Washington records over 135,000 arrests annually, and law enforcement agencies in Cowlitz County execute around 4,600 of those arrests within the same period. Cowlitz County arrest records are available to the public under the Washington Public Records Act, with copy fees ranging from $0.10 per page to a lump sum of $58.
Additionally, record custodians are mandated by law to protect confidential records, such as juvenile records, law enforcement personnel files, and certain victim details, from public disclosure. Only the record subjects and authorized agencies like the courts, the police, and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office may be allowed to access these records.
Agencies that maintain arrest records in Cowlitz County include the County Sheriff's Office, local Police Departments, the Washington State Patrol, and the Courts.
The Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in Cowlitz County. Official records maintained by the agency include details of crime-related activities, including arrests. Interested persons may obtain records from the Sheriff's Office by submitting an official request through the county's Public Records Portal. Similarly, details of individuals currently detained in the county are available online through the Jail Roster website.
Several communities in Cowlitz County have municipal-level public safety agencies, known as local Police Departments. These agencies perform law enforcement functions and maintain arrest records within the cities and towns that they serve. Records maintained by local police departments are often available through the relevant agency's records office or incident report website. Listed below are some of the local Police Departments in Cowlitz County.
At the state level, the Washington State Patrol maintains arrest records and other criminal information generated by various local agencies, including those in Cowlitz County. Interested persons may access these records online through the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) portal.
To obtain official copies, print and fill out the Request for Conviction Criminal History Form. Afterward, submit it along with the required payment in person or via mail to:
Washington State Patrol
Identification and Background Check Section
106 11th Ave SW, Suite 1300
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633
A state-level name-based search costs $32, while fingerprint-based records cost $58. Requesters may also pay an extra $10 to obtain a notary letter along with their criminal records.
In Cowlitz County, the Superior Court and District Court handle criminal cases filed by law enforcement agencies after an arrest. The Clerks of each court maintain official records of these criminal proceedings, including details of the arrests that result in criminal charges.
The criminal case records of the Superior Court are available online through various public resources, including the statewide case search portal. Alternatively, requesters may submit a completed Request for Court Records in person or via mail to:
Cowlitz County Clerk's Office
312 SW First Avenue, Room 233
Kelso, WA 98626
Similarly, to obtain case records of the District Court, requesters may mail a completed Request for Access to Court Records along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
Cowlitz County District Court
312 SW 1st Avenue, Room 207
Kelso, WA 98626
Additionally, Cowlitz County arrest records are available through third-party websites like InfoTracer. These websites often feature search tools that are user-friendly and fast.
Cowlitz County has an adult arrest rate of 1,574.29 and a crime rate of 2,166.05 per 10,000 residents. The table below shows a breakdown of the county's adult arrest statistics.
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder | 3 |
| Manslaughter | 2 |
| Robbery | 20 |
| Forcible Sex | 15 |
| Drug Violations | 332 |
| Assault | 582 |
| Arson | 2 |
| Burglary | 78 |
| Weapons Law Violations | 45 |
| Theft | 685 |
Source: Washington Statistical Analysis Center
It is situated in Cowlitz county, Washington with a total number of 48 employees - 3 female, 39 male officers and 6 civilians. Cowlitz County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is WA0080000, it belongs to the Pacific division in the West region with a region code of Region IV.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock Police Department | 141 "A" Street SW | (360) 274-4711 |
| Kalama Police Department | 216 Elm St | 360-673-2165 |
| Kelso Police Department | 201 South Pacific Ave | (360) 423-1270 |
| Longview Police Department | 1351 Hudson Street | 360-442-5800 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Cowlitz County Juvenile Detention Center | 1725 1st Ave | 360 577-3101 |