Find Criminal History in Clallam County

Clallam County criminal history records are split between the Superior Court Clerk, the District Court, and the Sheriff's Office, all headquartered in Port Angeles. The District Court also operates a branch office in Forks for the western end of the Olympic Peninsula. This guide explains where each type of record is kept, how to request copies, what it costs, and how to get a full statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol for any Clallam County subject.

Clallam County Superior Court Criminal Records

The Clallam County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction. It handles all felony criminal cases filed in Clallam County, along with civil matters, family law, probate, and juvenile cases. The Clerk of Superior Court is at 223 E. 4th Street, Suite 5, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On file with the clerk are charging documents, arraignment papers, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. These are public records under Washington Court General Rule 31. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each page after that. Public access terminals in the office allow you to review electronic case data before ordering physical copies.

Recent cases are searchable online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. The portal shows case parties, charges, hearing schedules, and dispositions at no cost. Documents themselves must be ordered from the clerk. Cases that predate the Odyssey system require in-person research or a written request to the clerk's office.

The Clallam County Superior Court page links to online case search tools and provides contact information for the clerk's office.

Check for free case summaries on the Superior Court page before requesting certified copies from the clerk.

Clallam County District Court Misdemeanor Cases

The Clallam County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims. The main office is at 223 E. 4th Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362. A branch court operates in Forks for residents in the western part of the county, reducing travel for those on the far side of the Olympic Peninsula.

Misdemeanor cases include first-offense DUI, simple assault, theft under $750, disorderly conduct, and related matters. District Court records are public and most recent cases appear on the Odyssey Portal. For copies of documents or older records not available online, contact the Port Angeles office in person or by mail. The court also provides forms and assistance for small claims filings and other civil matters for self-represented litigants.

The District Court branch in Forks serves the western Olympic Peninsula, while the main Port Angeles office handles the rest of the county.

Clallam County Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail Logs

The Clallam County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas of Clallam County. The office is at 223 E. 4th Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362. The records division handles public requests for arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking information in compliance with the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

Conviction records are fully public under RCW 10.97.050. Non-conviction data, arrests that did not result in a conviction and where the case is no longer active, is restricted under RCW 10.97.080. Only criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record can receive non-conviction data. If a rap sheet includes both types of entries, the agency must redact the non-conviction portions before release. Active investigation files are generally exempt from disclosure until the case closes.

The Sheriff's Office also operates the Clallam County Jail. Booking data for recent arrests is available from the records division. For a full statewide conviction record, the Sheriff's Office refers requestors to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system.

Contact the Sheriff's records division at the Port Angeles courthouse campus for incident reports and arrest log requests.

Sex Offender Information in Clallam County

The City of Sequim Police Department publishes information about registered sex offenders in the Sequim area. Washington law limits what can be shared about Level I offenders; that information goes to other law enforcement and, on request, to victims, witnesses, and nearby residents. Level II notifications may go to schools, daycares, and neighbors of the offender's address. Level III information may be disclosed to the general public through community flyers and public meetings.

The Sequim Police Department verifies registered addresses annually, semi-annually, or quarterly depending on the offender's risk level. For county-wide sex offender data, the statewide registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Adults convicted of Class A sex offenses register for life; Class B for 15 years; Class C for 10 years. Registration happens in person at the Sheriff's Office in the county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130.

WSP WATCH Statewide Background Check

For a reliable conviction record on a Clallam County resident, use the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system. Online searches cost $11.00 and return results immediately. The system is fingerprint-linked through WASIS, which prevents the false positives that can occur when names match across different individuals. Payment is by credit or debit card.

Mail requests cost $32.00 for a name-based check, or $58.00 with a fingerprint card for a definitive match. Processing by mail takes 7 to 10 business days. In-person service is at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To review your own complete record including non-conviction data, you can do so in person at no charge for up to 30 minutes. Full details are at the WSP Criminal History Records page.

Public Records Requests for Clallam County Agencies

County agency records that are not court documents can be requested from the relevant Clallam County department in writing. Under RCW 42.56.520, the county must respond within five business days. The response may provide the records, acknowledge receipt with a timeline, or deny the request with the specific statutory basis for denial. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Fees may only cover actual copy costs, not staff search time. Electronic delivery is available and typically costs less than paper.

Court records are governed by Washington Court General Rule 31 rather than the Public Records Act. They must be requested directly from the Superior Court or District Court clerks. The clerks are the official custodians of court records and process all document requests from their offices. For general guidance on Washington criminal records disclosure rules, the MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records page is a useful reference.

DOC Inmate Search and Historical Records

If a Clallam County resident is currently held in a Washington state prison, search the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. It shows name, DOC number, age, and facility. Call DOC directly for release dates and supervision conditions. The DOC database does not include federal inmates; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those.

For older Clallam County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey system, the Washington State Digital Archives may have relevant records. The archives hold Superior Court records from multiple counties, including older criminal case files and judgment rolls. Clallam County records go back to the county's formation in 1854, though digital availability varies by time period and record type.

Cities in Clallam County

All criminal cases in Clallam County, whether filed in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks, or smaller communities, are processed through the Clallam County Superior or District Court. No cities in Clallam County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Clallam County is on the Olympic Peninsula and borders two Washington counties plus the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north.