Bothell Arrest Records Access

Bothell arrest records are available from the Bothell Police Department through the city's public records request system under RCW 42.56. Bothell sits in both King and Snohomish counties, with most of the city falling in Snohomish County. The police department maintains its own records unit and handles requests for police reports, incident records, and accident reports. Standard copy fees apply, with exemptions for victims and traffic accident parties.

Bothell Police Records Requests

The Bothell Police Department handles public records through a dedicated records request system. The Bothell police records request page explains the process, lists what types of records are available, and links to the online submission form. You can also submit in writing by mail or in person at the police department.

Copy fees are $0.15 per page. Crime victims and parties involved in traffic accidents are not charged for records tied to their own cases. That exemption does not extend to third parties requesting those same records, who pay the standard rate.

Some records may require in-person pickup with a valid photo ID. The department notifies you when records are ready and lets you know if pickup in person is required. Contact the Public Records Specialist at 425-487-5120 for questions about a pending request.

Types of Records Available

Bothell arrest records include police incident reports, arrest logs, and supplemental case documents. Collision reports and accident records are also handled through the records unit. For accident reports, call 425-487-5126 or 425-487-5120 and have your case number ready. The case number speeds up retrieval significantly.

Body camera footage and audio recordings may be available but are subject to exemptions in RCW 42.56. Active investigation materials are generally withheld. Records tied to juvenile arrests have additional restrictions under state law and are typically not released to the public.

Conviction history is not held by Bothell PD. If you need statewide criminal history, contact the Washington State Patrol at 360-705-5100 or use the WATCH online system at watch.wsp.wa.gov. The WATCH database costs $11 per name-based check and covers conviction records across all Washington jurisdictions.

Bothell Police Department policies are also posted online. These give you a sense of how officers handle various situations, use-of-force thresholds, and departmental standards. The department FAQ page covers common records questions in plain language.

Bothell Police FAQ and Contact

The Bothell Police Department publishes a detailed FAQ addressing common questions about records, dispatch, and procedures. The Bothell Police FAQ covers how to report a crime, how to get an accident report, what happens after an arrest, and how to find out if someone has a conviction history.

Non-emergency dispatch for Bothell is handled by the same regional dispatch center used by Bellevue, reachable at 425-577-5656. The Bothell Police Department's own business line is 425-486-1254. Use the business line for questions about existing reports or records status. Don't call 911 for records questions.

Jail Records and Statewide Tools

When someone is arrested in Bothell, they may be booked into the Snohomish County Jail or the King County Jail depending on the charge and which county the arrest occurred in. Both jails release name, booking date, and cause of arrest as public information under RCW 70.48.100. Other booking details are confidential under the same statute.

To check current custody status, use VINELink. It covers both Snohomish and King County facilities and lets you sign up for alerts if someone is released. The service is free and does not require an account to check status.

Court records for Bothell cases appear in the Washington Courts database at dw.courts.wa.gov. Bothell Municipal Court handles city-level misdemeanors. Felonies go to either King County or Snohomish County Superior Court depending on where the arrest occurred. The case search system shows filed charges, scheduled hearings, and case outcomes.

Under RCW 10.97.050, conviction data can be shared with the public. Non-conviction records, meaning cases where charges were dropped or the person was acquitted, can be inspected but not copied by most requestors. If you believe a record should not be public, consult an attorney about petitioning for sealing or vacation.

Arrest Records vs. Conviction Records in Bothell

An arrest record in Bothell documents that an officer took someone into custody. It is not proof of guilt. The legal distinction matters because Washington state law treats these two record types differently. Under RCW 10.97.050, conviction records are shareable with the public. Non-conviction records, covering cases that were dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or were never charged, have tighter rules on copying and distribution.

A standard Bothell Police incident report typically includes the date, time, and location of the incident, the type of offense, the names and contact information of involved parties, and an officer narrative. Additional materials like photos, evidence logs, audio recordings, and supplemental notes may be included depending on the type of incident. Some of these materials may be withheld under RCW 42.56 exemptions, particularly if the case is still under investigation or involves juvenile parties.

If you need to check whether someone has a conviction record in Washington, the WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov costs $11 and covers all Washington counties. It does not show arrest records that did not lead to conviction. For court case status, the free Washington Courts case search shows filed charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes for Bothell Municipal Court, King County Superior Court, and Snohomish County Superior Court cases.

Body Worn Camera Records and Redaction Fees

Bothell Police officers use body-worn cameras, and footage from those cameras may be part of a public records request. Body-worn camera video often requires redaction before release. Faces of bystanders, victims, and juveniles are typically blurred. Audio may be partially muted where conversations involve protected information. The time and cost to redact footage depend on the length of the video and how much needs to be edited.

Bothell charges redaction fees for body-worn camera footage as part of its fee schedule under RCW 42.56.120. These fees are based on the time it takes staff to edit the video, not a flat rate per minute in all cases. If you are requesting body-worn camera footage, ask the records specialist for a cost estimate before the work begins. The city is required to give you that estimate, and you can decide whether to proceed or narrow your request to reduce costs.

People directly involved in an incident shown in footage may qualify for a fee waiver or reduction under RCW 42.56.240(14)(e). This applies to people who were subjects of the footage, their attorneys, and in some cases their authorized representatives. If you believe you qualify, state that clearly when submitting your request. The records unit will confirm whether the exemption applies to your situation.

Dispatch records from the Bellevue Regional Dispatch Center, which handles 911 calls for Bothell, are separate from police records. If you need 911 audio or CAD dispatch logs tied to a Bothell incident, contact regional dispatch directly. Those records are not held by Bothell PD and have their own retention policies. Audio recordings are typically kept for around 90 days before deletion.

King County Arrest Records

Bothell is in King County. All felony filings and county jail records go through King County. Visit the county page for additional resources.

View King County Arrest Records

Nearby Cities

Several Eastside and Snohomish County cities are close to Bothell and maintain their own public records systems.