Find Criminal Records in Lakewood
Lakewood criminal history records are held by the Lakewood Municipal Court for misdemeanor cases, Pierce County Superior Court for felonies, and the Lakewood Police Department Records Unit for police reports and incident records.
Lakewood Overview
Lakewood Municipal Court Records
The Lakewood Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations within Lakewood city limits. Cases include DUI first offense, simple assault, theft under $750, and most traffic charges. All records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless sealed by a judge.
Case summaries are searchable through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal at no cost. The portal shows party names, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. Actual documents are not posted online. For certified copies or full case files, contact the Lakewood Municipal Court. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 per additional page.
The Lakewood Municipal Court site includes clerk contact information, court schedules, and forms for self-represented litigants.
Confirm a case exists through the Odyssey Portal before requesting copies from the clerk's office.
The Lakewood Municipal Court is at 6000 Main St SW, Lakewood, WA 98499. Hours run Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Written requests by mail are accepted for those who cannot visit in person.
Pierce County Superior Court Felony Records
Felony criminal cases involving Lakewood residents are filed at Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma. The Pierce County Clerk of Superior Court at 930 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402, maintains all felony records, including charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. These are public records under Washington Court General Rule 31.
Pierce County Superior Court case information is on the Odyssey Portal. The clerk's public counter is open Monday through Friday during standard hours. For document copies, contact the clerk directly. Lakewood is close to Tacoma, so visiting Pierce County Superior Court is straightforward for most Lakewood residents. Mail requests are also accepted if needed.
Lakewood Police Department Records
The Lakewood Police Department Records Unit handles requests for police reports, incident records, and arrest logs. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the Police Department. The department operates under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and must respond within five business days.
Conviction records are public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests without a resulting conviction where the case is closed, is restricted under RCW 10.97. The Lakewood Police Department redacts non-conviction data before releasing records to the public. Only the subject of the record or a criminal justice agency may receive that information. Active investigation files are generally exempt until the case closes.
The Lakewood Police Department collaborates with Pierce County agencies on criminal justice matters. For crime prevention resources and general safety information, the Lakewood Police crime prevention page has community safety data. For a complete statewide criminal history, the department will refer you to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system.
Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH
The most thorough criminal history check for a Lakewood subject is through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) delivers results online for $11.00 per search. Pay by credit or debit card and get results right away. WATCH pulls from a fingerprint-linked statewide database covering all 39 Washington counties, which gives a more complete picture than a county-only search.
Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based search or $58.00 with a fingerprint card. Processing by mail takes 7 to 10 business days. See the WSP Criminal History Records page for full details. To review your own record in person at no cost, visit the WSP office at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring valid photo ID.
Note: WATCH results include conviction records and recent arrests with pending dispositions. Non-conviction data older than one year does not appear in public searches.
City of Lakewood Public Records Requests
For city agency records that are not court documents or police reports, use the City of Lakewood Public Records Request process. This covers city emails, council meeting minutes, budget records, and similar government documents. Police reports must go to the Lakewood Police Department. Court records must go through the Pierce County Clerk or Lakewood Municipal Court.
Lakewood must respond to public records requests within five business days under RCW 42.56.520. Responses will deliver records, provide a timeline, or deny with a statutory reason. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Fees cover only actual reproduction costs. Electronic delivery is often faster and cheaper than paper.
Washington Criminal Records Privacy Act
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, sets out what gets released. Conviction records are public under RCW 10.97.050 and available to anyone. Non-conviction data covers records from cases that ended without a conviction and are no longer active. Those can only go to criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record.
When a record mixes conviction and non-conviction data, the agency must redact the non-conviction portions before public release. To challenge errors in your record, file a Request for Modification of Record Form with the Washington State Patrol. RCW 10.97.060 sets conditions for deleting old non-conviction records, including waiting periods and no prior convictions.
DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry
To find someone from Lakewood currently in a Washington state prison, use 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 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are under federal jurisdiction and are not in this database; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons for those.
For registered sex offenders in Lakewood and Pierce County, check the WASPC Sex Offender Information registry. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B requires fifteen years. Class C requires ten years. Offenders register in person at the Pierce County Sheriff's Office under RCW 9A.44.130.
Historical Court Records
Older Pierce County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal may be available at the Washington State Digital Archives. The archives hold Superior Court records from many counties, including Pierce County criminal case files. Lakewood incorporated in 1996, so earlier cases involving this area would be under Pierce County records predating that date. Contact the Digital Archives or Pierce County Clerk's Office for guidance on locating historical cases.
County Criminal Records
Lakewood criminal cases are filed and managed through Pierce County. Felonies go to Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma. The Pierce County Sheriff and county prosecuting attorney handle county-level criminal matters.
Nearby Cities
Other Pierce County and nearby cities with criminal record offices include: