Columbia County Inmate Population
Columbia County inmate population records are no longer maintained at a local jail. Since March 2023, the county has contracted with Walla Walla County Corrections to house all individuals arrested within Columbia County. This page explains how to find current Columbia County inmates through the Walla Walla County system, how to submit public records requests, and how to use state tools for people who may have moved to state custody. Whether you are looking up a recent booking or tracking a longer-term case, this guide covers each step you need to take.
Columbia County Inmate Overview
Columbia County Inmates at Walla Walla Corrections
In March 2023, Columbia County closed its local jail. All individuals arrested by Columbia County law enforcement are now transported to and held at the Walla Walla County Corrections facility. That facility is located at 240 West Alder Street in Walla Walla, Washington. To reach the corrections division directly, call 509-524-5430. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office in Dayton still handles all law enforcement and arrest functions, but the physical custody of inmates happens in Walla Walla.
This arrangement is common in small rural counties across Washington State. Maintaining a local jail is expensive. Staffing, medical care, and facility upkeep create costs that small county budgets often cannot support long-term. Columbia County's decision to contract out its inmate housing is a practical response to those pressures, not an unusual one. The county still has full jurisdiction over its arrests and prosecutions. The difference is just where the person is physically held after booking.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is based in the courthouse at 341 E. Main St., Suite 1, Dayton, WA 99328, on the ground floor. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with the office closed during the noon hour. For general inquiries call 509-382-2518. For administrative matters call 509-382-1100.
| Holding Facility | Walla Walla County Corrections |
|---|---|
| Facility Address | 240 West Alder Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362 |
| Corrections Phone | 509-524-5430 |
| Sheriff's Office Address | 341 E. Main St., Suite 1, Dayton, WA 99328 |
| Sheriff's Office Phone | 509-382-2518 (general), 509-382-1100 (admin) |
| Sheriff's Office Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed noon hour) |
| Walla Walla Sheriff | 509-524-5400 |
How to Find Columbia County Inmates Online
Because Columbia County inmates are held at Walla Walla County Corrections, you need to search the Walla Walla County inmate roster to find them. The Walla Walla County Corrections online search is at wallawallacounty.gov/259/Corrections. The roster shows real-time information and is updated as bookings and releases occur. You can search by full legal name, booking number, or subject number.
Search results include charges filed against the person, the booking date, the facility location, and a link to VINE victim notification if you want to sign up for custody alerts. The data reflects current and recent bookings from both Walla Walla County arrests and contracted counties like Columbia County. If the person you are looking for is not in this system, they may have already been released or transferred to state custody.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office can also provide information if you call 509-382-2518 during business hours. Staff can confirm whether someone from Columbia County was recently booked and transported to Walla Walla.
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office page at columbiaco.com/78/Sheriff has contact information and links to county services. The screenshot below shows the Sheriff's page as it appears when accessed from the county website.
For people sentenced to state prison rather than held locally, the Washington State Department of Corrections has an incarcerated person search at doc.wa.gov. This covers individuals housed in any state facility across Washington.
Note: Columbia County closed its local jail in March 2023, so any search for a current Columbia County inmate must be done through the Walla Walla County Corrections system.
Public Records Requests for Columbia County
Washington's Public Records Act, codified at RCW 42.56, gives the public the right to access government records including booking logs and incident reports. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is the correct agency to contact for records related to arrests made by Columbia County law enforcement. Submit public records requests to the Sheriff's Office at 341 E. Main St., Suite 1, Dayton, WA 99328 or call 509-382-2518 during business hours.
Payment for civil services, including certain public records, can be made by credit or debit card through GovPayNet. The Sheriff's Office can walk you through the correct payment process when you submit your request. Some records are available quickly. Others may take a few days depending on complexity and the volume of pending requests.
Under RCW 70.48.100, local jails must keep records of all confined persons and make them available to the public. Even though Columbia County no longer operates its own jail, the Sheriff's Office retains booking records and can provide them in response to a lawful public records request.
The Columbia County Clerk handles court records rather than booking records. The Clerk's Office is at 341 E Main Street, Dayton, WA 99328. You can reach them at 509-382-4321. If you need certified copies of court documents, charging documents, or sentencing orders tied to an arrest, that is the office to contact.
VINE Victim Notification for Columbia County
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a free service that allows victims and concerned parties to track custody status for someone held at the Walla Walla County Corrections facility. Because Columbia County inmates are housed there, VINE covers them as well. You can register to receive phone, text, or email alerts when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a scheduled court event. Registration is anonymous.
Sign up or check current custody status at VINELink.com. The service works across all Washington county jails and state correctional facilities. If you are tracking someone from Columbia County who may move between Walla Walla County Corrections and a state prison, VINE is the most reliable way to stay informed without repeated phone calls.
Note: VINE registration is free and confidential, and you do not need to explain your reason for signing up to receive custody notifications.
Columbia County Court Records and Criminal Cases
When someone is arrested in Columbia County, their criminal case is filed in Columbia County Superior Court or District Court, depending on the charge. Court records, dockets, case histories, and charging documents are separate from jail booking records. The fact that an inmate is held at Walla Walla County Corrections does not change the court jurisdiction. Columbia County courts still handle all charges arising from Columbia County arrests.
You can search Washington court records statewide at courts.wa.gov. The state system covers Superior and District Court cases by name or case number and is free to access. For certified copies or older records not in the online system, contact the Columbia County Clerk at 509-382-4321. The court system and the jail system are separate, and you may need to check both to get a full picture of where someone stands legally and physically.
WATCH, the Washington State criminal history system at watch.wsp.wa.gov, provides access to conviction and arrest history records. This is different from a current custody search. WATCH shows what is in someone's criminal record statewide, not just whether they are in jail right now. There is a fee for WATCH searches.
State Inmate Search Tools for Columbia County
If someone arrested in Columbia County was later sentenced to state prison, they will no longer appear in the Walla Walla County Corrections roster. At that point, the Washington State DOC search is the right tool. The DOC incarcerated person search at doc.wa.gov covers all individuals in state custody, including those who started in county jail and were later transferred after sentencing.
The screenshot below shows the state DOC inmate search portal. It is the primary resource for locating people who have moved from county-level custody to state correctional facilities in Washington.
You can also use the DOC search to verify whether someone from a past Columbia County arrest is still in state custody, has been released to community supervision, or has fully discharged their sentence. The search is free and updated regularly.
Note: The DOC search covers state prison inmates only and will not show individuals held at Walla Walla County Corrections under a county sentence or pretrial status.
Cities in Columbia County
Columbia County is one of Washington's smaller and more rural counties. Dayton serves as the county seat. Other communities in the county include Starbuck and Pomeroy (Garfield County). No cities in Columbia County currently meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. All arrests in the county are processed by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and transported to Walla Walla County Corrections for custody.
Nearby Counties
Columbia County sits in southeastern Washington. If you are searching for an inmate and are not sure which county holds jurisdiction, the neighboring counties below may be relevant. Walla Walla County is the direct host for Columbia County inmates under the current contract.