What are Franklin County Public Records?
According to the PRA, Franklin County public records contain information related to the government's conduct or its activities. The definition also captures legislative records, county budgets, and financial records. However, public records do not include details from real estate appraisals, vital records, or information from the quality assurance commission.
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Franklin County Crime Statistics
The 2019 crime report from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR) states that Franklin County reported a total of 16 violent crimes in 2019. This includes one record of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, one rape offense, four robbery offenses, and 10 aggravated assaults. In the same year, Franklin County reported 126 property crimes, including 45 burglaries, 68 larceny-theft, 13 motor vehicle thefts, and 3 arson offenses.
However, in the 2018 UCR report, there were 40 violent crimes, comprising 5 records of rape, 5 robbery offenses, and 30 aggravated assaults. Franklin County reported 100 property crimes, including 24 burglaries, 59 larceny thefts, 17 motor vehicle thefts, and four arson offenses. These figures show a 60% decrease in violent crimes and a 26% increase in property crimes in Franklin County between 2018 and 2019.
Are Franklin County Criminal Records Public?
Members of the public can request and receive criminal history reports for non-criminal justice purposes by searching the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) system. The information available to the public is convictions and arrests that are less than 12 months with pending dispositions, including registered kidnapping offenders and sex offender information. Interested parties can also obtain criminal history reports by mail or in person from the Washington State Police.
How to Obtain Franklin County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Franklin County Sheriff's Office acts as record custodians for the county's police reports and arrest records. To obtain either of the records, interested parties should contact the sheriff's office and inquire about the requirements needed to obtain them. Typically, the requestor should submit a formal request, submit a copy of a government-issued identity document, and pay the stipulated fees. The office hours are from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Record checkers should forward the documents to:
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
1016 North 4th Avenue
Room D201
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3501
Police reports contain information generated during and after a criminal offense or an arrest. It contains witness statements, law enforcement's time of arrival and departure, details of the offense, and crime scene photos. Arrest records are information gathered on the arrested individual, including the inmate's personal information (name, age, sex, and race), date and time of booking, mugshot, fingerprint, and bond amount (if applicable).
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Franklin County
The Franklin County Sex Offender Registry is an online database under the management of the Sheriff's Office. Information on registered sex offenders is updated on this registry regularly. Interested parties can search for sex offender information by name, city, compliance status, or address. The Washington Sex Offender Registry (WASOR) is a statewide sex offender registry useful for finding information on sex offenders in Franklin County.
How to Find Franklin County Inmate Records
Franklin County inmate records are publicly accessible online and are under the maintenance of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Franklin County inmate records include the names of the inmates, booking date and time, the number of days in custody, booking number, description of the charges, bond amount, and the status of incarceration.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Franklin County Jail?
The Franklin County Jail has a set visiting schedule that operates on the last names of inmates. Visiting days are every Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 3:45 P.M. the visiting schedule is as follows:
- Last names starting from A to K on Saturday from 8:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 3:45 p.m
- Last names starting from L to Z on Sunday from 8:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 3:45 p.m
Prospective visitors may contact the jail section on (509) 545-3549 for more information on the process required to visit an inmate at Franklin County Jail. Generally, visitors must schedule visits at least 24 hours ahead and be on the inmate's visitors' list. Furthermore, all visitors must dress formally for visits, arrive 15 minutes early, and carry a valid picture ID at all times.
Franklin County Court Records
Documents generated, recorded, and filed during court proceedings at a Franklin County Court are Franklin County Court Records. Four courts serve Franklin County for various cases that range from criminal cases to civil cases. The courts include Franklin County Superior Court, Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center, Franklin District Court, and Pasco Municipal Court. The contact information of these courts is listed below:
Franklin County Superior Court
1016 North 4th Avenue
Room B306
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3525
Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center
5606 West Canal Drive, Suite 106
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 783-2151
Fax: (509) 736-2728
Franklin County District Court
Room B218
1016 North 4th Avenue
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3593
Fax: (509) 545-3588
Pasco Municipal Court
1016 North 4th Avenue
Building D
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3491
Fax: (509) 545-3494
Are Franklin County Court Records Public?
Non-confidential Franklin County court records are accessible to the public. The Franklin County Clerk is responsible for maintaining and providing public access to these court records. Requestors must submit a formal request describing the documents sought with the litigants' names and case numbers. In addition to the court record request, the requestor has to pay statutory fees and submit an identity card (like a valid driver's license). Court records are also available online on the Odyssey Public Portal.
How to Obtain Franklin County Civil Court Case Records
Interested parties can obtain a Franklin County Civil Case Record by submitting the appropriate records request form to the County Clerk's Office. Requests for Superior Court records involve submitting a Franklin County Superior Court Records Request Form. On the other hand, requests for District Court records involve submitting a Franklin District Court Records Request Form.
Requestors should provide the names of the parties involved, case number, filing date, case name, and type of document requested. For additional inquiries, contact the Clerk's Office at:
Franklin County Clerk
Attention: Michael Killian
1016 North 4th Avenue
Room B306
Pasco, WA 99301
How to Obtain Franklin County Criminal Court Records
Franklin County criminal court records are available at the County Clerk's Office. Members of the public can submit a Superior Court Records Request Form or a District Court Records Request Form to the County Clerk. Requestors should provide the names of the parties involved, case number, filing date, case name, and type of document requested (criminal court record). In addition to these requirements, a statutory fee applies. Record checkers can also obtain Franklin County criminal court records through the Odyssey Public Portal.
Franklin County Clerk
1016 North 4th Avenue B306
Pasco, WA 99301
What are Franklin County Vital Records?
Franklin County vital records are records of life events in Franklin County that include birth records and death records. Eligible parties can locate them at the Benton-Franklin Health District. Parties can obtain a Franklin County vital record through fax, mail, online, or in-person. The Health District's business hours are from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. To obtain the vital record of interest, individuals must verify their proof of identity and eligibility in addition to paying a stipulated fee. The standard processing time for mail-in and fax requests takes two to three weeks to obtain a Franklin County vital record. Parties can locate the Benton-Franklin Health District at:
Benton-Franklin Health District
7102 West Okanogan Place
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 460-4204
Where and How to Obtain Franklin County Divorce Records
Franklin County divorce records are available at the Franklin County Clerk's Office. Interested parties can visit the office, contact the Clerk's Office via (509) 545-3525, or fill out and submit the Superior Court Records Request Form mentioned earlier to the Franklin County Clerk. Parties can also view divorce decree records online, which are under the maintenance of the Franklin County Auditor.
Franklin County divorce records are also available at the Washington State Archives. The site allows users to select the collection of interest (divorce records), enter the name of parties involved, divorce decree year. The archive has divorce certificates from 1968 to 1995 and divorce indexes from 1969 to 2017. Some records have images of the decree attached to them, and they are available to print for free online.
Where and How to Get Public Franklin County Marriage Records
Record checkers can obtain Franklin County marriage records from the Franklin County Auditor. This involves sending a request letter describing the marriage record sought with the couple's names and marriage date. Providing the marriage license number also helps expedite the search. In-person and mail requests or inquiries go to:
Franklin County Auditor
1016 North 4th Avenue
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3502
Alternatively, interested parties can search and order certified Franklin County marriage records online from the Washington State Archives. The online registry has Franklin County marriage records from 1889 to the present.
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Franklin County
Washington laws make provisions for obtaining records of public marriages. There are no records of confidential marriages in Franklin County. Persons with additional inquiries may contact the Franklin County Auditor's Office.
Where and How to Find Franklin County Birth Records
The Benton-Franklin Health District acts as the custodian for Franklin County birth records. Obtaining the record involves completing and sending a Birth Certificate Order Form to the Health Department. Parties who wish to obtain these records must pay a non-refundable $25.00 fee via money orders, credit cards, cash, or cashier's check.
Same-day deliveries are available for an additional $10.00 fee upon receiving the request by 2:00 P.M. However, the requestor pays no extra charge for a standard processing time that takes five business days. Eligible applicants must submit a copy of a government-issued identity document to obtain a birth record.
Benton-Franklin Health District
7102 West Okanogan Place
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 460-4204
Fax: (509) 460-4587
Where and How to Find Franklin County Death Records
Franklin County death records are available at the Benton-Franklin Health District. Eligible persons can obtain a Franklin County death record by submitting a Death Certificate Order Form to the Health District in person, by mail, or by fax.
Death records cost a non-refundable $25.00 fee, payable by cash, cashier's check, or via credit cards. The standard processing time, which takes five business days, comes at no extra cost. However, same-day delivery costs an additional $10.00 fee.
Benton-Franklin Health District
7102 West Okanogan Place
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 460-4204
Fax: (509) 460-4587
