Search Spokane Valley Background Check Records
Spokane Valley has a population of roughly 102,000 and sits just east of the city of Spokane in Spokane County. One important thing to know when running a background check in Spokane Valley is that the city does not operate its own police department. Spokane Valley contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for police services, which means arrest records and incident reports for calls within city limits are held by the Sheriff, not a city police agency. Spokane Valley does have its own Municipal Court for misdemeanor cases. For felony records, Spokane County Superior Court is the controlling court. This page covers each of those sources and how to access them.
Spokane Valley Overview
Spokane County Sheriff and Spokane Valley Police Records
Spokane Valley contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for all law enforcement services. This is a formal contract arrangement, not a temporary measure. It means that when you are looking for arrest records, incident reports, or other police records tied to Spokane Valley, you need to go through the Spokane County Sheriff's Public Records office, not a city police department. The Sheriff's non-emergency line is (509) 477-3130. Public records requests are submitted through the Sheriff's office under RCW 42.56, which requires a response within five business days.
Concealed Pistol License applications for Spokane Valley residents are also handled through Spokane County rather than a city office. Background checks for CPL applicants route through the Washington State Patrol. If you are applying or renewing, contact the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for current procedures and fees. The application process for Spokane Valley residents is the same as for other unincorporated areas in the county, since the city relies on the Sheriff for all law enforcement functions.
For background checks focused on recent Spokane Valley incident history, the Sheriff's Public Records section is the right starting point. Requests can be submitted in person at the Sheriff's office or through their online public records portal. Some records may be exempt from disclosure under state law, including active investigation materials, juvenile records, and certain information protected under federal statute.
| Agency | Spokane County Sheriff's Office (contracts with Spokane Valley) |
|---|---|
| Non-Emergency | (509) 477-3130 |
| Records Access | In person or online portal through Spokane County Sheriff |
| Response Time | 5 business days per RCW 42.56 |
Note: Because Spokane Valley uses the Sheriff for policing, there is no separate Spokane Valley Police Department records system. All law enforcement records for the city run through Spokane County.
Spokane Valley Municipal Court Records
Spokane Valley Municipal Court is located at 1021 N Pines Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99206. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Contact the court at (509) 720-5400. This court handles misdemeanor criminal charges and traffic infractions filed within Spokane Valley city limits. Even though police services run through the Spokane County Sheriff, the Municipal Court is a city court that handles the misdemeanor prosecution side for cases originating in Spokane Valley.
Misdemeanor convictions from Spokane Valley Municipal Court are reported to the Washington State Patrol and become part of a person's state criminal history. A WATCH background check search will return these convictions alongside any other Washington records. Common charges at this level include DUI, theft, and misdemeanor assault. The court clerk can search cases by name or case number if you contact them directly or visit during business hours.
The statewide Washington Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov may return results from Spokane Valley Municipal Court for name-based searches. That tool shows party names, case numbers, charge descriptions, and case status. It is a good starting point to confirm whether a case exists before you call the court. For certified copies of court records, contact the clerk at (509) 720-5400 to ask about current copy fees and how to submit a request.
Spokane Valley City Clerk and Public Records
The Spokane Valley City Clerk handles public records requests for city government documents. The Clerk can be reached at (509) 720-5400. Because Spokane Valley does not have its own police department, police records requests do not go to the City Clerk. Those go directly to the Spokane County Sheriff's Public Records section. The City Clerk handles records for city administration, which includes permits, council minutes, business licenses, city contracts, and other government documents.
City Clerk records are occasionally relevant in a background check context, particularly if you are researching a business's licensing history or code compliance record in Spokane Valley. For personal criminal history, those records will always come from the Sheriff's office, Spokane Valley Municipal Court, Spokane County Superior Court, or the WSP WATCH system. The City Clerk does not hold arrest data or criminal case files. The response window under RCW 42.56 is five business days for initial acknowledgment.
Washington State Patrol WATCH Background Checks
The Washington State Patrol WATCH system is the most thorough tool for running a Spokane Valley background check that covers the full state. WATCH draws from all Washington courts and law enforcement agencies. An online search costs $11 at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history/. Mail requests are $32. Fingerprint-based searches are $58 and are the most precise method when dealing with a subject who has a common name. Fingerprints eliminate ambiguity that name-only searches can leave.
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act under RCW 10.97 draws a firm line between conviction records and non-conviction records. Convictions are publicly available through WATCH. Charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittals are restricted and will not appear in a public search. If you are looking at WATCH results for a Spokane Valley resident and a charge seems missing, it may have been a non-conviction that is legally withheld from public access.
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs maintains a public sex offender registry at waspc.org/sex-offender-information. Level II and Level III registrants are publicly listed by name and address statewide, including individuals registered in Spokane County. This is a separate lookup from WATCH and focuses specifically on registered sex offenders.
The Washington State Department of Corrections inmate search at doc.wa.gov/information/inmate-search/ covers current and recently released individuals from state prisons. If you need to check whether a person linked to Spokane Valley is or was in state custody, this tool handles that search. Local jail custody at the Spokane County Jail is a separate search through the Spokane County Sheriff's office, not through DOC.
Spokane County Background Check Records
Spokane Valley is in Spokane County. Because the city contracts with the Spokane County Sheriff for police services, the county plays a central role in Spokane Valley background check records at every level. The county page covers the Superior Court Clerk, the Sheriff's public records process, the county jail search, and other county-wide sources for criminal history data.
Nearby Cities
Spokane is the nearest major city to Spokane Valley and shares the same county court system for felony background check records.