Pierce County Inmate Search
Arrests occur in Pierce County when people break county, state, or federal laws. An arrest may occur at the crime scene or after an investigation. Per RCW 10.31.030, a police officer is required to arrest people with warrants. However, there are times when an arrest can be made without a warrant. Per RCW 10.31.100, a police officer can arrest a person without a warrant in Pierce County if they have probable cause to believe the person has committed an offense.
Once a person is arrested, they will be brought into police custody. The suspect may be identified by the victim or witnesses and be asked to make a statement to the police. The suspect will be searched, and any contraband or evidence will be seized. After that, the suspect will be taken to Pierce County jail and fingerprinted. The arresting officer will be required to prepare the arrest, complaint, and other reports.
The police officer will send all the evidence gathered about the crime to the Prosecutor's Office. After the prosecutor reviews them, a formal charge will be issued against the suspect. Then, the suspect must go to court for the first appearance. This is called an arraignment. The judge will inform the suspect (defendant) about the charges against them. The judge may order that the defendant be:
- Held in custody until trial
- Released upon their own recognizance
- Released in the custody of a family member or third-party
- Released by bail
Between arraignment and trial, attorneys for both the prosecution and defense may have a discovery process where they exchange information. Also, court proceedings like bail hearings and status conferences may occur. A plea agreement may be entered before trial. This is when the defendant pleads guilty to one or some charges in exchange for more lenient sentencing. The trial will be held before a judge (bench trial) or jury (jury trial). During the trial, the prosecutor and defense attorney will present evidence and question witnesses. Afterward, the judge or jury will find the defendant guilty or not guilty. If the defendant is found not guilty, the charges will be dismissed. If the verdict is guilty, the judge will sentence the defendant within a standard sentencing range set by Washington State statute. The judge may also order probation, restitution, fines, jail, or prison.
Review the Criminal Justice System: How It Works page on the Pierce County website for more information on arrest processes.
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.
Pierce County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
Based on the 2021 Washington Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) report, about 10,849 adults were arrested in Pierce County in 2021. This data was collected via the National Incident-Based Reporting System. Most of these adult arrests were based on assaults, theft, robbery, drug violations, burglary, weapon law violations, destruction of property, violation of no contract - protection order, and group B offense. That same year, about 354 juveniles were arrested in Pierce County.
Pierce County Prison System
The Sheriff’s Department - Corrections Bureau oversees the Pierce County prison system. The Pierce County Jail has an operational capacity of 1700 inmates with 300 correctional staff. The Jail is made of two facilities, “New Jail” (built in 2003) and “Main Jail” (built in 1985). In 2018, the Department had about 18,501 bookings and 1,092 average daily population, and an average length of stay of 26.85 days. That same year, the jail population was 1,062. About 603 of these inmates were housed in Main Jail, and the remaining 459 were in the New Jail. About 85% of the inmates were males, and about 15% were females.
How to Find an Inmate in Pierce County
A person can find an inmate in the custody of the Pierce County jail online or in person at the Sheriff’s Department. Online requesters can use the jail roster to find who is in custody. Alternatively, inquirers can visit the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department during business hours. The Department is located at:
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department
County-City Building
First Floor
930 Tacoma Ave. S.
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 798-7530
How Does a Pierce County Inmate Search Work?
Per Washington Public Records Act, all inmate records are available for public inspection and copying except if they are exempted by law. Record seekers can request inmate records during customary office hours at the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. Any inmate record whose disclosure would violate personal privacy or vital governmental interests is usually deleted from the specific inmate records sought. Below is some information that can be found during an inmate search:
- Inmate’s first, middle, and last name
- Booking date and time
- Booking 1D
- Name of housing facility
- Future release date and time
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Name of arresting agency
- Counts
- Charge TCN/PCN
- Warrant type
- Charging agency incident number
- Jurisdiction cause number
- Court date
- Sentence date/bail
- Sentence/fine
- Release date/time /disposition
Where to Find a Pierce County Inmate Locator
Requesters can find Pierce County inmates housed in county jail by using the jail roster available on the Sheriff’s Department website. To conduct this search, individuals must know the names of the inmates they are looking for, their booking IDs, the facility they are in, or their release date.
The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) has an Inmate locator that can be used to find Pierce County inmates housed in state prisons. This Locator allows a search to be conducted by name or DOC number. Search results typically reveal the inmate’s name, DOC number, age, location, and WA Vine notification.
Information regarding Pierce County inmates housed in federal prisons can be found vis the Inmate locator on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website. A search can be conducted by name or number. Search results typically reveal the inmate's full name, register number, age, race, sex, release date, and location.
Alternatively, requesters can use third-party inmate locators to find Pierce County inmates. However, they must have basic information about the inmates to facilitate the search. A reasonable amount might be charged to retrieve inmate information. Also, inmate records obtained via third-party sites are not deemed official.
How to Send Money to a Pierce County Inmate
Family, friends, and loved ones can send money to a Pierce County inmate by credit card, online, or by phone. Send money to an inmate's telephone account by calling (800) 844-6591 or online via a third-party vendor. Alternatively, individuals can make an online deposit via their credit card via a third-party vendor. Money can also be sent toll-free by calling (866) 232-1899 and using Facility Locator Number 298402.
How to Visit a Pierce County Inmate
Families can visit inmates in person or remotely at the Pierce County jail. Visiting hours vary by housing unit. Attorneys who want to visit inmates must use the Schedule Attroneny Visitation tool to schedule a visit.
For video visits, visitors or inmates must set up an account with a third-party vendor approved by the jail. A valid photo I.D. and an email address or phone number are required. Video visits attract a small fee and are limited to three times per week. All remote visitors are expected to dress appropriately and not engage in prohibited conducts like gang signs and using or displaying any weapons.
For in-person visits, it is the responsibility of inmates to schedule their own visitations seven days in advance. The inmate must provide the visitor's full name and date of birth to the unit officer, who enters the information into the visiting logs. The visitor must come to the jail with a valid photo ID like a driver's license, state ID, or other ID with a picture, physical description, and signature. Visiting session typically lasts for one hour. The Pierce County jail begins visitor sign-up 45 minutes before the visit and ends 15 minutes before the visit begins. Visitors who come late for visitation or have no appointment would not be permitted into the visiting area. One visitor cannot visit an inmate twice per day. Minors must be accompanied by parents, grandparents, or documented legal guardians. Only two adults can visit an inmate per time but can be accompanied by a minor.
How to Send Jail Mail in Pierce County
Individuals can send mail to incarcerated individuals housed in Pierce County jail. All correspondence must include the sender's return address and the inmate’s booking number on the envelope. Every mail should be addressed as follows:
(Inmate's full name) (Inmate's Booking ID #)
910 Tacoma Ave. S.
Tacoma, WA 98402
Acceptable items that can be mailed to inmates include new paperback books or magazines shipped directly from the publisher, legal mail, photographs, letters, newspaper clippings, and written documents forwarded for signature. The Pierce County Jail inspects all incoming and outgoing mail and rejects contraband mail. Such items will be returned to the sender or investigated for a criminal violation. Below are the items considered contrabands in Pierce County jail:
- Confetti
- Lipstick
- Calendars
- Food items
- Laminated items
- Hardback books
- Gang-related materials
- Pens or pencils
- Glitter and glued items
- Musical cards
- Cash or personal checks
- Plastic envelopes
- More than three books
- Sexually explicit materials
- Tobacco or tobacco products
- Nude or semi-nude photos
- Colored paper or envelopes (only plain white papers are allowed)
- Coupons, gambling items, dice, and playing cards
Inmates classified as Level 1 or 2 are permitted access to outside books, newspapers, magazines, or articles clipped from those sources unless they directly pertain to their cases. Review the Inmate Handbook for a comprehensive list of items not allowed in Pierce County jail. Call the jail at (253) 798-4590 or (253) 798-4668 for more information about inmate mail.
Pierce County Jails and Prisons
Below are the names, addresses, and contact information of all the jail facilities, prisons, and detention centers in Pierce County:
Buckley City Jail
133 South Cedar Street
Buckley, WA 98321
Phone: (360) 829-3157
Fife City Jail
3737 Pacific Highway East
Fife, WA 98424
Phone: (253) 922-6633
Fax: (253) 798-6636
Lakewood Prison
7240 150th Street Southwest
Lakewood, WA, 98439
Phone: (253) 507-4169
Pierce County Juvenile Detention Center/Court
5501 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98406
Phone: (253) 798-7900
Pierce County Main Jail
910 Tacoma Avenue South
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 798-4590
Pierce County New Jail
701 Nollmeyer Lane
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 798-4590
Progress House Reentry Center
5601 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98406
Phone: (253) 593-2844
Puyallup City Jail
311 West Pioneer Avenue
Puyallup, WA 98371
Phone: (253) 841-5425
Tacoma Northwest Detention Center
1623 East J Street
Tacoma, WA 98421
Phone: (253) 396-1611
Washington Corrections Center for Women
9601 Bujacich Road
Gig Harbor, WA 98332-8300
Phone: (253) 858-4200
