Walla Walla County Arrest Records

Walla Walla County arrest records are official documents generated by law enforcement agencies to record the details of an individual's arrest. They include information about the apprehended individual, the circumstances of the arrest, charges, arrest date and time, and the details of the arresting agency/officer. These records are created following a lawful arrest. Under RCW 10.31.100, a lawful arrest happens if it is conducted with a warrant or if law enforcement officers have reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has been, is being, or will be committed.

Upon an arrest, the arresting agency, such as the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office and local police departments within the county, logs the details, including charges and photographs. Arrest records do not indicate guilt; they only show that an individual was arrested and taken into custody under suspicion or evidence of criminal offenses. The presumption of innocence is maintained unless proven guilty in court. Additional information will be available in Walla Walla County court records if a case moves to the courts.

Are Arrest Records Public in Walla Walla County?

Yes. Walla Walla County arrest records are considered public records under the Washington Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). This means interested persons can request access to these records from their custodians in Walla Walla County.

However, certain arrest records or details within them may be exempt from public disclosure to protect privacy, the integrity of investigations, and other sensitive information. According to RCW 10.97 (Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act), this typically includes juvenile arrest records, records related to ongoing investigations that could compromise the investigation or endanger individuals if released, personal identifying information such as driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, and the identities of victims or witnesses, as well as sealed or expunged arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A publicly available Walla Walla County arrest record contains the following information:

• Personal information of the arrestee—such as the person's name, age, gender, and sometimes physical descriptors (e.g., height, weight).
• Arrest details—information on the arrest date, time, and location, as well as the arresting agency (e.g., local police department, county sheriff's office).
• Charges
• Booking information—such as the booking date, booking number, and, if applicable, the facility where the individual was detained.
• Arresting agency information
• Mugshots
• Bail or bond Information (if applicable).

Walla Walla County Arrest Statistics

According to SAC's Criminal Justice Data Book for Walla Walla County, the county recorded 1,457 arrest incidents in 2023. Of these, there were 1,380 adult arrests and 77 juvenile arrests. The breakdown of the arrests is as follows:

Adult arrests (1,380) included forcible sex (1), non-forcible sex (2), assault (180), kidnapping & abduction (6), violation of no-contact protective order (113), robbery (6), arson (6), burglary (45), theft (235), counterfeiting and forgery (3), destruction of property (59), hacking and computer invasion (1), drug violations (83), weapons law violations (23), animal cruelty (2), pornography (1), and group B offenses (611).

Juvenile arrests (77) included forcible sex (1), assault (33), robbery (1), arson (2), theft (14), destruction of property (10), drug violations (9), weapons law violations (1), and group B offenses (6).

Find Walla Walla County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Walla Walla County are available through local law enforcement agencies. Since arrest records and inmate information are public, anyone can request access to these records from the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office or county police departments.

To request copies or inspect arrest records from the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office, individuals can email the public records officer at sheriff@co.walla-walla.wa.us, submit a request online, or visit in person at:

Public Records Officer
Walla Walla Sheriff's Office
240 West Alder Street, Suite 101
Walla Walla, WA 99362.

Copying fees are outlined in the sheriff's office fee schedule. For arrest records from specific police departments, such as the College Place Police Department, individuals should contact the department directly to request records of arrests within their jurisdiction. Individuals can also use the Walla Walla Inmate Search portal to lookup information on Walla Walla County inmates.

For statewide arrest records, interested parties can contact the Criminal History Section of the Washington State Patrol (WSP). Since arrest instances are included in a person's criminal history record, individuals may submit requests to the WSP online, by mail, or in person for these records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Walla Walla County

Individuals seeking to obtain or access arrest records for free in Walla Walla County should contact the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office and police departments in the county's cities and towns. Under the Washington Public Records Act, interested persons can submit public record requests to government agencies to inspect or lookup public records at no cost, especially if done in person. However, record custodians typically charge fees to produce copies of these records, including arrest records.

Otherwise, interested parties may use third-party online resources to freely search for and access Walla Walla County arrest records. These sites often provide searchable and easy-to-use databases individuals can use to find arrest records of persons across multiple jurisdictions and agencies in Washington. However, these sites are independently operated and, as such, may contain inaccurate or limited arrest data.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Washington law does not set specific retention periods for arrest records. Therefore, arrest records remain on file indefinitely unless an individual petitions to have them removed through expungement or sealing. Law enforcement agencies and custodians of arrest records in the state manage and keep these records based on their policies or up until they are legally expunged or sealed. The eligibility to clear an arrest record depends basically on the offense and the final disposition. For instance, non-conviction records can be expunged after 2-3 years, while convictions have varying waiting periods: misdemeanors (3-5 years), gross misdemeanors (5 years), and most felonies (5-10 years).

Expunge Walla Walla County Arrest Records

Section 10.97.060 of the Revised Codes of Washington sets clear conditions for anyone seeking to have their records sealed or expunged. The process of clearing an arrest record in Washington is officially called "vacating" rather than "expungement". When a record is vacated, it becomes non-existent, and the arrestee can state that they were never arrested or charged for that offense. However, expungement is limited to non-conviction data, and applicants must meet certain requirements:

• The record must contain only non-conviction data.
• The application must be filed at least two years after a court decision favorable to the defendant or at least three years after an arrest, citation, or warrant that didn't result in a conviction.
• The request cannot apply to deferred dispositions or similar diversion agreements.
• The applicant must have no prior felony or gross misdemeanor convictions.
• The applicant must not have been arrested or charged during the period following the record in question.

To expunge arrest records, individuals who are eligible persons should:

• Complete the request for expungement form, including all supporting documents or records that proof eligibility
• File the completed form at the courthouse where the charge was filed
• Pay any required filing fees, or request a fee waiver if eligible.

Once a petition is filed, the prosecutor's office will review the petition, and they may support or object to the request. A hearing may be scheduled if necessary. The judge will make the final decision on whether to approve the expungement. If approved, obtain certified copies of the expungement order and send copies to relevant agencies (such as the Washington State Patrol and Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office) to remove the vacated records from their database.

Alternatively, under RCW 43.43.730, individuals found innocent after an indictment can request a modification of their criminal record through the Washington State Patrol. To do this, submit a completed modification request form along with a copy of a government-issued photo ID. Include a money order or personal check for the required fee in a self-addressed, stamped envelope and send it to:

Washington State Patrol
Criminal History Records Section
106 11th Avenue Southwest, Suite 1300
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504–2633.

Walla Walla County Arrest Warrants

Walla Walla County arrest warrants are legal orders issued by a judge or magistrate to authorize the arrest of an individual suspected of committing a crime. These warrants are typically based on probable cause, often presented by law enforcement through an affidavit or evidence submission to the court. The warrant includes details such as the person's name, charges, issuance date, and the judge's or magistrate's signature.

Washington's Revised Code (RCW 10.31) outlines the issuance and execution of arrest warrants, specifying that warrants can also be issued if a crime is committed in an officer's presence or with probable cause for a felony.

Walla Walla County arrest warrants can be executed 24/7—anywhere and anytime. Typically, executing an arrest warrant requires officers to locate and take the individual into custody. Officers may enter private property if they have reason to believe the person is inside, and they may use reasonable force if necessary. If the individual is in another jurisdiction in Washington, officers can collaborate with state or local law enforcement agencies in the specific jurisdiction to execute the warrant.

Interested individuals who want information on Walla Walla County's active arrests should contact the Walla County Sheriff's Office or other local law enforcement agencies.

Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office
240 West Alder Street, First Floor
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Phone: (509) 524-5400
Fax: (509) 524-5480
Email: sheriff@co.walla-walla.wa.us.

Alternatively, interested parties may conduct searches for Walla Walla County arrest warrant information via the Department of Corrections' "Warrant Search" tool. Users should set the county location to Walla Walla County before performing searches by first name, last name, DOC number, and crime.

Do Walla Walla County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Walla Walla County arrest warrants do not expire. Once issued, they remain active and valid until one of these conditions occurs:

• The warrant is executed (the person is arrested).
• The court recalls/quashes the warrant.
• The named person dies.

These warrants remain valid and actionable throughout Washington state and can be enforced nationwide. A judge can recall or dismiss a warrant if it's legally defective, new evidence emerges, the underlying case is resolved, or probable cause no longer exists. The warrant's validity isn't affected by time passage, though older warrants may receive lower priority for enforcement in practice.