Skamania County Police Records
Skamania County police records, covering incident reports, arrest logs, and booking information, are maintained by the Skamania County Sheriff's Office in Stevenson, Washington. Skamania is a small, rural county along the Columbia River Gorge in southwest Washington, and the Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the entire county. Public records requests are handled under Washington's Public Records Act, Washington's Public Records Act, with a five-business-day response requirement for all submissions.
Skamania County Police Records Overview
Skamania County Sheriff's Office Records
The Skamania County Sheriff's Office serves the entire county, including the communities of Stevenson, Carson, and the surrounding rural areas along the Columbia River Gorge. It is the only general-purpose law enforcement agency in Skamania County. The Sheriff's Office handles incident reports, arrest records, jail booking information, and related law enforcement files. There are no city police departments in most of the county, so nearly all police records come from the Sheriff.
The Sheriff's Office is located at 200 Vancouver Ave, PO Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648. The phone number is (509) 427-9490. The Records and Front Counter staff handle requests to verify booking status, ask for incident numbers, and file public records requests. The office asks that you call ahead before arriving in person so that staff can assist you efficiently. Walk-in visits without a call first may result in a wait or a request to return another time.
You can request public records by submitting a written request in person, by mail, or through the county's online records process. The Sheriff's website at skamaniasheriff.com lists the available services and provides an option to file a public records request online. Call (509) 427-9490 to confirm the current submission method or ask any questions before filing.
How to Submit a Police Records Request
To get Skamania County police records, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. The office accepts requests by phone, in person, by mail, and online through the Sheriff's website. Be specific about what you need. Include the date range, names of any parties involved if known, the type of records you want (incident report, booking record, arrest log), and a case number if you have one. The more detail you provide, the faster the office can locate and process your request.
The county must respond within five business days under RCW 42.56. That response could be the actual records, an estimate of when they will be ready, a request to clarify your submission, or a denial with the reason stated. If a record is partially exempt, the Sheriff's Office will redact the protected portions and release the rest. If your request is denied entirely, you have the right to appeal.
District Court Records in Skamania County
Criminal charges that go to court in Skamania County create records that are separate from the original police reports. District Court records, including Stevenson Municipal Court and North Bonneville Municipal Court, can be requested through the Skamania County District Court. Submit a Public Record Request Form and deliver it by hand to: Skamania County District Court, 240 NW Vancouver Ave Room #35, Stevenson, WA 98648. You can also mail requests to PO Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648, or submit by fax at (509) 427-3777 or by email at districtcourt@co.skamania.wa.us.
Court records are not the same as police records. They are maintained by the court clerk, not the Sheriff's Office, and are governed by different rules for access and disclosure. Use the Washington Courts name and case search tool to look up cases by party name or case number before filing a formal records request. Not every case appears online, so the court clerk may be your best option for older or more complex files.
What Police Records Are Available
The Skamania County Sheriff's Office maintains a range of law enforcement records. These include incident reports, which document calls for service and responses by deputies in unincorporated areas. Arrest records show who was taken into custody and the charges at the time of booking. Jail booking records include entry and release dates and the nature of charges. The Sheriff's Office also manages social media accounts related to official business, which are themselves subject to public records laws.
Not all records can be released. Active investigation files are generally exempt during the investigation. Records that could endanger someone's safety, including victim and witness details, are also withheld. Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, governs criminal history records and sets limits on how nonconviction information can be shared. The Sheriff's Office follows these rules when responding to all requests.
Statewide Criminal History Through WATCH
If you need a statewide criminal history search rather than just Skamania County records, use the WATCH system from the Washington State Patrol. WATCH covers convictions across all of Washington, recent arrests with pending charges, and sex offender registry data. The fee is $11 for an online search. You can access it at the WSP WATCH portal. Results are returned quickly, and no in-person visit is required.
For name-based or fingerprint-based criminal history checks by mail or in person, see the WSP Criminal History Records page. Name-based checks cost $32. Fingerprint checks cost $58 and are more reliable. WATCH is limited to Washington State. For out-of-state records, you would need to contact other states directly or use a federal system.
Collision Reports and Traffic Records
Traffic collision reports in Skamania County go through the Washington State Patrol rather than the Sheriff's Office. To order a copy, use the WSP collision records page. The fee is $10.50 per report under RCW 46.52.085. Reports can be ordered through the WRECR online system without mailing anything or traveling to an office.
If a Skamania County deputy also responded to the crash and filed an incident report, that document is kept by the Sheriff's Office and is separate from the WSP collision report. They are different documents, created by different agencies. If you need both, send one request to WSP and a separate request to the Sheriff's Office. Do not assume one office will forward your request to the other.
Public Records Act Rights in Skamania County
The Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, gives anyone the right to inspect and copy government records held by Washington agencies, including the Skamania County Sheriff's Office. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The law is broad and presumes records are public unless a specific exemption applies.
You can inspect records in person at no cost. Copying fees are allowed under the fee schedule. If your request is denied, the agency must tell you which exemption applies and allow you to appeal. Administrative review goes to the county's Prosecuting Attorney. If that review fails, you can seek review in superior court. The MRSC law enforcement records guide explains how these rules work in practice across Washington counties, including small rural counties like Skamania.
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) provides guidance to agencies and the public on handling police records requests. Their resources can help you understand what to expect when dealing with the Sheriff's Office and how to appeal a denial if one occurs.
Nearby Counties
Skamania County borders several counties in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon. Find police records resources for neighboring counties below.