Find Kent Arrest Records
Kent arrest records are maintained by the Kent Police Department and the City Clerk's office under Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56. Kent is one of the largest cities in King County, and the city processes a significant volume of public records requests each year through its online "My Request Center" portal. Requests receive a reference number and email confirmation, and the initial response comes within five business days. This page covers the full process for finding and requesting arrest records, police reports, and related documents in Kent.
Kent Overview
Kent City Clerk and Public Records Center
The City of Kent processes public records requests through the City Clerk's office, led by City Clerk Kimberley A. Komoto. The office is at 220 4th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032. The main phone line is 253-856-5725. Fax is 253-856-6725. Two staff members handle the bulk of public disclosure work: Kathryn McKee, Public Disclosure Analyst, and Tiffany Alcorn, Lead Public Disclosure Administrator.
Kent uses an online portal called "My Request Center" for submitting and tracking requests. When you submit online, the system assigns a reference number (formatted like W032766-071921) and sends you an email confirmation. You can log back in at any time to check the status of your request. This system makes it easy to manage multiple requests and follow up without calling the office.
The city's Kent Public Records Center has all the information you need to get started, including links to the online portal and contact details.
For police non-emergency matters, the number is 253-852-2121. The Kent Police Department handles incident reports, patrol logs, and booking documents tied to arrests within city limits. Kent Municipal Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and local code cases.
Fees and Records Retrieval
Kent charges fees for copies of records, though the fee structure is modest. For electronic files, the rate is $0.05 for every four files. To put that in plain terms: 331 electronic files would cost $4.10. You won't be hit with big fees for most standard requests. Physical copies cost more, and large requests may require a deposit before work begins.
Payment options include a check made out to "Kent City Treasurer" or a credit card payment by calling 253-856-5201. There is no online payment option within the request portal itself, so plan to pay by phone or mail if you want to use a card. Inspection of records in person is free. You only pay when you want copies.
Records are available for 30 days after the city notifies you they are ready. If you don't retrieve or pay for the records within that window, the request is treated as abandoned and closed. If you need more time, contact the office before the 30 days run out.
| City Clerk | Kimberley A. Komoto |
|---|---|
| Address | 220 4th Avenue South, Kent WA 98032 |
| Phone | 253-856-5725 |
| Fax | 253-856-6725 |
| Credit Card Payments | 253-856-5201 |
| Electronic File Fee | $0.05 per 4 files |
| Records Available | 30 days after notification |
| Police Non-Emergency | 253-852-2121 |
What Kent Arrest Records Include
Arrest records in Kent cover a range of documents. Police incident reports include the names of people involved, the date and location of the incident, the alleged offense, and the officer's narrative. Booking records from the King County jail show the name, booking date, and cause of the arrest. Under RCW 70.48.100, these three pieces of data are always public. Other materials attached to an arrest file may be partially or fully withheld.
Additional documents that may be part of an arrest record include body-worn camera footage, supplemental officer notes, collision reports, and photo evidence. The city applies exemptions under RCW 42.56 to protect things like ongoing investigations, victim identities, juvenile records, and personal privacy. When the city withholds something, it must say so in writing and cite the legal basis. You can challenge denials.
Non-conviction records get more protection under state law. RCW 10.97.050 governs criminal history records and limits what can be shared when charges were dropped or the person was not convicted. You may be able to inspect such records in some cases, but getting copies is harder. If you're not sure whether a record qualifies, ask the records office before assuming it's available.
Note: An arrest record shows that a person was arrested. It does not indicate a finding of guilt or conviction for any crime.
Statewide Tools for Criminal Records
Kent Police records cover incidents within city limits only. If you need a broader picture, Washington State offers several tools. The Washington State Patrol runs the WATCH system, a statewide name-based criminal history search that costs $11. Results come back in minutes. It's the most direct way to find convictions across Washington without filing a records request.
The WATCH system pulls from the Washington State Identification System. It shows convictions but not always pending charges or arrests that did not lead to conviction. For pending court cases, use the Washington Courts case search, which covers District, Superior, and Municipal Court filings across the state. Kent cases at the misdemeanor level go through Kent Municipal Court. More serious cases tied to Kent arrests go to King County Superior Court.
For guidance on how Washington law treats arrest records and criminal history, the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC) publishes a detailed overview that explains the legal framework for public access to this type of data.
If you need to know whether someone is currently in custody, VINELink lets you check custody status and set up notifications for King County and other facilities statewide. The service is free.
King County Arrest Records
Kent is in King County. For county-level jail records and broader arrest records information, visit the county records page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the greater King County area also maintain public records portals for arrest and police documents.