NO FCRA USE. Columbia County Criminal History is privately operated and has no connection to a local, Washington, or federal government agency. Neither the site nor its advertising partners offers a service for credit decisions, employment screening, insurance underwriting, tenant evaluation, or another purpose regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Its function is to direct visitors to criminal-record resources serving Columbia County, Washington. It is neither a private-investigation firm nor a consumer reporting agency.
1. What This Website Is
Columbia County Criminal History is an independent reference resource, not an official government service. It does not possess government criminal files, perform an official background check, retrieve a record on a visitor's behalf, or submit papers to a court or agency.
The site identifies the public offices and systems that hold relevant records, including the Columbia County Sheriff, Superior and District Courts, Washington State Patrol and Washington Access to Criminal History, and the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry. It may also connect visitors to outside search services. The Washington Public Records Act, chapter 42.56 RCW, applies to qualifying records of public agencies. It does not make this private site a public agency or official records custodian.
2. Rules for Using This Site
As a condition of access, a visitor must not:
- Use the website in violation of federal, Washington, or local law
- Harass, stalk, intimidate, or threaten a person with information found here
- Rely on site content for a hiring, housing, credit, or insurance determination
- Attempt to enter accounts, servers, or systems without authorization
- Deploy a bot, scraper, or other automated collection method against the pages
- Interfere with performance or prevent another visitor from using the service
3. No Harassment, Stalking, or Discrimination
No information reached through this website or a linked service may be used to harass, stalk, threaten, intimidate, or unlawfully discriminate against anyone. Such conduct may also violate criminal or civil law. This restriction is especially important for Washington registry data. Sex offender registry information is provided for public-safety awareness, not confrontation, vigilantism, employment blacklisting, or housing discrimination. The Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act, chapter 10.97 RCW, also regulates the collection, dissemination, and correction of criminal-history information held by criminal-justice agencies.
4. We Are Not a Consumer Reporting Agency
Columbia County Criminal History is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA. It produces no background report, credit report, or consumer report. The site and its advertising partners do not provide tools designed to screen an applicant, review a rental application, set an insurance rate, or assess credit. A visitor agrees not to use information from the site or a linked tool to:
- Make an employment or termination decision
- Evaluate a renter or other housing applicant
- Assess credit or establish an insurance premium
- Determine eligibility for a license, permit, or public benefit
- Carry out any other activity governed by the FCRA
An official or legally compliant check required for a regulated purpose must be obtained from Washington State Patrol or a screening provider that follows the FCRA.
5. No Legal Advice
Site content is general information and does not constitute legal advice. Descriptions of Columbia County court files, charges, convictions, warrants, sealing, or vacation of a Washington conviction cannot determine how the law applies to one person's facts. Individual guidance should come from an attorney licensed in Washington.
6. No Warranties
The website and all of its content are offered "as is." No warranty is made that:
- Any information will always be accurate, complete, or current
- Access will remain available without delay or interruption
- The pages will be free from defects, mistakes, or security weaknesses
- An outside search provider will return complete or correct results
Criminal case information can change when charges are filed or dismissed, records are sealed, or a conviction is vacated. Delays and omissions can also occur when agencies report data. Site content is not an official statement from the Columbia County Sheriff, a court, Washington State Patrol, or any other government office.
7. Third-Party Services and Links
The website links to Columbia County departments, Washington court portals, state agencies, legal-aid resources, and outside search services. Following a link transfers the visitor to a service outside this site's control. No responsibility is accepted for that service's content, privacy practices, prices, availability, or terms. Visitors should review the destination's rules before using it.
8. Intellectual Property
Text, graphics, logos, and code presented by Columbia County Criminal History belong to the site or its content partners. Unless written permission is granted first, visitors may not reproduce, distribute, alter, or create derivative material from that content.
9. Limits on Our Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the site is not responsible for damages arising from access to or use of the website. This limitation includes loss tied to a decision based on site content or information supplied by a linked service.
10. Indemnification
A visitor agrees to defend and hold the site harmless from claims, demands, or proceedings caused by that visitor's use of the website or breach of these terms. This obligation includes reasonable legal fees and related costs.
11. Governing Law
Washington law governs these terms. Any proceeding arising from use of the website must be brought in a court with jurisdiction in Washington. Relevant state law includes the Washington Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW, where its requirements apply. Nothing in these terms waives a right or remedy that cannot lawfully be waived.
12. Changes to These Terms
These conditions may be revised at any time. An updated version becomes effective when it is posted on this page.
13. Cutting Off Access
Access to all or part of the website may be suspended or blocked at any time, for any reason, and without advance notice.
14. Severability
If a court finds one provision invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms continue in effect. The affected language will be limited or revised only to the extent needed to make it enforceable.
15. Questions
Questions about these conditions may be submitted through the Contact page.