Tacoma Criminal Records
Tacoma is the third largest city in Washington and the seat of Pierce County. Criminal records in Tacoma are split across several courts and agencies. Misdemeanors committed within city limits go to Tacoma Municipal Court. State-level misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors land in Pierce County District Court. Felony charges go to Pierce County Superior Court. If you want to search Tacoma criminal records, you can use the Pierce County LINX online portal, the statewide Washington Courts case search, or the Washington State Patrol WATCH system. The Tacoma Police Department and Pierce County Clerk hold separate sets of arrest and case records. Each source covers a different part of the record trail.
Tacoma Overview
Tacoma Municipal Court
The Tacoma Municipal Court handles misdemeanor criminal violations, traffic infractions, and city ordinance violations committed within Tacoma city limits. The court can be reached at (253) 591-5200. Given Tacoma's size, this court handles a high volume of cases each year. Municipal court records from Tacoma are public and accessible through the statewide Washington Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov.
The statewide portal lets you search by name or case number. You get charges, case status, and hearing dates. It does not show document images. For copies of specific court documents, contact the Tacoma Municipal Court directly.
The screenshot below shows the Tacoma Municipal Court page with information about accessing court records:
The municipal court's website has information on how to look up a case, pay fines, and request records.
Tacoma Police Department Records
The Tacoma Police Department Records Unit maintains arrest records, incident reports, and collision reports for events within city limits. Police records and court records are separate. An arrest report documents the incident. Court records show what happened after charges were filed. Both are public under Washington law.
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW Chapter 42.56 gives the public the right to inspect and copy most government records. Some portions may be redacted to protect victims or ongoing investigations. Submit a public records request through the Tacoma Police records unit for copies of specific incident reports.
The records unit page on the city website explains the request process and what information you need to provide when submitting a records request.
Pierce County Courts Serving Tacoma
Pierce County District Court handles state-level misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors for Tacoma residents. The court is at 930 Tacoma Ave S and can be reached at (253) 798-7487. Pierce County Superior Court handles all felony charges. The Superior Court Clerk at Room 110 of the same address, phone (253) 798-7455, manages official case files and processes records requests.
To get certified copies of a felony judgment or other case document, contact the Pierce County Clerk. Each felony file holds charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing records, and related motions. These are public unless sealed. If you know the approximate filing year, that helps narrow the search. The Pierce County LINX portal at linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us lets you search Superior Court and District Court cases by name or case number for free.
LINX is often a faster first step than calling the clerk's office. It shows party names, charges, case status, and hearings. It does not show document images, but it confirms whether a case exists.
Note: Pierce County serves Tacoma and many surrounding communities including Lakewood, Puyallup, and University Place.
Statewide Criminal Records Tools
Washington offers two main statewide tools for finding criminal records linked to Tacoma residents. The Washington Courts Name and Case Search pulls data from all court levels across the state. For Tacoma cases, this covers Tacoma Municipal Court, Pierce County District Court, and Pierce County Superior Court in one search. You can look up by name and see results from multiple court levels at once.
The WATCH system run by the Washington State Patrol provides name and date of birth conviction background checks. WATCH costs $11 per search and returns a RAP sheet showing Washington State criminal convictions, sex offender registration status, and arrests less than one year old without a disposition. It is the fastest way to get a full conviction record picture for a Tacoma resident without contacting each court separately. More information on the WSP program is at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history.
Pierce County Jail Roster
Pierce County maintains a public jail roster showing current bookings. You can check it at piercecountywa.gov/892/Jail-Roster. The roster is updated regularly and lists inmates by name. This tool covers people held at the Pierce County Jail, which serves Tacoma and the surrounding area.
For state prison inmates, the Department of Corrections has a public search at doc.wa.gov. You can search by name or DOC number. Results show age, location, and custody status. The DOC also handles public disclosure requests through its unit at (360) 725-8213.
Sex Offender Registry in Tacoma
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs runs the statewide sex offender registry at waspc.org. The Pierce County Sheriff handles local registrations in Tacoma. Level II and Level III offenders are listed publicly at www.wasor.org. Level I offenders are considered low risk and are not on the public website. You can also search the national registry at www.nsopw.gov.
Offenders must register within three business days of release and report any address or employment changes within the same window. Failure to register is a criminal offense under state law.
Pierce County Criminal Records
Tacoma is in Pierce County, and all state-level misdemeanor and felony cases run through Pierce County courts. The county page has more detail on court locations, clerk contact information, and how to access county-level criminal records.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Tacoma and each has its own criminal records page.