Find Washington Arrest Records
Washington arrest records are public documents held by law enforcement agencies and courts across the state. If you need to search for arrest records in Washington, options include the WATCH criminal history portal, county jail rosters, and the statewide courts case search. Each of the state's 39 counties maintains its own booking logs through the county sheriff and local police. This guide covers where to find arrest records, booking information, and jail rosters across Washington State.
Washington Arrest Records Overview
Where to Find Washington Arrest Records
Arrest records in Washington are not held in one central place. The state has multiple systems depending on what you need. For a name-based criminal history check, the Washington State Patrol is the main source. For current jail bookings and rosters, each county sheriff runs its own database. For court case information tied to arrests, the Washington Courts public case search covers superior, district, and municipal courts statewide.
County sheriffs and local police departments process arrests and maintain booking records. Under RCW 70.48.100, county jails must keep a public register of every person confined. That register includes the person's name, the hour and date they were booked, the cause of confinement, and the date and manner of release. This log is open to the public. Booking photos are a different matter and are generally exempt from disclosure under state law, unless needed for investigation assistance or registered sex offender community notification.
For records of people in state custody, the Washington Department of Corrections maintains a separate database. The State Patrol's Criminal History Records Section handles historical conviction records going back decades. Different offices hold different pieces of the picture, so knowing which system to use saves time and effort.
Washington State Patrol Criminal History Records
The Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section is the official source for criminal history record information (CHRI) in Washington. This office handles fingerprint-based record checks and name/date of birth (NOB) requests for non-criminal justice purposes. CHRI includes conviction records, non-conviction data, and fingerprint-based record reviews. Conviction data can be released without restriction. Non-conviction data, such as arrests that did not result in charges or that were later dismissed, is handled differently under the state's Criminal Records Privacy Act.
Fees for criminal history records are set by statute. A name and date of birth request costs $32.00. A fingerprint-based request costs $58.00. Notarized letters cost $10.00. The WATCH online portal runs $11.00 for a name check. Fingerprinting services are available at the WSP office in Olympia at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, and visitors should arrive by 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The fingerprinting fee is $16.00 per card; valid government-issued photo ID is required. Records are retained until an individual reaches 120 years of age based on the date of birth on file. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. The mailing address is PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633. Phone is (360) 534-2000.
Individuals can review their own complete CHRI during normal business hours at no charge, with visits limited to 30 minutes. This free review option includes all non-conviction data that would otherwise be withheld from public release.
The WSP Criminal History Records Section processes both fingerprint-based and name-based requests for conviction records and related criminal history data from agencies and individuals across Washington.
WATCH Online Criminal History Portal
The Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) portal lets you run a name-based criminal history background check online for $11.00. The system searches Washington's statewide criminal history database and returns conviction records for the name you enter. This is the fastest way to get conviction history on someone in Washington without visiting the State Patrol office in person.
WATCH is currently being upgraded. A new system called PIIES 2.0 is being integrated with the WATCH Name/Date of Birth background check system. The notary fee will increase to $15.00 upon launch of the upgraded platform. The existing portal remains available in the meantime, and no action is needed by current users until the transition takes effect. WSP will share more updates as the launch date approaches.
The WATCH portal is operated by the Washington State Patrol and provides name-based criminal history searches for $11.00 per inquiry, returning conviction data from the state's CHRI system.
WASPC Jail Booking and Reporting System
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs operates the Jail Booking and Reporting System (JBRS), a statewide database of jail bookings and releases. JBRS is part of the national Justice Exchange Platform and provides criminal justice professionals with real-time access to booking and release records from city and county jails across Washington and from the Department of Corrections. The system is administered by WASPC under RCW 36.28A.040.
JBRS is not open to general public access. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, pre-trial services, probation departments, and state and federal criminal justice partners may request access at jbrs.org. An agency ORI number is required. Requests are reviewed by the agency JBRS administrator or the statewide JBRS administrator. For questions, contact WASPC at [email protected] or 360.486.2414. WASPC also maintains a data share agreement with the State Statistical Analysis Center for all JBRS data requests, excluding King County, as permitted by RCW 70.48.100(2)(e). For members of the general public, individual county jail rosters are the primary accessible option for checking recent bookings and custody status.
The WASPC JBRS system tracks booking and release data from all county and city jails in Washington, accessible to criminal justice professionals through a managed access process.
County Jail Rosters and Arrest Records in Washington
Every county in Washington posts a public jail roster. These rosters are required by RCW 70.48.100 and show each person currently in custody, the date and hour of booking, the charges, and the manner of release when applicable. Many counties update their rosters multiple times per day. Others post PDF booking reports on a set daily schedule. The format and update frequency vary by county, but the obligation to maintain and publish the register is uniform across the state.
Larger counties maintain dedicated online portals where you can search by name. King County runs the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention portal at dajd-jms.powerappsportals.us. Pierce County uses the LINX system at linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us, which also links to court records. Snohomish County posts a jail register with bail information that now includes data from Lynnwood and Marysville municipal jails. Spokane County publishes an inmate roster updated multiple times daily covering both the county jail and Geiger Corrections Facility.
Smaller counties often post daily PDF logs or static roster pages. Ferry County posts booking PDFs through the sheriff's site. Okanogan County posts a daily booking log and a daily inmate log, updated Monday through Friday excluding holidays. The VINELink system covers all of Washington and lets victims and the public sign up for notifications when an offender's custody status changes. Many county jail rosters link directly to VINE registration for each inmate listed.
Washington Courts Case Search
The Washington Courts public case search covers cases filed in superior, district, municipal, and appellate courts. You can look up a case by party name, case number, or case type. The system shows case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. It does not always display complete document images. For full records, contact the court directly or use one of the county-specific portals listed within the search system.
Many superior courts have moved to the Odyssey Portal system. Courts in Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Douglas, Spokane, and more than two dozen other counties use Odyssey for superior court records. King County Superior Court uses its own system at dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov. Pierce County uses the LINX system. Seattle Municipal Court records are at courtrecords.seattle.gov. Spokane Municipal Court uses a separate public portal at ecourt.spokanecity.org.
The Washington Courts name and case search lets you find case information from courts across all 39 counties, including criminal cases tied to arrests and proceedings.
Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search
The Washington Department of Corrections publishes information about currently incarcerated individuals to support public safety. The search returns a person's DOC number, name, age, and facility location. Additional details available depending on the record include county jail credit time, date of birth, date of commitment, supervision conditions, mandatory release date, legal financial obligations, and parole date.
DOC facilities in Washington include Monroe Correctional Complex, Nisqually Public Safety Complex, Washington Corrections Center, Washington State Penitentiary, and others. The database is updated regularly but may not always reflect the most current custody status because changes can happen at any time. Anyone who uses this information is solely responsible for any claim based on improper or inaccurate disclosure, per the disclaimer on the DOC search page.
The DOC Incarcerated Search covers people currently held in Washington state correctional facilities, with data on facility location, release dates, and supervision conditions.
Washington Public Records Act Rights
Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) gives the public broad access to government records. The law opens with this declaration: "The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know." Agencies must respond to a records request within five business days. The response can be the records themselves, an acknowledgment with a timeline, a request for clarification, or a written denial citing specific exemptions.
If an agency denies a request, you can ask for internal review within two business days. You can also file a lawsuit in Superior Court in the county where the record is located. If you win, the agency must pay your legal costs and attorney fees. Courts can also award $5 to $100 per day for each day access was wrongfully denied. For state agencies only, you may request review by the Attorney General's Public Records Ombudsman at AGOOmbuds@atg.wa.gov or (360) 570-3418. The Washington Attorney General's records guide explains the full process and your rights.
The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56.030) is the foundation for public access to government records in Washington, including arrest records, booking logs, court filings, and sheriff records.
What Washington Arrest Records Contain
Arrest records in Washington vary in content depending on the agency holding them. A typical booking record includes the person's full legal name, date of birth, physical description, gender, race or ethnicity, home address, fingerprints, photograph (if releasable), the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, the charges filed, warrant information, booking number, bail or bond information, the court case number, and current custody status. The jail roster required by RCW 70.48.100 is the public-facing portion of this information and is typically what counties post online.
The Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) guide to criminal history records in Washington explains the legal distinction between conviction data and non-conviction data. Conviction records can be copied and shared without restriction under RCW 10.97.050. Non-conviction data, covering arrests that did not result in a guilty finding, generally cannot be copied or distributed publicly. Members of the public may view non-conviction data in person but may not receive copies. If a record contains both conviction and non-conviction information, the agency must redact non-conviction portions before releasing the document. Pending cases from within the last 12 months are treated differently and can be shared without restriction because the criminal justice process is still ongoing.
Victims of crimes have specific rights under this system. Under RCW 10.97.070(1), agencies may disclose the identity of a suspected responsible person to a crime victim. This exception exists even where non-conviction data rules would otherwise apply.
The MRSC Criminal History Guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of what law enforcement agencies in Washington can and cannot release, including the rules around conviction vs. non-conviction data.
Criminal Record Laws in Washington
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, codified at RCW 10.97.050, governs how criminal history record information is shared. Conviction data flows freely. Non-conviction data, which covers dismissals, acquittals, and decisions not to prosecute, may not be copied or shared outside the criminal justice system. The law defines a "dismissal" broadly to include acquittals except for not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity findings. A "vacated" conviction is replaced in the system with a vacated status and is no longer shared with the public, though it remains accessible to criminal justice agencies for internal purposes.
Every criminal justice agency that shares CHRI must keep a disclosure log. That log must record who received the information, the date of disclosure, the individual the record relates to, and a brief description of what was shared. Agencies must retain these logs for at least one year. This audit trail applies to both conviction and non-conviction data when shared within the criminal justice system. Additionally, under RCW 9.73.090 and RCW 10.122.030, law enforcement officers must inform arrested suspects that they are being recorded when body-worn cameras are in use during the booking process.
The Washington State Statistical Analysis Center publishes regular arrest trend reports. Available publications include Arrest Trends in Washington over the Past Two Decades, Vehicle Theft Jail Bookings, Robbery Jail Bookings, Firearm Jail Bookings, and related analyses. Data is compiled from WSP's Computerized Criminal History system and from WASPC's Jail Booking Reporting System. Annual Crime in Washington reports go back to 1980.
RCW 10.97.050 governs how conviction and non-conviction data can be released in Washington. Conviction records can be shared without restriction; non-conviction data has strict limits outside the criminal justice system.
The Attorney General's obtaining records guide covers the full Public Records Act process, from submitting your first request to appealing a denial in Superior Court or before the Ombudsman.
The Statistical Analysis Center publishes statewide arrest data drawn from WSP criminal history records and WASPC jail booking reports going back decades.
WASPC accepts public records requests as a courtesy, though it is not a governmental agency. Written requests must go to the Public Disclosure Officer, Jamie Weimer, Chief of Staff, 3060 Willamette Drive NE, Suite 200, Lacey, WA 98516. Copy fees are $0.15 per page; responses come within five court days.
Browse Washington Arrest Records by County
Each of Washington's 39 counties has its own sheriff's office, jail roster, and public records system. Select a county below to find local contact information, online booking records, and records request procedures.
View All 39 Washington Counties →
Arrest Records in Washington Cities
Cities across Washington are served by their own police departments or contract with the county sheriff. Select a city below for records request procedures and law enforcement contact information.