Pierce County Criminal Court Records
Pierce County criminal court records cover one of Washington's busiest court systems, handling thousands of felony and misdemeanor cases each year. Records are maintained by the Pierce County Superior Court Clerk at the County-City Building in Tacoma. The county uses LinxOnline, a separate case management system from the statewide Odyssey portal, as its primary public access tool for Superior Court records. You can search Pierce County criminal cases online through LinxOnline or the Washington Courts Case Search portal. Both are free and open to the public. Most criminal court records in Pierce County are public under Washington law, with limited exceptions set by statute.
Pierce County Overview
Pierce County Superior Court Records
The Pierce County Superior Court is the second-largest general jurisdiction court in Washington State. It sits at the County-City Building in Tacoma and handles thousands of felony criminal cases, civil matters over $75,000, family law proceedings, and juvenile cases each year. The court is prosecuted by the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which files charges for felonies ranging from drug offenses and theft to serious violent crimes. Every case creates a formal record maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court.
The Pierce County Clerk of Superior Court is the official record keeper for all Superior Court criminal cases. The main office is located at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 110, in Tacoma, and can be reached at (253) 798-7455. The Clerk stores all court files, docket entries, charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and final judgments. Criminal case records are open to the public under Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56.
Unlike most Washington counties, Pierce County uses the LINX (Legal Information Network Exchange) system rather than Odyssey. The LinxOnline portal provides access to Pierce County Superior Court case files created from January 2002 to the present. Online viewing is free. Printing at the courthouse costs $0.25 per page for non-certified copies. Certified copies cost $5. For records predating January 2002, you need to visit the courthouse or submit a mail request to the Clerk's office.
Pierce County Superior Court operates specialized court divisions including mental health court, drug court, and veterans court. These programs handle eligible defendants differently from standard criminal cases and generate their own sets of records within the Superior Court system. Program records are generally subject to the same public access rules as standard criminal court files.
Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for case searches and document viewing. If you are visiting in person, these terminals allow you to look up case information and review available documents on-site. Staff can assist with locating specific files and explain the process for obtaining copies.
| Office | Pierce County Clerk of Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 110, Tacoma, WA 98402 |
| Phone | (253) 798-7455 |
| Court Search | LinxOnline |
| Website | piercecountywa.gov |
| State Directory | courts.wa.gov/court_dir |
How to Search Pierce County Criminal Court Records Online
Pierce County has two main online tools for searching criminal court records. The primary tool is LinxOnline, which is specific to Pierce County Superior Court. LinxOnline covers case files from January 2002 to the present and lets you search by party name, case number, or other identifiers. Results show case status, docket entries, hearing information, and disposition details. This is the most complete online view of Pierce County Superior Court records.
The second tool is the Washington Courts Case Search portal, which covers courts statewide. For Pierce County, this portal connects to LinxOnline for Superior Court data and also covers District Court records. If you are searching for a misdemeanor case or a case you cannot find in LinxOnline, the statewide portal is a good alternative. Both tools are free to use and do not require a login or account.
Tacoma Municipal Court uses its own separate system accessible through researchwa.tylerhost.net. This court handles municipal code violations and criminal offenses within Tacoma city limits. If you are searching for a Tacoma municipal case rather than a county court case, you will need to search the municipal court system separately from LinxOnline and the Washington Courts portal.
For cases filed before January 2002, online access is not available. You must contact the Pierce County Clerk's office directly. Older records may need to be located in physical case files at the courthouse. The Clerk can advise you on the process for finding and obtaining older records, including whether a specific file has been archived or remains at the courthouse.
Note: LinxOnline covers Pierce County Superior Court cases from January 2002 forward. For older records or certified copies, contact the Clerk at (253) 798-7455.
Pierce County District Court and Misdemeanor Records
Pierce County District Court handles misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, traffic infractions, DUI cases, and civil matters up to $75,000. The main District Court facility is also located at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 239, in Tacoma. This court serves the unincorporated areas of Pierce County as well as residents of smaller cities in the county that do not have their own municipal court.
To request records from Pierce County District Court, contact the Public Records Officer at PCDCRecords@piercecountywa.gov or call (253) 798-7487. Records requests can be submitted by mail, email, or in person at the courthouse with applicable fees. The District Court handles a high volume of DUI prosecutions, domestic violence misdemeanor cases, and standard traffic and criminal violations. All of these create records that are part of the public court file.
Pierce County District Court provides online case information through the Washington Courts statewide portal. The court also coordinates with Pierce County Corrections on inmate custody matters, meaning a District Court case and a jail record may both exist for the same person at the same time. Gross misdemeanors carry a maximum penalty of 364 days in county jail and are tried at the District Court level. If a District Court decision is appealed, the case moves to Superior Court, where a new record is created.
The court provides interpreter services and accommodations for individuals with disabilities. These services ensure that all defendants and members of the public have equal access to court proceedings and records. Court staff can provide information about accessing these services upon request.
Pierce County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Pierce County Sheriff's Department operates the Pierce County Jail and provides law enforcement services for unincorporated areas of the county. The main jail is located at 910 Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402. The Sheriff's Department Records Division can be reached at (253) 798-7530 for arrest records and incident report requests.
The Pierce County Jail roster is available online and shows current inmates including booking information, charges, and bond amounts. The jail is one of the largest county detention facilities in Washington State and houses both pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. The roster is updated regularly to reflect current custody status, court-ordered releases, and new bookings.
The Sheriff's Department submits all arrest information to the Washington State Patrol for statewide criminal history database inclusion. This ensures that arrests made by the Sheriff's Department appear in WSP's records, separate from court case filings. You can request incident reports and arrest records through the Records Division. Requests should include specific details such as dates, locations, and the names of involved parties. The Department follows state retention schedules and RCW 42.56 requirements for law enforcement records.
Note: Arrest records show that someone was taken into custody. Court records show what happened after charges were filed. Both types are generally public in Pierce County.
Washington State Criminal History Records
The Washington State Patrol Criminal History section maintains the statewide criminal history database for Washington. This system draws from fingerprint submissions made by all law enforcement agencies in the state, including the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, Tacoma Police Department, and other municipal police agencies in the county. It covers arrests, charges, and dispositions from any agency across Washington.
The WSP database is the most comprehensive source for a full criminal history in Washington. It covers activity from all counties and jurisdictions, unlike a court case search which only shows cases filed in a specific court. You can request your own criminal history record directly from WSP. Third-party requests require proper legal authorization. Under RCW 10.97, Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act governs how criminal history information can be accessed, shared, and corrected. Individuals have the right to dispute errors in their record through WSP.
Court case searches through LinxOnline and the Washington Courts portal show what happened in Pierce County's courts. The WSP criminal history system shows what happened across all of Washington. Using both resources together gives the most complete picture of a person's criminal history in the state.
Public Records Law and Court Access in Pierce County
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives the public strong rights to access government records. Most criminal court files in Pierce County are open and available on request to any member of the public. The Clerk's office must have a specific legal basis tied to a statutory exemption to deny any public records request.
Some records carry restrictions. Juvenile court records in Pierce County are governed by RCW 13.50, which limits access to files involving minors. Sealed records are not available without a court order. Active criminal investigation records may be withheld while proceedings are ongoing. Certain mental health and medical records within court files may also be protected from general disclosure under other applicable statutes.
Washington criminal offenses are defined in RCW Title 9A, and criminal procedure is governed by RCW Title 10. These statutes define the charges and processes that produce every court record in Pierce County. The complete text of Washington law is published at the Revised Code of Washington website maintained by the state legislature. This is the official, authoritative source for the statutes that govern what you can find in Pierce County court records and how that information can be used.
Legal Help in Pierce County
Pierce County has a range of legal resources for individuals dealing with criminal court matters. The Washington State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service and maintains a public directory of licensed Washington attorneys. You can search by location and practice area to find an attorney who handles criminal cases in Pierce County and the Tacoma area. The WSBA also offers guidance on what to look for when hiring a defense attorney.
For self-represented individuals, the Washington Courts website provides plain-language guides on navigating court procedures. Pierce County Superior Court and District Court both have self-help resources available at the courthouse. Court staff can help you find and file forms, but they cannot give legal advice. The Pierce County Law Library is also available for legal research for those who need access to case law and statutes.
The Pierce County official website provides contact information for the Superior Court Clerk, District Court records office, and other county services. The screenshot below shows the Pierce County site, which is the starting point for many records-related inquiries in the county.
Use the Pierce County official website to find the Clerk's phone number, office hours, and information about how to request records in person or by mail from the Tacoma courthouse.
The Washington Courts Case Search portal is the statewide tool that connects to LinxOnline for Pierce County Superior Court data and also covers District Court records. The screenshot below shows the statewide portal interface.
This statewide portal is a useful entry point for searching Pierce County criminal cases and is especially helpful for District Court and Tacoma Municipal Court matters that are not covered by LinxOnline.
Cities in Pierce County
Pierce County is one of Washington's most populous counties, with many large cities and communities. All felony cases originating from these cities are processed through Pierce County Superior Court in Tacoma. Misdemeanor cases may go to Pierce County District Court or the applicable municipal court depending on the city.
Nearby Counties
Pierce County borders several other western Washington counties. Each maintains its own criminal court records through its respective Superior Court system.