Cowlitz County Jail Mugshots
Cowlitz County jail mugshots and booking records come from the Cowlitz County Jail in Longview. It is the only detention center in the county, and it holds inmates booked from Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Kalama, Woodland, and all smaller towns. The jail runs a live roster that shows current inmates, recent bookings, and recent releases. You can search by name or look up charge details. This page shows you how to find Cowlitz County booking photos, who holds the files, and what tools are free to use.
Cowlitz County Overview
Cowlitz County Jail Division
The Cowlitz County Jail Division runs the jail at 1935 First Avenue, Longview, WA 98632. The main phone is 360-577-3094. On an average day, the jail houses about 325 people. It is the only detention center in the county, so every arrest from a city or town in Cowlitz ends up here. The jail also contracts with the Washington State Department of Corrections to house people who violate post-conviction supervision.
The facility has tight mail rules. Staff will no longer take mail unless it is in a plain white envelope. For PREA concerns, call (360) 577-1206. The jail page also has links to inmate money accounts, visitation times, and victim notification services.
Booking records at the jail include fingerprints, mugshots, charge info, and court dates. Arrest and booking records are public under RCW 42.56. Jail registers specifically are covered by RCW 70.48.100.
Cowlitz County Jail Roster
The Cowlitz County jail roster is a live data portal that shows current inmates, bookings in the last 24 hours, and releases in the last 48 hours. The roster columns list Name, Number, Booked At, Location, and Victim Notification. It is updated many times a day. You can also export roster data.
The roster has a "View All Charges" page that lists every current charge in the facility. Court designations include LONGVIEW MUNICIPAL COURT. Each inmate entry has a link to the VINE system for victim notification sign-up. This is one of the better jail rosters in Washington for ease of use.
Note: The live roster only shows who is currently in custody, so past Cowlitz County bookings may not show up there and must be requested from the jail or the arresting agency.
Corrections Department Services
The Cowlitz County Corrections Department sits at 312 SW 1st Avenue, Kelso, WA 98626, in the Hall of Justice. The Offender Services Division offers alternative sentencing options to local judges. It also runs inmate programs and services. Options include electronic home detention for people who qualify instead of time in jail.
Inmate Money/Account info, Visitation Information and Times, and Phone Services are all handled through the Corrections Department. Phone services are run by a third-party provider listed on the jail page. Check the jail info page before you send money or set up calls.
Longview Police Arrests
The Longview Police Department is the main arresting agency in the county. The department's mission is to cut crime, keep the peace, and protect rights. Longview PD handles arrests within city limits. People arrested are booked into the Cowlitz County Jail. The department also runs fingerprinting, auctions, and police report copies.
To get a Longview police report, visit the station during normal business hours. You can request the report, pay any copy fees, and pick it up. Reports connected to arrests often include the booking number that ties back to the jail roster. Kelso Police and the Cowlitz County Sheriff also make arrests and book into the same jail.
For old Cowlitz County booking photos, you may need to file a public records request. Most recent mugshots are on the roster, but older arrests may only be in the Sheriff's or arresting agency's archives. RCW 10.97 sets the rules for criminal records privacy and release.
Statewide Criminal History Lookup
For a broader view of Cowlitz County arrests, use the Washington State Patrol WATCH service. It is the official source for Washington criminal history conviction records. Cowlitz County law enforcement agencies submit arrest fingerprints to the statewide database. Online name-based searches cost $11.00 with immediate results. Fingerprint-based checks cost $58.00.
WATCH records include convictions and pending arrests from Cowlitz County. It is a good complement to the live jail roster because it covers older cases. The system does not serve up actual booking photos. For those, go back to the jail or the arresting agency. Records are linked by fingerprints, so name searches may miss some matches.
Tip: If a Cowlitz County inmate has been released, check VINE through the jail roster or the state WATCH system to track their criminal history.
Victim Notification
Victims can track Cowlitz County inmates using VINELink. The jail roster page links to VINE for each inmate, which makes sign-up simple. You can register by phone at 1-877-846-3492 or online. Alerts arrive by phone, email, or text when an inmate is moved or released. The service is free, confidential, and available across Washington.
Sign-up only takes a couple of minutes. You enter the inmate's name or number and pick your alert method. VINE then sends you updates any time the inmate's status changes. It is the fastest way to know when a Cowlitz County inmate gets out.
Cities in Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County has Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Kalama, and Woodland as its main cities. None of these have their own dedicated page on this site. All arrests from these cities are booked into the Cowlitz County Jail in Longview. Kelso is the county seat and home to the Corrections Department.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Cowlitz County. If an inmate is not in the Cowlitz roster, try the nearest county jail next.