Find Criminal History Records in Snohomish County
Snohomish County criminal history records are held by three main offices at the county courthouse in Everett: the Superior Court Clerk for felony cases, the District Court for misdemeanors, and the Sheriff's Office for arrest logs and jail bookings. Snohomish County is one of the most populous counties in Washington, with a large and active court system. This page covers all record sources, how to request copies, fees, online access options, and how the Washington State Patrol WATCH system works for a statewide conviction history search.
Snohomish County Overview
Snohomish County Superior Court Records
The Snohomish County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction. It handles all felony criminal cases, civil matters over $100,000, family law, probate, guardianship, and juvenile proceedings. The Clerk of the Superior Court keeps the official record for every case filed, including charging documents, arraignment orders, plea agreements, sentencing records, and the judgment roll. All are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge orders them sealed.
The Superior Court Clerk's office is at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, MS 605, Room M206, Everett, WA 98201. Phone: (425) 388-3466. Regular copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. Business hours run Monday through Friday. Having a case number or the subject's full name before you call or visit speeds up the process substantially.
For recent cases, the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal provides free online access to case summaries, charge details, hearing dates, and dispositions. The portal also has a subscription plan for frequent users who need deeper access to the clerk's records management system. Basic lookups are free and do not require a subscription. Full case documents are not posted online and must be ordered from the clerk directly.
Hearing audio recordings can be requested from the clerk's office. When the minute entry shows a hearing was digitally recorded, you can order a copy for $25 per hearing date. For juvenile court records, contact the Clerk's Office at contact.clerk@snoco.org or call 425-388-3466. Juvenile records are more restricted by default than adult criminal records under Washington law.
Snohomish County District Court Records
The Snohomish County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims. This court processes a large volume of cases given the county's population. Offenses like first-offense DUI, simple assault, fourth-degree theft, and reckless driving come through District Court first.
The District Court is at 3000 Rockefeller Ave, MS 508, Everett, WA 98201. For records requests, email SDC-PubDisclosure@snoco.org. Court records are released pursuant to Washington Court General Rules 31 and 31.1, not under the Public Records Act. Requests should include case-specific details such as party names, dates, and case numbers where available. The court provides administrative records under GR 31.1 and case records under GR 31.
District Court cases also appear in the Odyssey Portal. Start there to confirm a case exists and find the case number before submitting a formal records request. That step alone can save several days of back-and-forth. Misdemeanor conviction records are public. Non-conviction data is restricted under RCW 10.97 to criminal justice agencies and the subject of the record.
Note: Snohomish County District Court uses email for records requests: SDC-PubDisclosure@snoco.org. This is a high-volume court. Include case numbers and specific dates in your request to speed up processing.
Snohomish County Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail Logs
The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas and runs the county jail. The office is at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, MS 606, Everett, WA 98201, phone (425) 388-3393. The records division handles public requests for arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking data under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.
Conviction records are available to the public. Non-conviction data is protected under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, arrests that did not lead to a conviction and where the case is no longer active can only go to criminal justice agencies or the subject of the record. The Sheriff will redact non-conviction portions from any public release. Active investigation files are exempt until the case closes.
Jail booking information is generally public. If you need to know whether someone is currently held, contact the jail directly. Note that Snohomish County does not provide certified Criminal History Reports through its own public records office. For a comprehensive criminal history, the county's official guidance directs people to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system, which is described in the next section.
Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH
For an official conviction history on anyone tied to Snohomish County, the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) is the right tool. WATCH queries a fingerprint-linked statewide database, pulling conviction records from all 39 Washington counties in one search. The online fee is $11.00 per request. Pay by credit or debit card and get results right away. No other public resource provides this level of statewide coverage this quickly.
Mail requests are accepted. A name-based mail search is $32.00. Submitting a full fingerprint card raises the fee to $58.00 but removes name-match ambiguity for a more reliable result. Mail processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days. You can also visit the WSP Criminal History Records office in person at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Full details on all request options are at the WSP Criminal History Records page. To review your own complete record, including non-conviction data not available to the public, visit the Olympia office in person at no cost for up to thirty minutes. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and be prepared to be fingerprinted for identity confirmation.
Note: WATCH results include conviction records and pending arrests less than one year old. They do not include non-conviction data older than one year for general public searches.
Public Records Requests in Snohomish County
For county agency records that are not court documents, contact the Snohomish County Public Records office. The Public Records Officer is Cecilia Wilson at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201, phone 425-388-5004. This office covers Sheriff's Office records, department emails, and other county government documents. Court records must go to the court clerk directly.
Snohomish County does not provide certified Criminal History Reports through its public records office. Those must come from WSP. Court records for Superior and Juvenile Court are released under GR 31 through the Court Records Information system. District Court records go through the District Court records request process. Keeping these requests separate helps avoid delays.
Under RCW 42.56.520, the county must respond within five business days. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Fees are limited to actual copy costs. If a request is denied, you can appeal to Snohomish County Superior Court where the agency must prove a statutory exemption applies.
Online Court Record Access in Snohomish County
Snohomish County has a dedicated Access Court Records page describing all the ways to get court documents: online via the Odyssey Portal, in person at the courthouse, by mail, and through digital archives. The Washington State Digital Archives holds electronic copies of many current and historical Snohomish County court records, available on-demand at no cost.
For frequent users, the Odyssey Portal subscription plan allows access to the clerk's Electronic Court Records Management System. Fees vary by access level. One-time lookups can be done for free using the basic portal search, which is enough to identify a case number and check its status before submitting a document request to the clerk.
This is a large county with a high volume of court activity. The Odyssey Portal is the most practical starting point for any record search. Use it first to identify case numbers, confirm which court handled a case, and see the current status. Then reach out to the appropriate clerk's office for copies.
Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data Rules
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, separates public conviction records from protected non-conviction data. Conviction records are fully public under RCW 10.97.050. These include cases ending in a guilty plea, a trial verdict of guilty, or any other adverse outcome. Anyone can request them without giving a reason.
Non-conviction data is treated differently. Under RCW 10.97.030, this covers cases that did not end in a conviction and where proceedings are no longer active. These can only go to criminal justice agencies, the subject of the record, or others explicitly authorized by law. When a search result contains both conviction and non-conviction data, the agency must redact the non-conviction parts before release to the public.
If your own record has errors, file a Request for Modification of Record with the Washington State Patrol. The Criminal History Records Section reviews the challenge and corrects the record if the dispute is valid. Deletion of old non-conviction records falls under RCW 10.97.060, which requires no prior convictions and sets minimum waiting periods before any removal.
DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry
To find out if someone from Snohomish County is 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 are not in this system; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those searches.
The statewide sex offender registry is maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and is searchable on the WASPC website. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B offenses require fifteen years. Class C offenses require ten years. All registrations are done in person at the Sheriff's Office in the offender's county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130. The Snohomish County Sheriff handles all local registrations for the county.
Historical Court Records
For older Snohomish County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives is a strong resource. The archives hold Superior Court records from many counties, including criminal case files, judgment rolls, and court proceedings going back decades. Many Snohomish County records have been digitized and are searchable online at no charge. The Digital Archives is listed on the county's own court records access page as an authorized source for electronic copies of both current and historic court records.
Cities in Snohomish County
Snohomish County has several large cities. Criminal cases from all of them are processed through the county courts in Everett. The following cities meet the population threshold for individual city pages.
Nearby Counties
Snohomish County borders several other Washington counties. Each maintains its own court system and criminal record offices independent of Snohomish County.