Find Criminal Court Records in Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley criminal court records are maintained by several courts depending on the charge type and where it originated. The city has its own municipal court for city-level violations, while the county courts handle felonies and county misdemeanors. This page covers how to search cases online, how to request certified copies, and what public records you can expect to access from Spokane Valley and the surrounding Spokane County court system.
Spokane Valley Quick Facts
Spokane Valley Municipal Court
Spokane Valley Municipal Court handles cases involving city ordinance violations, traffic infractions, and misdemeanor criminal charges within Spokane Valley city limits. The city incorporated in 2003, and the municipal court was established to handle local matters separately from the county's courts. City-level charges like driving under the influence, reckless driving, and minor criminal violations are typical cases here.
The City of Spokane Valley website has contact information and resources for the municipal court. Cases filed here are part of the public record and can be searched. The court uses the Spokane County court system infrastructure in some ways, but records for city-level charges are kept separately.
| Court | Spokane Valley Municipal Court |
|---|---|
| Website | www.spokanevalley.org |
| Jurisdiction | City ordinance violations, traffic, misdemeanors |
| County | Spokane County |
| Records Access | In-person and mail requests, online via county tools |
To get a copy of a case record from Spokane Valley Municipal Court, contact the court clerk directly. Bring the defendant's name, case number, and date of birth if you have them. Certified copies carry the court's official seal and are required for legal use. Plain copies cost less but may not be accepted for court or legal purposes.
The screenshot below is from the Spokane Valley city website, which hosts municipal court information and resources for residents searching for case details.
The city site provides links to court schedules, clerk contact information, and case access tools.
Spokane County Superior Court - Felony Cases
When a felony charge originates in Spokane Valley, the case goes to Spokane County Superior Court. This is the same court that handles Spokane city felony cases. Superior Court jurisdiction covers Class A, B, and C felonies under Washington's criminal code, RCW 9A. These include crimes like assault in the first degree, robbery, burglary, and drug-related felonies.
Spokane County Superior Court uses the Odyssey case management system. Search it at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov/odyportal. This portal gives you access to filed documents, charges, hearing schedules, and case outcomes. It covers both Spokane city and Spokane Valley cases since both fall under the same county court.
The county courthouse is in Spokane. If you need to visit in person for records from a Spokane Valley felony case, that's where you'll go. The clerk's office can help you find specific filings, request certified copies, and navigate the case management system if you're having trouble with the online portal.
Spokane County District Court
Spokane County District Court handles misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors that fall under county jurisdiction. For Spokane Valley, this includes charges arising outside the specific scope of the municipal court but still within the county. District Court also handles civil matters and small claims cases.
District Court records are searchable through dw.courts.wa.gov, the statewide Washington Courts case search tool. Select Spokane County and search by name. You'll get results for both the Superior Court and District Court cases in the county. This is a good first step when you're not sure which court handled a specific case.
Note: The statewide search tool may not include every case from every filing year. Older records might only be available by visiting the courthouse or submitting a written public records request.
Searching Spokane Valley Criminal Records Online
The main tools for searching Spokane Valley criminal records are the statewide case search, the Odyssey portal for county courts, and the city's own resources. Using all three gives you the most complete picture.
Start with dw.courts.wa.gov. This free tool covers Spokane County Superior Court and District Court. Enter a name and choose Spokane County from the filter options. You'll see case numbers, charges, and status for most cases filed in those courts.
For more detail on felony cases, go to the Odyssey Public Portal. This system has more case-level detail and is often more current. It also lets you see future hearing dates, which can be helpful if you're tracking an active case.
For city-level charges, check directly with Spokane Valley Municipal Court or the city's website at www.spokanevalley.org. City courts often have their own record systems not connected to the county or state portals.
Washington State Patrol WATCH Criminal History
The Washington State Patrol operates the WATCH system, a statewide criminal history database that covers records from law enforcement agencies across Washington. It is not a court record search. It compiles arrest and conviction data from multiple sources, including agencies serving the Spokane Valley area.
An online WATCH search costs $11. You submit a name and date of birth, and results come back quickly. A mail-in search using name and date of birth costs $32 and takes longer. A fingerprint-based search is $58 and gives the most thorough result. The WSP criminal history page has full details on how to submit each type of request.
WATCH results reflect criminal history across Washington state, not just Spokane Valley or Spokane County. This makes it useful when you need a broader picture. Under RCW 10.97, the Criminal Records Privacy Act, arrests without conviction have limited availability in state records, and juvenile records are protected separately under RCW 13.50.
Public Records Access in Spokane Valley
Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, gives the public the right to access most government records, including criminal court filings. This applies to Spokane Valley Municipal Court, Spokane County District Court, and Spokane County Superior Court. Any adult criminal case that has been filed and is part of the court record is generally accessible.
There are exceptions. Juvenile court records are restricted under RCW 13.50. Cases that were sealed by court order are not public. Certain domestic violence case details, victim information, and mental health court records may have restricted access as well. When records are withheld, the court or agency must tell you why.
To request records not available through online tools, submit a written public records request to the court clerk. Each court in Spokane County has its own process, but all must respond within five business days by law. That response may include the records, a notice of the estimated timeline, or a denial with the legal basis for withholding.
Certified court records, which include the clerk's signature and court seal, cost more than plain copies but are required for legal proceedings, immigration purposes, and similar official uses.
Criminal Court Records in Spokane Valley - Spokane County
Spokane Valley is in Spokane County, and the county's Superior Court and District Court are the primary courts for felony and county-level misdemeanor cases originating here. The Spokane County Courthouse in downtown Spokane is where most county court business takes place.
Nearby Cities
Other Eastern Washington cities with criminal court record pages include the following.