Find the Correct Washington Booking, Court Case or Criminal-History Record
Washington does not operate one public database containing every arrest, jail booking, police report, court case and conviction. County jails, city jails, local law-enforcement agencies, Washington Courts, the State Patrol and the Department of Corrections each maintain a different part of the record.
This guide explains which system to use, what each result means, current WSP fees, how to request an arrest report, how to correct inaccurate information and when a nonconviction record or conviction may qualify for deletion or vacation.
Search the jail that received the person.
WSP WATCH online search: $11.
Washington Courts reference data updates daily.
Search DOC by name or DOC number.
Initial agency response due within five business days.
Start with the result you actually need
Search the county or city jail where the person was booked. This is the best place to confirm current custody, booking time, charge entries and release status.
Request it from the sheriff, police department or State Patrol unit whose officer created the report.
Use Washington Courts to locate the court and case number, then obtain the official docket and documents from that court.
Order a WSP WATCH report when you need qualifying Washington conviction history rather than one local booking.
How to find a Washington county or city jail booking
Washington law requires the operator of a jail to maintain a public jail register containing the name of each confined person, the date, time and cause of confinement, and the date, time and manner of discharge. Other jail records are generally confidential unless a legal exception applies.
Which Washington county should you search?
Search the county where the person was arrested, booked, sentenced or transferred. When the city operates its own jail, check the city first and then the county or regional jail.
| Region | Counties | Best starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Puget Sound core | King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap | County adult-detention or sheriff jail roster; also check Seattle, SCORE or another city/regional facility when applicable. |
| Southwest Washington | Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, Wahkiakum, Pacific | County sheriff, corrections or jail-services roster for the arrest county. |
| Olympic Peninsula | Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason | County sheriff or county corrections booking search. |
| Northwest and islands | Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan | Sheriff corrections division or the jail serving the island or county. |
| South Puget Sound | Thurston | County corrections roster; check city custody when the arrest was very recent. |
| North-central Washington | Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan | County or regional corrections roster; verify which partner county houses the person. |
| Central Washington | Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat | County corrections or sheriff inmate roster. |
| Columbia Basin | Benton, Franklin, Grant, Adams | County corrections or regional jail search based on the arresting agency. |
| Spokane and northeast | Spokane, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Ferry, Lincoln | County detention services or sheriff corrections roster. |
| Southeast Washington | Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, Whitman | County jail or regional correctional facility serving the arresting jurisdiction. |
How to read a Washington jail-register result
| Field | What it usually means | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking or jail number | Identifier assigned by the jail to the custody event or person. | It does not explain the final court outcome. | Use it when calling the jail or arranging approved services. |
| Book date and time | When the person entered that jail’s booking process. | It may differ from the time of arrest or alleged offense. | Use it to distinguish current and older bookings. |
| Arresting agency | Agency responsible for the arrest or warrant service. | It may not operate the jail or court. | Request the police report from this agency. |
| Charge | Alleged offense recorded at booking. | It does not establish guilt and may later change. | Check the formal court complaint or information. |
| Cause of confinement | The charge, warrant, sentence or hold supporting custody. | A brief label may omit important details. | Review each case and hold separately. |
| Bail or bond | Current release amount or condition shown for one matter. | Paying one amount may not resolve other holds. | Confirm all cases before paying. |
| Court and case number | Court responsible for the criminal proceeding. | It may not appear during early intake. | Use it in Washington Courts and with the court clerk. |
| Release date | When the listed jail confinement ended. | Release does not mean dismissal or acquittal. | Search the court case for the legal outcome. |
| Booking photograph | Image taken during custody processing. | It is not proof of the allegation. | Use it only with stronger identifiers. |
No Washington arrest record found? Follow this order
How to request a Washington arrest or police report
Send the request to the agency that created the record. A sheriff cannot ordinarily produce a city police report, and the Washington State Patrol cannot produce a county deputy’s investigative file.
Identify the exact record holder
Use for deputy-created incident reports, arrest reports, warrant service and sheriff investigative records.
Use for incidents investigated by municipal officers, including city arrest and collision reports.
Use for State Patrol incidents, investigations and agency-created records.
Use for the public jail register, booking dates, discharge data and other releasable jail records.
Use for releasable prosecution records maintained by that office, subject to exemptions and case status.
Use for official filed complaints, informations, orders, judgments and docket documents.
Information that makes a request searchable
What the agency must do within five business days
The agency may provide or make available the responsive records.
The agency may direct the requester to records already available online.
The agency may provide a reasonable estimate for additional processing time.
The agency must provide a written basis when denying all or part of the request.
Common reasons information is redacted
- Active-investigation material protected from premature disclosure.
- Victim, witness, juvenile or confidential identifying information.
- Medical, mental-health or protected personal information.
- Information that could endanger a person or interfere with law enforcement.
- Records protected by another state or federal statute.
- Images, audio or video requiring frame-by-frame review and redaction.
How to find the criminal court case and final outcome
Washington’s statewide case-search system covers cases filed in municipal, district, superior and appellate courts. Search information is updated daily, but it is reference material rather than the official court record.
| Term | Plain-language meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | The case has not reached a final disposition. | Check the next hearing and newest docket event. |
| Complaint | Document alleging one or more offenses. | Check whether it was later amended or dismissed. |
| Information | Formal charging document commonly used in superior court. | Read each count and enhancement separately. |
| Arraignment | Hearing where charges are formally addressed and a plea is entered. | Check conditions of release and future dates. |
| Dismissed | The court dismissed the case or count. | Determine whether every count was dismissed. |
| Guilty | A guilty disposition was entered by plea or verdict. | Review the judgment and sentence. |
| Not guilty | The defendant was acquitted of the resolved charge. | Check whether other counts remained. |
| Vacated | The sentencing court granted statutory vacation relief. | Obtain the signed vacation order and confirm the specific count. |
| Closed | The court system no longer treats the matter as active. | Closed alone does not explain the final outcome. |
What a Washington State Patrol criminal-history search includes
The Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section maintains WASIS and operates WATCH as the state’s official public source for Washington criminal-history conviction records.
Public conviction information reported by Washington courts and criminal-justice agencies.
Arrests less than one year old may appear while the disposition remains pending.
Qualifying registered sex and kidnapping offender information may be included.
Information excluded from the public result
Current WATCH fees
| Service | Published fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Online name and date-of-birth search | $11 each | Charged for every search, including a no-record result. |
| Online notary request | $15 each | Separate from the underlying search charge where applicable. |
| Mailed name and date-of-birth request | $32 | Use the current WSP form and payment instructions. |
| Fingerprint-based record check | $58 | Fingerprint-collection charges may be separate. |
| WSP Olympia fingerprint service | $16 | This is the collection service charge, not the record-check fee. |
| Local fingerprint service | Varies | Contact the local law-enforcement agency for appointment and payment rules. |
What each WSP search response means
| Response | Meaning | Safe interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate list | One or more records match or closely match the search information. | Compare every identifier before selecting a candidate. |
| No record | No public record matched the criteria in the WSP database. | It does not prove the person has never been arrested or charged. |
| No exact match found | WSP did not find an exact public conviction-record match for the entered name and birth date. | Check spelling, date of birth and aliases before rerunning a paid search. |
| Duplicate match | Two or more records may share the exact search identifiers. | Do not choose based only on name and date of birth; consider fingerprint verification. |
| Exact match available | A candidate matches the entered name and date of birth. | A demographic match is still not the same as fingerprint confirmation. |
| Pending | WSP review is required before the result is posted. | WSP states that pending results should generally post within 24–48 hours. |
When a fingerprint-based Washington record check is appropriate
Use fingerprints when two people share the same demographic identifiers and the distinction matters.
Follow the exact fingerprint and submission process specified by the requesting organization.
Fingerprints can help confirm which WSP entries belong to you when challenging inaccurate information.
Before visiting a fingerprint location
How to search Washington Department of Corrections custody
DOC publishes selected information about people currently incarcerated in Washington state correctional custody. Search by DOC number, first name or last name.
How Washington DOC warrant search differs from a court warrant
DOC publishes information about individuals with outstanding secretary’s warrants. The search supports first name, last name, DOC number, crime and supervision county.
Generally concerns a person under DOC authority or supervision. It is not a complete list of all warrants issued by every Washington court.
May be associated with a municipal, district or superior court case and handled by the issuing court or local law-enforcement agency.
May be maintained by a separate federal or tribal authority and may not appear in either local or DOC results.
Information a DOC warrant result may show
How to correct inaccurate Washington criminal information
| Incorrect information | Contact | Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong county booking identity | Jail records or corrections division | Government ID, booking number, fingerprints when appropriate and exact disputed field. |
| Incorrect police report information | Agency that created the report | Report number, supporting documents and a concise explanation. |
| Incorrect court docket entry | Court clerk or sentencing court | Case number, filed order and disputed docket event. |
| Incorrect WSP criminal history | WSP Criminal History Information | Copy of the report, fingerprints and certified court or agency records. |
| Third-party website error | Website after correcting the official source | Corrected official record, dismissal or vacation order. |
When Washington arrest information may qualify for deletion
RCW 10.97.060 addresses deletion of qualifying criminal-history information consisting only of nonconviction data from agency files commonly searched when answering criminal-history inquiries.
Eligibility may arise when at least two years have passed since the record became nonconviction data following a disposition favorable to the defendant.
Eligibility may arise three years after an arrest, citation or warrant when no conviction was obtained, unless the person is a fugitive or active prosecution remains certified.
Reasons an agency may refuse deletion
Vacating a Washington misdemeanor or felony conviction
Washington uses conviction vacation rather than automatically erasing every completed criminal case. The request is filed in the sentencing court, and different statutes govern misdemeanors and felonies.
RCW 9.96.060 permits eligible applicants to ask the sentencing court to withdraw the guilty plea or set aside the guilty verdict, dismiss the charging document and vacate the judgment.
RCW 9.94A.640 permits some discharged offenders to apply to the sentencing superior court, subject to offense exclusions, waiting periods and other eligibility conditions.
Initial eligibility questions
Washington court form route
| Record type | Main petition or motion | Supporting form |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor | CrRLJ 09.0100 Petition and Declaration for Order Vacating Conviction | CrRLJ 09.0150 Notice of Hearing and CrRLJ 09.0200 proposed order |
| Felony | CR 08.0900 Motion and Declaration for Order Vacating Record of Felony Conviction | CR 08.0920 proposed order and CR 08.0930 information sheet |
| Cannabis conviction | CrRLJ 09.0800 Petition and Declaration to Vacate Cannabis Conviction | CrRLJ 09.0870 proposed order |
| Blake drug-possession matter | Current Blake motion for superior court or court of limited jurisdiction | Notice, proof of service and appropriate proposed order |
Washington criminal-record help contacts
Olympia, WA 98501
Mail: P.O. Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504
Option 2: WATCH and processing help
Option 5: criminal-history questions
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m., excluding holidays
WATCH technical help:
WATCH.help@wsp.wa.gov
Criminal-history questions:
Crimhis@wsp.wa.gov
Olympia, WA 98501-2462
Mail: P.O. Box 41170, Olympia, WA 98504-1170
Olympia, WA 98504-1100
Emergency or immediate danger: 911
Tips and leads: 866-359-1939
Washington State Patrol Criminal Records Division map
Use the record that matches your intended decision
Use the county or city jail roster and call the receiving facility when booking or release is still processing.
Request the incident or arrest report from the agency that created it.
Locate the court case and obtain the dismissal, judgment, verdict or vacation order.
Order WSP WATCH rather than compiling county court searches and calling the result complete.
Use Washington DOC Incarcerated Search, not a county jail roster.
Correct the originating agency or court first, then confirm WSP and third-party updates.
Washington arrest and criminal-record questions answered
How do I search Washington arrest records?
Search the county or city jail for the booking, Washington Courts for the filed case, and WSP WATCH for qualifying statewide public criminal-history information.
Is there one Washington statewide jail roster?
No. Local jails maintain their own registers and custody systems. DOC covers state correctional custody rather than every local jail.
How much does an online WSP background check cost?
The current online name-and-date-of-birth search fee is $11 for each search, including searches that return no matching public record.
Does WSP show every Washington arrest?
No. Public results focus on qualifying convictions, arrests less than one year old with dispositions pending and qualifying registration information. Other arrest information in the WSP file may not be public.
Why did WATCH show “no exact match”?
The entered name and birth date did not exactly match a public conviction record. Check legal spelling, aliases and the birth date before paying for another search.
How do I get the full criminal court file?
Use Washington Courts to identify the case and court, then contact that court to view or order official documents. The statewide search does not contain the complete court file.
How long does an agency have to answer a public-records request?
The agency must provide an initial response within five business days. It may produce the records, provide a link, acknowledge the request with a reasonable estimate, or deny all or part in writing.
Can a Washington arrest without conviction be deleted?
Some nonconviction data may qualify under RCW 10.97.060 after the applicable waiting period, but prior convictions, diversion, new charges, fugitive status or active prosecution can affect eligibility.
Can I vacate a Washington conviction?
Some misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor and felony convictions qualify. The applicant must meet the relevant statutory requirements and obtain an order from the sentencing court.
Does a booking photo prove guilt?
No. It proves only that a photograph was taken in connection with a custody-processing event. Check the court disposition and preserve the presumption of innocence.