Criminal Court Records in Franklin County
Franklin County criminal court records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Pasco, Washington, and cover felony prosecutions, misdemeanor cases, and related criminal proceedings for this southeastern Washington county. You can search Franklin County criminal cases online through the free statewide Washington Courts Case Search portal, or visit the courthouse in Pasco to request copies of case documents, charging papers, and judgments. Criminal records in Franklin County are public under Washington law, subject to narrow exceptions defined by statute.
Franklin County Overview
Franklin County Superior Court Records
Franklin County Superior Court sits in Pasco and serves as the court of general jurisdiction for the county. The court handles all felony criminal cases, civil matters over $75,000, family law proceedings, and juvenile cases. Criminal cases go here after charges are filed by the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office.
The Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court is the official record keeper for all court files in Pasco. The Clerk's office maintains dockets, charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and final judgments. Criminal case records are open to the public under Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56. You can look up files by case number or by the name of a party to the case. Franklin County uses the Odyssey case management system, which links to the statewide Washington Courts portal and provides current case data. The Superior Court also hears appeals from the Franklin County District Court.
Records can be requested in person at the Pasco courthouse or by mail. Mail requests should include the case number or party names, what type of document you need, and payment for any applicable fees. The Clerk can also issue certified copies for documents that must carry the official court seal.
| Office | Franklin County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Location | Pasco, Washington |
| Case System | Odyssey (statewide) |
| Website | co.franklin.wa.us |
| State Directory | courts.wa.gov/court_dir |
Online Case Search for Franklin County
The Washington Courts Case Search portal is the fastest free tool for finding Franklin County criminal court records online. It covers Superior Court records statewide, including Franklin County cases filed in Pasco. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney of record. Results include case status, hearing dates, and disposition information.
For more detailed case data, the statewide portal routes users to the Odyssey Portal. Franklin County uses Odyssey as its case management system, and the data in the portal is updated regularly as cases move through the court. Odyssey allows you to view docket entries, scheduled hearings, and case event timelines. Online searches are free and useful for confirming a case exists or tracking case status. Getting actual documents requires contacting the Clerk's office directly. Court calendars are also accessible through the portal, which is helpful if you need to know when a hearing is scheduled.
Note: Online portals provide summary-level data. For complete case documents or certified copies, contact the Franklin County Clerk in Pasco.
Franklin County District Court and Misdemeanor Cases
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases in Franklin County are handled by the District Court rather than Superior Court. The Franklin County District Court has jurisdiction over these lower-level criminal matters, traffic infractions, DUI cases, and civil disputes under $75,000. The court serves Pasco and surrounding Franklin County communities.
District Court criminal records are public records just like Superior Court files. Many District Court cases appear in the statewide Washington Courts portal. For cases not found online, submit a written request to the District Court Clerk with the case details. Preliminary hearings for felony cases may also start in District Court before being transferred to Superior Court for trial or plea proceedings. Gross misdemeanor penalties under Washington law can reach up to 364 days in jail, so these records are often important for legal or personal research. The District Court uses electronic case management for tracking filings.
Franklin County Sheriff and Jail Records
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and operates the county jail. The jail maintains an inmate roster showing current bookings and detainee information. When someone is arrested, the Sheriff's Office submits fingerprint-based data to the Washington State Patrol for inclusion in the Washington State Identification System.
Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office are separate from court records. An arrest record shows someone was taken into custody. A court record shows what happened after a prosecutor decided whether to file charges. Both types are generally public in Washington. Records tied to active investigations may be temporarily withheld under exemptions in RCW 42.56. Public records requests to the Sheriff's Office should be submitted in writing with the date, location, and names of parties involved to help staff find the record.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office coordinates with the Pasco Police Department and other city agencies on cases that cross jurisdictional lines. State retention schedules govern how long different categories of law enforcement records must be kept.
Note: Booking into the county jail does not mean a person was charged or convicted. Court records reflect the outcome of any case that was filed.
Washington State Patrol Criminal History
The Washington State Patrol Criminal History section maintains the statewide criminal history database. It is built from fingerprint submissions sent by law enforcement agencies across the state, including the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and Pasco police agencies. This database is the most complete source for a full Washington criminal history, covering arrests and case outcomes from all counties.
You can request your own criminal history record from WSP. Third-party requests require proper legal authorization. The WSP system is separate from the court case search portals and may include data from agencies in other counties. Under RCW 10.97, Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act governs how this information is shared and used, and gives individuals the right to request corrections if a record contains errors.
Public Records Law in Franklin County
Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56 gives the public strong access rights to government records, including Franklin County criminal court files. The Clerk's office must provide access unless a specific legal exemption applies. Most criminal records are open. The law gives requestors a clear path to review and copy public records.
Some categories of records have restricted access. Juvenile court records in Franklin County are governed by RCW 13.50, which limits who can view files involving minors. Sealed court records require a court order to access. Washington's criminal offenses are defined in RCW Title 9A, and criminal procedure is set out in RCW Title 10. These statutes shape the records you find when searching Franklin County cases. The Revised Code of Washington website is the official source for all Washington law.
Legal Help in the Pasco Area
For legal help with a criminal matter in Franklin County, the Washington State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service and a public attorney directory. The Tri-Cities area, which includes Pasco, has a number of attorneys who handle criminal defense matters in Franklin County Superior Court.
The Washington Courts website offers self-help resources for people who represent themselves in court. Court staff in Pasco can help you locate forms and explain filing procedures, but they cannot give legal advice. The Franklin County website lists courthouse contact details, hours, and department information useful when making a records request.
The Franklin County government website provides information about the Superior Court Clerk, the Sheriff's Office, and courthouse services in Pasco. The screenshot below shows the county's official web portal, which is the starting point for in-person and mail records requests.
The Franklin County courthouse in Pasco is where the Clerk's office maintains all Superior Court criminal case files and handles public records requests.
The Washington State Patrol Criminal History page shown below provides access to the statewide criminal history database, which includes records reported by Franklin County law enforcement agencies.
Use the WSP criminal history portal to request a statewide record that goes beyond what you find in Franklin County court searches alone.
Cities in Franklin County
Pasco is the county seat and the largest city in Franklin County, with its own police department and municipal court handling ordinance violations. Pasco's criminal court cases are processed through the Franklin County Superior Court for felonies and the District Court for misdemeanors.
Other communities in the county include Connell, Mesa, and Kahlotus. These smaller cities do not have dedicated city records pages but are served by the Franklin County court system in Pasco.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County is part of the Tri-Cities area and borders several other southeastern Washington counties. Criminal records from each neighboring county are maintained by their own Superior Courts.