Burien Criminal Records
Burien criminal records are held by several courts and agencies in King County, Washington. Burien is a city in southwest King County, just south of Seattle and west of SeaTac. The city has its own municipal court for local ordinance violations, and felony cases go through King County Superior Court. Law enforcement services are provided under contract by the King County Sheriff's Office. If you need to find a Burien criminal case, get a police report, or run a background check, this page tells you exactly where to go.
Burien Overview
Burien Municipal Court
The Burien Municipal Court handles traffic infractions, misdemeanor criminal charges, gross misdemeanors, and city ordinance violations within Burien city limits. It does not handle felony cases. The court is on SW 149th Street and can be reached at (206) 988-0674. If you need to look up a Burien misdemeanor record or a traffic infraction, the municipal court is the first stop.
Case information from Burien Municipal Court appears on the statewide Washington Courts portal at dw.courts.wa.gov. A name-based search on that portal is free and can pull up case numbers, charge details, case status, and hearing information. For copies of court documents from a Burien Municipal Court case, you need to contact the court directly.
| Office | Burien Municipal Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 601 SW 149th Street Burien, WA 98166 |
| Phone | (206) 988-0674 |
| Website | burienwa.gov - Municipal Court |
King County District Court - Burien
King County District Court handles state-level misdemeanor charges, gross misdemeanors, civil matters under $100,000, and protection orders for Burien residents. State misdemeanor charges fall under state law rather than city ordinance, so they go to the district court rather than the municipal court. Both courts sometimes handle similar types of offenses, just under different legal authority.
If you are searching for a Burien misdemeanor record and are not sure which court to check, run a search on the statewide courts portal first. It will show cases from both Burien Municipal Court and King County District Court in one place. For more information on the district court, visit kingcounty.gov or call (206) 205-9200.
Burien Felony Records - King County Superior Court
Felony criminal cases for Burien residents go to King County Superior Court. The main courthouse is at 516 3rd Avenue in Seattle, but some southwest King County felony cases may also be heard closer to home. The clerk's office maintains all official case files for felony charges, including charging documents, plea agreements, judgments, and orders. Certified copies of these records require a written request or an in-person visit to the clerk's office.
Online case searches for Burien felony records are available through the KC Script portal at dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov. This tool is specific to King County and gives docket-level detail for Superior Court cases. For a broader search that also covers municipal and district court records, use the statewide portal at dw.courts.wa.gov.
| Office | King County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | King County Courthouse 516 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | (206) 477-1617 |
| Website | kingcounty.gov - Superior Court |
Burien Police and Sheriff Records
Law enforcement services in Burien are provided by the King County Sheriff's Office through a contract with the city. This means arrest records and incident reports for Burien are maintained by King County Sheriff, not a separate Burien Police Department. To request police records related to an incident in Burien, you contact the King County Sheriff's Office records unit.
King County Sheriff's records are subject to the Washington Public Records Act under RCW Chapter 42.56. The department must respond to requests within five business days. Active investigation files may be withheld temporarily, but completed case records are generally available. For records requests, visit the King County Sheriff website or contact them directly.
| Agency | King County Sheriff's Office (Contracted) |
|---|---|
| Burien Contact Info | burienwa.gov - Police Department |
| King County Sheriff | kingcounty.gov/en/dept/sheriff |
The KC Script portal gives access to King County Superior Court records, including felony cases filed on behalf of Burien residents.
Use the King County KC Script portal to search Superior Court criminal case records for Burien and surrounding communities.
Searching Burien Criminal Records Online
Two tools work well for Burien criminal record searches. The statewide portal at dw.courts.wa.gov is free and covers all court levels, including the municipal, district, and superior court in one search. The KC Script portal at dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov provides richer detail for King County Superior Court cases specifically.
For a name-based background check rather than a specific case lookup, the WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov is the official state tool. WATCH searches Washington's central criminal history repository and costs $11 per search online. Both tools together give you a solid starting point for finding Burien criminal case information.
WATCH Criminal History System
Washington's WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov runs name and date of birth based conviction checks through the Washington State Patrol's central criminal history database. The result is a RAP sheet with Washington State conviction history, sex offender registration status, and DOC records. Searches return instantly online and cost $11 per query.
The state's Criminal Records Privacy Act at RCW Chapter 10.97 limits what WATCH can show the public. Convictions are available without restriction. Non-conviction records, including arrests that didn't lead to charges or cases that were dismissed, are only shared with criminal justice agencies. For Burien residents checking their own record, you can request your complete history under RCW 10.97.080 by verifying your identity with WSP.
The WATCH system provides immediate Washington State conviction history results for Burien residents and anyone with a Washington criminal record.
Sex Offender Registry in Burien
The King County Sheriff's Office handles sex offender registration for Burien. Washington's risk-level classification places offenders at Level I, II, or III. Level II and III offenders are listed publicly at waspc.org and wasor.org. Offenders must register with the sheriff within three business days of release, an address change, or a change of employment under RCW 9A.44.130.
Failure to register is a Class C felony under RCW 9A.44.132 for a first offense. Repeat failures elevate to a Class B felony. You can search for registered sex offenders near a Burien address through the WASOR registry. The national registry at nsopw.gov covers offenders across all states if you need information beyond Washington.
King County Criminal Records
Burien is in King County. Felony cases, county-level misdemeanors, and law enforcement records all go through King County systems. For more on King County courts and records access, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities are also in King County and use the same court system for criminal matters.