Whatcom County Arrest Records

Under RCW 10.31.100A, a Whatcom County law enforcement officer may initiate an arrest without a warrant, provided that they have probable cause to believe that the suspect is guilty of committing a felony. An arrest can also occur if an officer is aware of a pending warrant or witnesses a person committing a gross misdemeanor, infraction, or violating the terms of an anti-harassment protection order.

Following an arrest in Whatcom, the suspect, if an adult, will be detained and booked for the offense at the Whatcom County Jail (operated by the Bureau of Custody and Corrections) pending their release on personal recognizance or bail. Juvenile offenders are primarily taken to the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention facility run by the Juvenile Court Administration pending a detention or arraignment hearing, usually by the next court day.

Booking involves taking a record of the arrestee’s fingerprints, photograph, personal identifying information, arresting agency/officer, alleged offense(s), and verifying any previously issued warrant. This process produces an official document termed an “arrest record”.

Organizations may retrieve records about a person's arrest during local background checks for official purposes. However, the existence of such a record does not imply that the arrestee was sentenced or incarcerated by the court for said offense. To review the final verdict of an arrest within the jurisdiction, querying court clerk's offices for Whatcom County court records is advised.

Are Arrest Records Public in Whatcom County?

Yes. According to the Washington Public Records Act, codified in RCW 42.56, members of the public possess the statutory right to inspect and reproduce public arrest records in Whatcom County, Washington.

However, the law prohibits the disclosure of certain arrest information. RCW 42.56.230 through 42.56.475 comprehensively outlines the Washington Public Records Act exemptions. Whatcom County also lists exemptions outside the PRA. Most nondisclosures exist to secure the criminal justice process and the interests of case parties.

In general, the following records are not for public perusal:

• Ongoing investigative and intelligence information records compiled by law enforcement agencies
• Investigative reports related to sex offenses and sexually violent offenses under RCW 9A.44 and RCW 71.09.020 transferred to the Washington Association of Sheriffs for permanent electronic maintenance and retrieval per RCW 40.14.070(2)(b).
• Records that reveal the identity of child victims of sexual assault offenses.
• Contact information of domestic violence victims under RCW 40.24.
• Medical records per RCW 70.02.
• Records that reveal sensitive details of an organized crime per RCW 43.43.856.
• Juvenile arrest, offense, and disposition information per RCW 13.50
• Sealed and expunged records.

Nevertheless, these exemptions do not apply to criminal justice agencies. Where access to a record is limited, the law prescribes a written statement from the keeper of record providing reasons for such denial, including the specific statute governing the nondisclosure.

On the other hand, certain records are not fully withdrawn from public access but may be redacted before one can access them.

The Attorney General’s Office provides a comprehensive list of public disclosure exemptions on its website.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Individuals requesting a public arrest record from criminal justice agencies in Whatcom County can expect to find the following information:

• The full name and any known aliases of the arrestee
• Arrestee's physical descriptors, such as gender, race, eye/hair color, tattoo, scars, height, and weight.
• Arrestee's birth date and contact information
• Booking details, including booking type, number, date, photograph (mugshot), conditions for detention, and location of the detention facility
• Description of offense(s)
• Arrest origin and type
• Arrest time, date, and location
• Arresting agency and officer(s)
• Bail information, including bail amount and type
• Release date
• Case number and court details

Whatcom County Crime Rate

The Washington Statistical Analysis Center (SAC), a division of the Washington Bureau of Justice Statistics, is the central repository for annual crime statistics within Whatcom County. According to the SAC's 2022 Crime Report, compiled from data submitted by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Whatcom County reported 18,992 offenses in 2022. Crimes against property topped the list with 15,517 offenses. Next up were Crimes Against Persons, with 2,861 incidents, and Crimes Against Society, with 614 occurrences.

The most prevalent crimes committed within Whatcom County in 2022 were theft (8,681 incidents), property destruction (5,027 offenses), and assault (2,053 offenses).

Note: The SAC groups reported crimes into three categories per the NIBRS offense classification:

• Crimes Against Property: These include offenses such as robbery, arson, burglary, theft, extortion, blackmail, counterfeiting–forgery, destruction of property, and bribery.
• Crimes Against Persons: Offenses under this category include murder, manslaughter, forcible sex, non-forcible sex, assault, kidnapping-abduction, human trafficking, and violation of no contact-protection order.
• Crimes Against Society: Offenses under this category include drug violations, weapons law violations, gambling violations, animal cruelty, pornography, and prostitution.

Whatcom County Arrest Statistics

According to the SAC's crime report, there were 4,387 arrests made in Whatcom County in 2022. Of this number, adult arrestees made up the majority, constituting 4,111 arrests. Juvenile arrests accounted for the remaining 276. Meanwhile, "Group " offenses (i.e., crimes against property, person, and society) made up 3,207 arrests. On the other hand, "Group B" arrests amounted to 1,180 arrests.

Regarding the offense type, more adults were arrested for theft (949 arrests), assault (882 arrests), and destruction of property (340 arrests). Meanwhile, more juveniles were arrested for destruction of property (82 arrests), assault (75 arrests), and theft (31 arrests).

Find Whatcom County Arrest Records

Anyone looking to find Whatcom County's arrest record should first contact the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. Each agency provides specific procedures and tools for retrieving records, including in-person and online.

Also, certain arrest information in inmate records is open to the public, such as the inmate's name, offense date, booking date, arresting agency, charge description, and bail/bond information. Individuals can submit public records requests to the Sheriff's Office to obtain public inmate records. A request can be made by email, in person at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham, online, or by fax at (360) 778-6451. The Sheriff's Office does not charge a fee for inspection requests, but certain charges apply to make copies of a record.

The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office also provides easily accessible online inmate databases for people to access the following information about people in custody.

Following the City and County Jails Act (codified in RCW 70.48.100), all other inmate records are confidential and are only available to the inmate (the subject of the record), to persons having the inmate's written permission, or by court order.

It is important to note that certain arrest records are generated by state and federal law enforcement agencies, typically where a person violated a state or federal statute. Researchers can query the Washington Department of Corrections if a person was sent to state prison. The DOC maintains an online Inmate Search tool, which allows people to find valuable information about incarcerated individuals. The system can be searched with a DOC Number or inmate’s name.

On the other hand, when one suspects that their loved one was arrested by federal agents, such as the FBI or ICE, they can explore the Federal Inmate Locator or Online Detainee Locator System, respectively.

Free Arrest Record Search in Whatcom County

In accordance with the Washington Public Records Act, members of the general public can make oral or written requests for arrest records in Whatcom County without attracting associated fees. However, the Act permits record keepers to charge nominal fees for the reproduction of public records.

People may also access the online inmate databases provided by the various law enforcement agencies to find information about those arrested in Whatcom. Additionally, exploring third-party aggregator databases may be an option for those who wish to conduct a free arrest record search in Whatcom County and other US jurisdictions. However, users may need to pay a fee or subscribe to print search results.

Get Whatcom County Criminal Records

The Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act governs the public disclosure of criminal history record information (criminal records or RAP sheets) in Whatcom County. However, there are certain exemptions.

Per the Act, criminal justice agencies are not permitted to publicly disclose non-conviction RAP sheets related to an arrest, detention, indictment, information, or other formal criminal charge and any related court disposition. Only criminal justice agencies are authorized to obtain non-conviction records.

However, the public may see a conviction criminal record or RAP (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) sheet. In this regard, a “conviction” record is a criminal history record information (CHRI) containing official notations of arrests, detentions, and indictments that ultimately resulted in a conviction or an adverse disposition.

Generally, criminal records generated in Whatcom County can be obtained from the Washington State Police (WSP) and courts.

The Washington State Police (WSP) provides three ways for interested persons to retrieve criminal records.

• In Person

Anyone can request copies of conviction CHRIs by completing and submitting a Request for Conviction Criminal History Form in person at the WSP's Identification and Background Check division. Requesters can either use a record holder’s name and date of birth or fingerprints to submit the form. The form should be submitted in person at the WSP's Olympia office at 106 11th Avenue South West, Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501.

Name-based requests attract a $32 fee, payable by check, cash, check, or credit/debit card. On the other hand, fingerprint-based processing costs $58, payable by credit/debit card, cash, check, or bank card authorization form. Requesters may also obtain a notarized letter for an extra $10.

• By Mail

If requesting a background check by mail, one can download, print, fill out, and submit the above-mentioned form accompanied by the processing fees to the address below:

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

• Online

The WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History) online portal is the easiest method of obtaining CHRI within the state. Users can retrieve arrest and criminal history information from courts and criminal justice agencies throughout the State of Washington. This includes conviction information, arrests less than a year old with pending dispositions, and registered sex and kidnap offender information.

Further, the WSP provides access to criminal records that are not subject to public disclosure. To access the portal, users are required to log in with a pre-established account or create a new credit card account.

WATCH can generally be searched with the subject’s name and date of birth. Searches present immediate results but require an $11 debit or credit card fee. However, the results may not be accurate, as more than one person may bear the same name. Hence, interested parties are advised to perform fingerprint verification to positively link someone to a criminal record. Fingerprinting services are offered at the WSP's Olympia office for $16 or at a local police or Sheriff's office.

More information about the statewide background check process is available on the WSP's Criminal History page.

Whatcom County Courts

Individuals can request criminal court records from a court that heard a criminal case to find out how the case ended or what happened during the court proceedings. For example, the Whatcom District Court provides a Records Request Form for people to obtain copies of criminal case documents. One can also fax the completed form to (360) 778-5401 or deliver it by mail to:

Whatcom County District Court
311 Grand Avenue
Suite 401
Bellingham, WA 98225

On the other hand, people seeking criminal court records from Whatcom County Superior Court can purchase plain or certified copies at the Court Clerk's office on the 3rd floor at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 301. Regular copies cost 50 cents per page, while certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 per additional page. Requesters located outside the county may email their requests to sccustomer_service@co.whatcom.wa.us or call (360) 778-5618.

Whatcom County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

A Whatcom County arrest record provides details about a person's apprehension for a criminal offense. This includes the circumstances leading to the arrest and the arresting agency.

On the other hand, a criminal record encompasses an individual’s encounters with the criminal justice system. It provides details about an offender's arrest, court proceedings, sentence, incarceration, and release from custody. Unlike an arrest record, the criminal record is typically reviewed for background checks relating to employment, bank loans, licensing, or other legal/official processes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Whatcom County, arrests typically remain on a person’s record for the entirety of their lifetime. However, the law allows qualified persons to expunge or seal their records.

Expunge Whatcom County Arrest Records

"Expunging" an arrest record means deleting and erasing such documents from existence. When this occurs, the record holders can claim that they have never been arrested. In Whatcom County, subjects of records can petition the court to seal, vacate convictions, and delete criminal history records maintained by the Washington State Patrol.

To do this, the defendant must confirm that the arrest incident led to a conviction. If so, they may petition the WSP for an expungement per RCW 10.97.060. However, if the record bears a non-conviction, as explained in the previous section, it may be difficult to expunge the record.

Especially if the following circumstances occurred:

• The defendant’s deposition was deferred.
• The applicant has a prior conviction for a felony offense or gross misdemeanor.
• The subject was apprehended for another offense during the expungement period.

Anyone looking to request expungement for non-conviction records should review the WSP's Expungement Checklist. Be that as it may, eligible applicants may fill out and submit a Request for Expungement Deletion of Non-Conviction Records by mail to the Records Section at the address below for free:

Washington State Patrol
ATTN: Criminal History Records Section
P.O. Box 42633
Olympia WA 98504-2633

For more information, parties of interest can review the detailed pamphlet provided by the State of Washington Court for sealing or expunging juvenile or adult criminal court records. Also, juveniles looking to seal or expunge their records can contact Whatcom Juvenile Court at (360) 778-5490 or email _JuvenileCourt@co.whatcom.wa.us_for an expungement packet and instructions.

Whatcom County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court directive authorizing peace officers to arrest someone who violated a penal law, disobeyed the terms of their probation/parole, or failed to attend a scheduled hearing in court.

To obtain a Whatcom County arrest warrant, a requesting law enforcement officer must swear an affidavit in court stating probable cause or reasonable grounds for the warrant's issue. Generally, these warrants contain the name/alias of the person to be arrested, the offense, the issuing court, the issuing officer’s signature, the terms of the bail/bond, and the issue date.

Whatcom County Arrest Warrant Search

Anyone who suspects an existing warrant for their arrest in Whatcom County can utilize the following resources:

• Visit or contact the local Sheriff's Office.
• Search the Odyssey Portal - Washington Courts Online Case Search to see if a warrant was issued for a pending matter in the local superior court. One can also request court records directly from other courts within the county or use the JIS-Link portal to gain access. Note that the JIS-Link portal, while offered by the state judiciary, provides only fee-based access.
• Explore the DOC’s Warrant Search Database. Note, however, that warrants on this database are limited to state inmates being supervised in Whatcom County by the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Do Whatcom County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Once an arrest warrant is issued in Whatcom County, it remains outstanding until the subject legally addresses it.