, Room 226 Yakima, WA 98901 |
| Phone | (509) 574-1450 |
| Criminal History Copies | 25 cents per page |
| Audio Copies | $20 per CD |
| General Records | 50 cents per page |
| Website | yakimacounty.us/163/District-Court |
Yakima County Inmate Lookup
The Yakima County Department of Corrections operates the county jail and provides a public inmate lookup tool online. This system is updated daily and shows current inmates including booking dates, charges filed, and bond information. It is free to use and does not require an account or login.
You can access the Yakima County inmate lookup at yakimacounty.us/203/Department-of-Corrections. This covers people currently in the county jail, whether they are awaiting trial or serving a short jail sentence. People transferred to state prison after a felony conviction will not appear here. Use the Washington DOC inmate search for state prison records.
The Yakima County Department of Corrections page provides access to the online inmate lookup system, which is updated daily with current booking information for county jail inmates.
Yakima County Court Records Online
The Washington Courts case search portal is the main free tool for finding Yakima County criminal case records online. You can access it at dw.courts.wa.gov. This tool covers all municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts across Washington State, including both Yakima County courts. Search by party name or case number. Results include case numbers, party names, charge descriptions, current status, and hearing dates. There is no charge and no account needed.
This portal is the best starting point when you do not know which court filed a case or when you just need the case number before requesting physical copies. Document images are not available through this tool, so you still need to contact the clerk's office for actual filings.
The statewide Washington Courts portal allows free name and case number searches for both Yakima County Superior Court and District Court criminal case records.
Note: Older criminal records that predate electronic case management systems may not appear in the online portal. Contact the clerk's office directly for records from many years ago.
Washington State Patrol Criminal History
The Washington State Patrol central criminal history database covers conviction records from all 39 Washington counties, including Yakima. The WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov lets you run an online search by name and date of birth. The fee is $11 per search. Results come back in seconds. WATCH shows Washington State conviction records, registered sex and kidnapping offender status, and Department of Corrections information.
If you need more than a name-based search, the WSP also accepts requests by mail. A name and date of birth check by mail costs $32. A fingerprint-based check costs $58 and is the most reliable option because it ties results to the actual individual rather than just their name and birth date. The WSP office is in Olympia at 106 11th Ave SW, Suite 1300. You can also visit in person for fingerprinting. The WSP phone number is (360) 534-2000.
The WATCH system lets you search for Washington criminal conviction history online, covering Yakima County and all other Washington counties in one immediate search.
The WSP criminal history page explains all available methods for accessing Washington State criminal records, including the online WATCH system and mail or in-person request options.
State Prison Records for Yakima County Cases
When someone is convicted of a felony in Yakima County and receives a state prison sentence, they are transferred to a Washington Department of Corrections facility. The DOC inmate search at doc.wa.gov lets you look up currently incarcerated individuals by name or DOC number. Results show the person's current facility, custody status, and age. The tool is free to use.
Major DOC facilities in Washington include the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Monroe Correctional Complex, and Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, among others. Yakima County felony cases feed into this system. People serving county jail time on misdemeanor or short felony sentences will not appear in the DOC database. For those, use the Yakima County inmate lookup or call the county Department of Corrections directly.
The Washington DOC incarcerated person search covers state prison populations and includes people sentenced from Yakima County Superior Court on felony charges.
Sex Offender Registry in Yakima County
Sex offender registration in Yakima County is managed by the Sheriff's Office. All persons required to register as sex or kidnapping offenders must do so in person at the Sheriff's Office in the county where they reside. Under RCW 9A.44.130, registration must happen within three business days of release from custody, and any change of address must be reported within three business days as well.
The public registry shows Level II and Level III offenders. Level III offenders pose the highest risk and are subject to community-wide notification. Level II offenders are published on the registry and notifications may go to nearby schools or childcare centers. Level I offenders are low risk and their information stays within law enforcement only. Search the registry at waspc.org/sex-offender-information or at wasor.org.
The WASPC sex offender information page provides access to the state public registry and explains the risk classification system used by the Yakima County Sheriff and all other Washington sheriffs.
Access Rules for Yakima County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Washington are governed by the Criminal Records Privacy Act under RCW Chapter 10.97. This law defines what criminal history data is public, what is restricted, and how agencies must protect it. Conviction records are open to the public. Non-conviction information, like arrests that were never charged or charges later dismissed, is restricted to criminal justice agencies. If a case was dismissed, you may not be able to access the full record through a standard public records request.
The Washington Public Records Act at RCW Chapter 42.56 gives the public the right to request records from state and local government agencies. You can submit a written request to the Yakima County Superior Court Clerk or the District Court for specific case documents. Written requests are typically processed within 48 hours at the clerk's office. The agency must acknowledge your request within five business days. Some records may be partially withheld if they contain exempt information, such as private contact details for victims or witnesses.
Note: Yakima County juvenile criminal records are generally sealed under Washington law and are not available to the public through standard records requests.
Cities in Yakima County
All felony cases from cities and towns in Yakima County are filed at the Superior Court in Yakima. Misdemeanor cases go through the District Court or a local municipal court depending on where the charge occurred.
Other communities in Yakima County include Selah, Union Gap, Sunnyside, Wapato, Grandview, and Moxee. Criminal cases from these areas are handled at the Yakima County courthouse at 128 N 2nd Street in Yakima.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Yakima County. If you need records from an adjacent county or are not sure which county holds a specific case, check where the charge occurred.