Washington State's criminal history system draws a firm statutory line between conviction and non-conviction data under the Criminal Records Privacy Act (RCW 10.97). Conviction data is releasable to the public. Non-conviction data -- arrests that did not lead to a conviction -- is not available to the public through standard channels; you can view it at a law enforcement office but cannot take copies. The public tool is WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History) at watch.wsp.wa.gov, which returns convictions, recent pending arrests, and sex/kidnap offender data for $11. Washington also uses a different term for record relief: the state calls it "vacating" a conviction rather than expungement. Vacating under RCW 9.94A.640 (felonies) and RCW 9.96.060 (misdemeanors) withdraws the guilty plea or sets aside the verdict and dismisses the charges -- but importantly, court records remain publicly accessible even after vacation. This guide covers the full system.
What Makes Washington Arrest Records Public
Washington's public records framework is governed by the Public Records Act at RCW 42.56. Government records are presumptively public with specific statutory exemptions.
The Criminal Records Privacy Act at RCW 10.97 specifically governs criminal history records. It establishes the WSP as the central repository and defines the public/non-public boundary: conviction records may be released without restriction; non-conviction information is not available to the public. The public may view non-conviction data in person at a law enforcement office but cannot obtain copies or further disseminate it.
Under RCW 10.97, WATCH (the WSP online public tool) includes conviction information, arrests less than one year old with dispositions still pending, and registered sex and kidnapping offender information. Non-conviction data, vacated cases, and sealed records are excluded from public WATCH results.
Exemptions from public access include non-conviction arrest data, juvenile records, sealed records, vacated conviction records (from WSP dissemination, though court records remain accessible), and active investigation materials.
What a Washington Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A WSP WATCH public criminal history record includes personal identifying information, conviction records, arrests less than one year old with pending dispositions, and registered sex and kidnapping offender information. Full criminal history including all arrest data is available to law enforcement and authorized entities; the public version is limited as described above.
Local law enforcement records at county sheriff offices and police departments include full booking information: name, DOB, date and time of arrest, location, arresting agency, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph. Many counties publish daily booking logs.
How to Search Washington Arrest Records
WATCH (Washington Access to Criminal History) at watch.wsp.wa.gov is the primary public online tool. The fee is $11 per search, payable by credit or debit card. Results are returned immediately. WATCH provides conviction information, recent pending arrests, and sex/kidnap offender data for the subject.
For third-party conviction record requests by mail or in person: complete the Request for Conviction Criminal History Form and submit with a $32 fee (check, cash, or debit/credit card) to: Washington State Patrol, Identification and Background Check Section, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633.
For your own complete record including non-conviction data: request from WSP with a fingerprint card and $12 fee by mail to the same address.
The Washington Courts case search portal provides free online access to court case records from most county Superior Courts. Search by name or case number. Results confirm whether a case exists and provide docket details. Access at dol.wa.gov or courts.wa.gov.
County sheriff offices maintain booking records for recent arrests. Washington has 39 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. Most publish online booking logs updated daily or more frequently.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Washington's 39 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the WADOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Washington
Washington has 39 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences. Most county sheriff offices publish online daily booking logs.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Washington Department of Corrections (WADOC) system. WADOC provides a free online offender search at doc.wa.gov. You can search by name or DOC number to locate current and released offenders and get facility, offense, and sentence information.
Federal Arrests in Washington
Federal arrests in Washington are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Washington is home to U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Washington (Spokane, Yakima) and the Western District of Washington (Seattle, Tacoma).
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the WSP criminal history system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act (RCW 10.97) explicitly separates conviction data (public) from non-conviction data (not publicly accessible). WATCH returns only convictions, recent pending arrests, and offender registry data.
Non-conviction arrests remain in WSP records until deleted under RCW 10.97.060 -- the subject may request deletion of stale non-conviction data meeting specified criteria.
Washington Vacation of Conviction
Washington State does not use the term "expungement." The legal remedy for conviction records is called vacating under RCW 9.94A.640 (felonies) and RCW 9.96.060 (misdemeanors).
What vacating does: A court order vacating a conviction withdraws the guilty plea or sets aside the guilty verdict and dismisses the charges. After vacation, WSP and local law enforcement are directed not to disclose the vacated conviction to the public. The person may lawfully say they have not been convicted of the vacated offense on most applications. However -- court records remain publicly accessible. The court file is not sealed or destroyed by a vacation order.
Waiting periods and eligibility under the New Hope Act (enacted 2019, expanded 2022 and 2024):
Misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors: 3 years after discharge from sentence (supervision, confinement, or sentencing date -- whichever is most recent). Domestic violence misdemeanors: 5 years. Effective June 2024, the waiting period clock runs from discharge -- not from payoff of Legal Financial Obligations (LFOs). No new convictions during the waiting period. No pending charges or active restraining orders.
Class C felonies: 5 years after discharge. No new convictions in the 5 years prior to application.
Class B felonies: 10 years after discharge. No new convictions in the 10 years prior to application. Most Class B felonies are eligible; certain specified offenses (violent offenses without the New Hope Act exceptions, crimes against persons) are not.
Class A felonies: Cannot be vacated.
DUI convictions, most violent offenses as defined in RCW 9.94A.030, sex offenses, and certain other specifically enumerated offenses are not eligible for vacation.
For non-conviction records: Under RCW 10.97.060, the subject may request deletion of stale non-conviction data from WASIS (Washington State Identification System) after applicable waiting period requirements are met.
InmateAid's guides on vacation of conviction and record sealing cover Washington's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after vacation is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Washington arrest records public?
Partially. Under the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) and the Criminal Records Privacy Act (RCW 10.97), conviction records are public and freely releasable. Non-conviction data -- arrests that did not result in conviction -- is not available to the public for copying or dissemination; it may only be viewed in person at a law enforcement office. WATCH (watch.wsp.wa.gov) shows convictions, recent pending arrests, and sex/kidnap offender data. Vacated and sealed records are excluded from public WATCH results.
How do I search Washington arrest records?
WATCH at watch.wsp.wa.gov provides instant online conviction history searches for $11 per search (credit/debit card). For third-party conviction record requests by mail, complete the Request for Conviction Criminal History Form with a $32 fee to WSP, PO Box 42633, Olympia, WA 98504-2633. For court case records, use the Washington Courts case search at courts.wa.gov (free). For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For custody notifications, VINELink at vinelink.com is free. For WADOC inmates, search at doc.wa.gov.
What does a Washington arrest record contain?
The public WATCH record includes personal identifying information, conviction data, arrests less than one year old with pending dispositions, and registered sex/kidnap offender information. Full arrest history is available only to law enforcement and authorized entities. Local law enforcement booking records include name, DOB, arrest date/time/location, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Washington?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. Washington's RCW 10.97 explicitly treats these differently: conviction data is public; non-conviction data is not publicly available. Arrests that did not lead to conviction do not appear in public WATCH results. They remain in WSP records until deleted under RCW 10.97.060.
How do I find someone in a Washington county jail?
Check the county sheriff's website where the arrest occurred. Washington's 39 counties each operate county jails and most publish online daily booking logs. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many Washington facilities and provides free notification registration. For someone in state prison, use the WADOC offender search at doc.wa.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in Washington?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the WSP criminal history system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Washington?
Non-conviction arrests remain in WSP records indefinitely unless deleted under RCW 10.97.060 upon the subject's request after applicable waiting periods. Conviction records remain in WSP records unless vacated under RCW 9.94A.640 or 9.96.060 -- but even vacated convictions remain in court records.
What is vacating a conviction in Washington?
Washington calls its record relief remedy "vacation" rather than expungement. Under RCW 9.94A.640 (felonies) and RCW 9.96.060 (misdemeanors), a court order vacating a conviction withdraws the guilty plea or sets aside the guilty verdict and dismisses the charges. After vacation, WSP and local agencies stop disclosing the conviction to the public. The person may lawfully deny the conviction on most applications. Court records, however, remain publicly accessible -- vacation does not seal or destroy the court file.
Who qualifies to vacate a conviction in Washington?
Misdemeanors: 3 years after discharge (5 years for DV misdemeanors), no new convictions or pending charges, no active restraining orders. Class C felonies: 5 years after discharge, no new convictions in 5 years. Class B felonies: 10 years after discharge, no new convictions in 10 years. Class A felonies cannot be vacated. DUI convictions, violent offenses (with limited New Hope Act exceptions), sex offenses, and other specifically enumerated offenses are not eligible. Since June 2024, the waiting period clock runs from discharge -- not from LFO payoff.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Non-conviction arrests are excluded from public WATCH results under RCW 10.97 -- they should not appear in the public criminal history. If a non-conviction arrest is surfacing on a background check, it may be from court records (which are publicly accessible), third-party data aggregators, or a local agency record. The subject may request deletion of non-conviction data from WSP under RCW 10.97.060 after applicable criteria are met. ---
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