Clark County Jail & Inmate Roster
Clark County, Washington operates the local jail and publishes the booking roster for arrests in its jurisdiction. If you are looking for someone held after an arrest in this county, the sheriff's roster is the first place to check.
Clark County jail and sheriff
| County | Clark County |
|---|---|
| Population | 527,269 (2024) |
Where a field is blank, the county does not publish that detail on an official source we can cite.
How to find someone in the county jail
- If the charge is federal, search the Bureau of Prisons system, which is separate from both.
- Call the jail directly if the name does not appear; online rosters lag behind actual bookings.
- Search the county's official roster for the person's full legal name.
- If the person has already been sentenced, search the Washington State Department of Corrections offender locator instead.
- Have their date of birth ready — it is the detail that separates people with common names.
Cities in Clark County
1 city in Clark County is covered, each with its own inmate search and bail information.
The Washington state prison system
Sentenced prisoners in Washington are held by the Washington State Department of Corrections, not by Clark County. A person stops appearing on the county roster once transferred.
How the Clark County jail system works
A county jail holds people from the moment of arrest until the case is resolved or a sentence is served. It is run by the county sheriff, funded by the county, and is entirely separate from the state prison system. Anyone sentenced to more than a short term will eventually be transferred out of it.
The sequence is normally booking, a first appearance, then either release on conditions or continued detention. Bail is decided at that appearance, and it can be revisited later if circumstances change.
What to ask when you call
A single call to the jail or the sheriff's office can answer most of what a family needs to know in the first days. Having the questions ready makes the call much shorter.
- Whether the person is currently in custody, and under what booking number.
- When the first appearance is scheduled and which court will hear it.
- What the exact charges are as recorded at booking.
- What the current bail amount is, if one has been set.
- What the facility's visiting rules are and whether visits must be booked ahead.
- Whether the person has any medical or mental-health needs the facility should know about.
Bail in Washington
Bail for arrests in Clark County is set under Washington law. The governing provisions are listed below.
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Wash. Code § 13.40.040
Taking juvenile into custody, grounds — Detention of, grounds — Detention pending disposition — Release on bond, conditions — Bail jumping.
(1) A juvenile may be taken into custody: (a) Pursuant to a court order if a complaint is filed with the court alleging, and the court finds probable cause to believe, that the juvenile has committed an offense or has violated terms of a disposition order or release order; or (b) Without a court…
Revised Code of Washington (official, Washington State Code Reviser) (opens in a new tab) -
Wash. Code § 7.36.150
Admission to bail or discharge — Duty of court.
No person shall be discharged from an order of commitment issued by any judicial or peace officer for want of bail, or in cases not bailable on account of any defect in the charge or process, or for alleged want of probable cause; but in all cases the court or judge shall summon the prosecuting…
Revised Code of Washington (official, Washington State Code Reviser) (opens in a new tab)
Bail in Washington
-
Wash. Code § 13.40.040
Taking juvenile into custody, grounds — Detention of, grounds — Detention pending disposition — Release on bond, conditions — Bail jumping.
(1) A juvenile may be taken into custody: (a) Pursuant to a court order if a complaint is filed with the court alleging, and the court finds probable cause to believe, that the juvenile has committed an offense or has violated terms of a disposition order or release order; or (b) Without a court…
Revised Code of Washington (official, Washington State Code Reviser) (opens in a new tab) -
Wash. Code § 7.36.150
Admission to bail or discharge — Duty of court.
No person shall be discharged from an order of commitment issued by any judicial or peace officer for want of bail, or in cases not bailable on account of any defect in the charge or process, or for alleged want of probable cause; but in all cases the court or judge shall summon the prosecuting…
Revised Code of Washington (official, Washington State Code Reviser) (opens in a new tab)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · retrieved 2026-09-16
Frequently asked questions
Where are people arrested in Clark County held?
At the county jail, operated by the county. Cities within the county generally do not run their own long-term jails, so bookings are transferred to the county facility.
How do I find someone in Clark County jail?
Contact the Clark County sheriff's office directly. Where no public online roster is published, a phone call is the only reliable route.
What is the county seat of Clark County?
Clark County publishes its county seat, as does the U.S. Census Bureau.
How do I post bail in Clark County?
Bail is set by a judge under Washington law and is normally paid to the court or the county, not to the jail. Confirm the accepted payment method and the exact amount with the court before travelling.
Does Clark County publish mugshots?
Some sheriffs publish booking photographs and some do not. Where a roster is published, the sheriff's own site governs what is shown and for how long. We do not republish individual records.
How long are people held in Clark County jail?
That depends on the case. People awaiting trial are held until bail is posted or the case concludes; people serving a sentence are held for its duration, then transferred or released.
Last reviewed and updated: