Columbia County Background Information
Washington contains Columbia County. The county seat is Dayton. Back in 2020, Columbia County had a total population of 3,952.
The county was founded in 1875.
It is named after the Columbia River.
Columbia County Arrest Records
Arrest records are kept on every crime in Columbia County. All crimes in Columbia County are classified into two sections in the crime report. The sections in question are violent crimes and property crimes. Property crimes include infractions such as burglary, vehicle theft, and larceny. Robbery, aggravated assault, murder, and forcible rape make up the violent crime section. There were three violent and 49 property crimes in Columbia County in 2021. Columbia County Sheriff’s Office can be contacted at:
Columbia County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff: Joseph A. Helm
341 East Main Street
Suite 1
Dayton, WA 99328
Phone: (509) 382-2518
Fax: (509) 382-4765
Email: joe_helm@co.columbia.wa.us
Columbia County Criminal Records
Columbia County records criminal activities in the form of criminal records. These records cover murders, rapes, burglaries, arson, motor vehicle theft, assaults, and crimes of sexual nature. All records of criminals in Columbia County are always updated. Citizens of Columbia County can use a search tool to get access to the records in question. Any individual on release or in jail can be located using the tool. The Columbia County sex offenders register is continuously updated. This register captures any offender living, attending school, working, or imprisoned in the Columbia County area. This up-to-date register is then made available to the public, as is the fundamental right of anyone living in Columbia County.
Members of the public living in Columbia County can also search online for offenders in the area. Using the tool, users must simply enter their home's zip code or an address they would like to use as their focal point. All Columbia County offenders within the given coordinates will then be revealed. People may also use the tool to search for specific offenders. Results include all offenders, even those imprisoned or non-compliant.
Columbia County Court Records
All civil, family, and criminal cases in Columbia County are overseen by the county courthouse. All Columbia County court records are managed by the court clerk. The Court of Appeals of Washington can assess all contested decisions in the state. The lower courts over which the Court of Appeals oversees incorporate the 39 superior or trial courts across the 39 counties, including Columbia County. To purchase court records in Columbia County, a person must enquire at:
Columbia County Clerk’s Office
Clerk: Diane Dill
341 E Main Street
Third Floor Suite 4
Dayton, WA 99328
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed from Noon to 1 p.m.
Phone: (509) 382-4812
Fax: (509) 382-2490
Email: court@co.columbia.wa.us
NOTE - Although mail, email, or fax deliveries can all be used to send records to requesters in Columbia County, Columbia County official records can only be sent via mail.
Columbia County Public Records
Vital records are kept on each resident of the state of Washington. These records record a person's most pivotal life events. Marriages, divorces, births, and deaths are all recorded in these vital files. Columbia County, as well as other counties in the state, is pivotal in the collection of these records for Washington. Columbia County is put in charge of acquiring and sending copies of the records to the state.
The county clerk in Columbia County is in charge of obtaining all marriage records. Marriage records in Columbia County are stored at the Washington Department of Health. Birth certificates, death certificates, divorce decrees, marriage licenses, divorce certificates, and marriage certificates make up the primary vital records. One central registry is used to store all vital records, including those from Columbia County. They can later be used for statistical analysis.
The general public in Columbia County can access all public records. The Washington Public Records Act (PRA) 1973 gives the general public in Columbia County this fundamental right. Columbia County residents can access public records in person at:
Columbia County Clerk’s Office
Clerk: Kriston Chapman
341 East Main Street
Suite 2
Dayton, WA 99328
Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
(Closed 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm for lunch)
Phone: (509) 382-4321
Fax: (509) 382-4830
Email: kriston_chapman@co.columbia.wa.us
Then again, Columbia County does charge per record copy. First copies of birth records cost $20. Columbia County Death records cost $20. Marriage certificates in Columbia County will set a person back $36. Finally, divorce records in Columbia County cost $20.
NOTE - If a member of the public wants to obtain records in-person, they must follow a variety of rules in Columbia County. The office has opening times of 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. PST from Monday to Thursday. Record seekers must bring some form of photo identification - state IDs and driver's licenses will do just fine. Only applications for access to records put in writing will be accepted in Columbia County.
