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  2. Spokane County Arrest Records

Spokane County, Washington Arrest Records

Spokane County arrest records document instances where local law enforcement agencies have apprehended and detained individuals. Local law enforcement agencies, such as the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and municipal police departments (e.g., the Spokane Police Department and Spokane Valley Police Department), typically create arrest records following an arrest. An arrest record serves as an offical account of what happened during and after an arrest. They also help to keep the general public informed about government operations, specifically arrests, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in law enforcement.  

Some local, state, and federal agencies also use Spokane County arrest records to generate certain official records and statistics. For instance, criminal history records compiled by the Washington State Police (WSP) may feature Spokane County arrest records submitted to the agency. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office also relies on arrest records when generating local crime statistics. Generally, public release of arrest records is governed by the Washington Public Records Act. However, separate laws control the release of criminal history records maintained by the WSP. Per RCW 10.97.050, criminal history records showing conviction data are public, while nonconviction data are exempt from public access.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Spokane, Washington?

Yes. According to Washington Revised Code (RCW) Chapter 42.56, Spokane County arrest records are presumably public. RCW 42.56.010 defines public records as any document containing information about government conduct and the performance of governmental functions that are prepared, maintained, or used by state and local agencies. Spokane County arrest records fall under this description. As such, they are public. 

The provisions of the PRA apply to everyone, regardless of their identity or residency. As a result, there are usually no identification requirements for accessing public Spokane County arrest records, nor is county residency a prerequisite.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

Typical information that public arrest records contain in Spokane County includes, but is not limited to, the following:  

  • The arrestee’s name, physical description, date of birth, and other identifying information.
  • Arrest details, including the arrest location, date, and time.
  • The grounds for the arrest and any subsequent charges levied  
  • The arresting officer and their agency’s information. 
  • Booking information, such as their booking number, intake date, and time.
  • Bond details

Nevertheless, certain contents of arrest records are exempt from public access. These include, but are not limited to, mugshots (RCW 70.48.100) and driver’s license numbers (RCW 42.56.240). Additionally, entire arrest records are also protected from public disclosure under relevant state and federal law. Some examples of such records include juvenile arrest records (RCW 13.50.050) and arrest records sealed or expunged by court order. 

Spokane County, Washington Arrest Search

Interested persons may locate Spokane County arrest records by requesting and reviewing a subject’s Washington state Criminal History Record Information (CHRI). Generally, a Washington state CHRI contains arrest, conviction, and disposition information submitted by law enforcement agencies and courts throughout Washington, including Spokane County. The Washington State Police (WSP) serves as the central repository for CHRIs.

However, CHRIs are not entirely public. Certified criminal justice agencies have unrestricted access to CHRIs from the WPS for criminal justice purposes. Meanwhile, members of the public may request and receive limited CHRIs that only contain conviction information, less than one year old arrests with pending disposition, and information about registered sex and kidnapping offenders.

The WSP offers different ways of requesting a CHRI: online, by mail, and in person. Interested persons may use the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) website to access CHRIs online. They must log in or create an account to use the website. Users may search the website by name and birthdate, and each search costs a $11.00 fee payable by debit or credit card, Visa/MasterCard, or American Express. 

There are two ways of submitting a mail-in or in-person request for a CHRI. Interested persons may complete the Request for Conviction Criminal History Form using an individual’s name and date of birth. Once completed, the form should be submitted by mail or in person, along with the applicable fee ($32.00), to the WSP Identification and Background Check Section. Alternatively, individuals may request a conviction CHRI by submitting a full set of the record holder’s fingerprints and applicable fee ($58.00 for processing a fingerprint card). It is worth noting that a notarized letter may also be requested for an additional $10.00 fee along with a CHRI. Relevant fees are payable by cash (in-person request only), check, money order, or bankcard authorization form for mail-in and in-person CHRI requests. Additionally, most local law enforcement agencies in Spokane County offer fingerprinting services. Some examples include the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the Spokane Valley Police Department's fingerprinting services. In-person CHRI requests may be made at the WSP Olympia office located at: 

106 11th Ave SW 

Suite 1300, 

Olympia WA 98501.

Meanwhile, mail-in requests should be mailed to:

Washington State Patrol, 

Identification and Background Check Section 

PO Box 42633, 

Olympia, WA 98504-2633

State or federal agencies also provide online resources for accessing arrest and other relevant information about individuals in custody. For instance, the Washington Department of Corrections publishes information on individuals held in its detention facilities on the agency’s Incarcerated Search Portal. Similarly, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) provide an Inmate Locator and Online Detainee Locator System, respectively.

Spokane County Inmate Locator

Spokane County Inmate Roster is a free public service tool that allows users access to information about current and recently released inmates of the Spokane County Jail and Geiger Corrections Center. Interested persons may search the roster by inmate name, book number, or facility. Search results may also be filtered by current inmates, recent bookings, and recent releases. Typical information about inmates that the roster provides includes:

  • The inmate’s full name
  • County ID 
  • Booking number
  • Intake date and time
  • Case information:
    • The case number
    • The date the case was added
    • Case bond amount
    • The bond issuing court
    • Violated statute
    • Report number
    • Report agency.

Interested individuals may also direct inquiries about county inmates to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office at: 

1100 W Mallon Avenue 

Spokane, WA  99260

Phone: 509-477-2240 

Active Warrant Search in Spokane County

An arrest warrant is a court order that authorizes law enforcement agencies to arrest an individual for an alleged crime. A judge or magistrate may issue an arrest warrant upon reviewing an affidavit or a sworn statement from a law enforcement officer or prosecutor, if they find sufficient probable cause to believe the defendant committed a crime. An arrest warrant may also be issued pursuant to a grand jury indictment. According to the Washington Superior Court Criminal Rule (CrR) 2.2 (c), an arrest warrant must be in writing and in the name of the State of Washington. It must also contain the following information: 

  • Issuance date, time, and county
  • The defendant’s name or any name or description that can be used to identify the defendant with reasonable certainty
  • A description of the charged offense
  • The bail amount of other conditions for release, provided the charged offense is bailable. 

The most convenient way to search for active arrest warrants in Spokane County is through the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) Warrant Search Portal. It is searchable by the subject’s name or DOC number. Alternatively, records seekers may review court case documents to discover arrest warrants issued in relevant cases. They may use the Spokane County Court Viewer Portal to access court case documents online. 

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Spokane County

Interested persons may use the Spokane County Inmate Roster to access certain arrest information for free. However, the roster only provides information about current, recently booked, and recently released county inmates. Furthermore, confidential arrest information is generally inaccessible through the roster. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office also publishes free press releases online containing information about recent arrests. Similarly, some municipal police departments also publish online news releases containing information about recent arrests they conducted. A good example is the Spokane City Police Department's News Releases page.

Alternatively, record seekers may visit local law enforcement agencies in Spokane County to review arrest records in person. Most agencies may allow free in-person inspection of public records they maintain. However, they typically charge a fee for copies they furnish to individuals. Furthermore, requesters must provide identifiable information about an arrest record to assist in its identification. These include, but are not limited to, a case number or an arrestee’s name. 

Spokane County Arrest Report

A Spokane County arrest report is an offical document detailing the circumstances surrounding the incident from the officer's perspective. An arresting officer typically prepares it after an arrest. An arrest report usually contains observations made by the officer before, during, and after the arrest, as well as statements provided by the arrestee and witnesses. 

On the other hand, an arrest record is a concise document containing basic facts about an arrest, which is usually entered into law enforcement and court databases. These factual details include but are not limited to the arrestee’s name, the offense or charges that warranted the arrest, and the arrest location and date. 

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Spokane County

In Spokane County, an arrest record may be expunged provided the eligibility requirements under RCW 10.97.060 are met. Only arrests that did not result in convictions are eligible for expungement under the code. That is to say, the final disposition is: 

  • Dismissed, provided the dismissal was entered:
    • After an appeal 
    • Stay of proceedings
    • Stipulated Order of Continuance (SOC)
    • Agreed Order of Continuance (AOC)
  • Dropped 
  • No charge filed
  • Not guilty
  • Prosecution declined
  • Released with no charge
  • Stricken 
  • Acquitted 

Furthermore, record holders who have any of the following in Washington State are automatically ineligible for record expungement:

  • A prior gross misdemeanor conviction  
  • A prior felony conviction 
  • Arrests, charges, or convictions during an intervening period.  The intervening period is the time between the requested expungement arrest date and the date the Washington State Police (WSP) processes the request. 

The WSP is responsible for processing expungement requests under RCW 10.97.060, and there is no fee for such requests. Generally, there is a 2-year waiting period after the final disposition before eligible record holders may apply for expungement under the code. After the waiting period, they may complete the WSP Request for Expungement/Deletion of Non-Conviction Records and mail it to:

Washington State Patrol 

ATTN: Criminal History Records Section 

PO Box 42633 

Olympia, WA 98504-2633

How Do You Remove Spokane County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Individuals may guarantee the removal of their Spokane County arrest records from the internet by pursuing an expungement. Expunged records are generally protected from public view. These include online sources where they were published, such as the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) website. This is limited to government-run websites. Third-party websites are also legally required to remove expunged records from their online databases. However, these sites may need to be made aware of a record’s expungement order. 

Additionally, most third-party websites also offer opt-out options, allowing individuals to request the removal of their records and personal data from the site. Depending on the site, opt-out removal requests may be submitted via an online form or dedicated phone number.