What Are Kennewick City Public Records?
In line with the Washington State Public Records Act (WSPRA), Kennewick City public records include any document that is related to government conduct or functions. Kennewick City public records may be those prepared, owned, used, or retained by the state or local agency irrespective of form or characteristics. Some parts of a public record may be retained by the agency or volunteers. They are:
- A list of individuals requested for commercial purposes unless authorized by law
- Name of a complainant or witness to a crime
- Personal information of employees, appointees, or elected officials where disclosure will mean a violation of privacy
- Credit card numbers, debit card numbers, card expiration dates, or other financial account numbers.
- Any record concerning the identity, age, social security number, or other personal information.
Kennewick City Crime Statistics
The Kennewick Police Department keeps records, figures, and trends of all the crimes perpetrated in the city. The 2019 crime statistics reported a total of 2752 crimes. Theft was the most reported case and rape cases increased by 18. In 2018, the total number of crimes was 2,306 and three cases of murder were reported. Theft was also the most reported case in Kennewick. 2017 crime figures stood at 2466. After an analysis of crime rates of three consecutive years, it was reported that Kennewick's crime rates are 31 percent higher than the national average. However, violent crimes were 21 percent lower. Kennewick is safer than 28 percent of cities in the US.
Are Kennewick City Criminal Records Public?
Kennewick City Criminal Records are public records. They are made available for the public to search or use in background checks. All details on arrested persons, persons who are detained or investigated by the police can be assessed by searching.
How To Obtain Kennewick City Police Reports And Arrest Records
Citizens or agencies who need information may contact the Records & Evidence Department of the Kennewick City Police Department. This unit processes all paperwork from the Patrol and Investigations Unit. It includes case reports, record checks, citations, arrest warrants, and court orders. Interested persons may use this portal to submit a public records request and track the status of the request. To inspect or get copies of police records, requesters my make an application to the:
Public Records Specialist at Kennewick Police Department Public Records Request Center -
211 West 6th Avenue
P.O. Box 6108 1.40 - 4 Kennewick
WA 99336
TelePhone: (509) 585-4507
Fax: (509) 582-9528
Email: PolicePDR@ci.kennewick.wa.us
How To Find Sex Offender Information In Kennewick City
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office maintains the sex offender’s list for Kennewick City. The database allows interested person can search for sex offenders by address, names, city, and status of non-compliance. Searching by address requires the requestor to provide the address, city, state, and zip code of the offender. For name search, provide the first and last name of the offender. Note that individuals on the list are not necessarily wanted by the police.
How to Find Kennewick inmate Records
Interested persons may find Kennewick inmate records by searching the Benton County jail inmate custody list. It contains the names, booking dates, charges, and bail clauses of persons arrested in Kennewick City and other parts of Benton County. Some cities have local jails managed by the police department. Other cities have their jails managed by the local county sheriff's office. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office maintains the Kennewick jail and provides updated Kennewick City inmate records.
How Do I Visit an inmate in Kennewick City Jail
As a safety protocol, Kennewick Jail does not allow physical visits, all visits are conducted over video calls. All video visits must be scheduled. Interested persons must call the Kennewick Jail on (509) 735-6555 before the proposed date to obtain the requirements for scheduling a visit. Video visits are held Monday - Friday from 7:30 am - 9:00 pm and 7:30 am - 2:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Court Records
The Benton County Clerk’s Office keeps electronic and hardcopy formats of various Kennewick City court records from 2000. The records include:
- Criminal cases
- Civil/domestic violence cases
- Percentage/guardianship cases
- Mental illness/alcohol cases
- Juvenile cases
Location of Courts in Kennewick City
Kennewick City plays host to three of the five courts in Benton County. They include the following:
Benton & Franklin Counties Superior Court - Juvenile
5606 W Canal Drive, Suite 106
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 783-2151
Fax: (509) 736-2728
Benton County Superior Court
7122 W Okanogan Pl, Bldg A
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 735-8388
Fax: (509) 736-3892
Benton County District Court
7122 W Okanogan Place, Bldg A
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 735-8476
Fax: (509) 736-3069
Are Kennewick Court Records Public?
The superior court is not an "agency" under the Public Records Act, and as a result, the public records act is not applicable to requests for judicial records in Kennewick and other parts of Benton county. However, judicial records may be available under GR 31.1. Members of the public may access all court records except where it is restricted by federal law, state law, court order, court law, or case law. Court records include any document, exhibit, or information in connection with a judicial proceeding in Kennewick.
How to Obtain Kennewick Civil Court Case Records
Not all court records may be available for inspection or copying. Custodians of court records are prohibited from disclosing any of the following information:
- Social security number of individuals on court records
- Financial account numbers
- Driver's license numbers
Members of the public may not have access to any of this private personal information. Nonetheless, interested parties may obtain other court records and information, including civil case records, through the respective court clerk's offices. Individuals may contact the Benton County Clerk or the Franklin County Clerk depending on the county where the case was filed. Access to case records is regulated by GR 31.1. This applies to most in-person requests. Members of the public may also access civil case records online through the Washington Courts website.
How to Obtain Kennewick Criminal Court Records
A Kennewick criminal court record contains a criminal case number, date of filing, the penal code notations for charges filed against the defendant, and a history of hearings on the case. Interested persons can obtain Kennewick criminal court records from the Benton county court docket registry. Members of the public may access criminal court records on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 8:30 A.M. Case dockets and the names of parties involved are usually displayed on the criminal record page. Individuals may also visit the court where a criminal trial took place to obtain records. Under GR31.1, members of the public are not required to pay for inspecting or copying records. The Court Clerk may require individuals to provide a means of identification before records are released.
What are Kennewick Vital Records?
Kennewick Vital records are information about the birth, death, marriage, divorce, and genealogy of residents of Kennewick. Some of these records may be redacted for privacy reasons. Interested persons may contact the custodian of records for more information.
Where and How to Obtain Kennewick Divorce Records
Kennewick Divorce records are public records. Divorce records contain information on spousal support, child support, custody, property division, etc. Interested persons may get divorce records as certified copies of certificates. Divorce records can be obtained from the Washington State Department of Health. The department also provides interested persons a single-status letter if the person is traveling to another country to get married. Anyone may request a divorce record. Members of the public do not need to provide proof of identity or relationship with the subject on the record. Kennewick divorce records are also available at the Benton County-Superior Court building. The Court Clerk is responsible for keeping and disclosing divorce records to interested parties. Members of the public may visit the superior court building at:
Benton County - Superior Court Clerk
7320 West Quinault Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 735-8388
Where and How to Get Public Kennewick Marriage Records
Kennewick marriage records are available at the State Department of Health. Interested parties may visit the website or office or mail the department to obtain records. For marriage certificates, members of the public shall submit an application containing the relevant information. Next, individuals shall pay the applicable fee. The price for a copy of the marriage record is $25. However, an extra charge may be incurred depending on the method of sending records. Individuals may receive records on the same day of request. This applies to in-person requests only. Requests by mail usually take three weeks to be processed. Residents may also visit the county superior court for marriage records.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Kennewick
All marriage records in Kennewick and other parts of Washington are considered public. Residents may request records without directly being involved in the marriage or close to the couple. To obtain marriage records, interested persons may contact the State Department of Health or the county superior court.
Where and How to Find Kennewick Birth Records
Washington State Department of Health is responsible for providing members of the public with birth records. Interested persons may obtain birth certificates as certified copies or non-informational certified copies. Kennewick birth records can be obtained in person, online, or via mail. To obtain a certified copy, the requester must have a specific qualifying relationship with the subject of the certificate. Such persons will include self (requesting own record), spouse/domestic partner, child, parent, stepparent, sibling, grandparent, etc. This may not apply to non-certified copy requests. Residents shall submit an application with valid information, valid government ID, proof of relationship with the subject, and payment. Fees start with $25 for both certified and informational copies. Birth certificates are available for no fee under specific circumstances. However, requesters must be able to provide the first and last name of the subject, date of birth, the place of birth, city or county, and the parents or guidance name.
Where and How to Find Kennewick Death Records
All death records are currently in the custody of the Washington State Department.
Washington provides four types of death records to interested persons. These records include-
- Long-form death certificate
- Short-form death certificate
- Fetal death certificate
- A non-certified informational copy of a death record.
Only individuals with a specific qualifying relationship with the subject shall be given a death certificate or fetal death certificate. Except for a non-certified informational copy, all requests for death records are proof of qualifying relationships. Requesters must provide the name of the deceased, the time of death, and the city or county of death. Fees start at $25 for any kind of copy. Requests can be made in person, online, or by mail, similar to the methods of obtaining a birth record.
