Search Whatcom County Criminal History
Whatcom County criminal history records are held by the Superior Court Clerk, the District Court, and the Sheriff's Office, all located at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. The Superior Court handles felony cases for the entire county, including Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale, and all unincorporated areas. The District Court covers misdemeanors and traffic matters. The Sheriff maintains arrest logs and jail records. This guide explains where to find records, how to request copies, what each office holds, and how to use the Washington State Patrol's statewide WATCH system for a complete criminal history check.
Whatcom County Overview
Whatcom County Superior Court Criminal Records
The Whatcom County Clerk of Superior Court maintains official records for all felony criminal cases filed in the county. This includes charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. The office also handles civil cases over $100,000, family law matters, probate, guardianship, and juvenile records. All of these records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has sealed them.
The courthouse is at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 301, Bellingham, WA 98225. Phone: (360) 778-5560. Email: sccustomer_service@co.whatcom.wa.us. You can visit in person Monday through Friday during regular business hours to view records at a public access terminal or request copies. Copy fees: regular copies are $0.50 per page; certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. Bring the full name of the party or a case number to speed up the search.
Recent Whatcom County case data is also available online. The Washington Courts Odyssey Portal provides free access to case summaries, party names, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. Full court documents must be ordered from the clerk's office directly.
The Whatcom County Superior Court at 311 Grand Avenue handles all felony criminal cases for the county.
Use the court's online portal or the Odyssey Portal to confirm a case exists before contacting the clerk's office for certified copies or full documents.
Whatcom County District Court Cases
The Whatcom County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, civil matters under $100,000, and small claims. Cases such as first-offense DUI, simple assault, trespass, and minor in possession of alcohol are filed here. These records are public and can be accessed through the Odyssey Portal or in person at the court.
The District Court is at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 401, Bellingham, WA 98225. Phone: (360) 778-5400. Fax: (360) 778-5401. Email: districtcourtservices@co.whatcom.wa.us. Court hours run Monday through Friday. The court provides self-help forms and guidance for unrepresented parties. For records not available online, visit in person or mail a written request with the relevant case information and applicable fees.
Note: Bellingham Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases within Bellingham city limits. Whatcom County District Court covers unincorporated areas and other cities in the county.
Whatcom County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas of the county and operates the county jail. The office is at 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225. Phone: (360) 778-6600. The Records Division can be reached directly at (360) 778-6670 for public records requests related to arrest logs, incident reports, and booking information.
These records are public under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, with standard exemptions for active investigations and protected categories. Conviction records are available to the public. Non-conviction data is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, records from arrests that did not lead to a conviction can only go to criminal justice agencies or to the subject of the record. If a report contains an arrest without a conviction, that portion must be redacted before release to the public.
Whatcom County borders Canada to the north. The county has a large international port of entry at Blaine, and the Sheriff's Office works closely with federal agencies on cross-border matters. For federal law enforcement records, you would need to contact those agencies separately; state criminal history does not include federal records.
Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH
For a complete official Washington conviction record, the Washington State Patrol is the right place to start. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) delivers online results right away for $11.00 per search. Pay by credit or debit card and get immediate access. WATCH uses a fingerprint-linked statewide database, so it catches convictions from any Washington county, not just Whatcom.
Mail requests are also available. A name-based mail request costs $32.00. Adding a fingerprint card raises the fee to $58.00 but gives a more precise match. Processing takes about 7 to 10 business days. Details are at the WSP Criminal History Records page. To review your own complete record at no charge, including non-conviction data, you can visit the WSP Olympia office at 106 11th Ave SW, Suite 1300, for up to thirty minutes. You must bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
Note: WATCH shows conviction records and pending arrests less than one year old. Non-conviction data older than one year is not included in general public searches.
Whatcom County Public Records Requests
For county agency records that are not court documents, use the Whatcom County Public Records Request system. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. The county responds within five business days as required by RCW 42.56.520. The response may provide the records, give a production estimate, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Fees cover only actual reproduction costs. Electronic delivery is preferred when available and typically costs less. Court records must be requested from the Superior Court Clerk or District Court directly, not through the county's general public records system. The Whatcom County Auditor at 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 103, phone (360) 778-5100, handles recording of deeds, mortgages, and liens, which can be useful when researching a person's background in the county beyond criminal history.
Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data Rules
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, governs what Whatcom County agencies can release. Conviction records from cases ending in a guilty plea, verdict, or adverse finding are public under RCW 10.97.050. Any member of the public can request them without giving a reason.
Non-conviction data is different. Under RCW 10.97.030, this covers records from cases that did not result in a conviction and where the case is no longer pending. These records can only go to criminal justice agencies, to the person whose record it is, or to parties specifically allowed by law. If a report contains both types, the agency must redact the non-conviction parts before any public release.
To fix errors in your record, submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. If the challenge is substantiated, the Criminal History Records Section makes the correction. Rules for deleting old non-conviction data are in RCW 10.97.060, which sets waiting periods and requires no prior convictions.
DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry
If someone from Whatcom County is currently in a Washington state prison, find them through the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The tool shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For federal inmates, check the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator separately.
For registered sex offenders in Whatcom County, the statewide registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Class A sex offense convictions require lifetime registration. Class B offenses carry a fifteen-year period. Class C offenses require ten years. Offenders register in person at the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office under RCW 9A.44.130. The MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records guide provides additional context on Washington's public records rules for anyone new to the process.
Historical Court Records
For older Whatcom County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may have what you need. The archives hold Superior Court records from many Washington counties, and some Whatcom County records date back to the late 1800s. What is digitized varies by case type and time period, so it is worth checking the archives website before making a trip to Bellingham for older records.
Cities in Whatcom County
All felony cases from anywhere in Whatcom County go through the Superior Court in Bellingham. Misdemeanor cases within city limits are handled by those cities' own municipal courts.
Nearby Counties
Whatcom County borders several other Washington counties, each with their own court and record systems.