King County Criminal Records

King County criminal records are filed at two main court levels in Seattle. The Superior Court handles all felony cases, while the District Court covers misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors. With over 2.3 million residents, King County is the most populous county in Washington and runs the largest court system in the state. If you need to search criminal records in King County, you can use the KC Script online case portal, the statewide Washington Courts search, or visit the courthouse in person at 516 3rd Avenue in Seattle. The county covers Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Auburn, Kirkland, Sammamish, and dozens of other communities. All criminal cases originating anywhere in the county are processed through the King County court system.

King County Superior Court Criminal Cases

King County Superior Court is the largest trial court in Washington State. It handles all felony criminal cases filed in the county, from drug trafficking and robbery to assault, homicide, and major fraud. The Superior Court Clerk stores every document in every case file. When a felony charge is filed anywhere in King County, it lands in this court. The Clerk's office is at 516 3rd Avenue, Room E609, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone is (206) 296-9300. The court's main page is at kingcounty.gov.

King County also operates the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, which handles criminal cases for the south county area. Cities like Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, and Maple Valley are in the south county. If a felony was committed in that area, the case may be processed at the Maleng Regional Justice Center rather than the main courthouse in Seattle. Both locations are part of the same King County Superior Court system, and records from both are accessible through the KC Script portal.

King County KC Script Case Search Portal

King County operates its own case search tool called KC Script. This is the most direct way to search criminal records filed in King County Superior Court. The portal is available at dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov. You can search by party name or case number. Results show case type, filing date, charge information, hearing dates, and case status. KC Script covers Superior Court records including felony criminal cases.

KC Script is particularly useful for King County cases because it is more detailed than the statewide Washington Courts portal for local records. If you know a case was filed in King County, this should be your first stop. The statewide portal at dw.courts.wa.gov is better when you are not sure which county handled the case or want to search across counties at once.

The KC Script portal gives direct access to King County Superior Court criminal records online.

KC Script lets you search by name or case number and view charge details, hearing schedules, and dispositions for King County criminal cases without a trip to the courthouse.

King County District Court Misdemeanor Records

King County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases. That includes DUI, domestic violence misdemeanors, shoplifting, simple assault, trespassing, and traffic offenses like reckless driving. The District Court is also at 516 3rd Avenue in Seattle. Phone is (206) 296-9300. Visit kingcounty.gov/district-court for more detail.

District Court misdemeanor records are separate from Superior Court felony records. If you are trying to track down a DUI or a domestic violence misdemeanor, you need to look in the District Court records, not the Superior Court files. The statewide Washington Courts search at dw.courts.wa.gov covers both court levels, but for detailed case files you need to contact the right clerk's office. King County District Court also has multiple branch locations across the county to serve different parts of the service area.

King County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The King County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated King County and provides backup to many smaller cities. The Sheriff maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail records. These are separate from court records and are handled through a different office. You can submit a public records request to the Sheriff at kingcounty.gov/sheriff/public-records. Their office is at 516 3rd Avenue, Room W-116, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone: (206) 263-2139.

The King County Jail inmate lookup tool at kingcounty.gov/jail/inmate-information lets you search for people currently held in King County jails. Results show charges, bail amounts, and custody status. This is useful if you need to find out whether someone is currently in custody and what they are being held for. It does not show historical records of people who have already been released.

Note: Arrest records show custody information. They do not show whether charges were filed or whether the person was ultimately convicted.

Statewide Criminal History Including King County

The Washington State Patrol maintains the central criminal history database for all of Washington, including King County. Their WATCH system is the fastest public tool for checking whether someone has a state conviction on record. Go to watch.wsp.wa.gov, enter a name and date of birth, and pay $11 by card. Results come back quickly and show all Washington State convictions linked to that name and date of birth. The RAP sheet from WATCH includes conviction records, sex offender registration status, and Department of Corrections information.

WATCH searches are based on name and date of birth, not fingerprints. That means a common name might return multiple matches. If you need a definitive identity-confirmed search, WSP also accepts fingerprint-based requests by mail for $58. The fingerprint method eliminates name confusion and is more reliable for background verification purposes. WSP mail address is PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633. Phone: (360) 534-2000.

The WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov is available online around the clock and covers King County convictions as part of the statewide database.

Washington State Patrol Criminal Records

The Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section is the state's central repository for all criminal history record information. They collect fingerprint-based records and disposition data submitted by courts and law enforcement across the state. King County cases, once filed and adjudicated, are reported to WSP and added to the statewide database. The WSP main page for criminal history is at wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history.

The WSP office is located at 106 11th Ave SW, Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, closed for lunch from noon to 1 PM. For mail requests, use the mailing address: Washington State Patrol, Identification and Criminal History Section, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633. The office phone is (360) 534-2000.

WSP criminal history records reflect all King County felony and serious misdemeanor convictions that courts have reported to the statewide system.

King County Felony Sentences and DOC Records

When someone is convicted of a felony in King County Superior Court and sentenced to state prison, the Washington Department of Corrections takes custody. The DOC publishes a free public inmate search at doc.wa.gov. You can search by name or DOC number to find out if a person is currently in state custody, where they are housed, and their custody status. Many King County felony cases end up in DOC facilities like the Monroe Correctional Complex or Washington State Penitentiary.

The DOC search only shows people currently in custody. For people who have been released, contact the DOC Public Disclosure Unit. Email: publicdisclosureunit@doc1.wa.gov. Phone: (360) 725-8213. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 41100, Olympia, WA 98504-1100.

Sex Offender Registry in King County

King County has one of the largest sex offender populations in Washington due to its size. The King County Sheriff's Office handles sex offender registration for unincorporated areas of the county. City police departments handle registration for cities within their jurisdictions. All registered sex offenders in King County who are Level II or Level III appear on the Washington Sex Offender Public Registry at waspc.org/sex-offender-information. The registry is run by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Registration is required under Washington law within three business days of establishing a residence in the county. Level III offenders pose the highest assessed risk and are subject to active community notification. Level II offenders appear on the public registry but receive less active outreach. Level I offenders are considered low risk and their information is not posted publicly. Failure to register is a felony under state law.

The Washington Sex Offender Public Registry lets you search by name or location within King County.

Level II and Level III offenders living anywhere in King County, including Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, and other cities, appear on the public registry at waspc.org.

Cities in King County

King County contains dozens of cities and communities. All felony criminal cases anywhere in the county go through King County Superior Court. Misdemeanors go through King County District Court or, in some cities, a separate municipal court.

Nearby Counties

King County borders several other counties. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense occurred.