Franklin County Arrest Records

Franklin County arrest records refer to official documents generated by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol (WSP), Pasco Police Department, Tri-Cities Drug Task Force, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies detailing the individuals they take into custody, the reasons for their arrests, and the conditions for their release. Arrests become necessary in Franklin County if law officers witness criminal activities or there is evidence of criminal acts or danger to the public. Also, law enforcement may arrest individuals if the courts authorize it.

An arrest is not a confirmation of guilt for a crime. Nonetheless, Franklin County arrest records will become part of Franklin County court records if they are precursor documents for criminal trials within the Franklin County Superior, District, or Municipal Courts.

In Franklin County, law enforcement agencies incarcerate arrestees, convicts, and individuals awaiting trials or transfer at the Franklin County Corrections Center. Depending on the nature of the crime, they may also transfer convicts to state or federal prison facilities.

Are Arrest Records Public in Franklin County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Franklin and other Washington counties. In Franklin County, arrest records are accessible to all interested individuals under the Washington Public Records Act (PRA). However, not all Franklin County arrest records are available for public scrutiny. The Washington PRA exempts public inspection or copying of the following Franklin County arrests:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Sealed or Expunged arrest records
• Arrest records relating to active judicial or law enforcement investigations
• Arrest records containing victim or witness information
• Arrest records relating to domestic violence or abuse
• Arrest records whose public access may infringe privacy laws.

Per Washington and federal laws, only the subjects of the records, legally authorized entities, and individuals having judicial orders may access exempted arrest records in Franklin County.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records describe the circumstances surrounding arrests and the requirements for the release of the arrestees. Generally, these documents contain:

• The personal details of their owners (this includes names, dates of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptions)
• Dates, times, and locations of the arrests
• Charges against the owners of the records
• Booking numbers and mugshots
• Bail amount or Bond details
• Court information (if the arrests result in court cases).

Franklin County Arrest Statistics

The FBI arrest statistics for Franklin County show a mixed trend for the number of arrests within Franklin County between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Within this timeframe, over 8,700 persons were taken into custody by local law enforcement agencies within the county.

In 2023, law enforcement agencies within Franklin County reported 2,159 arrest incidents to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. This figure contrasts with the 2,238, 2,123, and 2,269 arrests reported for 2022, 2021, and 2020. Also, within this period, simple assault and larceny crimes accounted for the most arrest incidents, as shown in the table below.

Find Franklin County Arrest Records

To find Franklin County arrest records, log in to the Franklin County Inmate Search Page, click the inmates’ names to reveal their arrest records, or use names or any of the other search criteria to look for information about Franklin County's current inmates. Alternatively, visit the Franklin County Jail at:

Franklin County Corrections Center

1016 N 4th Avenue, D-102
Pasco,
WA 99301.

Records seekers mayalso contact local law enforcement agencies within Franklin County and request access to arrest records in their possession.

Free Arrest Record Search in Franklin County

Inquirers seeking free access to Franklin County arrest records should log in to the Franklin County Inmate Search Page and view inmates’ booking information for free. Also, there may be free access to information on Franklin County arrests through third-party websites. Some private online repositories may allow free access to Washington law enforcement records.

Franklin County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Several distinguishing attributes exist between Franklin County arrests and criminal records. These differences are evident in the type of information they contain, what they imply, and the consequences of having either record.

Franklin County Arrest Records are law enforcement documents detailing the detention of individuals who committed arrestable offenses within Franklin County. These documents contain the offenders' names, offenses, and the terms for settling them free. Arrest records provide information for the early stages of criminal trials. They are not a confirmation of guilt or innocence. Unless records owners are convicted of the resulting cases, arrest records may not have significant legal or social impacts.

Franklin County criminal records are court-generated documents containing the criminal histories of individuals convicted of criminal offenses under the criminal justice system. Criminal records are confirmatory documents that legally implicate their owners for criminal activities. A criminal record shows that the court has found the owner guilty of criminal offenses.

Franklin County criminal records may negatively impact social status, housing, and employment.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Franklin County and other parts of the United States, arrest information stays on records indefinitely unless the courts seal or remove it. Per the Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act, Franklin County arrest records owners maypetition the courts to seal or delete their arrest information if they fulfill the qualifying criteria.

Expunge Franklin County Arrest Records

Under the Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act, Franklin County arrest record owners mayapproach the court to seal or delete their arrest information if there are dismissals, acquittals, or non-prosecution of the arrest cases after a certain period or if the records are for juvenile arrests. In Franklin County, expungable arrest records include those relating to:

• Gross and simple misdemeanors
• Non-sexual and non-violent Class B and C felonies
• Marijuana possession.

In addition to the criteria above, there is a 3-year waiting period for expunging non-conviction arrest records. Washington State does not delete arrest records if they lead to convictions. Such information may be eligible for sealing if the owners meet certain criteria and observe additional waiting periods. Also, applicants must not have new or pending convictions after serving the sentence for their arrests.

To seal or delete a Franklin County arrest record:

• Obtain the arrest record and the court disposition documents from the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest and the Clerk’s Office at the Franklin County Courthouse.
• Depending on the nature of the petition, download the following forms from the Washington Courts website:
  • Petition and Declaration for Order to Seal Records of Non-Conviction
  • Order to Seal Non-Conviction Records
  • Motion to Vacate Conviction Record
• Complete the petition form, enclose the check/money order payment for applicable filing fees, and file a petition with the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk's Office.
• Serve copies of the petition to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office
• Attend any hearing relating to the petition
• Wait for the judge to review the application. If the court approves the petition, it will issue orders to remove the record from the public domain.
• Confirm with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Clerk’s Office, and the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to ensure the record is no longer publicly accessible.

Franklin County Arrest Warrants

Franklin County arrest warrants are official documents issued by judges/magistrates of the Franklin County Superior, District, and Municipal Courts authorizing law enforcement to take individuals into custody. Law enforcement agencies mayobtain arrest warrants if they provide evidence of probable cause to the court. In Franklin County, a judge/magistrate may issue arrest warrants if there is evidence of criminal acts.

Also, the court may issue an arrest warrant if a person disobeys court orders, is a danger to the public, or intends to flee to avoid prosecution for a crime. Generally, an arrest warrant contains but is not limited to the following information:

• The name, aliases, and physical description of the subject
• The name and seal of the issuing court
• Date of issuance of the warrant
• Case information
• Charges against the subject and the statute allegedly violated
• Statement of probable cause
• Signature of the authorizing judge/magistrate
• Instructions on how law enforcement should execute the warrant
• Geographical area of jurisdiction of the warrant.

Do Franklin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Under U.S. federal laws, arrest warrants do not have expiration dates. Once a Franklin County judge/magistrate issues an arrest warrant, it will remain active until law enforcement arrests the subject. However, these documents will become inactive at the demise of the subjects or if law enforcement recalls them.