Criminal Records in San Juan County

San Juan County criminal records are held by the Superior Court Clerk and the District Court in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. You can search case information online through the statewide Washington Courts portal, or contact the local clerk and sheriff's offices for copies and certified documents. San Juan County is a unique island county in northwest Washington, made up of San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, and dozens of smaller islands. Getting records may require planning ahead, especially if you need to visit in person. This page covers every way to find and access San Juan County criminal records.

San Juan County Superior Court Clerk

The San Juan County Clerk of Superior Court maintains all Superior Court records including criminal, civil, family law, and probate cases. When a felony is charged in San Juan County, the case file is stored at the clerk's office in Friday Harbor. That file holds the charging documents, motions, court orders, sentencing information, and the final disposition. These records are public under Washington's public records law. You can request copies in person at the courthouse or by mail.

Because San Juan County is an island county, in-person visits require ferry travel to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. If you can handle the request by mail, that is often the more practical option. The clerk's office is at 350 Court Street, #7, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Phone: (360) 378-2163. The San Juan County Clerk page has hours and additional details. Staff can search by name or case number.

San Juan County District Court Cases

San Juan County District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, gross misdemeanors, traffic violations, civil cases under $100,000, and small claims. Misdemeanor cases here include DUI, simple assault, petty theft, and related lower-level offenses. The District Court is at 350 Court Street, #9, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Phone: (360) 378-2164. More information is at the San Juan County District Court page.

District Court criminal records for San Juan County are searchable online through the statewide Washington Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov. This free portal covers both Superior Court and District Court filings in San Juan County. You can search by person name, case number, attorney name, or judicial officer. Results show case status, hearing dates, party names, and charge information. The portal does not show document images or case file contents.

Note: If you need copies of actual court documents, contact the District Court or Superior Court clerk directly by mail or phone, since traveling to Friday Harbor requires ferry access.

San Juan County Sheriff's Office Arrest Records

The San Juan County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement across the islands and maintains arrest records and jail records for the county. Each arrest creates a record with the person's name, the date and location of the arrest, and the charges. These records are separate from court case files. Under Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW Chapter 10.97, non-conviction information is restricted. Conviction records are generally public. The sheriff's office also handles sex offender registration for San Juan County residents.

The San Juan County Sheriff is at 350 Court Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Phone: (360) 378-4151. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office website has contact and records request details. Submit public records requests in writing under RCW Chapter 42.56. Mail requests are practical for San Juan County given the ferry-access-only location of the courthouse.

Online Search for San Juan County Criminal Records

The best free online tool for San Juan County criminal records is the Washington Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov. It is free, requires no account, and covers both Superior and District Court cases filed in San Juan County. Search by name, case number, attorney, or judicial officer. Results show case numbers, filing dates, party names, case status, charges, and upcoming hearings. For a county with limited in-person access, the online portal is especially useful for initial searches.

The Washington Courts portal provides free online access to San Juan County criminal case information from both Superior and District Court without requiring a ferry trip to Friday Harbor.

For a broader criminal history check covering all Washington counties, the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system lets you run a name and date-of-birth search against the statewide criminal history database for $11.00. Results return immediately and show Washington State conviction history, including San Juan County cases, along with sex offender status and DOC information.

Washington State Patrol Criminal History

The WSP Identification and Criminal History Section maintains the statewide central repository for criminal history records. It collects fingerprint-based records and disposition data from courts and law enforcement agencies across Washington, including San Juan County. Their database integrates information from multiple sources and is more comprehensive than a simple court case search. Access is available through WATCH online or by mail request.

The WSP criminal history page covers request options, fees, and the types of information included in a Washington State RAP sheet for San Juan County and all other counties.

WSP contact: 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501. Phone: (360) 534-2000. Mail: Washington State Patrol, Identification and Criminal History Section, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633. Name and DOB search by mail: $32.00. Fingerprint search: $58.00. WSP records cover Washington State only and do not include out-of-state convictions.

WATCH System and DOC Incarcerated Search

WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History) is the online version of the WSP criminal history check. Anyone can use it. Enter a person's full name and date of birth, pay $11.00, and get results in seconds. The RAP sheet returned shows all Washington State convictions, recent arrests with pending dispositions, sex and kidnapping offender registration status, and DOC information. WATCH is available at watch.wsp.wa.gov. Keep in mind it is a name-based search and does not cover out-of-state records.

The WATCH system provides immediate online results for Washington State criminal history checks, which is particularly useful when in-person visits to San Juan County require ferry travel.

For people currently incarcerated in a Washington State prison, the Department of Corrections provides a free search at doc.wa.gov. Search by DOC number or name to see age, current facility, and custody status. For San Juan County Jail records, contact the Sheriff's Office directly since the DOC search covers state facilities only.

San Juan County Sex Offender Registry

Sex offender registration in San Juan County is managed by the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. Under state law, registered sex offenders must report to the county sheriff within three business days of release from custody and update their registration within three business days of any address or employment change. Washington uses a three-tier risk classification. Level I (low risk) offenders are not listed publicly. Level II (moderate risk) and Level III (high risk) offenders appear on the public registry.

The public sex offender registry is maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and is searchable at waspc.org. Level III offenders may be subject to active community notification. The national registry at www.nsopw.gov covers registered offenders in all states and is another resource if you need to check beyond Washington State. Contact the San Juan County Sheriff's Office at (360) 378-4151 if you have questions about a specific individual's registration status in the county.

Nearby Counties

San Juan County's nearest mainland and island counties are listed below. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense took place.