How to Find Someone in Jail in Washington State: County-by-County Inmate Lookup Guide (2026)

You just found out someone you care about was arrested in Washington State — and you have no idea where they are, whether bail has been set, or what to do next. This guide gives you the fastest path to answers: official inmate lookup tools for all 39 Washington counties, the statewide DOC search, what to do when someone isn't showing up in the system yet, and exactly how to get them out once you find them.

The information in this guide is organized so you can skip straight to your county. If you're in a hurry, jump to the County-by-County Lookup Table. If someone isn't appearing in the system yet, read the section on what to do when they don't show up — it's one of the most common and frustrating parts of this situation, and it has a simple explanation.

Start Here: The Two Types of Washington Jail Systems

Before you start searching, it's important to know that Washington has two separate systems for holding people in custody, and they don't share one database. Searching in the wrong place is the most common reason people can't find someone.

1. County Jails (Most Arrests Start Here)

If someone was just arrested — today, last night, or within the last few days — they are almost certainly being held in a county jail. Washington has 39 counties, and each one runs its own jail and its own inmate database. There is no single statewide search for county jails.

County jails hold people who are:

• Awaiting arraignment or bail hearing (pre-trial)
• Out on bail but under supervision
• Serving short sentences of less than one year

2. Washington State Department of Corrections (Convicted, Sentenced Inmates)

If someone was convicted and sentenced to more than a year, they are likely in a Washington State Prison managed by the Department of Corrections (DOC). The DOC has a centralized inmate search at doc.wa.gov. This will not show county jail inmates — only state prison inmates.

Step-by-Step: How to Find a Recently Arrested Person

1. Identify the most likely county

   Think about where the arrest happened — which city or area. That determines which county jail they're in. For example, Seattle and Kent are both King County. Tacoma is Pierce County. Everett and Lynnwood are Snohomish County. Vancouver, WA is Clark County.

2. Go to that county's official inmate lookup tool

   Find your county in the table below and click the official lookup link. Each one goes directly to the county government or sheriff's office website. You'll typically search by last name and first name, and optionally date of birth.

3. Note the booking number (B/A number)

   Once you find the person, write down their booking number — sometimes called a Book of Arrest (B/A) number or booking ID. You'll need this to send them money, communicate with the jail, or work with a bail bondsman.

4. Check whether bail has been set

   The jail roster will often show the current bail amount, if one has been set by the court. If it shows no bail amount yet, bail may not have been set — typically because the arraignment hasn't happened. In King County, arraignment usually occurs within 48–72 hours of arrest.

5. Call a bail bondsman if bail is set

   Once you have the bail amount and booking number, a licensed Washington bondsman can begin the release process immediately — 24 hours a day. All City Bail Bonds serves every county in Washington: 1-800-622-9991.

What to Do When Someone Isn't Showing Up in the System

This is one of the most stressful parts of the whole experience — you know someone was arrested, but they're not appearing anywhere in any database. Before you panic, know that this is completely normal and has a simple cause.

Booking Takes Time

When someone is arrested in Washington, they don't instantly appear in the jail's online system. The booking process — fingerprinting, medical screening, processing paperwork, entering information into the database — can take anywhere from 2 to 12 hours, and sometimes longer if the jail is busy, if there are medical issues, or if the person was held in a police station or precinct before being transferred to the county jail.

Most county jail systems update their online rosters in batches — sometimes every hour, sometimes every few hours. If someone was arrested at 11 PM on a Friday night at a busy urban jail, they may not appear online until early Saturday morning.

They May Be in a Holding Cell, Not Yet at the County Jail

After arrest, a person is often held at a local police station, precinct, or city jail before being transferred to the main county jail. During this period — which can last several hours — they won't appear in the county jail's online database at all. In some Washington counties, arrestees may spend up to 72 hours in a local holding facility before transfer.

Try the City or Municipal Jail First

Several Washington cities operate their own municipal jails separate from the county system. Notable examples include:

• Kent City Jail — for arrests made by Kent Police (before transfer to King County)
• SCORE Jail (South Correctional Entity) in Des Moines — serves Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila
• Lynnwood Municipal Jail — accessible via the Snohomish County inmate search
• Puyallup City Jail — separate from Pierce County Jail
• Yakima City Jail — separate from Yakima County Jail

When in Doubt, Call the Jail

Every county jail in Washington has a public information line. If the online system isn't showing results, calling is your fastest option. Jail staff can conduct a manual search that's more current than the website. Phone numbers for every county are in the table below.

Check the Washington State DOC as a Backup

If you've checked the county jail and gotten no results several hours after a known arrest, check the Washington State DOC inmate search. In rare cases, someone can be transferred to state custody faster than expected, or they may have an existing DOC hold that affects where they're booked.

Washington State Inmate Lookup: All 39 Counties

The table below covers every county jail in Washington with direct links to official government lookup tools and phone numbers to call if the online search doesn't return results. Counties are organized by region. Links go to official government or sheriff's office websites — not third-party aggregators.

Washington State Prisons & Federal Detention

If someone has been convicted and sentenced — or if you have reason to believe they were transferred to state custody — use the following resources:

Washington State Department of Corrections

The WADOC inmate search covers all 12 Washington state prisons. Search by name or DOC number at doc.wa.gov/information/inmate-search. This search also shows release dates and supervision status for people out on community supervision.

Federal Inmates: Bureau of Prisons

If someone was arrested on federal charges, they may be held at the SeaTac Federal Detention Center (King County) or transferred to another federal facility. Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator at bop.gov/inmateloc. Note: Federal inmates are not eligible for standard bail bonds — federal bail is handled very differently.

SCORE Jail (South Correctional Entity)

The SCORE Jail in Des Moines, WA is a regional facility serving Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila. If someone was arrested by police in any of those cities, they may be held at SCORE rather than at King County Jail. Always worth checking alongside the King County system.

You Found Them — Now What? Understanding Bail in Washington State

Once you've located the person and confirmed bail has been set, you have a few options for getting them out. Here's a plain-English explanation of how bail works in Washington.

Option 1: Pay Cash Bail Directly to the Jail

If you have the full bail amount in cash, you can pay it directly to the jail. In King County, bail is accepted between 7 AM and 10 PM at either KCCF in Seattle or MRJC in Kent. Most county jails have similar windows. The full amount is refunded at the conclusion of the case, minus any court fees — but your money is tied up until then, which can be months or years.

Option 2: Use a Licensed Bail Bondsman (Most Common)

This is how the vast majority of people post bail in Washington. A licensed bail bondsman posts the full bail amount to the court on behalf of the defendant. You pay a bond premium — set by Washington State law at 10% of the total bail amount — and the bondsman handles the rest. The 10% premium is non-refundable, but it's a fraction of the full bail you'd otherwise have to produce in cash.

For example: if bail is set at $20,000, you pay $2,000 to the bondsman, and they post the full $20,000 bond with the court. The defendant is released, and the bond remains in effect until the case concludes.

What Information Does the Bondsman Need?

When you call a bail bondsman, have the following ready:

• The full name of the person in custody
• The booking number (B/A number) from the jail roster
• The name of the jail and the county they're in
• The bail amount (if it's been set)
• Your contact information and relationship to the defendant

All City Bail Bonds operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, throughout all of Washington State. Call 1-800-622-9991 and an agent will walk you through the entire process — including if bail hasn't been set yet and you need to understand your options.

How Long Does Release Take After Bail is Posted?

Release times vary by facility and by how busy the jail is. At major facilities like King County Correctional Facility in Seattle, it can take 4–8 hours after bail is posted before the person walks out. Smaller county jails are often faster — sometimes 1–2 hours. A bondsman who is experienced with Washington jails — particularly one with an office near the facility — can sometimes speed up the process by being on-site. All City Bail Bonds has offices adjacent to every major jail in Washington for exactly this reason.