Wahkiakum County Arrest Records

Wahkiakum County arrest records are handled by the Sheriff's Office in Cathlamet, one of the smallest sheriff's departments in Washington. There is no online inmate roster for this county. If you need to know whether someone is in custody, you must call the jail directly. This page covers how to reach the Sheriff, what the jail's visiting hours are, and how to submit a formal public records request.

Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office

The Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Mark C. Howie. The office and jail are both located at 64 Main Street, Cathlamet WA 98612. The main phone number is 360-795-3242. Wahkiakum County is the second least populous county in Washington, with approximately 4,422 residents recorded in the 2020 census. The department reflects that scale: a small staff covering a wide rural area.

The Sheriff's Office patrols 287 square miles of mostly rural terrain along the Columbia River. Deputies handle all law enforcement for unincorporated Wahkiakum County, including arrests, investigations, and court-related transport. Because the county is small and rural, there are no city police departments handling significant volumes of arrests. Most law enforcement activity goes through the Sheriff.

There is no online inmate roster for Wahkiakum County. This is common for the smallest Washington counties, where the technology investment is not practical given the size of the jail population. If you need to confirm whether someone is in custody, call the jail at 360-795-3242. Staff can confirm basic booking status during regular hours.

Inmate Status and Third-Party Resources

Because Wahkiakum County does not maintain a public online roster, calling the jail at 360-795-3242 is the most direct way to confirm whether someone is in custody. Jail staff can provide basic booking information that is public under RCW 70.48.100: name, booking date, charges, and discharge status. They cannot share medical, mental health, or internal records without proper authorization.

A third-party directory at Washington Jail Roster lists Wahkiakum County jail contact information. This is not an official county resource, but it can be a useful starting point when you need to find the jail's contact details quickly. Always confirm information directly with the county before relying on it for anything official.

VINELink provides free automated victim notification at vinelink.com or by calling 1-877-846-3492. If you are a victim or family member who wants to be alerted when someone is released or transferred, register through VINELink. Alerts go by phone, email, or text. The service is free and works statewide, including small counties like Wahkiakum.

Jail Visiting Hours and Rules

Wahkiakum County Jail visiting hours are limited to two sessions each week. Visiting hours are 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Tuesdays and 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM on Sundays. Visitors must arrive on time. Showing up after visiting hours have started may result in being turned away, especially in a small facility where staff resources are limited.

All visitors must bring a valid photo ID. Proper dress is required. Visitors who appear under 17 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The jail does not allow visitors to bring items for inmates; any property for an inmate must go through the proper intake process, not through a visitor. Call ahead to ask about approved ways to deliver items or money to someone in custody.

If you need to visit outside of regular hours, contact the Sheriff's Office at 360-795-3242 to ask whether a special arrangement is possible. In small jails, some flexibility exists for specific circumstances such as attorney visits or medical emergencies. But do not assume an exception will be made without asking first.

Public Records Requests and State Law

To request copies of arrest records from Wahkiakum County, submit a written public records request to the Sheriff's Office at 64 Main Street, Cathlamet WA 98612. Include the full name of the person involved, the approximate dates of the arrest or booking, and the specific type of record you are requesting. The more specific you are, the faster the request can be processed.

Under the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, agencies must respond within five business days. The response may provide records, give a cost estimate for producing them, or explain any legal exemption. For jail records, the main exemptions come from RCW 70.48.100, which limits public access to basic booking data. Medical records, mental health records, and internal jail documents are not public.

Washington law allows agencies to charge for the actual cost of producing records. Paper copies typically cost $0.15 per page. Electronic production is usually less. If the total cost is under one dollar, the fee may be waived. For a small county like Wahkiakum, most records requests are not large and fees are usually minimal.

Statewide Criminal History Tools

For a statewide conviction history check, the Washington State Patrol offers the WATCH database for $11. WATCH covers conviction records from courts across Washington. This is useful when you need more than a single county's records, or when you are not sure which county to contact.

The Washington Courts case search lets you look up Superior Court and District Court cases by name or case number. Wahkiakum County cases appear there once charges are filed. If you know an arrest occurred but need to track what happened in court, this is the right tool. Case dispositions, hearing dates, and charge information are all publicly accessible through the portal.

Under RCW 10.97.050, conviction records are publicly shareable. Records tied to arrests that did not result in a conviction are view-only and cannot be copied or passed to third parties. This applies to WATCH results, court case data, and any records you receive through a public records request. If a case was dismissed or ended in acquittal, the records from that case have restricted distribution rights.

Cities in Wahkiakum County

Wahkiakum County has no cities with a dedicated arrest records page in this directory. Cathlamet is the county seat and largest community. All arrest record inquiries are handled at the county level through the Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

Wahkiakum County is in southwestern Washington along the Columbia River. It borders several counties on the Washington side.