Des Moines Arrest Records Search
Des Moines arrest records are public under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, and are maintained by the Des Moines Police Department. The department serves the city along the King County shoreline and handles requests for police reports, incident logs, and related documents. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. The city commits to handling each request uniformly, fairly, and as fast as its staffing allows.
Des Moines Overview
Des Moines Police Department Records
The Des Moines Police Department handles arrest records, incident reports, and case-related documents for incidents that occur within city limits. The department's stated vision is to be a highly-regarded organization through innovative, progressive, and accountable policing. Its mission centers on fighting crime while building trust with the community. Chief Ted Boe leads the department, with officers guided by the values of professionalism, commitment, and unity.
The Des Moines Police Department website has department contact details, news releases, and information on online crime reporting tools for minor incidents.
Officers document each incident and submit reports that go into the department's records system. Not all reports are released automatically. Some portions are withheld under RCW 42.56 exemptions covering active investigations, victim privacy, and juvenile identities. When the department withholds any part of a record, it must note what was removed and cite the legal reason.
Des Moines shares some service responsibilities with King County Sheriff for certain functions, which means some arrests in or near the city may also generate records at the county level. Check both sources if you are not sure which agency handled a specific incident.
How to Request Records from the City Clerk
All public records requests in Des Moines go through the City Clerk's office. The city has a formal policy of handling each request uniformly and fairly. It does not maintain a general index of records, which is a known limitation given the wide range of city activities and limited staff. That means you will need to describe your request clearly so staff can locate the file.
The Des Moines public records request page explains the process and provides the form or contact information needed to submit a request.
Be specific in your request. Include the incident date, the case number if you have one, and the names of people involved. The city responds within five business days with either the records, a timeline, a request for clarification, or a written denial. Vague requests slow the process down because staff must then ask follow-up questions before they can search files.
| Request Method | Online, mail, in person |
|---|---|
| Records Office | City Clerk, Des Moines City Hall |
| City Website | desmoineswa.gov |
| Response Time | 5 business days (initial) |
| Governing Law | RCW 42.56 |
If a request is denied, the city must give a written explanation and cite the specific exemption used. You can appeal denials through the city or challenge them under state law.
SCORE Jail Inmate Lookup
Des Moines is near the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) facility, a regional jail that serves several King County cities including Des Moines. If someone was arrested in Des Moines and is being held in custody, they may be at SCORE rather than the King County jail in Seattle.
The SCORE jail inmate lookup system lets you search for current inmates by name. Results show booking dates, charges, and custody status. This is a free public tool and does not require you to submit a formal records request.
Under RCW 70.48.100, three pieces of information are always public for anyone booked into a jail: the person's name, the date of booking, and the cause of the arrest. Other jail records may be restricted. If you need more detail beyond what the inmate lookup shows, you can submit a formal records request to the Des Moines Police Department or to SCORE directly.
If the person is no longer in custody, VINELink can still provide historical custody alerts if you signed up for notifications previously. For confirmed release dates and conditions, contact the jail directly.
Statewide Records Resources
Des Moines arrest records cover only what happens within city limits. For a broader look at a person's record across Washington, two state tools are available. The Washington State Patrol runs the WATCH system, which costs $11 and returns a name-based criminal history check. Results usually come back within a few minutes and cover convictions statewide.
The Washington Courts case search tool is free and shows filed charges, case status, and dispositions. It covers Municipal Court, District Court, and Superior Court cases. Des Moines Municipal Court handles low-level misdemeanors. Felonies go to King County Superior Court.
For current custody status, VINELink is a free tool that lets you check whether someone is in custody and sign up for alerts when their status changes. It covers SCORE and King County jail facilities.
Under RCW 10.97.050, criminal history tied to convictions is shareable with the public. Records where charges were dropped or the person was acquitted are treated differently. You can inspect those records but generally cannot get copies.
Note: An arrest record reflects an arrest, not a conviction. It does not mean the person was found guilty of any crime.
Record Vacation and Sealing
Washington law allows some people to petition courts to vacate or seal arrest records. This process does not go through the Des Moines Police Department. It runs through the court where the case was filed.
Misdemeanor cases may be vacated at King County District Court or Des Moines Municipal Court, depending on where the case was filed. Felony vacations go through King County Superior Court. To start the process, you file a petition, pay a filing fee, and attend a hearing. The judge decides whether to grant it based on the offense type, how much time has passed, and your overall record.
Once a court vacates a record, the Washington State Patrol updates its database and notifies local agencies. Private data companies are not bound by that update and may still show older records. Removing those takes separate contact with each company and is not guaranteed.
Legal aid for King County residents is available through the King County Bar Association's lawyer referral service. Call 206-623-2551 for help finding an attorney who handles record sealing.
King County Arrest Records
Des Moines is in King County. Felony cases and county jail records go through King County systems. For jail rosters, county-level resources, and the King County Sheriff's records office, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Other nearby cities in King County also maintain arrest records under RCW 42.56.