Spokane County, established in 1858, is named after the Spokane tribe. It is located in eastern Washington and has its county seat in Spokane, the largest city. The county has a population of over 540,000 residents and covers an approximate area of 4,518 square kilometers.

Courts in Spokane County

The court system in Spokane County comprises Superior, District, and Municipal Courts. The Superior Court in Spokane County is the highest trial court in the county and has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. They preside over felony criminal cases and civil cases involving disputes or damages. The Superior Court has a Family and Juvenile Division. The Family Division handles marriage dissolutions, child custody, distribution of marital property, and other domestic relation cases. The Juvenile Division presides over cases involving minors, including juvenile delicacies, truancy, and child welfare matters.

The Spokane County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, small claims, traffic infractions, and civil cases involving amounts for disputes below $75,000. The Municipal Court handles violations of city ordinances, criminal misdemeanors, and civil lawsuits, including disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, speeding, parking violations, and expired vehicle licenses.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Spokane County

Public court records are the documents and papers from the courts that are publicly available to Spokane County residents. The Courts in Spokane County provide an online database, Spokane County Court Viewer, to access public court records from the Superior and District Courts. Public court records from the Municipal Courts are available online through the eCourt Portal. Record seekers may also visit the courthouses to view and obtain public court records or mail written requests to get the documents.

Types of Public Court Records in Spokane County

The following public court records are open for viewing and copying in Spokane County:

• Civil Court Records: Boundary disputes, foreclosures, business dissolution, contract breaches, restraining orders, and small claims
• Criminal Court Records: Arrest records.  Felonies and misdemeanors, including murder, arson, rape, shoplifting, and petty theft
• Probate Records: Trusts, wills, conservatorship, name change, and guardianship
• Traffic Records: Traffic violations, including reckless driving, expired license, hit and run, and driving under the influence
• Family Law Records: Marriage annulment, divorce, child custody, and child and spousal support

Confidential Court Records in Spokane County

Confidential court records in Spokane County are documents from court proceedings exempted from public access. The public may not view or obtain copies of confidential court records, as they contain private and sensitive information where disclosure may result in an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Usually, confidential court records are sealed by a court order or federal or state law. Confidential court records include:

• Expunged court records
• Juvenile court records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Medical and mental health records
• Adoption records

Similarly, any information used to identify an individual distinctly is confidential and excluded from public court records. Disclosing personal data may lead to financial fraud or identity theft. Personal identifiers such as social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, tax identification numbers, car plate numbers, and home and personal email addresses are confidential and redacted from public court records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Spokane, WA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Spokane County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Washington often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1718 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Spokane County. Of that total, 97% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1673 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Spokane County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Spokane County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Spokane County, WA

https://access.wa.gov/

County Seat:	Spokane
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1858
Total Square Miles:	1,781
2019 Population:	506,152
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1116 W Broadway Ave County Courthouse Spokane , WA 99260-2052 http://www.spokanecounty.org/

Spokane County, WA Courts