Franklin County Public Records /Franklin County Criminal Records

Franklin County Criminal Records

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Franklin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Franklin County, Washington, may access publicly available information through official government repositories, court systems, and aggregator platforms such as FranklinWARecords.org. Criminal records maintained by county and state agencies may include a range of documentation generated throughout the criminal justice process. The information available through these channels may reflect:

Arrest and booking records
Criminal charges and case filings
Court dispositions and sentencing outcomes
Conviction histories
Active warrants and protective orders
Sex offender registration status
Probation and parole records

Records can be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods outline the primary channels through which members of the public may obtain criminal records in Franklin County.

1. County Court Records

The Franklin County Superior Court serves as the primary repository for felony criminal case files, while the Franklin County District Court maintains misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor records.

Franklin County Superior Court
1016 N 4th Ave
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3535
Franklin County Superior Court

Members of the public may visit the clerk's office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Requestors should provide the subject's full legal name and date of birth. Government-issued photo identification is required for certified copy requests. Public access terminals are available in the courthouse lobby for self-service case lookups at no charge.

2. Sheriff's Office

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, booking records, and current inmate rosters.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office
1016 N 4th Ave
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 628-0333
Franklin County Sheriff's Office

Arrest logs and booking reports are available upon written request. Fees for copies are assessed in accordance with § 42.56.120 RCW. Requestors should submit a completed public records request form identifying the subject by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest.

3. Online Court Search

The Washington State Courts system provides a statewide name and case search portal that allows members of the public to search Franklin County Superior Court and District Court records by party name or case number. Users should enter the subject's last name, first name, and date of birth to narrow results. The portal returns case numbers, filing dates, charge descriptions, and disposition information. Note that the online portal reflects records entered into the Judicial Information System and may not include all historical cases predating electronic filing.

4. State Criminal History Repository

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) maintains the state's central criminal history repository. Members of the public may submit a name-based conviction record request through the WSP WATCH portal, which provides access to Washington State conviction records only. Fingerprint-based background checks, which return a more comprehensive record, are processed through the WSP Criminal Records Division. As noted by the Washington State Patrol, "Records, or background checks, consist of fingerprint-based records and disposition information submitted by law enforcement agencies and courts throughout" the state. The current fee for a name-based public disclosure check is $11.00. Fingerprint-based checks require submission of a completed applicant fingerprint card and carry a separate fee schedule.

Washington State Patrol – Criminal Records Division
PO Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633
Phone: (360) 534-2000
WSP Criminal History

5. Written/Mail Requests

Written requests for Franklin County court records may be submitted by mail to the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk at 1016 N 4th Ave, Pasco, WA 99301. Requests must include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, case number if known, and a description of the records sought. Under § 42.56.520 RCW, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within five business days, either by providing the records, acknowledging the request and providing an estimated timeline, or denying the request with a written explanation.

What Is Franklin County Criminal Records

A criminal record in Franklin County is a documented history of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the jurisdiction of Washington State courts and law enforcement agencies. Under Chapter 10.97 RCW, the Washington State Criminal Records Privacy Act, criminal history record information is defined as information contained in records collected by criminal justice agencies, consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, informations, or other formal criminal charges, and any disposition arising therefrom.

Criminal records encompass several distinct categories. Arrest records document the act of taking a person into custody and do not, by themselves, indicate guilt or conviction. Conviction records reflect a formal finding of guilt entered by a court following a plea or trial. Felony records involve offenses classified as Class A, B, or C felonies under Washington law, while misdemeanor records cover gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors. Juvenile records are subject to separate statutory protections and are sealed from public access in most circumstances. Active warrant records reflect outstanding judicial orders for arrest that have not yet been executed.

The following agencies maintain criminal records in Franklin County:

Franklin County Sheriff's Office – arrest records, booking records, jail records
Franklin County Superior Court – felony case files, dispositions, sentencing records
Franklin County District Court – misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor case files
Washington State Patrol – statewide criminal history repository
Pasco Police Department and other municipal agencies – local arrest and incident reports

Records are created at the point of arrest and updated as a case progresses through arraignment, pretrial proceedings, plea agreements, trial, sentencing, and any subsequent appeals or supervision. The Washington Courts case search reflects case-level information for Franklin County Superior Court proceedings.

Are Criminal Records Public In Franklin County

Criminal records in Franklin County are subject to public disclosure under the Washington State Public Records Act, codified at § 42.56 RCW. Adult conviction records, court case filings, and most court proceedings are accessible to members of the public. As stated by the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, "The Attorney General's Office would like to assist you in understanding Washington law governing access to public records, and obtaining those records." Guidance on the scope of public access is available through the Office of the Attorney General's public records page.

The following categories of records are accessible to the public:

Adult conviction records
Court case filings and docket entries
Sentencing orders and judgment documents
Booking information and arrest logs

The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:

Juvenile court records (sealed by statute)
Records subject to a court order of expungement or vacation
Ongoing criminal investigation files
Victim and witness identifying information
Mental health and competency evaluation records
Records sealed pursuant to court order

Federal criminal records maintained by the FBI are governed by separate federal statutes and are not subject to Washington State public records law. Expunged or vacated records, while potentially still accessible to law enforcement, are not available through standard public disclosure channels.

How To Find Criminal Records in Franklin County Online

Official County Resources

The Franklin County Superior Court participates in the Washington State Courts' online case management system. Members of the public may conduct a Washington Courts case search to retrieve case-level information including charge descriptions, hearing dates, and dispositions. The City of Pasco also maintains a public records search portal through which members of the public may request city-level records, including records related to municipal court proceedings.

State-Level Resources

At the state level, the Washington State Courts name and case search provides access to records across all participating Washington counties. The WSP WATCH portal provides name-based conviction record searches for Washington State only. This database is comprised of records transmitted to the Washington Automated Criminal History System (WACHS) by courts and criminal justice agencies statewide.

Search Tips

Search using the subject's full legal name and any known aliases
Case number searches return the most precise results
Cross-reference multiple databases, as no single portal contains all records
Note that records predating electronic filing may not appear in online systems
Sealed and expunged records do not appear in public-facing search tools

Limitations

Online databases reflect a data lag of varying duration depending on the reporting agency. Historical records predating the implementation of electronic case management systems may not be digitized. Online searches do not substitute for an official certified background check for employment, licensing, or legal proceedings.

Can You Search Franklin County Criminal Records for Free

Free Options

1. In-Person Inspection: Washington State law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under § 42.56 RCW, agencies may not charge a fee for the inspection of records. Public access terminals are available at the Franklin County Superior Court clerk's office and the Franklin County District Court for self-service case lookups.

2. Free Online Databases: The following portals provide free access to Franklin County criminal case information:

Resource	Access	Cost
Washington Courts Case Search	Online	Free
Washington State Courts Name Search	Online	Free
WSP WATCH Portal	Online	$11.00 (name-based)
Franklin County Superior Court Public Terminal	In-Person	Free

3. Sheriff's Logs: Daily arrest and booking logs maintained by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office are available for public inspection at no charge during regular business hours.

What Costs Money

Certified copies of court records: fees set per page under agency fee schedules
Official state background checks: $11.00 (name-based) through WSP WATCH
Fingerprint-based criminal history checks: fee schedule available through WSP
Staff-assisted record searches exceeding standard processing time
Electronic copies transmitted by email or other digital delivery

What's Included in a Franklin County Criminal Record

Identifying Information: Full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, State Identification Number (SID), and FBI number where applicable.

Arrest Information: Date, time, and location of arrest; arresting agency; booking number; charges filed at the time of arrest; bail or bond amount; and facility of detention.

Court Case Information: Case number, court of jurisdiction, filing date, charge descriptions with applicable statute citations, felony or misdemeanor classification, plea entered, and attorney of record.

Disposition: Verdict or plea outcome, conviction date, sentence type and length, fines and restitution ordered, probation or parole conditions, and any appellate proceedings.

Additional Record Elements: Outstanding warrants, active protective orders, sex offender registration status, DUI or DWI notations, and pending charges.

NOT Included in Public Records:

Juvenile adjudication records
Expunged or vacated conviction records
Records from other states
Federal criminal records
Completed diversion program records where disclosure is restricted by court order

Accuracy Note: Criminal records may contain data entry errors or incomplete disposition information. Individuals who identify inaccuracies in their Washington State criminal history record may submit a challenge through the Washington State Patrol Criminal Records Division. Maintaining accurate records is essential for employment screening, licensing determinations, and legal proceedings.

How Long Does Franklin County Keep Criminal Records

Legal Requirements

Washington State establishes records retention schedules through the Secretary of State's Local Government Common Records Retention Schedule. Courts and law enforcement agencies are required to adhere to these schedules, which vary by record type and disposition outcome.

Retention by Record Type

Record Type	Retention Period
Felony convictions	Permanent
Misdemeanor convictions	Permanent
Arrest records (no conviction)	Minimum 6 years
Dismissed or acquitted cases	Permanent (disposition noted)
Juvenile records	Sealed at age 18; destruction eligibility varies by offense
Pending cases	Retained until final resolution

Agency Differences

County courts retain case files permanently in accordance with Washington State court records retention rules. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office retains jail and booking records according to the applicable local government retention schedule. The Washington State Patrol retains conviction records permanently in the state criminal history repository, as reflected in the WSP criminal history program.

Physical vs. Electronic Records

Electronic records are retained for the duration specified in the applicable retention schedule and, in practice, are often maintained beyond the minimum period. Paper records may be destroyed following scanning and digital preservation, provided the electronic copy meets archival standards.

Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement

Destruction refers to the physical or electronic elimination of a record at the end of its retention period. Sealing restricts public access to a record while preserving it for law enforcement use. Vacation of a conviction under Washington law, governed by § 9.94A.640 RCW, removes the conviction from the individual's public criminal history record, though the underlying record may remain accessible to criminal justice agencies. Eligibility for vacation depends on the offense classification, time elapsed since sentence completion, and the absence of subsequent criminal history.

Federal Records

Criminal records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation are governed by federal law and are retained separately from Washington State records. Federal retention schedules and access rules differ from those applicable to county and state repositories.

Practical Implications

Felony and misdemeanor convictions that remain on the public record appear on background checks conducted for employment, housing, and professional licensing purposes. Employment background checks conducted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act reflect convictions without a standard time limitation, though reporting practices for non-conviction records may vary. Professional licensing boards in Washington may require full disclosure of criminal history regardless of the age of the conviction. Even where a county agency has destroyed physical records, electronic copies may persist in state databases unless the record has been legally vacated or expunged pursuant to applicable Washington statute.