King County Inmate Search
To perform a King County inmate search, inquirers may query law enforcement agencies in the jurisdiction where the arrestee was apprehended or prosecuted. An arrest happens in King County when a police officer catches a person committing a crime or reasonably suspects that the party is involved in a criminal offense. Arrests can take place with or without a warrant.
Following a lawful arrest in King County, Washington the arresting law enforcement agency (a municipal police department or the county's sheriff department) will detain the individual and book them. "Booking" is the process of creating an official arrest report for a person alleged to have broken the law. During the booking process, the arrested individual's details will be collected, including the party's full name, address, and date of birth. A first offender's fingerprints and photograph will be collected as well. Inmate and arrestee information are typically deemed part of King County, Washington Public Records and are made available to interested members of the public following an inmate search.
If detained in jail, the arrestee is entitled to a first appearance within 48 hours to hear the charges and enter a plea. If no probable cause exists for the arrest, the arrestee will be released immediately without any conditions.
However, if the prosecutor files criminal charges, the individual will participate in the court process to determine their guilt or innocence. A defendant whose trial or plea leads to a guilty conviction that prescribes imprisonment may be confined at the county or state level.
An offender confined in a county jail will be supervised by the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD). Such persons are typically those serving a year or less in prison. Meanwhile, an offender sent to a state prison facility (usually because of a long-term sentence) will be in the custody of the Washington State Department of Corrections.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
King County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention publishes annual Detention and Alternatives Reports that reveal the number of bookings, releases, and population counts within the King County jail system.
Generally, over 11,000 bookings occur in King County each year. According to the Department's 2022 report, the number of adult persons booked in the county was 15,250. The average daily population (ADP) of persons in jail and the Electronic Home Detention (EHD) program was 1,792. The average length of stay (ALOS) was 43.8 days.
Meanwhile, the number of juvenile offenders booked in the county was 416, the ADP of the juvenile population was 57.5, and the ALOS was 57.9 days.
Compared to the 2021 report, the 2022 statistics showed a 7.3% increase in bookings.
Overall, the number of incarcerated males in the King County Jail is nearly seven times higher than that of incarcerated females. Per a 2021 report, crimes that frequently lead to arrest and prosecution include assault, sex crimes, homicide, robbery, drug offenses, and property offenses.
Persons requiring the latest adult incarceration statistics in King County can access the DAJD's population dashboard.
King County Prison System
The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) operates the King County prison system. The agency supervises two types of inmates:
- Secure inmates (the inmates physically located in the jail facilities), and
- Electronic Home Detention inmates (inmates monitored via global positioning system "GPS" bracelets)
Inmates at the King County Jail are either those awaiting trial or serving short sentences (up to a year).
The King County prison system consists of the following:
- Two adult detention facilities in Kent and Seattle.
King County Jail, Seattle Division:
The King County adult detention facility in Seattle, also called the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF), is the central jail in Seattle. It has a 1697-bed capacity. The facility became functional in 1986 and is situated at 500 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA.
The KCCF has different housing units, including double-bunked, west wing floors 2 and 3, south wing, and single-bunked general population units.
King County Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC), Kent:
The King County Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) opened its doors as a direct supervision jail on March 24, 1997. The jail facility is at 620 West James Street in Kent, Washington, and employs over 300 correctional staff.
The Inmate Management Services (IMS) section of the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) offers several skill-building opportunities conducted by community volunteers within the two adult detention facilities to help decrease recidivism. The programs run seven days a week and are scheduled throughout the day.
- The Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center (for youths under 18) in Seattle.
This 154-dorm juvenile detention facility is in Seattle's central district and houses juvenile offenders (usually high-risk offenders and juveniles who committed serious or violent crimes). The facility also houses the juvenile court and provides a variety of programs to detainees.
- Community corrections: The DAJD provides eligible offenders and the court system several alternatives to detention. An example is the Electronic Home Detention (EHD) program.
Electronic Home Detention
The EHD is a court-ordered program for people awaiting trial or who have been sentenced. It places offenders under electronic monitoring at home. People under the EHD program are confined to their homes but may be allowed to go to work, school, or medical treatment. Offenders in the program are outfitted with electronic monitoring bracelets.
According to the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, the average daily population of persons in the Electronic Home Detention (EHD) program in 2022 was 295.4 (adults) and 23.3 (juveniles).
How to Find an Inmate in King County
Here's how to find an inmate in King County:
- Call the jail customer care line at (206) 263-9595 (for youths in custody) or (206) 296-1234 (for adults in custody)
- Use an online inmate locator, as explained below
How Does a King County Inmate Search Work?
The Washington Public Records Act permits members of the public to probe into and copy the public records of inmates preserved by any law enforcement agency or correctional facility. Per the law, individuals can perform an inmate search in King County, irrespective of their citizenship status. However, the Act restricts certain records from public access. For example, RCW 13.50.050 limits access to certain juvenile offender records.
Members of the public who perform a King County inmate search may access the following information:
- An inmate's legal name and alias (if any)
- Date of birth
- Race
- Gender
- Holding facility
- Booking number and date
- Visitation information
- Bail conditions, including the amount
- Court case number
- Offense description
- Charge status
- The presiding court's name and location
- Court case number
- Arrest date and time
- Release date and time
Where to Find a King County Inmate Locator
The King County Jail Lookup Service is a custom portal maintained by the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention to offer access to anyone who wishes to find an inmate in King County. Interested parties can follow these steps to find and use the King County inmate locator (also called the Subject Lookup Tool):
- Visit https://dajd-jms.powerappsportals.us/
- Select "Subject Lookup"
- Enter the inmate's details (e.g., last name)
- Click "Search"
Inquiries can find local offenders taken into custody or released in the last 24 hours and offenders in custody in the past year. If the portal does not return information about the inmate, the inmate may have been released or sent to the Washington prison system.
Members of the public who need to find incarcerated individuals in a state penitentiary can find an inmate search tool on the Washington Department of Corrections website. The tool can be searched with the inmate's first and last name or DOC number (a six-digit identification number assigned by the DOC). One can also register to receive notifications about a particular inmate.
Sometimes, an inmate may be transferred to federal prison or held in federal custody in the county jail. Anyone who needs to find such an inmate will need to use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator. Details required for the search include an inmate's full name or ID number.
One may also find an inmate locator on a third-party aggregate site. Such websites require an inmate's first and last name and state of incarceration to find a match. However, most charge a nominal fee for the search results; only some give the information for free.
How to Send Money to a King County Inmate
Every inmate in King County has a trust fund account through which their loved ones can send them money to purchase items or services at the jail. Members of the public can send money to a King County inmate online, by telephone, at retail locations, in person, and via mail.
Online deposits, telephone deposits, and deposits at retail locations can be made with credit/debit cards through third-party providers. In-person deposits can be made at kiosks within the Seattle and Kent jail facilities. Finally, individuals can send deposits (money orders or cashier's checks) via U.S. postal mail. Mail depositors should note that cash and personal checks are not accepted, and each sender must include the inmate's name and B/A number (which can be found with the DAJD's inmate locator tool) on the envelope. Senders must also include their names and return addresses when possible.
More information about sending money to a King County inmate can be obtained from the DAJD's website.
How to Visit a King County Inmate
The procedure to visit a King County inmate differs depending on if the inmate is an adult or juvenile offender. Nonetheless, the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention generally provides in-person and video visitation to friends, family, and others who want to visit a King County inmate, whether juvenile or adult.
Visiting Adult Inmates Incarcerated in King County
- In-Person Visitation at KCCF:
Limited in-person visitation is available for most adult inmates at the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF). Each inmate has a one-hour visiting period each week, and the staff admits visitors on a first come, first served basis per the KCCF visitation schedule.
The KCCF's visiting schedule helps visitors know the visiting times of an inmate's housing unit (for those who know the inmate's location). The letters indicated on the schedule can be broken down as follows:
- Floor number (e.g., 7th floor)
- Wing: North, South, East, or West (N, S, E, or W)
- Housing tier: Upper or lower (U or L).
- Tank: A, B, C, or D
For example, the 11th Floor NUA means the wing is North, the housing tier is U, and the tank is A.
Inmates in custody at the KCCF are only allowed to see an adult visitor at a time. Visitors under 18 are not allowed to visit any inmate at the facility. However, there are no restrictions on professional visits (law enforcement officers or attorneys).
- In-Person Visitation at MRJC:
Visiting booths at the MRJC are open to family and friends on specific days of the week based on the inmate's housing unit. The booths are also available on a first-come, first-served basis (just like the KCCF), and people do not need to schedule in advance for visits.
To find out whether the inmate is housed at the Seattle or Kent detention facility, one can conduct an inmate search with the subject lookup tool, as explained earlier. Family and friends may call (206) 296-1234 for further details regarding the visiting times and rules at the county's correctional facilities.
- Video Visitation at the King County Adult Correctional Facilities
Family and friends who prefer video visits with inmates can have up to six sessions each week at no cost. Videos are conducted via a third-party platform. More information is available on the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention's website. Visitors should note that public video visits are recorded and may be monitored.
How to Send Jail Mail in King County
All mail sent to persons incarcerated in King County Correctional Facility (Seattle jail) should be addressed thus:
Full name of the person in custody
B/A (book of arrest) number
500 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
All mail sent to persons incarcerated in Maleng Regional Justice Center (Kent jail) should be addressed thus:
Full name of the person in custody
B/A (book of arrest) number
620 West. James Street.
Kent, WA 98032
A person who does not know an inmate's book of arrest number can use the jail inmate lookup service, as explained earlier, or call the automated helpline at ((206) 296-7662) for assistance.
Senders can mail letters, books, newspapers, photographs, and magazines. However, all items must come through U.S. postal mail (USPS) and not through other delivery services such as UPS, FedEx, or Amazon delivery. Such deliveries will be denied and returned to the sender.
Furthermore, senders must adhere to specific guidelines, which include:
Letters:
Each letter sent to an inmate must be written in black or blue ink on white paper and mailed in a white envelope. The envelope must bear the sender's name and return address (return address stickers are unacceptable). Every mail sent to an inmate at the facility will be opened by jail staff for contraband search. Also, the staff may read non-legal mail to control criminal activity and material that threatens the facility's security.
It is worth mentioning that third-party mail (sending or receiving a letter from family or friends on behalf of another inmate) is regarded as inmate-to-inmate correspondence and is banned. This may also cause the loss of mail privileges for the inmate.
Photographs:
Photographs are allowed so long as they meet facility rules. Inmates can receive a maximum of 20 photos. The photo must be sent through USPS and must not contain nudity, including infant nudity (even shirtless).
Books and Magazines:
Inmates can receive only paperback books and magazines from an online book dealer, a publisher, or a book distributor, provided the U.S. postal service performs the shipping. Deliveries from Amazon, for example, will be rejected. Books and magazines will be rejected if the content is urban fiction, sexual, racist, or includes nudity. Publications that provide instruction for a jailbreak, jeopardize the safety of other inmates, or demonstrate the building of a weapon, are also prohibited.
Other prohibited letters or packages that cannot be mailed to an inmate in King County include:
- Blank cards, envelopes, paper, and postcards
- Bubble wrap
- Gambling items
- Cash
- Clothing items
- Colored ink
- Colored paper/colored envelopes
- Excessive puzzle or coloring pages (limit 10 per envelope)
- Food items
- Laminated items, musical cards, manila envelopes, Tyvek envelopes
- Lipstick, perfume, cologne, or scented items
- String, ribbon, confetti, white-out, tape
A comprehensive list of prohibited mail items in the King County jail system is available on the DAJD's website.
Every mail that fails to meet the DAJD's requirements will be returned to the sender or disposed of if there is no return address.
King County Jails and Prisons
Below are the addresses and contact information of some King County, Washington detention facilities.
King County Correctional Facility (KCCF)
500 Fifth Avenue.
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 296-1234
Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC)
620 West James Street
Kent, WA 98032
Phone: (206) 296-1234
Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center
1211 East Alder Street
Seattle, WA, 98122
Phone: (206) 263-8634
City of Kent Corrections Facility
1230 South Central Avenue
Kent, WA 98032
Phone: (253) 856-5960
Note that there are other regional jail/prison facilities in King County.
