Spokane County, Washington Public Records

Spokane County offices and records

Sheriff & Law Enforcement. Spokane County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement services in the unincorporated areas of Spokane County. Notable divisions within the Sheriff's Office include the Investigative Division, which handles major crimes, and the Traffic Unit, which focuses on road safety and enforcement.

Police Departments. Spokane County is served by multiple law enforcement agencies, including Spokane County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments such as the Spokane Police Department, Spokane Valley Police Department, and Cheney Police Department. Each agency operates within its jurisdiction, with the Sheriff's Office covering unincorporated areas and the city departments handling urban areas.

Law Enforcement & Arrests. Spokane County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 1100 West Mallon Avenue, Spokane, WA 99260, provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas and contract cities throughout Spokane County. Spokane County Detention Services operates Spokane County Jail and Geiger Corrections Center, with inmate lookup available through the Sheriff's website using the Inmate Roster search tool, where citizens can search by name, booking number, or date of birth to locate current inmates and view booking information. Citizens should note that some law enforcement records may be exempt from disclosure under RCW 42.56.240 if they involve ongoing investigations or sensitive criminal intelligence.

Arrest Records. Arrest records in Spokane County are maintained by Spokane County Sheriff's Office and the respective municipal police departments.

Mugshots & Booking Photos. Mugshots in Spokane County are taken and retained by Spokane County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These booking photos are part of the public record and can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office website or by submitting a public records request.

For records older than several years or when the local office cannot locate records, the Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics is the centralized state repository and can be contacted at PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709 (phone: 360-236-4300). Spokane County's judicial system operates through multiple court levels serving Spokane County's legal needs. Spokane County Superior Court, located at 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane, WA 99260 (phone: 509-477-2211), handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $100,000, divorces, adoptions, and appeals from lower courts. Elections in Spokane County are administered by Spokane County Elections Office, located at 1033 West Gardner Avenue, Spokane, WA 99260 (phone: 509-477-2320, website: spokanecounty.org/elections). Spokane County District Court, also at 1116 West Broadway Avenue (phone: 509-477-3662), has jurisdiction over misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, civil cases up to $100,000, protection orders, and preliminary felony hearings. Spokane County Assessor's Office, at 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Room 130 (phone: 509-477-3698), maintains property tax assessment records, parcel information, and ownership data accessible through their website at spokanecounty.org/assessor. Spokane County Treasurer's Office handles property tax collection and can be reached at 509-477-4713 for payment inquiries and tax statement requests. Property and land records for Spokane County are maintained by Spokane County Auditor's Office, located at 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Room 100, Spokane, WA 99260 (phone: 509-477-4716). Building permits, land use permits, zoning approvals, and development applications for unincorporated areas are handled by Spokane County's Building and Planning Department, located at 1026 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane County (phone: 509-477-7506), with online permit search available through Spokane County website.