Washington Criminal Records: How to Begin Your Search

To conduct an online Washington criminal records search, the most logical place to begin would be at the government agency that first comes into contact with the offender: the police authorities. The Washington State Patrol has, in fact, put up a Criminal History Search page. In it, you can find detailed instructions on how to request a search.

Washington criminal records start being generated when police authorities first detain or arrest individuals who violate the law. This is the reason why an online search of Washington criminal records should logically begin with the state police.

WA Criminal Records: The WATCH Program

One of the first things an offender undergoes upon arrest is fingerprinting. It is the job of the Washington State Patrol to maintain a repository of fingerprint-based criminal records from all counties within WA State.

The Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) program allows the public to request these records for a fee. You can make your payments by credit card or by a special billing arrangement.

Unfortunately, the WATCH website (watch.wsp.wa.gov) does not have downloadable forms just yet. All requests will, therefore, have to be made in person, by e-mail, or via the US Postal System. Contact information is available in the URL below.

If you are not satisfied with a search that is not purely online and are more concerned about verifying your doubts rather than obtaining documents that say a person is a known felon, then you should begin your search at the WA District Courts ECF (Electronic Case Files) websites.

The Judiciary ECF contains data from criminal case dockets, such as plaintiffs and defendants in a case and the judgment handed down by the court. If you require more detailed information, you can also check a chronology of events related to the case, such as petitions, hearings, etc.

If your reason for conducting a search is to silence doubts about, say, a business partner or romantic interest, then an ECF search (at only $.08 per page) is probably the easiest way to go to check for Washington criminal records. Going through a virtually OFFLINE records request procedure with the, as yet, unfinished WATCH program is probably too much trouble when you do not really need documentation anyway.

Useful Washington Criminal Records Links:

Washington State Patrol Criminal History Search
Washington District Courts:
   Eastern District Court
   Western District Court

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