Auburn Criminal History Records

Auburn criminal history records are split across several offices: the Auburn Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases filed within city limits, while King County Superior Court in Seattle handles all Auburn felony matters. The Auburn Police Department Records Division holds local incident reports and arrest logs. This guide covers each office, how to request copies, what each holds, and how to get a statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol WATCH system for anyone connected to Auburn.

Auburn Municipal Court Criminal Records

The Auburn Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and gross misdemeanors filed within Auburn city limits. This includes first-offense DUI, petty theft, simple assault, and city ordinance violations. The court keeps records of all cases, including charging documents, hearing dates, plea agreements, and final dispositions. These records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31.

You can search Auburn Municipal Court cases through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal for free. The portal shows party names, charge descriptions, and how the case ended. Full case documents are not posted online. To get copies, contact the Auburn Municipal Court directly. The court is at 340 E. Main Street, Auburn, WA 98002. Staff can help with forms if you are representing yourself in a case.

Non-certified copies run $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. If the record you need is older and not yet in the Odyssey system, staff can search by party name or case number during business hours, Monday through Friday.

King County Superior Court and Auburn Felony Cases

Felony cases involving Auburn residents or offenses committed in Auburn are filed in King County Superior Court. The King County Superior Court is one of the largest trial courts in Washington State. The Department of Judicial Administration, also called the Superior Court Clerk's Office, keeps all official records and provides public access. The court operates at the King County Courthouse in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, which serves much of south King County including Auburn.

The KC-Script/LINX public portal gives name and case number search access to King County Superior Court records. This covers criminal, civil, family law, and probate cases that are not sealed. Contact the Clerk's Office at (206) 477-1400 for copies. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page; certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 per additional page. Records filed before July 1, 1979 and stored on microfilm are only available for in-person review at the downtown Seattle clerk's office.

Auburn Police Department Records

The Auburn Police Department Records Division processes public records requests for police reports, incident reports, arrest logs, and related law enforcement records. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the Auburn Police Department. The department responds in line with the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

Conviction records held by the department are public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not lead to a conviction, is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, this type of data can only go to criminal justice agencies or to the person whose record it is. Active investigation files are also exempt until the investigation closes. If a case was dismissed or charges were dropped, expect those portions to be redacted before the report is released to you.

For a broader picture of a person's record statewide, the Records Division will point you to the WSP WATCH system rather than trying to compile a background check themselves.

Auburn Criminal History Through WSP WATCH

The quickest way to get a verified conviction record for someone in Auburn is through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) provides instant online results for $11.00 per search. You pay by credit or debit card and get results right away. WATCH uses a fingerprint-linked statewide database, so it is more reliable than a name-only search at the city level.

If you prefer to mail in your request, use the official Request for Conviction Criminal History Form from the WSP Criminal History Records page. A name-based mail request costs $32.00. A fingerprint-based mail request costs $58.00 and is more precise. Mail processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days. You can also visit the WSP office in person at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If you want to check your own full record, including non-conviction data, you can do that in person at the Olympia office at no charge for up to thirty minutes. Bring valid photo ID. You may be fingerprinted to confirm your identity before access is granted.

Public Records Requests for Auburn City Records

For records from other Auburn city departments, use the City of Auburn public records request process. This covers emails, meeting minutes, permits, and other city government documents. Police records must go to the Police Department directly. Court records are handled by the Municipal Court under GR 31, not the Public Records Act.

Under RCW 42.56.520, the city must respond to any public records request within five business days. That response might provide the records, give a timeline for when they will be ready, or explain why a request was denied. You do not need to say why you want the records. Fees cover actual copy costs only. Electronic delivery is encouraged and usually cheaper than paper copies.

If Auburn denies your request, you can appeal to the King County Superior Court. The city then bears the burden of proving an exemption applies. Most routine public records requests, like crime statistics reports or general incident logs, are approved without issue.

King County District Court and Misdemeanor Cases

Some misdemeanor cases involving Auburn residents may also appear in the King County District Court, particularly cases handled outside city limits or before Auburn's municipal court took jurisdiction. The District Court operates at multiple locations including the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, which is close to Auburn. Records from the District Court are also searchable through the Odyssey Portal.

The District Court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, traffic violations, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims. Public access terminals are available at all court locations. For in-person record review or certified copies, visit the Kent courthouse location during business hours.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

To find out if someone from Auburn is currently in a Washington state prison, check the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database lists name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For release dates or supervision conditions, contact DOC directly. Federal inmates are not in this database; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those cases.

For registered sex offenders living in or near Auburn, the WASPC Sex Offender Registry is the public source maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B convictions require fifteen years. Class C offenses require ten years. Offenders register in person with the Sheriff in their county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130. King County Sheriff maintains the registry for Auburn-area offenders.

Auburn Crime Statistics and Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Rules

The Auburn Police crime statistics page gives general data about criminal activity in the city. Statistics come from police reports and incident data. This is useful for general awareness but is not the same as accessing individual criminal records.

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, separates conviction records from non-conviction data. Conviction records, meaning cases ending in a guilty plea or verdict, are public under RCW 10.97.050. Non-conviction data is different. Under RCW 10.97.030, cases that did not lead to a conviction can only go to criminal justice agencies, the subject, or others permitted by law. Agencies must redact non-conviction portions before releasing a rap sheet to the public.

If you think your own record has errors, submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. The Criminal History Records Section reviews the challenge and makes corrections if the evidence supports it. Deletion of non-conviction records is governed by RCW 10.97.060, which sets specific conditions and waiting periods.

Historical Records and Digital Archives

For older Auburn or King County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives holds Superior Court records from various counties, including older criminal case files, judgment rolls, and court proceedings. King County records available through the archives span back many decades. Some older material requires an in-person visit to the Seattle clerk's office or the regional archives branch.

The MRSC resource on Criminal History and Arrest Records explains disclosure rules that apply across all Washington counties. It is a useful starting point if you are unsure whether a specific record type is public or restricted.

King County Criminal History Records

Auburn is in King County. Felony cases and county-level records are managed through King County agencies.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying cities near Auburn with their own criminal history record pages.