Longview Criminal Court Records Search
Longview criminal court records are held by Longview Municipal Court, Cowlitz County Superior Court, and Cowlitz County District Court. Longview is the largest city in Cowlitz County and serves as the county seat, meaning county courts are located here alongside the city's own municipal court. City ordinance cases go to Longview Municipal Court, while state felony and misdemeanor charges are handled by Cowlitz County courts. Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 makes most criminal records available to any member of the public. This page explains how each court works, where to search online, and how to get copies of records you need.
Longview Quick Facts
Longview Municipal Court
Longview Municipal Court handles cases that come from violations of Longview city ordinances. This includes traffic infractions, parking tickets, and misdemeanor charges filed under city law. City-level DUI cases, disorderly conduct, simple assault under the city code, and other ordinance violations are heard here. The court does not have jurisdiction over felony charges. Felonies and serious state criminal matters go to Cowlitz County Superior Court.
The City of Longview website is at mylongview.com. The site includes municipal court contact information, clerk hours, and how to access case records or pay fines. Online case lookup for Longview Municipal Court is available through the court's case management portal. You can typically search by name, citation number, or case number. Check the court section of the city website for the current portal link.
Municipal court hearings are open to the public unless restricted by court order. Records of closed cases remain available as public records. Certified copies of city court orders and judgments are available from the clerk. The clerk can also explain the process for requesting records that are not fully available through the online portal. Contact information is on the city website.
The City of Longview website at mylongview.com provides access to municipal court information, public records requests, and contact details for the clerk's office.
Cowlitz County Superior Court - Felony Records
Cowlitz County Superior Court handles all felony criminal cases in the county, including those that arise in Longview. Serious state criminal charges processed here include assault in the first and second degree, robbery, burglary, drug trafficking, sex offenses, and homicide. The Superior Court also hears felony appeals from District Court, civil cases above a set threshold, and other serious legal matters. Because Longview is the county seat, the Superior Court is located in the city.
Cowlitz County uses the Odyssey case management system. Search Superior Court records at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov. Enter a party name or case number to find a case. Results show docket entries, charge codes, hearing dates, and case status. Document images may be available for recent cases. Records sealed by court order and restricted files will not appear in public search results.
Case records at Cowlitz County Superior Court are public under RCW 42.56. Key restrictions include juvenile records under RCW 13.50, arrest records without conviction under RCW 10.97, and victim information in domestic violence and sex offense cases. If you need a certified copy of a court document, contact the Cowlitz County Superior Court clerk. The clerk is located at the courthouse in Longview.
Cowlitz County uses the statewide Odyssey portal for both Superior and District Court records. Searching odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov will return results from Cowlitz County. You can filter by court or location to narrow the results to cases from this county.
Cowlitz County District Court - Misdemeanors
Cowlitz County District Court handles gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor cases under state law, civil matters below the Superior Court limit, and small claims. For Longview residents charged with state-level misdemeanors such as theft in the third degree, simple assault under state statute, or DUI under state code, the case often goes to District Court rather than Municipal Court. The determining factor is whether the charge is a city ordinance violation or a violation of state law.
District Court records are searchable at the same Odyssey portal used for Superior Court: odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov. Additional information on Cowlitz County courts is available through county resources. The District Court clerk handles records requests, certified copies, and questions about specific cases. Hearings are open to the public unless a court order restricts access.
If you search Odyssey and do not find a Longview case, it may have been filed in Municipal Court rather than District Court. The two courts handle different charge types but cover similar conduct. A DUI, for example, can end up in Municipal Court if charged under city ordinance or in District Court if charged under state statute. Search both systems if you are not sure where a case was filed.
How to Search Longview Criminal Records Online
Here is a quick guide to finding cases at each court level:
| Court | Longview Municipal Court |
|---|---|
| Cases | City ordinance violations, traffic, city misdemeanors |
| Search Tool | mylongview.com (court section) |
| Court | Cowlitz County Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Cases | Felonies, serious state charges |
| Search Tool | Odyssey portal |
| Court | Cowlitz County District Court |
|---|---|
| Cases | State misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors |
| Search Tool | Odyssey portal |
The Washington Courts statewide search at dw.courts.wa.gov covers Cowlitz County and is a good free starting point. All portals are free and require no login. If a case does not appear online, contact the clerk of the relevant court. Records may be unavailable online if they are old, sealed, or not yet in the digital system.
WSP WATCH and Statewide Criminal History
The Washington State Patrol WATCH service at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history provides a compiled summary of adult conviction history from courts and law enforcement agencies across Washington. It covers Cowlitz County convictions along with those from other counties. An online WATCH search costs $11. Mail-in requests are $32. Fingerprint-based searches are $58 and provide the most complete results. WATCH shows convictions only, not dismissed charges, juvenile records, or arrests without conviction.
WATCH is useful for a broad statewide overview. For details on a specific case such as the charges, hearing history, and sentence, you need to go to the court that heard the case. WATCH gives a summary, not a case file. Use it together with direct court searches for a complete picture.
The Washington Department of Corrections offender search at doc.wa.gov shows current prison and supervision status for individuals sentenced in Washington courts. Cowlitz County felony convictions that resulted in a state prison sentence will appear here. County jail sentences and probation-only outcomes may not be reflected in DOC records.
Washington State Courts information at courts.wa.gov provides links to court resources, public records access points, and information on the court system including Cowlitz County courts serving Longview.
Public Records Law and Access Rights
Washington's RCW 42.56, the Public Records Act, gives anyone the right to inspect and copy public records from government agencies including courts. Most criminal case records are open to the public. This covers charging documents, docket entries, judgments, sentences, and court orders. You do not need to explain the reason for your request. Courts must respond promptly and can charge reasonable fees for copying.
Some records are exempt. Sealed records and files protected by court order are not public. Juvenile records are restricted under RCW 13.50. Victim information in domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases is typically protected. Arrest records without a resulting conviction have limited public availability under RCW 10.97. When a request is denied, the agency must state the specific exemption it is using. Improper denials can be challenged through the state Attorney General's office or the courts.
Certified copies of Longview Municipal Court documents come from the municipal court clerk. Certified copies of Cowlitz County Superior and District Court documents come from the county clerk. They are separate offices with separate fee schedules. Contact the right office for the document you need. Certified copies carry an official court seal and are used for legal proceedings.
Longview Police and Arrest Records
Longview Police Department handles law enforcement within city limits. Police records including arrest reports, incident summaries, and officer reports are separate from court records. Requests for Longview PD records go through the city at mylongview.com. Police records are public under RCW 42.56 with exceptions for ongoing investigations and victim identity in certain case types.
An arrest by Longview Police does not mean charges were filed in court. The prosecutor reviews arrest reports independently and decides whether to file charges. To find out if a case resulted in court proceedings, search the Municipal Court and Cowlitz County court systems separately. Police and court records are maintained by different agencies and must be searched through different channels.
Criminal Court Records in Longview - Cowlitz County
Longview is the county seat of Cowlitz County. All state felony and misdemeanor cases from Longview are processed by Cowlitz County courts. The Cowlitz County records page covers the full court system serving this area.
Nearby Cities
Vancouver is the nearest major city with its own criminal court records page. It is in Clark County to the south.