Yakima County Felony Records

Yakima County felony records are held by the Superior Court Clerk at 128 North 2nd Street in Yakima, Washington. This guide covers how to search Yakima County felony records online, request copies from the clerk, use the county jail roster, and run statewide conviction searches for people tied to Yakima County. The Superior Court handles all felony cases filed in the county, and several online tools make basic case lookups easier before you commit to a formal records request.

Yakima County Superior Court and Clerk

The Superior Court Clerk is the main keeper of felony case files in Yakima County. The office is at 128 North 2nd Street, Yakima, WA 98901, and can be reached at (509) 574-2710. The clerk's staff handles document requests, certified copy orders, and in-person file review. All felony case files, from charging documents through sentencing orders, are on record here. Most files can be reviewed by the public during regular business hours.

The Yakima County Clerk of Superior Court manages both current and older case records. Staff can help you find a case by name or case number. If you need certified copies for legal proceedings, request them through this office. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after that. Non-certified paper copies are $0.50 per page, and electronic copies are $0.25 per page.

The Yakima County Courts page lists all three courts operating in the county: Superior Court, District Court, and Juvenile Court. Each handles different matters. Superior Court holds exclusive jurisdiction over Class A, B, and C felony cases. Juvenile Court handles youth adjudications. District Court manages misdemeanors and the preliminary stages of felony cases.

The Washington Courts statewide case search at dockets.courts.wa.gov provides basic Yakima County case lookups by name or case number. Results show party names, case types, and current status. For document images or detailed case files, you will need to go directly to the Clerk's office or submit a formal request.

The courts page is a good starting point for anyone who wants to understand how Yakima County's court system is organized before submitting a records request or making a courthouse visit.

Yakima County District Court Records

The Yakima County District Court is presided over by Judge Alfred Schweppe. This court serves several incorporated and unincorporated communities in the county, including Union Gap, Grandview, Mabton, Tieton, and Moxee. District Court handles the early stages of felony cases, including initial appearances, arraignments, and probable cause hearings. Once a felony case clears preliminary review, it transfers to Superior Court.

District Court also handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and traffic matters. Records from these early felony proceedings are maintained by the District Court Clerk. If you are trying to trace the full history of a Yakima County felony case, you may need records from both District Court and Superior Court. District Court records document bail decisions, pre-trial conditions, and early hearings that are not part of the Superior Court file.

Knowing which court handled which phase of a case saves time when requesting records in Yakima County.

Washington classifies felonies as Class A, Class B, or Class C. Class A offenses carry the most severe penalties, including the possibility of life in prison. Class B felonies carry up to ten years. Class C felonies carry up to five years. The sentencing guidelines under RCW 9.94A.640 use an offender's prior criminal history and offense severity level to determine the standard sentencing range. Yakima County Superior Court judges apply these statewide rules.

Yakima County Clerk Records Access

The clerk's office handles requests for physical case files, printed copies, and certified documents. Walk-in visitors can review public case files during business hours at no cost. If you need copies, staff will print them for the applicable fee. Mail requests are accepted as well. Include the case number or full name of the defendant, approximate year of filing, and a check or money order for the estimated copy cost when mailing in a request.

The clerk's page lists current office hours and contact details. Call ahead if you are unsure whether your case is available for public inspection, especially for older files or cases that may have been sealed by court order.

Note: Records in cases involving juvenile defendants, sealed matters, and certain domestic proceedings are not open to the public, even at the Superior Court level.

Yakima County Jail Records

The Yakima County Jail roster shows people currently held at the facility. The Yakima County Jail Records page explains how to access current inmate information. Note that jail records are generally considered confidential under RCW 70.48.100. The public roster is limited to basic booking data for current inmates. It does not show historical detention records or the full circumstances of someone's arrest.

The jail roster is updated regularly and can be useful for verifying whether someone is currently in custody pending trial on felony charges. It is not a substitute for a full case record from the Superior Court Clerk. For information about people who have been booked and released, you would need to submit a records request directly to the jail or the Yakima County Sheriff.

If you need information about someone who has served time and been released, the Washington Department of Corrections offender search tool is more useful than the jail roster.

Statewide Felony Search Tools for Yakima County

The Washington State Patrol's WATCH system lets you run a name-based conviction search for $11. Results pull from all Washington counties, including Yakima. The search returns felony and gross misdemeanor conviction records. Arrests that did not lead to conviction are excluded under RCW 10.97, the Criminal Records Privacy Act. This makes WATCH particularly useful when you want a summary of someone's conviction history across multiple counties without pulling individual courthouse records.

The Washington State Patrol's Criminal History Records division handles formal background check requests that go beyond what WATCH provides. Fingerprint-based checks cost $58 and take 7-10 business days. These searches cross-reference both state and FBI databases, which is useful when a subject may have out-of-state convictions in addition to Yakima County felony records.

The Washington Department of Corrections runs a separate offender search tool for people currently or recently housed in state prison. Many Yakima County felony convictions, especially Class A and B cases, result in sentences at DOC facilities. The DOC also maintains a warrant search database listing individuals with outstanding Secretary's Warrants for parole violations. VINE at vinelink.com provides free custody status notifications for victims and concerned parties.

Yakima Municipal Court and City Records

The city of Yakima operates its own municipal court for ordinance violations and misdemeanors. The Yakima Municipal Court at yakimawa.gov handles lower-level offenses that do not rise to felony status. If you are researching a case and are unsure whether it was filed in municipal, district, or superior court, the nature of the charge is your best guide. Felonies go to Superior Court. Gross misdemeanors go to District Court or Municipal Court depending on where the offense occurred.

The city also has a separate public records request process. For city-side records like police incident reports and city clerk documents, go through the city of Yakima directly. Court records from the municipal court are kept by that court's own clerk and are not the same as Superior Court felony case files.

Historical Yakima County court records going back many decades may be available through the Washington State Digital Archives. The Digital Archives is free to search and holds scanned Superior Court case files from numerous Washington counties. Coverage for Yakima County varies by time period, but it is worth checking before submitting a paid records request for older cases.

Vacating Yakima County Felony Convictions

Washington allows eligible people to petition to vacate certain felony convictions under RCW 9.94A.640. To qualify, you must have completed all sentence requirements, paid all fines and restitution, and remained crime-free for a set period, typically five to ten years depending on the offense. Class A felonies and most violent offenses are not eligible. When a conviction is vacated, the case is dismissed and the person may legally state they have not been convicted of that offense in most contexts.

To pursue a vacation in Yakima County, you file a petition with the Superior Court Clerk at 128 North 2nd Street. The clerk's staff can tell you which forms are needed. Court forms for post-conviction relief are also available at courts.wa.gov/forms. If you are unsure whether your conviction qualifies, consult a Washington licensed attorney before filing.

Note: Vacating a conviction removes it from public criminal history for most purposes, but some government agencies may still see the vacated record when running background checks for specific licensed positions.

Cities in Yakima County

Yakima County includes several cities. Felony records for all communities in the county are handled by the Yakima County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

Yakima County borders several counties in central and southern Washington. Each has its own Superior Court Clerk and felony records system.