King County Criminal History Records

King County criminal history records are split across several offices: the Superior Court Clerk's Department of Judicial Administration for felony cases, the District Court for misdemeanor matters, and the Sheriff's Office for arrest data and jail bookings. King County is the most populous county in Washington and operates the state's largest trial court system, with locations in Seattle, Kent, and other parts of the county. The Superior Court uses the KC-Script/LINX system rather than the statewide Odyssey Portal. This guide covers how to find records at each office, what copies cost, and how to run a full statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol.

King County Superior Court Records and LINX

The King County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction and the largest trial court in Washington State. The Department of Judicial Administration (DJA), also known as the Superior Court Clerk's Office, maintains all official court records and handles public access. The main DJA office is at 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone: (206) 477-1400. The court also operates at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent and the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center.

King County Superior Court does not use the statewide Odyssey Portal. Instead, it uses the KC-Script/LINX public portal for case searches. The LINX system provides case number and participant name search for civil, criminal, family law, probate, guardianship, and juvenile offender cases that are not confidential or sealed. Records filed before July 1, 1979 are stored on microfilm and only available during business hours at the downtown Seattle Clerk's Office.

Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. Walk-in access to public terminals is available at both the Seattle courthouse and the Kent Regional Justice Center. For subscription-based electronic access, contact the Superior Court Clerk's Office directly.

The King County Superior Court records access page provides access to the KC-Script/LINX case search system for criminal, civil, and family law matters.

Use the LINX portal to search by case number or party name before contacting the DJA office for certified copies or complete documents.

King County District Court Criminal Records

The King County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, and civil matters under $100,000. The court operates at multiple locations throughout the county, including Seattle, Kent, Bellevue, and Shoreline, making it accessible from most parts of the county. Charges such as first-offense DUI, simple assault, and petty theft are filed here rather than in Superior Court.

District Court maintains public access terminals at all court locations. Records for recent cases can be searched online through the District Court website. For older records or certified copies, visit the appropriate location in person or submit a written request by mail. Include the case number or party name and attach payment for applicable copy fees. The District Court refers comprehensive background check requests to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system.

The King County District Court has multiple courthouse locations throughout the county for misdemeanor case records and public terminal access.

Check the District Court website to confirm which courthouse location handles cases from the specific city or area you are researching.

King County Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail

The King County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated King County and contract cities. The records division maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking data. The Sheriff operates the King County Jail at 500 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, and the Maleng Regional Justice Center Jail in Kent. Inmate information, including booking charges, is available through the online lookup tool on the Sheriff's website. For inmate inquiries, call (206) 296-1234.

Public records requests are processed under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, and the Criminal Records Privacy Act. Conviction records are available to the public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests without a resulting conviction, is restricted under RCW 10.97.080. Those records can only go to criminal justice agencies or to the subject of the record. When a file has both types, non-conviction entries are redacted before anything is released.

The King County Sheriff's Office handles public records requests for arrest reports and incident records in unincorporated King County and provides an online jail inmate lookup tool.

Submit public records requests directly to the Sheriff's Office records division for arrest reports and jail booking data, or call (206) 296-9300 to reach the King County Courthouse.

King County Records and Licensing

The King County Records and Licensing Division maintains various county records including property records, marriage records, and business licenses. The division provides online access to many records through the King County Records Search system. For court records, the division refers requestors to the appropriate court clerk's office, as it does not maintain criminal court files itself.

Public records requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. The division responds within the statutory timeframes set by the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56. Fees follow the actual cost standard. Electronic delivery is available for records that can be sent digitally.

The King County Records and Licensing division provides online access to property records, marriage filings, and business license data, separate from the criminal court system.

Use the Records and Licensing online search for property and vital records, but contact the court clerks directly for criminal case files.

Statewide WATCH Background Checks

For an official conviction record on any King County subject, the WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) through the Washington State Patrol is the most thorough option. Online searches return results instantly for $11.00 paid by credit or debit card. WATCH draws from a fingerprint-linked statewide database, so it is more complete than searching individual county courts and less prone to alias misses.

Mail requests use the official Request for Conviction Criminal History Form. A name-based search by mail costs $32.00. If you submit a fingerprint card, the fee goes to $58.00 but the result is more precise. Mail processing takes 7 to 10 business days. In-person requests can be made at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Full details are at WSP Criminal History Records. To review your own complete record, including non-conviction data not available to the public, visit the Olympia office in person at no charge for up to thirty minutes. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You may be fingerprinted to confirm identity before the file is pulled.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data Rules

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, separates conviction records from non-conviction data. Conviction records, cases that ended in a guilty plea, verdict, or other adverse finding, can be released to anyone under RCW 10.97.050. No special authorization is needed to get them.

Non-conviction data covers records from cases that did not end in a conviction and are no longer active. Under RCW 10.97.030, these can only go to criminal justice agencies, to the person whose record it is, or to others specifically authorized by law. When a record mixes both types, agencies must redact the non-conviction entries before releasing the rest.

If you believe your record has errors, submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. If upheld, the Criminal History Records Section corrects the file. The process for deleting old non-conviction records is in RCW 10.97.060 and includes conditions such as no prior convictions and specified waiting periods.

DOC Inmate Search, Jail Lookup, and Sex Offender Registry

To find a King County resident in a Washington state prison, use the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. It shows name, DOC number, age, and facility. For release dates or supervision conditions, contact DOC directly. For people currently in the county jail, use the inmate lookup on the King County Adult Detention website or call (206) 296-1234. Federal inmates are not in either database; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for those cases.

For registered sex offenders in King County, the public registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information, maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Class A sex offenders register for life. Class B offenders register for fifteen years. Class C offenders register for ten years. Registration happens at the Sheriff's Office in the county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130.

Historical King County Court Records

For older King County criminal cases, the Washington State Digital Archives holds Superior Court records from Washington counties, including older criminal case files and judgment rolls. For King County cases on microfilm filed before July 1, 1979, you must visit the DJA office in person at 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, during regular business hours to view them on the microfilm reader. Call (206) 477-1400 to confirm availability before making the trip downtown.

The MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records page provides a useful statewide overview of disclosure rules. It is a good resource when you are not sure whether a specific type of King County record is legally available to the public.

Cities in King County

King County contains many qualifying cities. Criminal cases involving city residents are still filed in the King County Superior or District Court system. Major cities with dedicated pages include:

Nearby Counties

King County borders several Washington counties, each maintaining separate criminal history record systems.