Search Richland Inmate Population Records
Richland inmate population records are held at the Benton County Jail in Kennewick, which serves all cities in Benton County including Richland. Richland Police Department makes arrests within city limits, and those arrests are booked into the county facility. Benton County publishes an online inmate roster and a daily jail roster, both accessible at no cost, letting anyone look up current detainees by name.
Richland Jail Overview
Where Richland Arrests Are Processed
Richland is an incorporated city in Benton County. It is best known as the location of the Hanford Site and as one of the three Tri-Cities communities. Richland Police Department is at 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352. The city has its own police force, and all arrests made by Richland officers go to the Benton County Jail for booking.
The Benton County Jail is at 7122 W Okanogan Place Building B, Kennewick, WA 99336. The phone number is 509-783-1451. It is a large facility by Eastern Washington standards, with a capacity of 669 inmates and an average daily population of around 600 people. The building is 100,355 square feet. It holds pre-trial detainees, sentenced offenders, and people held on behalf of state and federal agencies.
Because the facility is in Kennewick (the Benton County seat), it is a short drive from Richland. All three Tri-Cities communities are within a few miles of each other, but each routes arrests through its own county. Richland and Kennewick both go to Benton County Jail. Pasco, which is across the Columbia River in Franklin County, uses the Franklin County Corrections Center instead.
| Facility | Benton County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 7122 W Okanogan Place Building B, Kennewick, WA 99336 |
| Phone | 509-783-1451 |
| Online Roster | inmateroster.bipintc.org |
| Daily Jail Roster | co.benton.wa.us |
| Richland PD | 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352 |
The Benton County Jail's average daily population of around 600 puts it at a relatively high occupancy rate for the 669-bed facility. People booked in Richland make up a portion of that population, along with bookings from Kennewick, the unincorporated county areas, and people held on state and federal holds. The facility runs a high-capacity operation for a county of its size in Eastern Washington.
How to Search the Richland Inmate Population
Benton County provides two ways to look up people in the Richland inmate population. The first is the online inmate roster at inmateroster.bipintc.org. This is a searchable name-based system that shows who is currently in custody at the Benton County Jail. Each entry includes the person's name, booking date, charges, and basic custody status.
The second option is the daily jail roster at co.benton.wa.us. This is a PDF or web-based list published each day by Benton County. It is a slightly different format from the searchable roster but covers the same population. Some people find the daily roster useful for a quick overview of who was booked recently. The searchable portal is better for looking up a specific individual by name.
The screenshot below shows the Benton County inmate search portal, which is the primary tool for searching Richland inmate population records.
If someone does not appear on the Benton County roster, they may have been released or transferred to a Washington State DOC facility. People with felony sentences longer than one year move out of county custody to state prison. The Washington State DOC incarcerated person search at doc.wa.gov can confirm a state placement.
For court records that show how a Richland arrest was resolved, use the Washington Courts case search at courts.wa.gov. Benton County Superior Court handles felonies. Benton County District Court and Richland Municipal Court handle misdemeanor and infraction cases.
Note: The Benton County inmate roster shows current detainees. It is not a list of convicted persons. Charges shown are from the time of booking and may change as the case proceeds through court.
Public Records Access for Richland Inmate Population
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 entitles the public to request government records including booking logs, arrest reports, and jail rosters. You do not need to give a reason for the request. The agency must respond within five business days, whether by producing records, providing a timeline, or explaining applicable exemptions.
RCW 70.48.100 specifically requires county jails to keep a public register of all confined persons. That register must show each person's name, when they were confined, and how they were released. Benton County satisfies this requirement through both the online inmate roster and the daily jail roster. Both are publicly available without a formal records request.
For records beyond what these rosters show, submit a written request to Benton County. For records about Richland Police arrests specifically, contact Richland Police Department at 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352. Incident reports, use-of-force records, and other arrest documents are handled by the department's records unit. Written requests under RCW 42.56 are the standard way to get copies of these materials.
VINE Custody Alerts for Richland Inmates
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) covers the Benton County Jail and sends free custody alerts when an inmate's status changes. Register at VINELink.com for alerts by phone, text, or email. The service is anonymous and does not require personal identification to sign up.
VINE is useful for tracking someone's custody status over time without checking the jail roster repeatedly. It sends an alert when a person is released, transferred, or has a court date coming up. The service also covers Washington State DOC facilities, so if a Richland inmate is transferred from Benton County Jail to a state prison after sentencing, VINE will continue sending updates. You can monitor multiple people at the same time. The service runs around the clock with no gaps in coverage.
Note: VINE updates may have a short lag after a custody event. For time-sensitive inquiries, calling the Benton County Jail at 509-783-1451 gives the fastest response.
State Resources for Richland Inmate Searches
Richland residents convicted of felonies with sentences longer than one year transfer from Benton County Jail to a Washington State DOC facility. The DOC incarcerated person search at doc.wa.gov lets you find someone in state custody by name or DOC number. Results show the current facility assignment and projected release date.
The Washington State Patrol WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov provides name-based criminal history checks for $11 per search. WATCH uses fingerprint-linked records, which are more accurate and thorough than a simple name search. It covers both convictions and recent arrests with open charges. For a complete background check on a Richland individual, WATCH is the most thorough public option available outside of a formal law enforcement inquiry.
For court records, the Washington Courts case search at courts.wa.gov covers Benton County Superior Court (felonies), Benton County District Court (misdemeanors), and Richland Municipal Court (city-level infractions and minor offenses). Use this tool to see how a case that started with a Richland arrest progressed through the court system and what the final outcome was.
Benton County Inmate Population Records
Richland is in Benton County, and all Richland arrests are processed at the Benton County Jail in Kennewick. The county page has full details on the jail facility, online roster access, and public records procedures for Benton County.
Nearby Cities
Kennewick is also in Benton County and uses the same jail. Pasco is across the river in Franklin County and uses a different facility.