Cowlitz County Arrest Records

In Cowlitz County, arrest records constitute data created in relation to an arrest event. Such records are mostly generated by law enforcement agencies after arresting suspected lawbreakers. Cowlitz County’s peace officers may arrest suspected offenders with or without an arrest warrant. Officers may sometimes conduct arrests to prevent a potential crime or danger. Arrested persons are often held in the county jail pending the outcome of further investigations.

The Cowlitz County sheriff’s office is largely responsible for generating arrest records. To obtain Cowlitz County arrest records, interested parties must contact the county sheriff at:

312 1st Avenue
S #124
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3092

Cowlitz County arrest records are also accessible in other crime-related documents, such as court records, criminal history information, and inmate data. For example, Cowlitz County court records may include arrest information, such as an arrestee’s name and charges.

Are Arrest Records Public in Cowlitz County?

Arrest records in Cowlitz County are publicly accessible. Under the Washington Public Records Act, the general public may request, view, or get arrest records from specific government entities. These entities are legally required to provide arrest records to record seekers.

Nevertheless, state law restricts such entities from disclosing certain arrest information. In most cases, the withheld records may contain information exempt under the state laws. For example, RCW 42.56.240 restricts public access to crime victims’ personal details. Other exempt records under the state law include:

• Investigative records and specific intelligence information collated by law enforcement agencies
• Information that discloses specific details on victims of sexual assaults
• Database of firearm felony offenders
• Body camera recordings that may disclose sensitive information
• Arrest records deemed confidential under state or federal statutes.

Note: Record custodians may release exempt or confidential arrest records to legally eligible persons or entities. Those eligible to view such records are the record bearers, their legal representatives, and law enforcement agencies.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Cowlitz County, public arrest records typically contain these details:

• The arrestee’s name
• Arresting agency
• Booking date
• Offense data
• Warrant or citation number
• Bond type and amount
• Charge description.

Cowlitz County Crime Rate

According to the Washington Uniform Crime Program crime report, Cowlitz County documented a total of 7,295 crimes in 2022. The report includes data on crimes against persons, property, and society. Crimes like theft and assault were the most reported at 3,186 and 1,390, respectively.

Cowlitz County Arrest Statistics

In 2022, Cowlitz County law enforcement agencies arrested 3,746 suspected adult offenders. In the same year, the county jail had an average daily population of 371.

Find Cowlitz County Arrest Records

Interested persons or entities can find arrest records at the county sheriff’s office. Such records are available as incident or arrest reports. To obtain the records, interested persons must visit the county sheriff’s online request portal. An alternative option is to inquire about the records in person at:

312 Southwest 1st Avenue
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3092
Fax: (360) 423-1047

Arrest information is also included in inmate records. Such records may contain arrest data like the arrestee’s full name, charges, booking date, and bond conditions. Furthermore, inmate records are public documents and accessible through local, state, or federal-level agencies. At the county level, the Cowlitz County sheriff’s office hosts an online jail roster. Users only need to input the inmate’s name to find related records on the roster.

Washington’s Department of Corrections also maintains an online inmate database. The database covers records of current and past inmates in the state’s correctional facilities. To find inmate records on the portal, users must input the inmate’s full name or DOC number.

Inmate records are also accessible through the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate searchable database. Users must input the inmate’s number or prison-identifying number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Cowlitz County

In Cowlitz County, government entities offer free resources for accessing arrest records. The resources may include online search websites or in-person access to arrest records. Online resources for finding arrest records include the following:

• Cowlitz County sheriff’s online jail roster
• Washington Department of Corrections’ inmate database.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator.

Third-party search sites are alternative sources for finding Cowlitz County arrest records. Such sites are generally easy to use and do not require complex login information. Unlike government-owned sites, third-party search sites are mostly unregulated and may not offer updated arrest information.

Get Cowlitz County Criminal Records

Criminal records provide information on an individual’s criminal history. They also contain arrest information and incarceration details.

The Washington State Patrol is the designated custodian of all criminal records generated in Cowlitz County. The agency allows online, mail, or in-person requests for criminal records. Users must use the agency’s Washington Access to Criminal History portal to search the records online. The online portal allows name-based searches for criminal records. Nevertheless, you must create an account and pay the required fees to find records on the portal. It costs $11 to search criminal records on the portal. Record seekers can also verify online search results via these steps:

1. Print out the report.
2. Attach a fingerprint to the bottom part of the report.
3. Attach a letter detailing the purpose of the request.
4. Mail the form to the WSP at:

Washington State Patrol
Identification and Background Check Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633

Requesters may send mail requests to search criminal records by name or fingerprint. To search based on the individual’s name or birth date, requesters must mail a completed request form and a $32 fee to the agency at:

Washington State Patrol
Identification and Background Check Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633

For fingerprint-based mail requests, you must send a completed fingerprinted card and a $58 processing fee to the agency’s mail address. To get fingerprinted, you must pay $16 and present a valid ID to the Olympia Office at:

106 11th Avenue Southwest
Suite 1300
Olympia WA 98501

Note: Send the fees as money orders or checks that are made payable to the WSP - Identification and Background Check Section.

The WSP also allows in-person requests for criminal records. The requester must present a completed criminal record request form to the agency during business hours.

Cowlitz County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

In Cowlitz County, arrest records are not the same as criminal records. The records are different based on their content, creation process, and storage location.

Arrest records typically cover all data related to an arrest event. This means you will find arrest-related data like the arrestees’ names, charges, mugshots, bond conditions, and arrest agency’s names. In contrast, criminal records contain information on arrest, court, and incarceration.

Regarding the creation process, arrest records are mostly created by the agency performing the arrest. Law enforcement agencies, such as the county sheriff’s office create the records. However, criminal records are data collected by different government agencies. For instance, the Cowlitz County sheriff, the county courts, and correctional facilities contribute crime data to create criminal records.

Local law enforcement agencies are primarily custodians of arrest records. In contrast, state-level agencies like the Washington State Patrol maintain access to criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records do not have an expiration date; the records remain publicly visible until they are sealed or expunged. You can remove arrest records by following the state-approved guidelines for the procedure.

Expunge Cowlitz County Arrest Records

In Cowlitz County, you can only expunge non-conviction criminal records. Non-conviction records mean any record that did not lead to a court conviction. To expunge criminal conviction records, however, you must file a motion to vacate the conviction.

Who is eligible to expunge Cowlitz County arrest records?

Under RCW 10.97.060, you are eligible to expunge non-conviction arrest records if:

• It is more than three years after the arrest charges were dismissed.
• It is two years or more after the court’s final disposition led to a not-guilty verdict.
• The court case was dismissed after a stay of proceedings, appeal, stipulated order of continuance, or agreed order of continuance.

However, you must fulfill these criteria to seal criminal conviction records:

• There are no pending charges in the county, state, or federal courts.
• The offense is a class B felony, and you were not convicted of a new crime in the last ten years.
• The offense is a class C felony, and you were not convicted of a new crime in five years.
• It is more than 20 years after completing the court sentence for a class B felony.

How to expunge arrest records in Cowlitz County

Follow these steps to expunge non-conviction arrest records:

1. Check if you are eligible to file for expungement.
2. Fill out and print the expungement request form.
3. Mail the form to:

Washington State Patrol
ATTN: Criminal History Records Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia WA 98504-2633

In contrast, follow this guide to file a motion to vacate your criminal conviction:

1. Fill out and print a motion to vacate the form.
2. Attach a recent criminal records check.
3. Send the completed forms to the county prosecutor’s office and the district court at these locations:

Cowlitz County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Hall of Justice
312 Southwest 1st Avenue
First Floor
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3080
Fax: (360) 414-9121

Cowlitz County District Court
312 Southwest 1st Avenue
Room 207
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3073
Fax: (360) 577-3132

The district court clerk’s office may charge filing fees for motions to vacate criminal conviction records.

Cowlitz County Arrest Warrants

In Cowlitz County, arrest warrants authorize the arrest of a suspected offender. The county court may issue arrest warrants after determining there’s enough evidence that the defendant committed the offense. Under the state law, arrest warrants must provide the following information:

• The defendant’s name or known aliases
• Offense charges
• Court clerk’s signature and official post.
• Bail or conditions of release

Cowlitz County Arrest Warrant Search

The Washington Department of Corrections maintains a searchable portal for warrants issued in Cowlitz County. To find active warrants on the portal, users must fill out the following data:

• The offender’s first and last name
• DOC number
• Crime

Record seekers may find active warrants at the county sheriff’s office. You may request the directives in person by visiting the county sheriff at:

312 1st Avenue
S #124
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3092

Do Cowlitz County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Cowlitz County, arrest warrants do not expire. The document remains active even after the statute of limitations for the crime elapses. That said, arrest warrants expire when the defendant is arrested or the court nullifies them.