Thurston County Arrest Records

In Thurston County, Washington, law enforcement officers make arrests when they have probable cause to believe that an individual has committed a crime. This can happen through direct observation of criminal activity, evidence gathered during an investigation, or warrants issued by a judge. Arrests are necessary for maintaining public safety and ensuring that individuals accused of crimes are brought before the judicial system.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is primarily responsible for law enforcement activities, including making arrests and generating and maintaining arrest records. These records are official documents that give information about the individual’s identity, the nature of the offense committed, and the arrest circumstances. Some municipalities in Thurston County have local police departments that also carry out arrests. These local police departments include:

• Lacey Police Department
• Olympia Police Department
• Tenino Police Department
• Tumwater Police Department
• Yelm Police Department

Inmates in Thurston County are typically held at the Thurston County Corrections Facility. This facility houses individuals who are awaiting trial and those serving sentences. Individuals who are arrested by local police departments are also held at the Thurston County Corrections Facility. This facility is managed by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. The local police departments work closely with the Sheriff’s Office and the corrections facility to coordinate the detention and transfer of arrestees. The address and contact information of the facility is below:

3491 Ferguson St SW
Tumwater, WA 98512
(360) 709-5900

Thurston County arrest records form part of Thurston County Court Records, which include documentation of legal proceedings and outcomes for individuals charged with crimes. Thurston County court records provide a comprehensive view of the judicial process, including arraignments, trials, and sentencing, and they often reference arrest records as part of the case history.

Are Arrest Records Public in Thurston County?

Under the Washington Public Records Act, Thurston County arrest records are public records and, therefore, accessible to interested members of the public. However, certain documents or information within arrest records may be exempt from public disclosure. These exemptions are designed to protect individual privacy and the integrity of ongoing investigations. They include juvenile records, information relating to ongoing investigations, personal identifiable information (Social Security numbers, medical records, etc.), and confidential information.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Thurston County, Washington, contain the following information:

• Personal information of the arrestee - Full name, date of birth, gender, and race
• Arrest details - Date and time of the arrest, location of the arrest, arresting agency (Thurston County Sheriff’s Office or local police department), name of the arresting officer(s).
• Description of alleged offense - Details of the alleged offense(s) committed by the individual, the law providing for such offense(s), and classification of the charges (misdemeanor, felony).
• Booking information - Booking date and time, booking number, mugshot, and fingerprints
• Bail and bond information (if applicable) - Bail amount set and bond type and conditions
• Court information - Scheduled court dates, court case number (if assigned)

Thurston County Crime Rate

The Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC) publishes the crime statistics of Washington, including Thurston County. In 2022, Thurston County reported a total number of 8,153 crimes. This included 755 violent crimes and 7,398 property crimes. The violent crimes included nine murders, 83 rapes, 162 robberies, and 501 aggravated assaults. The property crimes included 1,277 burglaries, 5,039 larcenies, 1,044 motor vehicle thefts, and 38 arson.

This statistics reveals the most popular crime in the county as larceny, followed by burglary. Incidencies of murder and arson are the least in the county.

Thurston County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2022 WASPC Crime Report, Thurston County saw a total number of 1,064, with 357 being for violent crimes and 707 for property crimes. Arrests for larceny were the highest at 449. Aggravated assault followed with 287 arrests. There were 173 arrests for burglary, 72 for motor vehicle theft, and 56 for robbery. In addition, there were 13 arrests for arson, ten for rape, and four for murder.

Find Thurston County Arrest Records

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office provides an inmate roster that allows residents to search arrest records and inmate information of persons currently incarcerated in the county jail. It can be searched by last name. There is also a released inmate list to provide information regarding inmates recently released from custody.

Free Arrest Record Search in Thurston County

The inmate roster and released inmate list provided by the Thurston County Sheriff’s County is an official free resource for searching arrest records and inmate information in the county. It provides official and verifiable information.

Some third-party sites provide free access to this information. However, users should note that these third-party sites may not always have the most up-to-date or accurate information. It is recommended that any data obtained from such sources be verified by cross-referencing with the official Thurston County Sheriff’s Office resources to ensure accuracy and completeness. Additionally, be cautious of sites that might charge fees for access or require personal information, as this information is typically available for free from the official county resources.

Get Thurston County Criminal Records

Thurston County criminal records are official documents that provide information relating to the criminal activities of residents within the county. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is the official custodian of criminal records in the state, and it carries out name-based and fingerprint background checks on behalf of all the counties.

Copies of Thurston County criminal records can be obtained online, by mail, or in person. Interested persons can make online requests by searching the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) portal. It costs $11 for each record check search. The accepted payment methods are credit or debit cards. Users should note that the search results from the online portal are unverified. The results can be verified by placing the right thumbprint of the subject of the report in the lower right-hand corner of the report. This report, along with a letter explaining the request, should be submitted to:

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

Verification requests are free. Notarized letters can also be requested via the WATCH portal. A notarized letter costs $10.

Mail requests for Thurston County criminal history records can be made by filling out the Request for Conviction Criminal History Form. This form should be sent by mail to:

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

Payment for mail services can be made with a 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 carry out a fingerprint check, a requester should send the completed Conviction Criminal History Form along 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 a walk-in request for Thurston County criminal history record, fill out 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

Walk-in requests cost the same as mail requests. A notarized letter is available for all requests, for an additional $10.

Thurston County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Thurston County, Washington, arrest records are generated at the time of an individual’s arrest by law enforcement. The primary function of arrest records is to document the event of an arrest, and they are accessible to the public through the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. These records include personal details such as the person’s name and date of birth, as well as specifics about the arrest, like the date, time, location, the arresting agency, and arresting officer(s). Additionally, arrest records list the charges or offenses for which the individual was arrested and may include booking information such as mugshots and bail amounts.

Criminal records, on the other hand, provide a more comprehensive history of an individual’s interactions with the criminal justice system beyond the arrest. Criminal records encompass arrest information but also include detailed information about the legal process regarding prosecution. This includes the charges filed, court proceedings, trial dates, plea bargains, verdicts, and final sentences. Criminal records reflect the outcomes of these legal processes, including convictions, incarcerations, probation, and parole statuses. Criminal records can be obtained from the court that handled the matter and the Washington State Patrol.

In summary, while arrest records in Thurston County provide details about specific instances of law enforcement detentions, criminal records offer a broader overview of an individual’s complete criminal history, including court outcomes and sentences.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Thurston County, Washington, arrests remain on a person’s record indefinitely. There is no automatic expiration or removal date for arrest records. These records are maintained as part of an individual’s permanent criminal history unless a court orders them to be expunged, sealed, or vacated under specific legal circumstances. In Washington, only non-conviction records can be expunged. Conviction records can be vacated and sealed.

Expunge Thurston County Arrest Records

In Thurston County, Washington, you can expunge arrest records that form part of non-conviction criminal history records. Non-conviction records are essentially records regarding an incident that did not lead to a conviction by a court in the state. Non-conviction records include cases:

• 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.

At least two years must have elapsed after the non-conviction record or three years from the date of arrest or issuance of citation or warrant (unless the person is a fugitive or the case is under active prosecution). Also, the disposition must not have a 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

The expungement or deletion does not affect local records. Hence, a separate request should be made to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office or local police department to delete the records in their possession.

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

Vacating a conviction means that the court withdraws the judgment of guilt. This process makes it legal as if the conviction never happened, removing it from public records and restoring certain rights. However, vacated convictions are still accessible to law enforcement and might impact future sentencing if new offenses are committed. The conviction may be used in a later criminal prosecution. Also, an offender whose conviction was vacated may state for all purposes that he or she has not been convicted of that crime. However, when a conviction is vacated, the court file is not destroyed, and unless it is sealed, the court file is still accessible to the public, and the existence of the case is still publicly available.

Thurston County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Thurston County, Washington, are legal documents issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to arrest and detain an individual. They are issued by a judge or magistrate after a careful review of the evidence and circumstances presented by law enforcement or the prosecuting attorney.

Arrest warrants are issued when:

• There is probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime.
• A person fails to appear in court as required.
• If an individual violates a court order, such as a restraining order or probation conditions.
• As part of an ongoing investigation, law enforcement needs to apprehend a suspect to prevent further criminal activity or to secure evidence.

An arrest warrant typically includes the following details:

• The name, date of birth, and physical description of the individual to be arrested.
• A description of the criminal offense for which the warrant is being issued.
• A summary of the evidence or circumstances that establish probable cause for the arrest.
• The signature of the judge or magistrate, along with the date and jurisdiction of issuance.
• If applicable, the warrant may include conditions for bail or bond that the arrested individual must meet to be released pending further court proceedings.

Thurston County Arrest Warrant Search

The Warrants Section of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office maintains copies of active arrest warrants in the county. To find active warrants in the county, visit the Warrants Section at the address or contact them with the contact information below:

Thurston County Sheriff’s Office - Warrants Section
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Bldg 3
Olympia, WA 98502
Phone: (360) 786-5520
Fax: (360) 786-5275
Email: TCSOWarrants@co.thurston.wa.us

The office opens from Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

Do Thurston County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Thurston County, arrest warrants generally do not expire. Once an arrest warrant is issued by a court, it remains active until it is executed (i.e., the person named in the warrant is arrested) or until the court that issued the warrant formally withdraws or quashes it. Persons who have outstanding warrants against them should address the matter promptly by obtaining legal advice to avoid potential legal implications or arrests.