Clark County Inmate Search
An inmate search is the process of accessing records to find information about individuals currently detained within a Clark County correctional facility. These incarcerated individuals are usually guilty of violating at least one of the County's laws and regulations.
A Clark County inmate search gives interested parties access to details about an individual's incarceration status, including the person's location, charges, sentence length, expected date of release, and personal data. Information about an individual may be helpful to family members, organizations, potential employers, law enforcement, and other entities. Hence, the County has made provisions for residents to be able to look up Clark County inmate information, considering it is deemed a part of Clark County Public Records per the Washington Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Clark County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The Washington Office of Financial Management reported Criminal Justice Data for 2021, showing approximately 4,449 adult arrests in Clark County, 536 felony jail sentences, 341 prison sentences, and 279 prison admissions (Readmissions inclusive).
Adult arrests were mainly for Group B offenses, non-forcible sex, and theft. In contrast, the majority of prison sentences that resulted from these arrests served in the County were for assault, other property crimes, and drug crimes.
In contrast to the 394 arrests made in 2020, there were 237 juvenile arrests in 2021. 236 of these arrests resulted in juvenile dispositions, and 21 resulted in juvenile admissions. The County's top three offenses that led to juvenile arrests throughout the year were assault, stealing, and property destruction.
Clark County Prison System
The staff of the Jail Services governs the Clark County jail system in conjunction with the County Sheriff's Office. The jail staff is responsible for inmate supervision, custody, booking, and maintaining order.
Clark County has a single-inmate housing facility. This facility has a diversified jail population divided into three security levels: minimum, medium, and maximum, with assignments based on particular classification criteria. In 2019, the facility housed an average daily population of 635 inmates, processed 13,116 intakes and 13,101 releases. It documented 2,751 incidents ranging from minor rule violations to serious emergencies such as fire or medical emergencies. The average monthly releases were 1,094, the average length of stay was 18, and the average monthly bookings were 1,087.
How to Find an Inmate in Clark County
The Clark County Jail Records unit manages court orders, calculates sentences, and processes inmate releases. The public can look up inmates using the Jail Roaster maintained by the Records Unit. The roaster contains a list of every incarcerated individual in the County. A visit to the main jail facility or a call to the jail services 24-hour phone line at (564) 397-2211 can also be used to look up an inmate.
How Does a Clark County Inmate Search Work?
The principal law enforcement official in the Clark County jail is obliged under RCW 70.48.100 to retain a jail record readily accessible to the public. The record should contain the names of the incarcerated persons, CFN, book date, location, release date, and their charges. However, with a few exceptions, such as sharing with criminal justice agencies, court processes, inspections, certification procedures, and some research institutions, additional records of the detained individual are kept confidential. Records can be accessed by healthcare providers for therapeutic purposes, and booking images can be used by law enforcement for investigations. The receiving system or organization must maintain the privacy of disclosed records and abide by all applicable state and federal laws.
Where to Find a Clark County Inmate Locator
A plethora of options exist to locate inmates detained in Clark County's correctional facility. Ranging from the Clark County website, Washington State Department of Corrections, Bureau of Prisons, and third-party websites.
The Clark County Jail Roaster (also an inmate locator) contains a list of every inmate housed in the County's jail. Users can find information on an inmate using any of the inmates' official names. Users can also use the book date filter to search for inmates incarcerated within a specific timeframe.
Individuals can utilize the inmate search tool the state's Department of Corrections provides to look up offenders in the state's jails and prisons. The inmate's first name, last name, or Department of Corrections (DOC) number can be used to search. After entering, a list of outcomes matching the search parameters is displayed, revealing the inmate's name, age, location, and WA VINE (Washington State Victim Notification Service) status. However, the Department of Corrections warns that the information displayed in the search results might not necessarily reflect the most recent situation of the prisoner.
The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has an inmate locator that allows members of the public to search for a Clark County inmate detained in any correctional facility within the United States. An inmate search can be performed by number (BOP Register Number, DCDC Number, FBI Number, INS Number) or by name. A search by number requires only the assigned inmate's number, while a name search requires the inmate's first name and surname, with search input criteria like middle name, race, sex, and age is optional.
In addition, several commercial websites offer inmate search services individuals can use to search for inmates in Clark County. Some third-party websites provide free services, while others charge for services rendered.
How to Send Money to a Clark County Inmate
The Clark County jail makes provisions for friends, family, and interested persons to send money to an inmate confined within their facility. All inmates in the facility have trust accounts, which are used to hold and manage funds received during incarceration. Money can be sent to an inmate in the County online through a third-party vendor or in person at the jail's lobby kiosk. The inmate's name and CFN (Correctional File Number) will be required to make the deposit.
To donate money to an inmate online through the third-party vendor, the sender must first select the proper state (Washington) and correctional facility (Clark County jail), following which the sender can locate the specific offender using the inmate's first and last name or the Recipient ID (CFN). It should be noted that cash deposits are not accepted online or in person. The only approved form of payment is a debit/credit card.
How to Visit a Clark County Inmate
Clark County allows inmates to receive personal visitors through the jail's visitation program and professional visitors.
- Professional visitors
The inmate may receive professional visitors like court and state agency personnel, attorneys and legal personnel, and authorized medical and mental health professionals and programs. Professional visiting hours are separate from personal visiting hours, which may vary due to operational needs. Professional visitors must adhere to the professional visitors' guidelines and must have approved and current Jail Clearance to access inmates.
- Personal visitors
To be eligible to receive personal visitors, the inmate must have been held in custody for 72 hours to allow for processing and must file a visitor's list of up to 4 people allowed to visit during the housing unit's scheduled visiting day and time. The visiting time is limited to 30 minutes. Personal visitors outside the documented names in the inmate's visitors list are prohibited from visiting the inmate for at least the stipulated month. The inmate can document a fresh list of names once a month.
Visitors to the facility must be at least 18 years of age or older, and minors will only be permitted to visit under the guidance of an adult with authority over them. Visitors must present a valid state or federal identification for verification. Individuals with active warrants or court orders prohibiting visits to the inmate may be arrested if contact is attempted. All personal visitors (including minors) must dress appropriately or will be denied access to the facility. Personal belongings are prohibited, and visitors will be searched to ensure compliance. The county jail has a list of visiting rules which must be fully adhered to by intending visitors.
Virtual visits through a third-party vendor are allowed to make room for more personal visitors and ease the probable strain of physically visiting inmates in the facility. Virtual visiting (also called video visiting) can be done at the main jail or from the comfort of the home as long as a PC and internet connection is available. Each visit must be prearranged and would require the visitor to create an account. The third-party vendor may charge a fee for each visit.
How to Send Jail Mail in Clark County
Inmates at the Clark County Jail can send and receive mail in compliance with United States Postal Service (USPS) laws and jail procedures. There are no constraints on the amount of mail that can be exchanged. The mail's content, language, and length are usually not restricted unless there are safety, facility order, or security concerns. Inmates can purchase mail items such as paper and envelopes through weekly commissary orders. The cost of the items is usually deducted from the inmate's trust account. However, if the inmate's funds are insufficient, a limited amount of items can be ordered.
To avoid delivery failure to the intended inmate, all incoming mail must be correctly addressed with the sender's full name and return address clearly written on the envelope. The mail should be addressed as follows and include the following information:
Mail Jail
Inmate's Name and CFN #
Clark County Jail
P.O. Box 1147
Vancouver, WA 98666-1147
The CFN is the inmate's jail control file number, sometimes known as the jail ID number. The jail personnel will inspect every incoming mail to ensure that all materials contained in the mail are in accordance with the acceptable items indicated in jail rules. Senders could face prosecution if any incriminating item is found in the mail content.
Clark County Jails and Prisons
Clark County has one correctional facility, the address and contact information for which may be found below:
Clark County Jail
707 West 13th Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
Phone: (564) 397-4996
Email: cntyjailservicesadmin@clark.wa.gov
