Search Bremerton Arrest Records
Bremerton arrest records are managed by the Bremerton Police Department and are available to the public under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56. Bremerton is the largest city in Kitsap County, with a population of roughly 45,000 people on the Kitsap Peninsula across Puget Sound from Seattle. The police department accepts records requests online, by phone, and in person. Customer service hours at the station are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the station closed on Fridays. Staff are reachable by phone and email Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Bremerton Overview
Bremerton Police Department Records
The Bremerton Police Department's customer service counter is located at 1025 Burwell Street. Walk-in visits are available Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The building is closed on Fridays. If you need to reach staff by phone or email during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. works.
The Bremerton Police Department page lists contact information, departmental news, and guidance on reporting crimes and requesting records. The department accepts public records requests in three ways: online through the city's records system, by phone, or in person at the Burwell Street location.
Online requests tend to be the most efficient for straightforward records like incident reports or case summaries. If you need to discuss a complex request or have questions about what records exist, calling or visiting in person often gets faster answers than email alone.
What Arrest Records Bremerton Releases
Bremerton arrest records cover incidents handled by Bremerton Police officers within city limits. These records include police incident reports, arrest logs, and case summaries. The name, booking date, and cause of arrest for anyone held in the Kitsap County Jail are always public under RCW 70.48.100. Other jail records are generally confidential.
Police reports typically list the parties involved, the incident date and location, the alleged offense, and an officer narrative. Supplemental materials like photos, audio recordings, or video may be included but can be withheld if they fall under a RCW 42.56 exemption. Common exemptions include active investigations, personal privacy protections, and records involving juveniles.
Non-conviction records have extra restrictions. If a case was dismissed or the person was acquitted, that record still exists but is view-only for most requestors under RCW 10.97.050. You can look at it in person but can't take a copy. Conviction data is shareable in full.
| Police Address | 1025 Burwell Street, Bremerton, WA |
|---|---|
| Counter Hours | Mon–Thu 9am–4pm (closed Fri) |
| Staff Hours | Mon–Fri 8am–4:30pm |
| Request Methods | Online, phone, in person |
| Response Time | 5 business days |
Kitsap County Jail and Court Records
When someone is arrested in Bremerton and charged with a felony, the case moves to Kitsap County Superior Court. Misdemeanor cases are handled in Bremerton Municipal Court. Both courts produce public records that can be accessed through the Washington Courts case search system.
The Washington Courts case search lets you look up cases by name or case number. Results show the court where the case was filed, the charges, hearing dates, and the outcome. This is separate from the police arrest record. A police report shows what happened at the time of arrest. The court record shows what happened afterward.
For current jail status, VINELink covers the Kitsap County Jail. You can check whether someone is currently in custody and sign up for automated alerts when custody status changes. The service is free and works without creating an account.
Kitsap County also maintains its own public records system separate from the city. County records cover the sheriff's office, the jail, and county-level court processes. If an arrest in Bremerton was made by Kitsap County deputies rather than Bremerton PD, the records would be with the county, not the city.
Statewide Criminal History Checks
Bremerton Police records cover only incidents within Bremerton city limits. For a full state-level criminal history, the Washington State Patrol runs the WATCH program. Use it at watch.wsp.wa.gov. The fee is $11 per name-based search. Results show conviction records across all Washington courts and agencies. The system does not show non-conviction data or sealed records.
The Bremerton city homepage has links to various city services, department contacts, and online tools. If you're not sure where to start with a records request, the city's main site can point you in the right direction.
For legal help with records, expungement, or record sealing in Kitsap County, the Kitsap County Bar Association can provide referrals. Legal aid through Olympic Legal Services may be available for low-income residents who need help navigating the records or court system.
Note: Bremerton arrest records show that a person was arrested. An arrest does not mean the person was convicted of any offense.
What a Bremerton Police Report Contains
A standard Bremerton Police incident report contains the date and time of the incident, the location, the type of alleged offense, names and contact information for the parties involved, and a narrative written by the responding officer. Some reports include photographs, evidence inventories, and notes from supervisors or additional officers. Reports tied to more serious incidents tend to be longer and may include supplemental materials from detectives or specialists.
Not everything in a police report is automatically public. RCW 42.56 lists specific categories of information that may be withheld. Active investigation materials are commonly exempt. Victim identities in certain types of cases, like sexual assault, are protected. Juvenile names and records are restricted. When a portion of a report is withheld, the department must note what was removed and give the legal reason. You can ask for a list of the exemptions used if any part of your request is denied.
Arrest records and conviction records are legally different things in Washington. An arrest record shows someone was taken into custody. It says nothing about guilt or what happened afterward. Under RCW 10.97.050, conviction data is available to the public for sharing and copying. Records tied to dismissed charges or acquittals are more restricted. You may be able to inspect those in person but cannot always obtain a copy to take home.
Using WATCH and Washington Courts for Bremerton Records
The Washington State Patrol runs a statewide criminal history system called WATCH. It is available online at watch.wsp.wa.gov and costs $11 per name-based search. Results include conviction records from courts across all Washington counties, not just Kitsap County. WATCH is fast, typically returning results within a few minutes of payment. It does not include juvenile records, non-conviction data, or sealed records.
WATCH is useful if you want to know whether someone has any prior convictions in Washington. It is not useful for tracking active cases or finding out whether a case resulted in charges being filed. For that, use the Washington Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov. This free tool lets you search by name or case number and see filed charges, hearing schedules, and case outcomes for Bremerton Municipal Court and Kitsap County Superior Court cases.
VINELink at vinelink.com is a free custody notification service. It covers the Kitsap County Jail and most county facilities statewide. You can look up current custody status without an account. You can also register for automated alerts that notify you when a person in custody is released or transferred. Victim advocates and family members commonly use this service to stay informed without having to call the jail directly.
The Kitsap County Jail booking roster, which shows name, booking date, and cause of arrest, is public under RCW 70.48.100. Those three items are always available. More detailed booking records, including medical screening forms and classification notes, are not public under the same statute. If you need jail records beyond the basic three items, you will need to submit a formal public records request to Kitsap County.
Kitsap County Arrest Records
Bremerton is in Kitsap County. All felony filings and county jail records go through Kitsap County. Visit the county page for additional resources.
Nearby Cities
Bremerton is on the Kitsap Peninsula. Tacoma and Seattle are the nearest large cities accessible by ferry or highway. Both cities maintain public arrest records under RCW 42.56.