King County Criminal Records Search
King County is the most populous county in Washington State, home to roughly 2.3 million people and the city of Seattle. Criminal court records in King County are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk at the King County Courthouse in Seattle and by District Court divisions spread across the county. You can search King County criminal court cases online through the KC-Clerk public portal for Superior Court records, or through eCourt for District Court cases. The statewide Washington Courts Case Search also covers King County records and is a good starting point for most searches. With thousands of criminal cases filed each year, King County has one of the largest collections of court records in the state.
King County Overview
King County Superior Court Criminal Records
King County Superior Court is the largest general jurisdiction court in Washington State. It handles thousands of felony criminal cases every year, along with civil matters over $75,000, family law cases, and juvenile proceedings. The court operates from the King County Courthouse in Seattle, with additional facilities serving the southern part of the county in Kent. Felony charges, from drug crimes to violent offenses, are processed here.
The King County Clerk of Superior Court maintains all official court records. The Clerk's office keeps case files, charging documents, plea agreements, bail orders, sentencing orders, and final judgments. These records are open to the public under Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56. You can look up a case by case number or by the name of a party in the case. For records filed before July 1, 1979, the files are stored on microfilm and are only available to view during business hours at the downtown Seattle Clerk's office.
King County Superior Court operates specialized court divisions that you won't find in most other Washington counties. The Regional Mental Health Court handles cases where mental health issues are a central factor. The Drug Diversion Court offers an alternative path for some drug offense defendants. The Veterans Treatment Court provides a focused process for eligible veterans facing criminal charges. Records from these specialized divisions are part of the Superior Court record and are maintained by the Clerk's office.
The Clerk charges fees for copies and certified documents. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after that. Felony conviction records are kept permanently. King County Superior Court has the largest collection of court records in Washington, going back many decades.
| Office | King County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Location | King County Courthouse, Seattle, WA |
| Superior Court Portal | KC-Clerk Public Portal |
| Courts Website | kingcounty.gov/courts |
| State Directory | courts.wa.gov/court_dir |
Search King County Criminal Court Records Online
King County offers several ways to search criminal court records online. For Superior Court cases, the KC-Clerk public portal is the primary tool. You can search by case number or participant name. The portal covers civil, criminal, family law, probate, and juvenile offender cases that are not sealed or confidential. Case information includes party names, case type, filing date, status, and scheduled hearings. The portal is available 24 hours a day.
For King County District Court cases, use eCourt, the District Court's online case access system. This portal is updated regularly and provides the most current information on misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases, traffic matters, and civil filings under the District Court's jurisdiction. You can also use the statewide Washington Courts Case Search portal as a broad starting point for either court level.
Both portals give you case summaries, not full documents. To get actual court documents, you need to contact the appropriate Clerk's office. Public access terminals are also available at all King County courthouse locations for in-person case searches and document viewing during business hours. The Odyssey Portal provides another search option linked to the statewide case management system.
Note: For records filed before July 1979, visit the King County Clerk's downtown Seattle office. Those older records are on microfilm and cannot be accessed online.
King County District Court and Misdemeanor Records
King County District Court operates multiple divisions across the county, located in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Shoreline, Burien, and Kent. This distributed setup reflects the county's large geographic and population footprint. District Court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and civil matters up to $75,000. The court processes hundreds of thousands of cases each year, covering DUI offenses, domestic violence matters, theft, and other misdemeanor-level crimes.
District Court criminal records are public record in King County. You can search for misdemeanor case information through the eCourt system or the statewide courts portal. The District Court also maintains warrant information for thousands of outstanding arrest warrants. Some of that warrant data is accessible through the online search tools. Public access terminals at each courthouse location allow in-person searches during business hours.
King County District Court provides interpreter services for many languages and accommodations for individuals with disabilities. The court coordinates with King County Corrections on inmate custody and bail proceedings. If a District Court criminal case is appealed, it moves to Superior Court, where the Superior Court Clerk takes over as the record keeper.
Note: District Court divisions in different parts of King County handle cases from specific geographic areas. Contact the correct division for the city or area where the case was filed.
King County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The King County Sheriff's Office is located at 516 3rd Avenue in Seattle and can be reached at (206) 296-4155. The Sheriff's Office maintains the King County Jail, provides law enforcement for unincorporated areas, and serves as the law enforcement agency for a number of contract cities. All arrest information is submitted to the Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section for inclusion in the statewide criminal history database.
The Sheriff's Office provides a records request portal for submitting requests for incident reports, arrest records, and investigation documents. The King County Jail maintains an inmate lookup service that shows current jail population, booking information, charges, custody status, and which facility an inmate is housed in. Arrest reports and investigation records may be requested through the Sheriff's records division, with fees applicable for copies. Requests should include specific details such as dates, locations, and names involved to speed up processing.
Active investigation records may be withheld under exemptions in RCW 42.56. The Sheriff's Office follows state retention schedules and the requirements of the Public Records Act for all law enforcement records. The agency coordinates with municipal police departments, the Washington State Patrol, and federal law enforcement on regional matters. An arrest record shows that someone was taken into custody. It is separate from a court record, which shows the outcome of any case that followed.
Washington State Patrol Criminal History Records
The Washington State Patrol Criminal History section runs the statewide criminal history database. This database is built from fingerprint submissions by law enforcement agencies across Washington, including the King County Sheriff's Office and every municipal police department in King County. It is the most complete source for a full criminal history in the state and covers arrests, charges, convictions, and dispositions from all counties.
You can request your own criminal history record from WSP. Third-party requests need proper authorization. Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, codified at RCW 10.97, sets rules on how criminal history information can be shared and used. The Act also gives individuals the right to challenge records they believe contain errors. The WSP system is a separate resource from the King County court portals and captures activity reported from agencies across all of Washington State.
Public Records Law and Access to King County Court Records
Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56 gives the public broad access to government records, including criminal court records in King County. Most criminal case files are open. The Clerk cannot deny a valid request without a legal basis.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile court records are governed by RCW 13.50, which limits who can view records involving minors. Sealed records require a court order. Records tied to active investigations may be temporarily withheld. Washington's criminal statutes are in RCW Title 9A, and criminal procedure rules are in RCW Title 10. The full Revised Code of Washington is available on the state legislature's website. Understanding the charge classification in a case file helps you interpret what you're reading in the record.
Legal Resources for King County
If you need legal help with a criminal court matter in King County, the Washington State Bar Association has a lawyer referral service and a public directory you can search by location and practice area. King County has numerous legal aid organizations serving low-income individuals across the county, with offices in Seattle and other locations.
The Washington Courts website offers general guidance for people navigating the court system on their own. Guides cover what to expect in a hearing, how to file a records request, and how the court process works. Court staff can answer procedural questions but cannot give legal advice. King County courts also offer accommodations and interpreter services for those who need them.
The KC-Clerk public portal provides online access to King County Superior Court criminal records by case number or participant name. The screenshot below shows the Superior Court records portal.
Use the KC-Clerk portal to look up King County Superior Court felony cases, view case status, and track hearing schedules without visiting the courthouse in Seattle.
King County District Court provides online case access through eCourt for misdemeanor, DUI, and other lower court criminal matters. The screenshot below shows the District Court website at kingcounty.gov/courts/district-court.aspx.
King County District Court divisions are spread across the county, including Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Shoreline, and Burien, to serve all residents.
The King County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, jail booking information, and incident reports for the county.
The King County Jail inmate lookup and arrest record request tools are available through the Sheriff's Office website at kingcounty.gov/sheriff.
Cities in King County
King County contains many cities, several of which have dedicated criminal court records pages. Click a city below to find records information specific to that location.
Nearby Counties
King County borders Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Chelan, and Kittitas counties. Each county maintains its own Superior Court and criminal court records.