Tacoma Arrest Records

Law enforcement agents in the City of Tacoma are legally authorized to apprehend and detain individuals accused of committing crimes. Tacoma arrest records are generated by the arresting agencies, such as the Tacoma Police Department, and detail the events surrounding these arrests. Offenders arrested in Tacoma will usually be housed in the Pierce County Jails that the County Sheriff's Office operates.

As the arresting agency, the city police department is also responsible for responding to requests for inmate information and arrest records. Tacoma arrest records may also be available from Criminal Histories and Pierce County Arrest Records maintained by the Washington State Patrol and local courts.

Are Arrest Records Public in Tacoma?

Under Washington's Public Records Act, Tacoma arrest records are considered public information. This means that unless the information is specifically restricted from public disclosure, the general public may request, inspect, and copy these arrest records. Examples of records restricted from public access include the following:

• Personal information, the release of which would be an invasion of privacy
• Any information that would show a substantial likelihood of endangering public safety
• Medical records
• Any records made confidential by state or federal laws
• Any records that have been expunged or sealed by a court order

Inquiries about Tacoma arrest records can be made at the police department located at:

Tacoma Police Department
3701 South Pine Street,
Tacoma, WA 98409

Tacoma Arrest Statistics

The Tacoma Police Department submits yearly crime data, including arrest statistics, to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting database. According to the data available on the FBI Crime Data Explorer, the police department reported 3190 arrests in 2023. This total included 658 arrests for simple assaults, 338 arrests for aggravated assaults, 337 arrests for stolen property, 263 arrests for driving under the influence, 178 arrests for burglary, 151 arrests for larceny, 120 arrests for robbery, 64 arrests for motor vehicle theft, 61 arrests for drugs/narcotics offenses, 52 arrests for weapons violations, and 25 arrests for homicide offenses.
Offenders arrested by the Tacoma Police Department are usually booked and detained at the Pierce County Jail locations at:

Pierce County Main Jail
910 Tacoma Ave. S
Tacoma, WA

Pierce County New Jail
701 Nollmeyer Ln.
Tacoma, WA 98402

Find Tacoma Arrest Records

Interested parties have several options when searching for Tacoma arrest records and inmate information. The Pierce County Jail, which serves as the detention facility for Tacoma inmates, provides an Inmate Listing on the jail website. This is a jail roster and shows a list of all inmates by name, booking ID, and inmate location. Phone inquiries can be made to the Tacoma Police Department at (253) 591-5905 or the Pierce County Sheriff at (253) 798-7530. Record seekers may also call the Main Jail Reception at (253) 798-4590 and the New Jail Reception at (253) 798-4590 to ask about an inmate's status.

Tacoma Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Tacoma arrest and criminal records refer to legal documents that detail a person's interactions with law enforcement. These records differ in several ways, including who generates them, how extensive they are, and what they contain.

Arrest records are generated by law enforcement agencies and detail an individual's arrests in the city. They contain information about the arrests, including the suspect's name and description, the crime committed, charges filed, the arresting agency, events surrounding the arrest, and information collected during booking. Arrest records are not proof of a person's guilt; they only show that the person was detained on suspicion of a crime.

On the other hand, criminal records are a combination of different records from various agencies. They are more extensive and include arrest records, court records, including case verdicts, and sentencing information. They also include records of prison terms or supervision, such as probation. Criminal records are proof of guilt, only generated when the legal system fully processes an offender.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Tacoma?

Arrest records in Tacoma, Washington, will remain on a person's record indefinitely unless they take steps to remove them. Expungement of an arrest is allowed, particularly for arrests that did not end in convictions. Arrests that did not end in convictions are classified as non-conviction data and can be expunged by petition after 2 years. Convictions are generally not expunged but can be vacated depending on the severity of the offense. If they meet the criteria, convictions may be vacated after 5 years for class C felonies or 10 years for class B felonies.

Tacoma Arrest Warrants

A Tacoma arrest warrant is a legal document that authorizes local law enforcement to arrest a person accused of committing a crime and bring them before the court. Typically, arrest warrants in Tacoma can be issued by a judge, magistrate, or clerk of the local court, such as the Tacoma Municipal Court.

To issue a warrant, the judge or magistrate must receive evidence of the crime showing probable cause that a crime was committed and that the accused is responsible. This complaint can be made by local law enforcement or the local prosecutor's office using a written affidavit or by sworn testimony. If the judicial officer is satisfied that sufficient probable cause exists, they may issue the warrant.

Arrest warrants issued in Tacoma, Washington, must be in writing and will typically contain the following information:

• The name or a reasonable description of the suspect
• The offense committed and the charges against the suspect
• The date, time, and jurisdiction where it was issued
• Instructions to law enforcement to bring the suspect before the court
• The name, title, and signature of the judge, magistrate, or clerk who issued it

Do Tacoma Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Tacoma generally do not expire. They remain active indefinitely unless the suspect is arrested, surrenders, or the warrant is recalled or cancelled by the issuing court. It should be noted that although a warrant does not expire and arrests can be made at any time, statute of limitations may still apply to the crime for which the warrant was issued. This may affect the ability of law enforcement to prosecute the crime.

Expunge Tacoma Arrest Records

In Washington, two processes exist for removing arrests from an individual's records: expungement and vacation. While expungement is generally reserved for removing arrests that did not result in conviction from a record, vacation is mainly used to restrict access to conviction records.

To expunge non-conviction records, they must meet the following criteria:

• The arrest did not lead to a conviction. It must have been dismissed, dropped, or the suspect was acquitted at trial.
• The arrest must be classified as non-conviction data.
• It must have been 2 years after the final disposition, such as the acquittal or dismissal, or 3 years if no charges were filed after the arrest.
• There must be no prior or new arrests or charges during the waiting period.

To expunge a non-conviction arrest, interested parties may follow the steps below:

• Get fingerprinted at the local law enforcement office (Tacoma PD or Pierce County Sheriff)
• Obtain the Request for Expungement / Deletion of Non-Criminal Records Form from the Washington State Patrol.
• Submit the fingerprints for a criminal record and the form to the state patrol at:
  Washington State Patrol
  Criminal History Records Section
  P.O. Box 42633
  Olympia, WA 98504-02633
• The Washington State Patrol will review the request and send its response by mail.

Generally, the applicant must meet the following qualifications to vacate a conviction from a record.

• Convictions for misdemeanors /gross misdemeanors or Certain Class B or C felonies may be vacated.
• Applicant must have no pending convictions or charges
• Applicant must have completed all sentences, supervision, and paid all court fees or fines
• The applicant must wait between 3 and 10 years before applying, depending on the severity of the case. 3 years for misdemeanors, 5 for eligible class C felonies, and 10 for eligible class B felonies.

Application for vacating a Tacoma record must be made at the local court where the conviction occurred. These include the Pierce County Superior Court and the Tacoma Municipal Court. Applicants are advised to contact the Clerks at the court for full details on the application process.