How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

Washington Department of Corrections - WA DOC (state prisons and community supervision) / County Sheriff's Office / County Jail (county level - 39 counties)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - WA DOC Offender Search at doc.wa.gov; county Sheriff websites; VINE WHERE TO GO: WA DOC (state prisons + supervision); County Sheriff's Office/County Jail (county inmates)

Online Option

Yes - WA DOC Offender Search at doc.wa.gov; county Sheriff websites; VINE

Where to Go

WA DOC (state prisons + supervision); County Sheriff's Office/County Jail (county inmates)

County-specific variations apply

Washington's 39 counties each operate county jails through their Sheriff's Offices. King County Jail (Seattle - largest county jail), Pierce County Detention Center, Snohomish County Jail, Spokane County Jail, and Clark County Jail have the best online inmate search tools. Very rural eastern Washington counties (Garfield, Lincoln, Columbia, Ferry, etc.) have small jails; direct phone calls to Sheriff's Office often necessary.

Washington Notes

Important state-specific details

WA DOC Offender Search: covers both currently incarcerated state inmates AND many individuals under community supervision; good comprehensive system.
WA DOC manages state correctional facilities including Monroe Correctional Complex, Washington State Penitentiary (Walla Walla), Stafford Creek Corrections Center, Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Airway Heights Corrections Center, and others.
County jails operated by County Sheriffs - separate from WA DOC; recent arrests will NOT appear in WA DOC database.
Washington Sex Offender Registry (WASPC): offsaweb.wsp.wa.gov - searchable online; managed by WA State Patrol.
For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to a WA inmate: inmateaid.com has WA DOC and county jail facility details; WA DOC visitation info at doc.wa.gov.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Washington Department of Corrections - doc.wa.gov | (360) 725-8213; Offender Search: doc.wa.gov/information/offendersearch.aspx