King County Arrest Records

In King County, Washington, arrest records are essential documents generated by law enforcement agencies during the process of apprehending individuals suspected of committing crimes. Arrests are conducted when there is probable cause to believe that a person has violated the law. This could stem from direct evidence, a witness account, or a report filed with the police.

The King County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county and it generates records from arrests carried out within the county. These records include detailed information about the arrest, such as the date and time of the arrest, charges, and personal information about the individual arrested. Local police departments in the county also carry out arrests and maintain records of these arrests. These local police departments include:

• Algona Police Department
• Auburn Police Department
• Bellevue Police Department
• Black Diamond Police Department
• Bothell Police Department
• Burien Police Department
• Clyde Hill Police Department
• Covington Police Department
• Des Moines Police Department
• Duvall Police Department
• Enumclaw Police Department
• Federal Way Police Department
• Issaquah Police Department
• Kenmore Police Department
• Kent Police Department
• Kirkland Police Department
• Lake Forest Park Police Department
• Maple Valley Police Department
• Medina Police Department
• Mercer Island Police Department
• Milton Police Department
• Newcastle Police Department
• Normandy Park Police Department
• North Bend Police Department
• Pacific Police Department
• Redmond Police Department
• Renton Police Department
• Sammamish Police Department
• SeaTac Police Department
• Seattle Police Department
• Shoreline Police Department
• Skykomish Police Department
• Snoqualmie Police Department
• Tukwila Police Department
• Woodinville Police Department

Once an arrest is made, the individuals are usually held in one of three facilities managed by the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention:

• King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle
• Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent
• Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center (for juveniles) in Seattle

These facilities are responsible for the custody and care of inmates awaiting trial, sentencing, or serving short-term sentences.

Asides from the facilities maintained by the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, there are other jail and correctional facilities in the county maintained by cities for housing inmates.

• South Correctional Entity (SCORE) - Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac and Tukwila
• Issaquah City Jail - Bellevue, Black Diamond, Bothell, Carnation, Clyde Hill, Duvall, Federal Way, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Normandy Park, North Bend, Pacific, Sammamish, and Snoqualmie
• Kirkland Municipal Jail - City of Kirkland
• Enumclaw City Jail - City of Enumclaw
• Kent Corrections Facility - City of Kent

Arrest records in King County are closely related to other public records, such as court documents. For example, when an individual is charged and their case goes to trial, the related documents and proceedings become part of the King County Court Records. These records provide a comprehensive view of the legal proceedings and outcomes associated with the arrest, offering additional context and details beyond the initial arrest record.

Are Arrest Records Public in King County?

Under the Washington Public Records Act, King County arrest records are accessible to the public upon request. However, certain types of arrest information may be exempt from public disclosure. For example, sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, medical records, and certain law enforcement investigative records may be redacted or withheld to protect privacy or ongoing investigations.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in King County contain the following information:

• Personal information of the arrested individual - name, date of birth, address, and physical description.
• Information about the arrest itself, such as the date, time, and location of the arrest, as well as the arresting agency and officer(s).
• A list of the charges or offenses for which the individual was arrested.
• Booking information, including fingerprints, mugshots, and other identifying information.
• Bond or bail information (if applicable).
• Information about upcoming court appearances related to the arrest, including dates, times, and locations.

King County Crime Rate

The Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC) maintains the crime statistics of the state of Washington. In 2022, there was a total number of 41,637 reported crimes in King County, including 3,289 violent crimes and 38,348 property crimes. The violent crimes reported include 55 murders, 338 rapes, 1,023 robberies, and 1,873 aggravated assaults. Incidences of property crimes include 6,407 burglaries, 24,191 larcenies, 7,576 motor vehicle thefts, and 174 arson incidents.

King County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2022 WASPC Crime Report, King County saw a total number of 3,545, with 889 being for violent crimes and 2,656 for property crimes. Arrests for larceny were the highest at 2,178. Aggravated assault followed with 624 arrests. There were 330 arrests for burglary, 217 for robbery, and 119 for motor vehicle theft. In addition, there were 87 arrests for rape, 29 for arson, and 21 for murder.

Find King County Arrest Records

There are many resources available for looking up inmate information and arrest records. They include city, county, state, and federal resources.

At the county level, the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention provides the subject lookup tool. It provides information on inmates in the custody of the department. The tool can be sorted by UCN, name, facility, arresting agency, booking number, booking date, or alias. Also, inmate information can be gotten by calling (206) 296-1234 (for adults) or (206) 263-9595 (for juveniles).

There are a number of city-level resources, including:

• The SCORE inmate roster: It provides members of the public with inmate related information such as recent bookings in the last 24 hours, recent releases in the last 24 hours, current inmate roster, and search past booking and releases.
• The Issaquah City Jail in-custody list: This portal provides a list of inmates currently, bookings, and releases in the city jail
• The Kirkland Municipal Jail inmate roster: It provides the public with information regarding current inmates at the Kirkland Jail or persons in custody at another jail under Kirkland charges. The information includes name, location, booking date, booking number, and release date.
• The Enumclaw City Jail inmate roster: The roster provides a list of inmates in the city jail, including their names, booking date, offense, bond type, bond, and scheduled release.
• The Kent Corrections Facility inmate lookup: This portal provides information on persons currently in-custody. information regarding their custody status, charges, bail, visiting schedule and release type. It can be searched by last name, first name, year of birth, and gender. It also provides a list of everyone in the jail facility, booked in the last 24 and 48 hours, and released in the last 24 hours.

At the state level, the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) offers an online offender search tool that allows interested persons to search for individuals currently incarcerated in state correctional facilities.

If you are looking for inmate information at the federal level, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides an Inmate Locator tool. This tool can be searched by name, age, race, and BOP register number. It provides information on an inmate’s location, release date, and facility details.

Free Arrest Record Search in King County

There are several official resources at the different levels of government that provide arrest records and inmate information in King County. They include:

• Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention subject lookup tool.
• The SCORE inmate roster.
• The Issaquah City Jail in-custody list.
• The Kirkland Municipal Jail inmate roster.
• The Enumclaw City Jail inmate roster.
• The Kent Corrections Facility inmate lookup.
• DOC online offender search tool.
• BOP Inmate Locator tool.

There are third-party websites that compile public records and offer limited access to arrest records. However, it is important to note that these third-party sites may not always provide complete or up-to-date information, and they might require additional fees for full access or detailed reports. Exercise caution and verify information obtained from third-party websites.

Get King County Criminal Records

King County criminal records are official documents that contain detailed information about the criminal activities of individuals within the county. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is the central body that administers the issuance of criminal records in the state. It carries out name-based and fingerprint background checks for all the counties in the state.

Interested persons can request King County criminal history records online, by mail or in person. To make an online request, use the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) portal. It charges $11 for each record check. The accepted forms of payment are credit and debit card. The results provided by an online search result are not verified. It can be verified by placing the right thumbprint of the subject of the report on the lower right-hand corner of the report. Submit the report and a letter explaining the verification request to:

Washington State Patrol
Identification and Background Check Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633

Verification requests are free. The requester may also request notarized letters through the WATCH portal. A notarized letter costs $10.

To make a mail request for King County criminal history records, complete the Request for Conviction Criminal History Form. Send the completed form by mail to:

Washington State Patrol
Identification and Background Check Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia, WA 98504-2633

The accepted forms of payment for mail services are check, money order, or a Bank Card Authorization Form (for Visa, Mastercard, and American Express credit/debit cards). A name-based background check costs $32. To conduct a fingerprint check, send the completed Conviction Criminal History Form with payment and a fingerprint card rolled with a full set of fingerprints to the postal address above. The fingerprint-based search costs $58.

To make an in-person request for King County criminal history record, complete the Conviction Criminal History Form at the Washington State Patrol office located at:

Washington State Patrol, Identification and Background Check Section
106 11th Avenue
SouthWest Suite 1300
Olympia, WA 98501

In-person requests require the same payment as mail requests. A notarized letter is available for all requests for an additional cost of $10.

King County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In King County, arrest records document the initial apprehension of an individual by law enforcement, detailing the circumstances surrounding the arrest, charges, and booking information. They typically include information about the arrest itself, such as the date, time, and location, as well as the charges.

Criminal records, on the other hand, encompass a broader scope of legal documentation, including arrest records but also extending to court proceedings, convictions, and sentencing information. Criminal records provide a comprehensive history of an individual's involvement with the criminal justice system, including any arrests, charges, court appearances, and outcomes.

In essence, arrest records are a subset of criminal records, focusing specifically on the details of an individual’s arrest, while criminal records encompass a more extensive record of an individual’s interactions with law enforcement and the courts.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In King County, arrests made part of a person’s record indefinitely. Arrest information is not removed, unless they are expunged, sealed, or vacated through a legal process. They are maintained as part of an individual’s permanent criminal history unless a court orders them to be expunged, sealed, or vacated under the applicable legal situation.

In Washington, only non-conviction records can be expunged; while conviction records can be vacated and sealed.

Expunge King County Arrest Records

Only non-conviction records qualify for expungement or deletion in King County, Washington. Non-conviction records refer to records where the court did not convict the defendant for the incident that led to an arrest or criminal action. These records include cases where:

• Law enforcement investigated but did not file charges.
• Charges were filed but the case was dismissed.
• The court found the person not guilty after trial.

To be eligible for expungement or deletion, at least two years must have elapsed after the non-conviction record or three years from the date of arrest or issuance of a citation or warrant, unless the person is a fugitive or the case is under active prosecution. Additionally, the disposition must not involve deferred prosecution or similar diversion, and the person must not have a prior conviction for a felony or gross misdemeanor.

To request the expungement or deletion of a record, complete the Request for Deletion/Expungement of Non-Conviction Records form and submit it to the Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section:

ATTN: Criminal History Support Unit
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia WA 98504-2633
(360) 534 -2000

It is important to note that expungement or deletion does not affect local records. Therefore, a separate request should be made to the King County Sheriff’s Office or the local police department to delete the records in their possession.

If a person is convicted, they cannot expunge the conviction record as it does not qualify as a non-conviction record. In such instances, they can only vacate or seal these records.

Vacating a conviction means that the court withdraws the judgment of guilt. This process legally nullifies the conviction, removing it from public records and restoring certain rights. However, vacated convictions remain accessible to law enforcement and might impact future sentencing if new offenses are committed. The conviction may be used in a later criminal prosecution. An offender whose conviction was vacated may state for all purposes that they have not been convicted of that crime. However, when a conviction is vacated, the court file is not destroyed and, unless sealed, remains accessible to the public. Thus, the existence of the case is still publicly available.

King County Arrest Warrants

In King County, arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a judge or magistrate authorizing law enforcement to apprehend and arrest an individual suspected of committing a crime. These warrants are issued when law enforcement provides evidence or demonstrates probable cause that a specific individual has committed an offense.

Arrest warrants are also issued when law enforcement believes that apprehending the individual is necessary to further their investigation or to ensure the individual’s appearance in court. This may occur if the individual is a suspect in a crime, has failed to appear for a court date, or has violated the terms of probation or parole.

An arrest warrant contains the name of the individual to be arrested, the offense(s) alleged to have been committed, and any relevant details about the case. Additionally, the warrant will include the issuing judge’s signature, court seal, and the date it was issued.

King County Arrest Warrant Search

The King County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Warrants Unit maintains copies of arrest warrants issued by the court. To get information about active warrants, visit the office at the address below:

Criminal Warrants Unit
Regional Justice Center
401 4th Ave North
Kent, WA 98032

The Unit does not provide warrant information over the phone or email, to respect the privacy of individuals, and the likelihood of misidentification to possible false arrest.

Do King County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In King County, arrest warrants do not expire unless they are actively canceled by the court or law enforcement agency that issued them.