Olympia Criminal Records Search
Olympia criminal records are spread across the Olympia Municipal Court, Thurston County District Court, and Thurston County Superior Court. As Washington's state capital, Olympia sits at the heart of Thurston County's court system, and it is also home to the Washington State Patrol headquarters at 106 11th Ave SW. Whether you need to look up a misdemeanor case from city court, find a felony filing at the superior court, or run a statewide background check through WATCH, each resource is accessible online or in person. This page walks you through every option for searching Olympia criminal records.
Olympia Overview
Olympia Municipal Court
The Olympia Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and city ordinance violations within city limits. Cases that arise from incidents in Olympia and fall under city or state misdemeanor law are filed here. This is where you would look first when searching Olympia criminal records at the misdemeanor level for incidents that occurred inside the city.
The court is based at Olympia City Hall on Plum Street. Public records requests for court case files can be submitted through the city's public records portal. The court also handles some civil infractions and parking violations. If you need a copy of a case file from municipal court, contact the court clerk at the number below.
| Office | Olympia Municipal Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 900 Plum Street SE Olympia, WA 98501 |
| Phone | (360) 753-8312 |
| Website | olympiawa.gov - Municipal Court |
Public records requests for Olympia Police Department reports and arrest records can be submitted through the Olympia Police Department public records page. Police records are separate from court records, so you may need to contact both offices depending on what you need.
Thurston County District Court
Thurston County District Court handles state-level misdemeanor cases and civil matters up to $100,000 for the Olympia area. Some charges that originate in Olympia may be filed in district court rather than municipal court, depending on whether they are city ordinance violations or state law violations. Both courts handle misdemeanor-level criminal matters, but district court operates under county jurisdiction.
The district court is part of the Thurston County court complex on Lakeridge Drive. You can search case information through the statewide Washington Courts portal at dw.courts.wa.gov, which pulls data from all Thurston County courts including district court. Cases from the district court also appear in the Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov.
| Address | 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building 3 Olympia, WA 98502 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (360) 786-5450 |
| Website | thurstoncountywa.gov - District Court |
The Thurston County District Court clerk's office is your contact for copies of district court case documents. Staff can pull records by name or case number and provide copies at standard copy rates.
The Thurston County District Court handles state misdemeanor cases for Olympia and surrounding communities in the county.
Thurston County Superior Court - Felony Cases
Felony criminal cases for Olympia residents go through Thurston County Superior Court. This is where Class A, B, and C felony charges are prosecuted, jury trials are held, and sentences are entered. The Superior Court is also where you would find records of felony convictions for Olympia residents. Case files here are maintained by the County Clerk's office in Building 2 of the Lakeridge Drive complex.
The clerk's office handles records requests for superior court case files. You can request copies in person, by mail, or online. The Odyssey Portal gives public access to case information including party names, charges, case status, and hearing dates. For the full case file or a certified copy of a judgment, you need to contact the clerk directly. Certification fees vary but are typically a few dollars per document plus copy costs.
| Address | 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building 2 Olympia, WA 98502 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (360) 786-5430 |
| Website | thurstoncountywa.gov - County Clerk |
The Thurston County Clerk maintains felony case files for Olympia residents and provides certified copies of court documents upon request.
Searching Olympia Criminal Records Online
The primary free tool for searching Olympia criminal records online is the Washington Courts Name and Case Search at dw.courts.wa.gov. This statewide portal pulls data from municipal, district, superior, and appellate courts across all 39 counties. You can search by person name, case number, attorney, or judicial officer. It shows party names, case status, charge information, and scheduled hearings. Document images are not available through this portal, but the basic case details are free.
The Odyssey Portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov provides another route to Thurston County case information. It is the county's own case management system and may show more detail for local cases. Both tools are worth checking when looking for Olympia records. Search results are updated overnight, so very recent filings may not appear right away.
Note: The statewide portal covers most courts but is not always complete. Always verify with the court clerk if you need official confirmation of a case's status.
WSP and the WATCH System
Olympia is home to the Washington State Patrol headquarters at 106 11th Ave SW. The WSP Identification and Criminal History Section operates as the central repository for criminal history record information in Washington State. If you want a statewide conviction history for any person, the WATCH system is your primary tool.
WATCH stands for Washington Access to Criminal History. You can run a name-based background check at watch.wsp.wa.gov for $11 per search. The system searches the state's central database and returns a RAP sheet showing Washington State conviction records, adverse findings, sex offender registration status, and Department of Corrections information. Results are returned in seconds and are paid by credit or debit card. Mail-based requests to the WSP cost $32, and fingerprint-based checks run $58.
WATCH does not include out-of-state convictions. It also does not show non-conviction information, which is restricted under RCW Chapter 10.97, the Washington State Criminal Records Privacy Act. Non-conviction records are only available to criminal justice agencies. The WSP office in Olympia can be reached at (360) 534-2000.
The Washington State Patrol headquarters in Olympia houses the state's central criminal history repository and manages the WATCH background check system.
Sex Offender Registry in Olympia
Registered sex offenders in Olympia are classified by risk level under Washington's three-tier system. Level I offenders are low risk and their information is not published online. Level II and Level III offenders appear on the public registry administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs at waspc.org. You can also search the registry at wasor.org by name or address.
In Thurston County, the Sheriff's Office handles sex offender registration. Offenders must register within three business days of release from custody or any change of address under RCW 9A.44.130. The Thurston County Sheriff is the registration authority for Olympia. Failure to register is a felony under RCW 9A.44.132. For questions about specific offenders in your area, contact the Thurston County Sheriff's Office directly.
How to Get Olympia Criminal Records
Getting criminal records in Olympia depends on the type of record and which court or agency handled it. Court records and police records are held by different offices, so you may need to contact more than one place. The key contacts are listed below.
- Misdemeanor court records (city): Olympia Municipal Court, (360) 753-8312
- Misdemeanor court records (county): Thurston District Court, (360) 786-5450
- Felony court records: Thurston County Clerk, (360) 786-5430
- Police reports and arrests: Olympia Police Department, (360) 753-8300
- Statewide conviction history: WATCH at watch.wsp.wa.gov, $11 per search
- Incarcerated person search: DOC at doc.wa.gov
Copies of court documents run about $0.15 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost more and vary by court. The Washington Courts portal at dw.courts.wa.gov is free for basic case lookups.
The Washington Courts case search portal is free and covers all court levels in Olympia and Thurston County.
Department of Corrections Records
The Washington Department of Corrections publishes an inmate search tool at doc.wa.gov. You can search by name or DOC number to find currently incarcerated individuals. The tool shows age, current facility, and custody status. Olympia residents sentenced to state prison after felony convictions in Thurston County would appear here if still in custody.
The DOC Public Disclosure Unit handles public records requests. You can reach them at publicdisclosureunit@doc1.wa.gov or call (360) 725-8213. The DOC's offices are located in Tumwater, just outside Olympia. Printed copies cost $0.15 per page, and electronic copies cost $0.10 per page.
Thurston County Criminal Records
Olympia is the county seat of Thurston County. All felony and most misdemeanor criminal cases for Olympia residents go through Thurston County courts. For more on the county court system, search tools, and records access, see the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Olympia and file cases through courts in their respective counties.