Washington Inmate Search

The Washington correctional system comprises different facilities used to detain individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences. The system consists of county jails, state prisons, federal correctional institutions, and private prisons. Currently, there are 11 state prisons and 52 county jails. Similarly, the state has a federal detention center and a private prison.

Washington State has three female detention centers housing women who have been incarcerated for various criminal offenses. Likewise, the state has 10 residential facilities catering to high-risk minors convicted of crimes in the state.

Washington Inmate SearchPrison in Washington
Info

According to the Washington Department of Corrections, the state's correctional system includes 11 state prisons, 52 county jails, and 1 federal detention center. The system houses approximately 13,000 state inmates, 10,000 county inmates, and 3,000 federal inmates, with an incarceration rate of 373 per 100,000 residents. The state operates 3 women-only facilities and 10 residential facilities for minors.

Washington Department of Corrections Inmate Search

The Washington Department of Corrections (WADOC) is responsible for overseeing the state's prison system. The WADOC manages the operations of state prisons and correctional facilities. It ensures the safety and security of inmates and staff. It also provides rehabilitation and educational programs to help inmates reintegrate into society after release. The WADOC collects, maintains, and provides access to inmate information.

The WADOC maintains an online database of inmate information known as the Incarcerated Search. The web tool provides access to information on currently incarcerated individuals. It offers information on the name, age, incarceration location, and details of the offense.

User

Find Inmate by Name

Inmate records are accessible by name on the WADOC Incarcerated Search tool. The tool permits users to search the database by first or last name. Entering the first and last name into the search tool locates the specific inmate record. However, where only one name or part of a name is known, the result will show all names that match the search criteria. For example, entering Will as the first name will turn up names that include Will, such as William, Willie, and Sherwilliam.

User

Find Inmate by Number

Inmate records are also accessible using the inmate number. Referred to as the DOC number (Department of Corrections Number) in Washington, it is a six-digit number assigned to each inmate. The DOC number is used to identify incarcerated persons and may be used to locate inmate records on the Incarcerated Persons search tool. Where the DOC number is unknown, searchers may scan through the inmate search result to locate the specific inmate record.

What Information is Contained in a Washington Inmate Record?

The WADOC provides an online searchable database to access inmate records in the state. Records on the platform are accessible using the inmate's name or DOC number. The following information is contained in a Washington inmate record.

  • Name: The name is the primary identifier on inmate records. All inmate records contain the legal name of the record holder. Common names will result in duplicates. Therefore, searchers need to use the first and last names to look up inmate records to ensure the accuracy of the result.
  • Register No: The registered number refers to the DOC number given to inmates at the time of incarceration. The DOC number is specific to an inmate and can be used to locate the specific inmate record. The DOC number forms part of the information accessible on arrest records.
  • Age: Inmate records contain information on arrested persons' age. The age reported on the record reflects the inmate's current age, rather than their age at release. However, for deceased persons, the age shown reflects their age at death as well as the date released.
  • Race: Inmate records contain information on the race of incarcerated persons. The race classifies inmates based on distinct inherited properties. Inmate race may be Asian, African American, Latino, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, or White.
  • Sex: Incarcerated persons' genders are recorded on inmate records.
  • Release Date: The release date refers to the estimated date an inmate is scheduled to be released from custody. It also indicates the date the incarcerated person was released. Inmate records contain information about the expected date of release. However, this date may change based on behavior. Good behavior may reduce inmates' sentences, shortening the release date. However, engaging in illegal activities may elongate the sentence.
  • Location: The location refers to the correctional facility housing incarcerated individuals. Inmate records contain information about the facility housing convicted persons and may sometimes include the city or region of the facility. The location may temporarily show "In Transit" for inmates moved from one WADOC facility to another.

Although the release date on inmate records refers to the official date when an individual is released from a correctional facility in Washington, some records may contain unknown release dates. An unknown release date implies that the date of release from custody is undetermined. Unknown release dates occur in cases where the inmate is awaiting trial or eligible for parole.

Parole refers to conditional release of inmates from correctional facilities after serving part of their sentence. However, parole systems are unavailable for crimes committed after 1984, in Washington. The state uses community custody, allowing persons convicted to serve part of their sentence in the community, instead of within a jail or prison facility. This approach allows community custody officers to monitor offenders while they live in the community, to help the offenders reintegrate into society.

Washington Inmate Records by Counties

Washington State maintains inmate records at the state and county levels. County jails maintain their records of incarceration occurring within their jurisdiction. In Washington, each of the 39 counties maintains its inmate records, separate from the state's prison records. County inmate records are accessible at the county sheriff's offices. Some county and sheriff's offices provide searchable online databases to access county jail inmate records. For instance, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office provides an online searchable database, Inmate Search, to access inmate records. Others, such as Kittitas County may provide inmate listings or Jail Roster for individuals incarcerated in the county jail. Lastly, inmate records are also accessible from the county or sheriff's offices by mail, fax, email, or in person.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Washington?

Incarceration records are public information in Washington. The Washington Public Records Act permits state agencies, including the WADOC, to make available to the public any information relating to the conduct or performance of their governmental duties, except such records are excluded from the policy state or federal law. Consequently, incarceration records are open records. Members of the public may inspect or copy the records. Generally, record seekers may access information such as the inmate's first and last name, age, gender, race, ethnicity, inmate identification number, custody date, and custody status. Similarly, booking details, charges, and custody location information are open to the public.

Despite the state open records law, some information on inmate records is generally available to the public. Typically, such information is restricted by state or federal law and only becomes accessible based on a court order. Therefore, substance abuse treatment information and inmate medical records are closed to the public. Also, the state redacts personal identifiers such as inmates' Social Security numbers and home addresses to prevent fraud or potential harm to inmates.

Federal Prisons in Washington

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages all federal prisons in the United States, including Washington State. It ensures the safety and security of all federal inmates through strict security protocols and surveillance. The BOP also provides rehabilitation and educational programs to help inmates reintegrate into society. It runs work programs where inmates can learn practical skills to increase their chances of getting a job after release.

The BOP classifies federal prisons into 4 security levels: minimum, low, medium, and high. Minimum-security federal correctional institutions have less security and focus more on rehabilitation. On the other hand, high-security federal prisons, often called penitentiaries, have the highest security level with reinforced perimeters.

Presently, Washington has a federal prison, the Federal Detention Center (FDC), SeaTac. Located in Seattle, FDC SeaTac serves male and female inmates convicted of federal crimes. It also houses inmates awaiting trials for federal crimes. FDC SeaTac is an administrative-security prison. It accommodates inmates with unique security risks, such as persons with mental health issues, inmates in transit, or inmates with active judicial proceedings. The security level at the FDC SeaTac is high. Inmates are subject to strict security measures with very limited freedom of movement. The facility can accommodate up to 750 inmates.

Frequently Asked Questions about Inmate Records

To request public records from the Washington State Department of Corrections, record seekers can submit a request by mail to the DOC Public Records Officer at PO BOX 41118, Olympia, WA 98504-1118. Also, public records from the DOC are available online through the Electronic Portal Requests . The record is sent directly to the requester's email account.

You can look up inmate records online for free from the state prisons from the Washington Department of Corrections "Incarcerated Search" tool. To access inmate records online, you'll need the first name, last name, or DOC number of the inmate. Inmate records from the county jails are also accessible online for free, through the county sheriff's department, such as the one provided by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.

To find old inmate records in Washington, you may need to contact the state Department of Correction or the relevant county sheriff's office. The Washington State Archives keeps old inmate filings. You may search the database to access old inmate records. Depending on the county, inmate records may include information on deceased inmates.

You can find inmate death records in Washington by contacting the Department of Corrections. Death records are also accessible at the county's office for inmates who passed while in county jail.

Generally, inmate information is updated regularly on the Incarcerated Search tool to ensure completeness and accuracy of inmate records. However, the information changes quickly and may not reflect the most current status of the incarcerated individuals.

Friends and family of incarcerated persons in Washington prisons or jails may send money through third-party providers such as Western Union, Securus Technologies, or JPay. You may also send money to inmates through money orders or cashier's checks. Lastly, you may deposit money to an inmate's account using the kiosks at the reception areas of county jails.