Find Columbia County Jail Mugshots

Columbia County jail mugshots and booking records are a little different from most Washington counties. The Columbia County jail closed in March 2023, so all inmates now go to the Walla Walla County Corrections facility. To look up a Columbia County inmate, booking photo, or arrest record, you search the Walla Walla jail roster or file a records request with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office in Dayton. This page walks you through where to find jail mugshots, who holds the files, and how the county handles booking records today.

Columbia County Sheriff's Office

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is run by Sheriff Joseph A. Helm. The office sits on the ground floor of the Columbia County Courthouse at 341 E. Main St., Suite 1, Dayton, WA 99328. The phone is (509) 382-2518. The fax is (509) 382-4765. For emergencies, always call 911. The front desk (Civil Office) is open Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and closes for the noon hour.

The Sheriff's Office handles patrol, civil process, and records requests for Columbia County. Because the county jail is closed, the office no longer holds inmates on site. All arrests are transported to Walla Walla County. Arrest records and booking photos are public under RCW 42.56.

The Sheriff's Office takes credit and debit card payments through GovPayNet for civil services. Payments for Concealed Pistol Licenses, fingerprinting, photocopies, or civil process fees must be done in person. For bail payments, GovPayNet is the merchant of record.

Walla Walla Housing Facility

Since March 2023, all Columbia County inmates have been housed at the Walla Walla County Corrections Department at 300 West Alder Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362. The phone is 509-524-5431. For inmate info, call 509-524-5430. The jail serves the Walla Walla and College Place police departments, the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office, and Columbia County.

To find a Columbia County inmate, use the Walla Walla inmate search on their website. You can also call the jail for help. Fingerprinting and book-throughs are by appointment only. Call 509-524-5432 to set one up. Bail can be posted at the jail after hours but must be cash or a bond from a court-approved bail bond company.

Inmate records requests need a signed waiver or a court order per RCW 70.48.100. This is the state law that controls access to jail registers and booking records. Mugshots and booking info generally fall under public records but some details may be redacted.

Note: Because Columbia County inmates are housed in another county, always check the Walla Walla Corrections roster first when doing a jail mugshots lookup.

Columbia County Court Records

Criminal cases from Columbia County arrests are heard at the Columbia County Superior Court. The court sits at 341 E Main St, Dayton, WA 99328. The phone is 509-382-2511. The Columbia County District Court is at the same courthouse and handles misdemeanor cases, traffic matters, and the early stages of most criminal cases. The Dayton Police Department is the main city police force. Starbuck has no police department, so the Sheriff covers it.

Court records for people booked from Columbia County arrests can be found through the Washington Courts public case search. Superior Court files include the full case history after a booking. District Court files cover lower level charges. Both sets of records tie back to the original booking at the Walla Walla facility.

Statewide Criminal History

For a broader search of Columbia County arrests, the Washington State Patrol WATCH system runs statewide criminal history lookups. Columbia County law enforcement feeds arrest data into the statewide database. Name-based online searches cost $11.00 and return results right away. Fingerprint-based checks cost $58.00 and are the most accurate. Results include convictions and pending arrests under a year old.

WATCH is the state's official conviction history database. It does not hold the actual booking photos. For a mugshot itself, you need to go back to the agency that made the arrest. That is either the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the Dayton Police Department, or Walla Walla Corrections depending on where the person was booked. Records handling is set by RCW 10.97.

Victim Notification Service

Victims and family members can track inmates through VINELink. Because Columbia County inmates live at the Walla Walla facility, you sign up using that site. The service is free. Register by phone at 1-877-846-3492 or online. You can get alerts by phone, email, or text when a Columbia County inmate is moved or released.

VINELink works across Washington. It covers all state prisons and most county jails. The service is anonymous so the inmate does not know you signed up for alerts. Use it if you need to be kept in the loop on custody changes.

How to Request Mugshots

To request a specific Columbia County jail mugshot, send a public records request to either the Columbia County Sheriff's Office or the Walla Walla County Corrections Department. State in writing what you want. Include the full name of the person, the approximate date of arrest, and the case or booking number if you have it. Written requests can go in person, by mail, or by email.

The Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records. Agencies have five business days to respond with the records, a timeline, a request for clarification, or a denial. Most booking photos are public but some may be held back under law enforcement investigation exemptions.

Cities in Columbia County

Columbia County is small. The main cities are Dayton (the county seat) and Starbuck. Neither city has a dedicated page on this site. Dayton is home to the courthouse and the Sheriff's Office. All booking and jail records tie back to the Walla Walla housing facility.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Columbia County. If an inmate is not in the Walla Walla roster, check the nearest county jail next.