Criminal records in King County, Washington, are available through several channels. KingCourt.us allows quick access to public information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the county's official court systems, law enforcement agencies — including the sheriff's office — and the clerk's office. Below are specific steps, search tools, fees, and procedures for requesting certified copies.
How to Search Criminal Records in King
Start your search at KingCourt.us — enter a name or case number to view public information about county criminal cases.
Online Tools
- KC Script Portal (Superior Court) — King County Superior Court documents and audio recordings are available through the Superior Court records access portal. To view and download documents, visit the court documents page.
- District Court e-Filing / Case Search — District Court case access resources allow searches by case number, name, or date of birth. It displays sentencing conditions, warrant status, and a list of filed documents.
- Washington State Courts — Name and Case Search — the statewide search covers cases from the Judicial Information System (JIS). This is reference information, not an official court record.
- Washington State Patrol — Criminal History — for a complete fingerprint-based criminal history check, contact WSP Criminal History.
In Person
Many courts in Washington have public terminals for JIS access. In King County, you can visit:
- King County Courthouse, Room C-912 — for Superior Court inquiries
- Maleng Regional Justice Center — for District Court and Superior Court cases
The court clerk can help locate the case if you know the defendant's name or case number.
By Mail or Written Request
Superior Court accepts requests for administrative record disclosure — complete the appropriate form and mail it. To obtain a full state criminal history report, submit a request to the Washington State Patrol with a completed form and fingerprints.
What You Need for a Search
- Full name of the individual (first and last name)
- Date of birth (if known)
- Case number — for an accurate search
Search King Criminal Cases by Case Number
Case numbers in Washington have a standard format that includes several elements:
- Year of filing — two-digit number (e.g., 24 for 2024)
- Case type code — letter designation of the category: CR (criminal felony), CM (criminal misdemeanor), IN (infraction), etc.
- Sequential number — unique sequential number within the year and category
For example, the format might look like 24-1-12345-6 KNT, where the last segment indicates the court location. For District Court, use the exact case number search — the system returns only an exact match, so avoid extra spaces when copying the number.
In Superior Court, the case number is entered through the KC Script Portal. If you don't know the number, try a name search via the statewide portal or through District Court.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in King
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code (RCW) | Reference to the Revised Code of Washington — for example, RCW 9A.36.021 for Assault 2 |
| Severity | Felony, Gross Misdemeanor, Misdemeanor, Infraction |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may amend or drop individual charges — new charges will appear in the case record |
Case Status
- Pending — the case is open, awaiting review
- Active — the case is in the hearing process
- Disposed — the court has made a decision (sentence, closure, dismissal)
- Closed — all procedural actions are completed
Hearings
Typical stages of a criminal case in King County:
- Arraignment — initial court appearance, charges announced, bail set
- Preliminary hearing — determination of evidence sufficiency (for felonies)
- Pre-trial conference — discussion of procedural issues and possible plea agreement
- Trial — substantive court hearing
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty verdict
- Review hearing — checking compliance with sentencing conditions
Hearing dates can be checked on the Find My Court Date portal.
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Found not guilty after trial |
| Dismissed | Case closed without a verdict |
| Acquitted | Acquitted — charges dropped |
| Deferred / Withheld Judgment | Sentence deferred pending compliance with court requirements |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in King
Certified copies of court documents are issued by the clerk's office of the respective court. For Superior Court criminal cases, requests can be made in several ways.
Online and In Person
Documents can be downloaded via the KC Script Portal. If a certified copy with a seal is needed, contact the clerk in person or by mail by completing the document request form.
By Mail
Download the request form from the court documents access page, complete it, and send it to the court clerk's address.
Through the Sheriff's Office
For law enforcement records (arrest reports, incident reports), submit a request to the KCSO public disclosure unit in accordance with RCW 42.56 (Public Records Act).
Through WSP
A full state criminal history report is issued by the Washington State Patrol. Fingerprints and a completed application are required.
What You Need for a Request
- Full name and date of birth of the individual
- Case number (if known)
- Valid ID (for in-person requests)
- Payment of the applicable fee
King County Clerk's Office (Superior Court)
King County Sheriff's Office — Public Disclosure Unit
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in King
Fees are set in accordance with RCW 36.18.016 and court internal rates. Specific amounts may vary — check current rates directly with the office.
| Service | Approximate Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Copy of court document (per page) | $0.50 | According to RCW 36.18.016(11) |
| Document certification | $5.00 | Per certified document |
| Criminal history check (WSP — without fingerprints) | $11.00 | Through Washington State Patrol WATCH |
| Criminal history check (WSP — with fingerprints) | $30.00+ | Includes fingerprint processing; may be higher with FBI check |
| Sheriff's office records | Varies | First 5 pages usually free; over — $0.15/page according to RCW 42.56 |
Processing Times
- Online search through court portals — instant
- Request for certified copy (court clerk) — typically 3–5 business days in person; up to 10 days by mail
- WSP Criminal History — 10 to 15 business days for mail requests; electronic WATCH requests — within minutes
- Sheriff's office (public disclosure) — up to 5 business days for standard requests; more complex may take longer
If the request involves a large number of documents, the public disclosure unit will inform you of the estimated time and cost before processing begins.