Des Moines Criminal History Records

Des Moines criminal history records come from three main sources: Des Moines Municipal Court for misdemeanors, King County Superior Court for felonies, and the Des Moines Police Department Records Unit for incident reports and arrest logs. This guide walks through each source, what it holds, how to request records, and how to run a full statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol WATCH system.

Des Moines Municipal Court Records

The Des Moines Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations filed within Des Moines city limits. This covers offenses like first-offense DUI, theft under $750, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and most traffic crimes. All cases filed here are public records under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has ordered them sealed.

Case information for Des Moines Municipal Court is searchable online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. The portal shows party names, charge descriptions, hearing dates, and case dispositions at no cost. It does not include the actual documents. For certified copies or full case files, you must contact the court directly by phone or in person.

Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. If you have the case number or the full name of the party, bring that information when you visit. The court handles the clerk's counter Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Call ahead to confirm current hours before you go.

King County Superior Court Felony Records

Felony cases involving Des Moines residents are filed at King County Superior Court. The King County Superior Court Clerk maintains records for all felony charges, including assault in the first or second degree, robbery, drug distribution, and other serious crimes. These records are held at the King County Courthouse at 516 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.

King County Superior Court case information is also available through the Odyssey Portal. The portal is the fastest way to confirm whether a felony case exists before you request documents. The King County Clerk's public counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Copy fees follow the standard state schedule.

If you cannot travel to Seattle, you can mail a written records request to the King County Superior Court Clerk. Include the case number, the full name of the party, and a list of the specific documents you need. The clerk will send a cost estimate before pulling records. Payment must accompany the order before files are released. Some older felony records may require additional lead time to retrieve from storage.

King County also maintains a separate King County District Court that handles some misdemeanor matters in areas outside city limits. Des Moines residents charged with misdemeanors inside city limits go through Des Moines Municipal Court. Charges outside city limits but within unincorporated King County go through the District Court instead.

Des Moines Police Department Records

The Des Moines Police Department Records Unit processes requests for police reports, incident reports, and arrest logs. You can submit a request online, by mail, or in person at the police station. The department responds under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and must provide an initial response within five business days of receiving your request.

Conviction records are public and can be released to any requestor. Non-conviction data is different. Under RCW 10.97, records from arrests that did not lead to a conviction and where the case is no longer active can only go to criminal justice agencies, the person whose record it is, or others specifically authorized by law. If your request produces a rap sheet with both conviction and non-conviction data, the department will redact the non-conviction portions before releasing the record.

Records tied to open investigations are generally exempt from disclosure while the investigation is active. Once a case closes, those files become subject to release. Phone requests are not processed. All requests must be submitted in writing. For general crime data and statistics, the department provides information through the city's website. For any specific incident report, a formal public records request is needed.

Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH

The best way to get a full criminal history for a Des Moines subject is through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) gives online results in minutes for $11.00 per search. You pay by credit or debit card. Results appear right away. WATCH draws from a statewide fingerprint-linked database, so it catches records from all 39 Washington counties, not just King County.

Mail requests also work. A name-based mail request costs $32.00. If you submit a fingerprint card for a more exact match, the fee is $58.00. Mail processing takes 7 to 10 business days. More details are at the WSP Criminal History Records page.

If you want to review your own complete record, including non-conviction data, you can do so in person at no charge at the WSP office at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You may be fingerprinted for identity confirmation. The in-person review session lasts up to thirty minutes.

City of Des Moines Public Records Requests

For city agency records that are not court documents, use the City of Des Moines Public Records request process. This covers city emails, meeting minutes, budget records, and other documents held by city departments. Police reports must go through the police department directly. Court records must go through the courts. The city public records portal handles everything else.

The city must respond to any public records request within five business days under RCW 42.56.520. The response will either provide the records, give a timeline for when they will be ready, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Fees are limited to actual reproduction costs, not staff time. The city often delivers records electronically, which is faster and costs less than paper copies.

If a request is denied, you can appeal to King County Superior Court. The burden falls on the city to prove that the specific exemption applies. The court can award attorney fees and penalties if the denial was not justified. Most routine records requests, like city contract documents or budget reports, are fulfilled without dispute.

Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, draws a clear line between what is public and what is not. Conviction records are fully public under RCW 10.97.050. Any member of the public can request them from courts, law enforcement, or the Washington State Patrol. Non-conviction data is restricted. This includes arrests that did not lead to a conviction and cases that are no longer active.

If a record file contains both conviction and non-conviction entries, the agency holding the file must separate them and only release the conviction portions to the general public. The non-conviction parts go only to the subject of the record, criminal justice agencies, or those specifically authorized by law. If you believe your own record has errors, you can file a Request for Modification of Record Form with the WSP Criminal History Records Section. The agency reviews the challenge and makes corrections if the claim holds up. RCW 10.97.060 sets the conditions for deleting old non-conviction records entirely, including no prior convictions and specific waiting periods that vary by offense type.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

If someone from Des Moines is in a Washington state prison, check the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows 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 locator for those cases.

For registered sex offenders in Des Moines, the statewide registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Adults with Class A sex offense convictions must register for life. Class B offenses carry a fifteen-year registration period. Class C offenses require ten years. All offenders must register in person with the King County Sheriff under RCW 9A.44.130. The King County Sheriff handles registration for Des Moines residents.

Historical and Archived Court Records

For older Des Moines criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may hold relevant records. The archives maintain Superior Court records from various Washington counties, including older King County criminal case files and judgment rolls. Some records go back many decades, though availability varies by court and time period.

Des Moines was incorporated in 1959, so records from before that date would be under King County records only. The King County Clerk's Office can assist with locating historical case files that may have been moved to off-site storage. Call the clerk's office in advance to ask about retrieval times for older materials, as those requests can take longer than requests for recent cases.

County Criminal Records

Des Moines criminal cases are filed and managed through King County. All felony cases go to King County Superior Court in Seattle. The King County Sheriff and the county prosecuting attorney handle county-level criminal matters for Des Moines and surrounding cities.

Nearby Cities

Other King County and south King County cities with their own criminal record offices include: