Seattle Criminal Records Database
Seattle criminal records are maintained across several courts and agencies. Seattle is the largest city in Washington State with about 750,000 residents, and its court system reflects that scale. City misdemeanor and ordinance cases go through the Seattle Municipal Court. State misdemeanors are handled by the King County District Court. Felony cases are filed with the King County Superior Court. You can search case records online through the King County portal, the statewide Washington Courts tool, or by contacting the Seattle Police Department for police reports. This page explains how each of those systems works and how to get the records you need.
Seattle Overview
Seattle Criminal Court Structure
Seattle has one of the more complex court structures in Washington because of its size. Four different courts may handle a criminal case depending on how it is charged and what law was violated. Understanding which court has your case is the first step before you can search for records.
The Seattle Municipal Court handles misdemeanors filed under city ordinance, city traffic violations, and gross misdemeanors under city code. The court operates specialized calendars including mental health court and a domestic violence calendar. It is located at 600 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. You can reach them at (206) 684-5600 or go to seattle.gov/courts/municipal-court.
| Seattle Municipal Court | 600 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 | (206) 684-5600 |
|---|---|
| KC District Court - Seattle | 516 3rd Ave, Room E-309, Seattle, WA 98104 | (206) 205-9200 |
| King County Superior Court | 516 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 | (206) 296-9300 |
| Seattle Police Records | (206) 684-5623 | seattle.gov/police/records-and-reports |
The King County District Court Seattle Division handles state misdemeanor charges for Seattle residents and shares a building with the Superior Court at 516 3rd Avenue. Felony cases go to King County Superior Court, which is also at that address. The County Clerk manages all Superior Court files and handles records requests for the public.
Searching Seattle Criminal Records
The King County case search portal, KC Script, is the primary online tool for finding Superior Court and District Court cases in Seattle. It is available at dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov. Search by name or case number to see party information, docket entries, charge types, and hearing dates. No account is needed for basic searches.
The King County KC Script case search at dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov is the main tool for searching Seattle Superior Court and District Court criminal cases online.
Seattle Municipal Court records are not included in the King County portal. To search Municipal Court cases, contact that court directly at (206) 684-5600. The statewide Washington Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov does cover all court levels including municipal courts, making it useful when you are not sure which court handled a case.
To get full document copies or certified records, you must contact the relevant court's clerk. Online tools only show case-level information. For Superior Court records, call the King County Superior Court Clerk at (206) 296-9300. For Municipal Court records, call (206) 684-5600.
Note: Case information shown online may not be complete. Check with the clerk's office for final dispositions and sealed records that may not appear in public search results.
Seattle Police Records
The Seattle Police Department maintains police reports, arrest records, incident reports, and 911 call records for Seattle. These are separate from court records. Court records show what happened after a case was filed. Police records document the initial contact, the arrest, and the investigation before charges were filed.
Public records requests for Seattle police records are handled by the SPD Public Records Unit. Their mailing address is PO Box 34986, Seattle, WA 98124-4986. You can reach them at (206) 684-5623. The records request portal is at seattle.gov/police/records-and-reports. Requests can be submitted online. Processing times vary based on request volume and complexity.
The King County Sheriff also handles some law enforcement functions in Seattle and surrounding areas. For Sheriff public records, contact the King County Sheriff Public Records office at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/sheriff/services/public-records.
Jail Roster and Inmate Search
The King County jail system houses people who are arrested in Seattle and elsewhere in King County. King County operates multiple jail facilities, and the current inmate roster is available through the Department of Judicial Administration at kingcounty.gov. You can search for people currently in custody by name.
This tool is for people currently in county jail, not those in state prison. For people serving time in a Washington State prison, use the DOC incarcerated search at doc.wa.gov. That system lets you search by name or DOC number and shows current facility and custody status.
State Criminal History for Seattle
Washington State Patrol runs the WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov. This is an online name-and-date-of-birth background check that returns conviction history from across Washington. The fee is $11 per search. Results include convictions, sex offender status, and DOC data. WATCH does not include out-of-state convictions or non-conviction records.
The Washington State Patrol criminal history page at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history explains all request options including online WATCH searches, mail requests, and fingerprint-based checks for more thorough results.
For a broader criminal history search, the WSP also accepts mail requests for $32 (name and DOB) or $58 (fingerprint-based). Send requests to Washington State Patrol, Identification and Criminal History Section, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633. You can also visit the Olympia office at 106 11th Ave SW, Suite 1300.
The Washington Courts statewide case search at dw.courts.wa.gov pulls from all court levels in Washington, including all four Seattle-area courts, and is especially useful when you are not sure which court handled a specific case.
Sex offender registry information for Seattle is available through the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry at waspc.org/sex-offender-information. The King County Sheriff handles registration for Seattle residents. Level II and III registrants appear publicly. Level I registrants are not listed.
Access to Seattle Criminal Records
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW Chapter 10.97, governs what parts of criminal history are public. Conviction records are generally available. Non-conviction records such as dismissed charges, acquittals, and arrests without charges are restricted to criminal justice agencies. They are not accessible through standard public records requests.
Court records that are part of the public file are subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act, RCW Chapter 42.56. Sealed records, mental health evaluations, and protected victim information in domestic violence cases may be withheld even in otherwise public cases. A judge must order sealing before any court record becomes closed to the public.
For certified copies of King County Superior Court records, contact the County Clerk at (206) 296-9300. The courthouse is at 516 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Staff can produce copies while you wait in many cases. For court forms and self-help resources, visit courts.wa.gov/forms.
King County Criminal Records
Seattle is the county seat of King County and all Superior Court and District Court filings go through the King County court system. For a broader look at King County courts, agencies, and criminal records resources across the county, visit the King County criminal records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Seattle and are served by King County courts.