Island County Arrest Records

An Island County arrest record refers to a document containing arrest-related information that is generated due to detention in a prison or jail. It contains vital information about the arrestee, the arresting officer, the booking, and the nature of the arrest. The Island County Sheriff's Office and Corrections Department are the custodians of these records, and they make them available to the public upon request. Persons seeking to obtain arrest records can query the law enforcement agencies within the county or peruse related judicial documents. For instance, record seekers can find arrest information within Island County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Island County?

Yes. The Washington Public Records Act guarantees the availability of court records for public inspection. According to the Act, law enforcement agencies in Island County are responsible for making court records promptly available to individuals upon request. However, the following arrest documents are considered exempt from public disclosure:

• A minor's arrest records
• The medical records of an arrested person
• Felony firearm offenders arrest databases.
• Arrest information available in a local or state gang database
• The body-worn camera recordings of an arrest whose disclosure affects a person's right to privacy
• An Island County law enforcement agency's investigative records pertaining to sex or sexually violent offenses
• Arrest information revealing the description, identity, or contact details of an alleged or proven child victim of sexual assault under age eighteen.
• Arrest records reveal the identity of crime victims or witnesses or individuals who file complaints with law enforcement agencies whose disclosure would endanger a person's life, physical safety, or property.
• Personal information like the name and address that a person provides to the statewide unified sex offender notification and registration program to receive notifications about a registered sex offender.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Most arrest records available to the public online contain the following information:

• The arrested person's name
• Arrest date, time, and number
• Arresting agency
• Offense
• Booking date and time
• Release date and time
• Warrant or citation details
• Bond amount and type

Island County Arrest Statistics

The Washington Statistical Analysis Center publishes a Criminal Justice Data Book on its websites, where searchers can access arrest statistics for each county in the state. The NIBRS recorded about 788 adult and 65 juvenile arrests for Island County in 2023. This was a great increase from 2022, which totaled 632 adult and 29 juvenile arrests.

Find Island County Arrest Records

The Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) has an Incarcerated Search portal where individuals can easily access arrest information of inmates currently housed in state prisons. The search criteria are name or DOC number. Record seekers can visit DOC facilities in person to request arrest records of incarcerated persons. Copies of records cost $0.15 per page, and electronic scanned copies cost $0.10 per page. For mail applications, requesters can submit a Public Records Request Form with the appropriate fees to:

Washington Department of Corrections
Public Records Office
P.O. Box 41118
Olympia, WA 98504-1118

Arrest records of incarcerated individuals in federal prisons can be retrieved online, by mail, or in person at federal law enforcement agencies for a fee. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issues copies of arrest records to record holders online, by mail, and through approved channelers. The FBI charges $18 for arrest records, and the acceptable forms of payment are credit cards using the Credit Card Payment Form, money order, or certified check. Those requesting records online would have to visit a participating U.S. Post Office location to submit their fingerprints electronically. The processing time for online requests is about 15 days, while mail requests take 20 days. Mail requesters must submit a completed Applicant Information Form and the appropriate fees to:

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

Some agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the United States Capitol Police (USCP), have online tools where residents can find arrest records for free. The search parameters are usually names or numbers.

Free Arrest Record Search in Island County

The Island County Corrections Department lets people view recent bookings and releases of arrested persons through its Jail Roster. The best way to conduct a search is by name. Individuals can also use third-party portals to find arrest records. Free searches on these sites return limited information. A fee is required for downloads and extensive searches.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Criminal history record information (CHRI), including arrest information available in the Washington State Identification System (WASIS), is kept until the arrested person is 120 years of age. However, arrest records with multiple dates of birth are retained based on the newest date of birth. The Washington Secretary of State (SOS) highlights the timeframe of arrest records through the Law Enforcement Records Retention Schedule. Below are the retention periods of some arrest records:

• Fingerprint requests and analyses are retained for three (3) years.
• Inmate release recaps are retained for the life of the law enforcement agency.
• Warrant holds are retained for six (6) years after being canceled or the inmate is transferred.
• An adult arrestee's custody files are kept for six (6) years after termination of incarceration.
• A minor's custody files are kept for five (5) years after they turn 18 and 6 years after termination of incarceration.
• Adult arrestee's health records are kept for eight (8) years after health-related services are provided.
• Minors' health records are kept for eight (8) years after they reach 18 and 8 years after health-related services are provided.
• Legacy arrest register volumes and mug shot books are kept until the law enforcement agency no longer needs them.
• Recordings created as security measures that do not contain an identified incident are retained for 60 days after the recording date.
• The criminal history information of an arrestee is kept until it is transferred to the Washington State Patrol and is no longer needed for agency business.
• Background checks, tests, and/or investigations records completed by an Island County law enforcement agency are retained for three (3) years after the request is fulfilled.
• An arrestee's criminal history record information (non-conviction data) is retained until the expungement request is granted or the record holder's death, whichever occurs sooner.

Expunge Island County Arrest Records

In Island County, expungement means physically destroying a person's arrest records. The RCW 10.97.060 states that a person can have their arrest records expunged when they meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Their arrest file contains only non-conviction data.
• About two years have passed since the record became non-conviction data.
• The person has no prior conviction for gross misdemeanor or felony.
• No other arrests or charges are on record for the person during the intervening period.
• The disposition was neither a deferred prosecution nor a similar diversion for the alleged offender.
• About three years have passed since the arrest date or warrant issuance for which a conviction was not obtained.

Those who are eligible for expungement can mail a Request for Deletion/Expungement of Non-Conviction Records form to the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Identification and Criminal History Section. This service is free, and the form should be sent to:

Washington State Patrol
Identification and Criminal History Section
ATTN: Criminal History Support Unit
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633

The WSP will delete the arrest records of Individuals whose expungement request is granted by the Washington State Identification System (WASIS). This excludes those maintained by local law enforcement agencies.

Island County Arrest Warrants

Per Washington Superior Court Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.2, a clerk of court in Island County will issue a warrant for the arrest of a person when an indictment is found or information is filed with them. The warrant will not be issued except that there is probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense charged. The court uses an affidavit, a statement as provided in GR 13 or sworn testimony to determine probable cause and establish grounds for missing a warrant.

An Island County arrest warrant is usually in writing and in the name of the State of Washington. It typically contains the following information:

• The Clerk's signature with the title of the office
• The issuing date and county
• The specific name of the defendant or any name or description that would help identify the defendant.
• The specific offense charged against the defendant
• A command that the defendant be arrested and brought before the issuing court.
• If the offense is bailable, the warrant will contain information about bail or other conditions of release.

An arrest warrant is usually directed to all peace officers in the state and will be executed by only one peace officer. The court expects the peace officer to return an arrest warrant after execution.

Do Island County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants can remain active indefinitely until the defendant is apprehended. However, the prosecuting attorney can ask that unexecuted warrants returned to the issuing court be canceled.