Washington Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Washington criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Washington's background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Washington sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Washington?

There are three realistic ways to find criminal-record information in Washington:

• WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History). The Washington State Patrol runs the WATCH online portal, which allows members of the public to run a name-and-date-of-birth background check and receive results immediately. The fee is $11 per name searched, payable by credit or debit card. The public receives conviction information, arrests less than one year old with dispositions pending, and registered sex and kidnapping offender information. See the WSP Criminal History page to get started.
• Court records at the county and statewide level. Individual case files are generally public and can be searched through the Washington Courts case search system at dw.courts.wa.gov, which covers municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts statewide. The tool shows case summaries and docket entries; for full documents you contact the court clerk.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official WATCH check or an FCRA-compliant background check.

A fingerprint-based search is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person. A name-and-date-of-birth search can return matches that belong to someone else. Mail-in searches are also available through the WSP at higher fees ($32 by name or $58 by fingerprint).

Are criminal records public in Washington?

Washington's public records law permits the disclosure of conviction criminal history records to anyone without restriction. Under RCW 10.97.050, conviction records may be disseminated to the public, as can arrests less than one year old where a disposition is still pending. Non-conviction information - arrests that did not lead to conviction, sealed records, and vacated cases - is not available to the public through the WATCH system. Court case filings at the county level are also generally public, though sealed files and certain juvenile records are restricted.

Where can I look up arrest records in Washington?

Arrest records in Washington are held by the agency that made the arrest, such as a city police department or county sheriff. Many county jails publish an online booking roster showing who is currently in custody. The WATCH system will show an arrest less than one year old with a disposition still pending, but it will not show older arrests that did not result in a conviction. An arrest record is different from a criminal record: it shows that a person was taken into custody, not that they were convicted. Only fingerprint verification can definitively link a person to a record.

How do I find court records in Washington?

Washington provides a statewide public case search at dw.courts.wa.gov, run by the Administrative Office of the Courts. You can search by name or case number across municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts; results include case summaries and docket entries and are updated within 24 hours. The search tool is a pointer - it does not give you the final case outcome or full documents, so for a complete file you must contact the clerk of the court where the case was filed. Superior courts handle felony cases; district courts handle misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors; municipal courts handle city-level offenses. You can also access the Washington Courts self-help page on finding court records for guidance on which court handles which type of case.

How do I look up warrants in Washington?

The Washington Department of Corrections publishes a public warrant search at doc.wa.gov/records/incarcerated-data-search/warrant-search, where you can search by name, DOC number, crime, or county for individuals with active DOC-issued warrants. For warrants issued by local courts - such as a bench warrant for failure to appear - you would contact the county sheriff or the clerk of the court that issued the warrant. Active warrants can also surface on third-party background reports, but the issuing agency or court is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Washington?

For the official WATCH public check, only conviction information and arrests less than one year old with dispositions pending are shown; older arrests that did not result in a conviction are excluded by state law. For employment background checks run by a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) applies, which generally limits reporting of non-conviction arrest records to seven years from the date of disposition. Washington's Fair Chance Act (RCW Chapter 49.94) adds additional protections: employers generally cannot ask about conviction history until after determining the applicant is otherwise qualified for the position, and they may not post job advertisements that categorically exclude people with criminal records.

How far back does a background check go in Washington?

Washington follows federal FCRA rules for consumer background checks. The FCRA allows reporting of criminal convictions indefinitely (there is no seven-year limit on convictions). Non-conviction arrests are generally limited to seven years from the date of disposition. Key Washington-specific points:

• Vacated convictions, sealed records, and misdemeanor traffic violations are excluded from WATCH public results under RCW 10.97.030 and related statutes.
• The Washington Fair Chance Act (RCW 49.94) requires that all employers - regardless of size - wait until the applicant has been determined otherwise qualified before inquiring about criminal history. Under a 2025 amendment to Washington's Fair Chance Act (House Bill 1747), starting July 1, 2026 larger employers must make a conditional job offer before requesting a criminal background check.
• Certain licensing boards, employers working with children or vulnerable adults, and law-enforcement agencies have separate rules and access to broader records.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Washington?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison. Use the Washington Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search to find a person in state custody by name or DOC number; results show the individual's name, age, and facility location.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are held in a county jail. Check that county sheriff's online inmate roster or booking list.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead of the DOC search.

Does Washington have parole?

Washington abolished traditional discretionary parole in 1984 when the Legislature passed the Sentencing Reform Act, which moved to determinate (fixed) sentences. Most people convicted of crimes committed after 1984 serve a determinate sentence and are then released to "community custody" - a period of supervision managed by the Department of Corrections - rather than traditional parole. The Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB) still exists for a narrow category of cases: certain sex offenses committed on or after September 1, 2001, juveniles sentenced as adults, and crimes committed before 1984. For those released to community custody, supervision status may be found through the DOC's public records, but there is no public parole-board lookup comparable to states that still use parole boards.

What crimes are felonies in Washington?

Washington classifies felonies into three classes under RCW 9A.20.021:

• Class A felony (most severe): up to life in prison and/or a fine up to $50,000. Examples include murder in the first degree and rape in the first degree.
• Class B felony: up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine up to $20,000. Examples include assault in the second degree and robbery in the first degree.
• Class C felony (least severe): up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $10,000. Examples include theft in the second degree and certain drug offenses.

Washington uses a structured sentencing grid (the Sentencing Reform Act), so the actual sentence for most felonies is determined by the offense seriousness level and the offender's prior criminal history score, not simply the maximum above.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Washington?

Washington has two classes of misdemeanor under RCW 9A.20.021:

• Misdemeanor (simple): up to 90 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000. Examples include first-offense trespassing and certain low-level theft.
• Gross misdemeanor (more serious): up to 364 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $5,000. The maximum is intentionally 364 days - one day less than a year - because a one-year sentence triggers automatic deportation under federal immigration law. Examples include a first-offense DUI and harassment.

Are traffic offenses crimes in Washington?

Most routine traffic violations in Washington are civil infractions, not crimes. They carry a monetary penalty only and do not appear on a criminal record or background check. More serious driving offenses - such as DUI (driving under the influence) and reckless driving - are charged as misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors and create a criminal record. A DUI becomes a Class B felony in Washington under RCW 46.61.502 if the person has three or more prior qualifying DUI offenses within the past 15 years (extended from 10 years as of January 1, 2026), or has a prior conviction for vehicular homicide or vehicular assault while under the influence.

Is the sex offender registry public in Washington?

Yes, in part. Washington publishes Level II (moderate risk) and Level III (high risk) sex offenders on the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry (WASOR) at wasor.org, administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Level I offenders are generally not published online, with the exception of out-of-compliance and transient Level I offenders. The registry allows searching by name or location and displays a photo, risk level, offenses, and address information. Communities receive notification when a Level II or Level III offender registers a new address, under a requirement dating to the Community Protection Act of 1990.

Can someone be removed from the Washington sex offender registry?

Yes, in some cases. Washington's registration requirements are set by RCW 9A.44.130. Most registrants must register for at least 10 years from their release date; the most serious offenders register for life. After the minimum period, an eligible offender may petition the court to end the registration requirement. The petition process requires a hearing, and the court must find by clear and convincing evidence that the person is sufficiently rehabilitated and does not pose a substantial risk to the public. Lifetime registration requirements apply to many serious sex offenses and cannot be petitioned away; eligibility is fact-specific, so an attorney should review any particular conviction.

How do I clear or vacate my criminal record in Washington?

Washington's primary remedy for clearing a record is called "vacation," not expungement. A vacated conviction is set aside by the court, and the person may legally state they have never been convicted of that offense for most purposes. Only arrests that did not result in a conviction are eligible for actual deletion (expungement) under RCW 10.97.060. Key rules:

• Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor vacation (RCW 9.96.060): You may apply to the sentencing court to vacate after three years from release from supervision or probation (five years for domestic violence convictions). DUI convictions, violent offenses, sex offenses, and certain other categories are not eligible.
• Felony vacation (RCW 9.94A.640): Class C felonies require a five-year wait from discharge; Class B felonies require ten years. Class A felonies are not eligible for vacation. Violent offenses, crimes against persons, and felony DUI/physical-control offenses are also excluded.
• Once the court enters a vacation order, it must be sent to the WSP and local law enforcement, who update their records accordingly.

Do I need a lawyer to vacate my Washington record?

You are not required to hire a lawyer. Washington courts publish forms and instructions for filing a vacation petition, and organizations such as Washington LawHelp offer free self-help guides. That said, eligibility rules are detailed and involve multiple statutes - a mistake or a disqualifying prior you did not know about can cost you the chance to clear the record. Many people use an attorney or a free legal-aid clinic, especially for felony cases or records with multiple convictions.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Washington?

A Washington felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain a vacation order under RCW 9.94A.640 (available only for eligible Class B and Class C felonies after the waiting period). There is no automatic deletion. Vacated records are removed from public WATCH results and treated as if the conviction never occurred for most purposes, but they remain visible to law enforcement and certain agencies. Class A felonies and felonies involving violence or sex offenses are generally ineligible for vacation and remain on the record for life.

Are juvenile criminal records sealed in Washington?

Washington significantly revised its juvenile-records law in 2014. Under RCW 13.50.260, the court must seal a juvenile file once the youth has turned 18, completed all terms of the sentence (including confinement and probation), and paid all required financial obligations - unless the court receives an objection or finds a compelling reason not to seal. Records are sealed automatically in most qualifying cases without the juvenile having to file a petition. Once sealed, the records are not accessible to the public, employers, or schools, though law enforcement and certain agencies can still access them. A subsequent adult conviction may unseal the record.

King County criminal records

King County is Washington's most populous county, home to approximately 2.37 million residents including the city of Seattle, and it generates a large share of the state's criminal and court filings. The King County Superior Court handles felony cases, and the public can search case records and request documents through the KC Script Portal at kingcounty.gov. The portal allows case-participant name searches and document ordering; non-certified copies cost $0.25 per page online, and standard requests are completed within five business days. For misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases in unincorporated areas, the King County District Court is the correct court. You can also search statewide through dw.courts.wa.gov as a starting point.

Official Washington criminal record sources

• WSP Criminal History (WATCH) - run a public background check for $11; returns convictions and registered offender information.
• Washington Courts Case Search - free statewide case search across municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts.
• Washington Courts: Find Court Records (self-help) - guidance on which court holds which records and how to request them.
• DOC Incarcerated Search - find a person currently held in Washington state prison.
• DOC Warrant Search - search active DOC-issued warrants by name, county, or crime.
• Washington Sex Offender Public Registry (WASOR) - free public registry search for Level II and III offenders.
• RCW 9.96.060 - misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor vacation statute.
• RCW 9.94A.640 - felony conviction vacation statute.
• King County Superior Court records access (KC Script Portal) - case search and document ordering for Washington's largest county.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Washington public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.