Kitsap County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Kitsap County, Washington, are available through several channels—from online tools to official court systems and law enforcement agencies. KitsapCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about criminal cases. Additionally, records can be obtained through the Washington State court portal, the Kitsap County Clerk's Office, the Sheriff's Office, and the Washington State Patrol. Below is a practical guide to searching, understanding, and officially requesting criminal records in this county.

How to Search Criminal Records in Kitsap

To start your search, you will need at least one of the following:

• The person's full name (last and first name)
• Date of birth
• Case number

Online Search

1. KitsapCourt.us — start here if you need to quickly check public information about a criminal case in the county.
2. Name and Case Number Search on the Washington Courts Portal — the statewide JIS (Judicial Information System) covering Superior Court, District Court, and Municipal Court. Data is updated daily at 3:00 AM. Note: the official case record is kept at the court where it was heard, and document copies are not issued through the portal.
3. Web Jail Viewer — a Sheriff's Office tool for viewing information about individuals in custody at the county jail. It shows current inmates.
4. Arrested in the Last 72 Hours — a separate list of recent bookings in the Kitsap County Jail.
5. WATCH (Washington Access To Criminal History) — an online system of the Washington State Patrol. Conviction data is publicly available, while arrest information without conviction has restricted access according to the Criminal Records Privacy Act.

In Person

Visit the Kitsap County Clerk's Office in the courthouse in Port Orchard. There are public access terminals where you can view Superior Court records. For District Court cases, use the District Court ePortal or contact the office directly.

By Mail or Written Request

A public records disclosure request can be submitted through the Kitsap County Public Records Portal. For Sheriff's Office records, use the KCSO request form. To obtain an official state criminal history, send a request to the Washington State Patrol — this check is fingerprint-based.

Search Kitsap Criminal Cases by Case Number

Every criminal case in Washington is assigned a standardized number. The format for Superior Court looks like this:

YY-C-NNNNN-SEA

• YY — year the case was filed (two digits)
• C — case type code. For criminal cases, a letter indicating the category (e.g., criminal felony) is usually used
• NNNNN — sequential case number
• SEA — court or jurisdiction suffix (for Kitsap County — KNT or the appropriate code)

District Court cases have a similar structure but with a different court prefix. If you know the exact number, enter it on the state courts portal — this is the fastest way to find a specific case. The case number is usually indicated in court summons, prosecutor or attorney documents.

Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Kitsap

Charges

Case Status

• Pending — the case is open, awaiting consideration
• Active — the case is actively being considered by the court
• Disposed — the court has made a decision; the case is closed on the merits
• Closed — all procedural actions are completed

Types of Hearings

• Arraignment — the first appearance of the accused before the court, where charges are announced and a plea is entered (guilty / not guilty)
• Preliminary Hearing — a preliminary hearing to determine the sufficiency of evidence (mainly in felonies)
• Pre-Trial — a pre-trial hearing where the parties discuss procedural issues
• Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty plea or conviction
• Review — checking compliance with the terms of the sentence (e.g., probation)

Court Results

How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Kitsap

Certified copies of Superior Court documents are issued by the Clerk's Office. Here's how to request them:

1. Online — through the court record copy request page of the clerk. Archived cases (since 1973) are also available through the Washington State Digital Archives.
2. In Person — visit the Clerk's Office in the courthouse.
3. By Mail — send a written request specifying the case number, party name, and type of document needed.

You need to provide the case number or the full name of the party for the request. Identification may be required if the records have restricted access.

Kitsap County Clerk's Office

614 Division Street, MS-34

Port Orchard, WA 98366Phone: (360) 337-7164

To obtain a state-level criminal history (fingerprint-based background check), contact the Washington State Patrol.

Requests for Sheriff's Office records (police reports, arrest reports) are submitted separately — through the county public records process or directly to KCSO.

Kitsap County Sheriff's Office

614 Division Street, MS-37Port Orchard, WA 98366Phone: 360-337-7108

Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Kitsap

Fees for copies and certification are regulated by Washington State law (specifically, RCW 36.18.016 for the court clerk and RCW 42.56 for public records).

Processing Times

• Online search via court portal — results are displayed instantly (data is updated daily)
• Copy request via the clerk — usually from 3 to 10 business days
• WATCH (WSP) — results are available within minutes online
• Fingerprint-based request via WSP — from 10 to 15 business days
• Sheriff's Office public records — times depend on the volume of the request; KCSO commits to responding within a reasonable time according to Chapter 42.56 RCW

Payment is usually accepted by check, money order, or — for online requests — credit card. Confirm acceptable payment methods directly with the relevant office before submitting a request.