Cowlitz County Crime Numbers
The Washington State Uniform Crime Reporting Program as administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs publishes annual reports providing crime data for all the counties in the state. Its latest report shows that there were 83 violent crimes and 377 property crimes in Cowlitz County in 2018. Compared to the crime statistics for 2014, these figures represent a 20.3% rise in violent crime rate and a 25.7% dip in property crime rate.
The UCR 2018 annual crime report reveals that law enforcement agencies recorded 26 rapes, 7 robberies, and 50 aggravated assaults in Cowlitz County. Reported incidences of property crimes include 115 burglaries, 198 larceny-thefts, 64 motor vehicle thefts, and 2 arsons. The five-year crime trend for Cowlitz County shows that robbery (133.3%), aggravated assault (35.1%), and motor vehicle theft (33.3%) rates went up between 2014 and 2018. In the same period, rape (10.3%), burglary (33.5%), and larceny-theft (21.7%) rates grew.
Cowlitz County Criminal Records
The Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section (WASIS) provides criminal history checks for all counties in the state. It allows citizens to request for these records online and by mail. To search the agency’s criminal history records online, visit the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) website. Regardless of the outcome, a criminal history check online costs $11 and payment is accepted by debit/credit card or by billing a pre-established account on the website. The fee for a notary request is $10 and payment is also accepted through any of the stated means. To establish a billing account, send an email to watch.help@wsp.wa.gov or call (360) 534-2000. Otherwise, download and complete a New User Application (Billed Account) form on the WATCH website. Completed forms should be sent by mail, e-mail or fax to the section at:
Washington State Patrol
Identification and Background Check Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633
For mail requests, download and complete a Request for Conviction Criminal History Record form and send to the section at the address above. Criminal history record information based on name and date of birth costs $32 while requests based on fingerprints cost $58.
Police reports for Cowlitz County are available from the County Sheriff's Office. The office makes the report and other public reports available from the Cowlitz County Sheriff Public Record Portal. To obtain reports from the portal, an account creation is required. For all copies of reports 30 pages or longer, there is a fee of $.15 per page or $.10 per page for scanned materials. All actual postage charges are applicable.
Payments for police reports may be made on the county's online record website, and are subject to a 7% service fee with a minimum of $1.00. It is possible to make card payments in person or over the phone. Payments over the phone are subject to a 5% service fee with a minimum of $1.00. In-person requests and payments should be made at the contact address below.
Records Department
Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office
312 SW 1st Ave.
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3092
Fax: (360) 423-1047
The Community Protection Act of 1990 empowers the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to maintain a statewide database of registered sex offenders and make this registry publicly available. Required details to complete a search on the Washington Sex Offender webpage for registered sex offenders in Cowlitz County include address, city, zip code, first, and the last name of the offender.
Cowlitz County Jail Information
The Cowlitz County jail is the only detention facility in the county. It serves Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Kalama, Woodland, and all of the smaller communities of Cowlitz County. Its address is:
1935 1st Avenue
Longview, WA 98632
Phone: (360) 577-3094
Friends and family members can deposit money in inmates’ accounts at the kiosk located in the jail’s lobby. This location does not accept $1 bills or coins. It is also possible to deposit funds online, or by calling smart deposit’s customer service department at (866) 394-0490.
Cowlitz County Inmate Records
The Cowlitz County Jail is overseen by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department. To find individuals incarcerated in the county prison, visit or call the facility using the contact information provided above. The jail also provides a jail roster online to find inmates in the facility.
Cowlitz County Court Records
Cowlitz County has a district court that further handles municipal court functions. Below are the addresses and contact information of these courts:
Cowlitz County Superior Court
Cowlitz County Hall of Justice
312 SW 1st Avenue
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3016
Cowlitz County Superior Court - Juvenile
Cowlitz County Youth Services Center
1725 1st Avenue
Longview, WA 98632
Phone: (360) 577-3100
Fax: (360) 414-9280
Cowlitz County District Court
Cowlitz County Hall of Justice
312 SW 1st Avenue, Room 207
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3073
Fax: (360) 577-3132
The Office of the Clerk of Superior Court is responsible for keeping the permanent records of all cases filed in Cowlitz County's superior court. To obtain a record from the court, contact the Office of the Clerk at:
312 SW 1st Ave.
Room 233
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3016
The office is available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Requests for Cowlitz County Superior court records can also be made online by completing a Superior Court Request form on the clerk's office page on the county's website or by downloading and completing a Search Request form. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page. A regular copy costs $.50 while electronic records, if available costs $.25 per page. Completed forms may be e-mailed to clerk@co.cowlitz.wa.us or mailed to the county clerk at the address above. After fees are paid, copies may be obtained by mail, e-mail or picked up in person at the Superior Court Clerk's Office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
To obtain a district court record, download and complete a Request for Access to Court Files or Record form. The same fees and options for receiving superior court records apply to obtaining copies of district court records.
Cowlitz County Vital Records
Birth and death certificates in Cowlitz County are available from the county Health Department. Orders can be made in person or via mail. Online orders available as well. For mail-in orders, download and complete a Vital Records Order Form. Mail a completed form with payment of $20 each via check or money order to:
The Health Department
Cowlitz County
1952 9th Avenue
Longview, WA 98632.
For walk-in orders, visit the health department at the address above. Orders are usually available for pick-up next business day after 2:00 p.m.
A certified copy of a marriage certificate costs $3 and can be obtained by mail or by visiting the Cowlitz County Auditor. Mail request and payment (checks made payable to: Cowlitz County Auditor) to:
Cowlitz County Auditor
Attn: Recording
207 N. 4th Avenue
Kelso, WA 98626
To obtain a divorce certificate, contact the Cowlitz County Superior Court Clerk's Office:
Staci Myklebust
County Clerk
312 SW 1st Ave.
Room 233
Kelso, WA 98626
Phone: (360) 577-3016
