Washington Criminal Records

Are criminal records public in Washington?

The Washington State Public Records Act allows for criminal records to be accessed by the public. Anyone can request a criminal records check from any state governing body that maintains these records and is enabled to provide them.

How do I find criminal records in Washington?

You can find criminal records through the different county court websites in Washington and request a criminal history check there. Additionally, there is a statewide court case search service on the Washington government site where you can find individual cases of people.

Are mugshots public record in Washington?

Mugshots are public in Washington and can be found by anyone. They appear on inmate records, sex offender registries, and arrest records. Additionally, other websites have access to this information and can are able to provide it.

Can I get rid of my criminal record in Washington?

It is possible to get rid of your criminal record in Washington through expungement, vacating, and deferred sentences depending on the type of crime you’re trying to remove. Misdemeanor convictions can be petitioned to be vacated after three years. Depending on the severity of the felony conviction, it may take 5-10 years from the end of one’s sentence or may not be eligible.

How do I get my record expunged in Washington?

Only arrests that did not result in a conviction can be eligible for expungement. Two years must have passed since the event, and then you can fill out a form that can be found online and submit it to the Washington State Patrol.

What is Megan’s Law in Washington?

Megan’s Law in Washington is a statute that makes sex offenders’ information available to the public. However, information is not disclosed to the public at large unless the offender misses their deadline to register or if they are a “Risk Level 3” offender. Sex offenders may have to register for 10-15 years or life, depending on the severity of their crime.

How do I find sex offenders in Washington?

There is an online sex offender registry in Washington that allows you for risk level 3 offenders and non-compliant sex offenders. You can search by name or location. After performing a search, you can view someone’s profile which will disclose a mugshot, their past convictions, addresses, and identifying information.

How do I search for arrest records in Washington?

Arrest records are found via criminal background checks or court case searches in the state of Washington. They will show the details of the arrest of an individual, but not if they were convicted. Arrest records include information like the when and where of the arrest, the name of the arresting officer, and a description of where the arrest took place.

How do I find court records in King County?

King County has a Clerk’s Records Access Portal on the King County government website that lets you search for specific court records. You can search by case number or the name of the person or organization you are searching for.

What is a felony in Washington?

A felony is a crime that results in serving time in a Washington state prison for at least one year. However, the worst felonies can have you in prison for life. There are Class A (most severe), B, and C (least severe) felonies that all have different ranges of sentences. Examples of felonies in Washington include assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree manslaughter, burglary, and rape.

What is a misdemeanor in Washington?

There are two types of misdemeanors in Washington, with plain misdemeanors as the least serious and gross misdemeanors as the most serious. Plain misdemeanors can only be punished up to 90 days in jail in addition to a $1000 fine, and gross misdemeanors can have sentences of a year in jail and a $5000 fine. Examples of misdemeanors include shoplifting, public indecency, vandalism, and trespassing.

How far back can employers check a criminal background in Washington?

Employers can only inquire about convictions that happened within the last ten years and must get consent before doing so. Additionally, Washington has a ban-the-box law that prevents employers from asking people if they have been convicted of a crime on a job application.

How do I find inmates in Washington?

Washington has an online inmate locator that lets you search for an inmate’s facility that they are being held in, but not any more information than that. To get more information about a particular inmate, you must contact the Washington Department of Corrections and request the information you seek.

How do you check for arrest warrants in Washington?

Washington has an arrest warrant search service provided by the Washington Department of Corrections. There, you can find anyone that has an active warrant on their name. Arrest warrants are given to people who have had a criminal complaint filed about them and enable to police to search for them.

How do I find someone’s parole status in Washington?

Washington is one of the few states that has abolished parole. Parole is usually offered as an incentive to inmates to have good behavior in the prison system so that they can get a reduced sentence. However, this is not available in the state of Washington.

Is DUI a felony in Washington?

In order for a DUI to be a felony instead of a misdemeanor in Washington, there must have been four or more prior convictions of DUI for an individual or a previous conviction of vehicular assault or homicide. The prison sentence will be much more severe for a DUI penalty that is treated as a felony.

Are juvenile criminal records sealed in Washington?

Juvenile criminal records are not automatically sealed in the state of Washington. However, once a juvenile turns 18, they can petition to have their record sealed by submitting a request to the courts. This will effectively hide any crimes committed as a juvenile to employers, schools, etc. Government agencies will still be able to access these records, however.