Whatcom County, WA Arrests & Jail Records
Table of Contents
How to Search Whatcom County Arrest Records?
Washington averages 140,000 arrests annually, with Whatcom County reporting 4,111 of these arrests. Members of the public may access public arrest records per Chapter 42.56 of the Revised Code of Washington. However, certain records are restricted to protect privacy. These include juvenile records, ongoing investigations, and confidential information that could compromise the safety of individuals or law enforcement operations.
Fees for copies of Whatcom County arrest records vary based on the specific details of the record and any additional administrative costs. The cost for black and white copies of public records is $0.15 per page, and for scanned copies, it's $0.10 per page. Exempt records may only be accessed by specific authorized parties, including the person named in the record, law enforcement agencies, such as police, and the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
How to Look Up Whatcom County Arrest Records?
Whatcom County arrest records may be accessed through various agencies, such as the Police Departments, the County Sheriff's Office, and the Washington State Patrol.
Whatcom County Sheriff Arrest Records
Arrests in unincorporated areas of Whatcom County are generally managed by the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. To obtain Whatcom County arrest records, interested members of the public may contact the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. Records may be requested online, by phone at (360)778-6600, or in person by visiting the County Sheriff's Office at:
Whatcom County Sheriff's Office
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225​
The Sheriff's online Inmate Services and Information portal provides more detailed information about arrest records. However, charges apply to make copies of records.
Whatcom County Police Arrest Records
Arrest records may also be obtained through various police departments within the county. Arrests made within city limits are typically handled by the respective city's police department. Additionally, respective police departments offer arrest record requests through their online platforms, with specific fees charged per copy, depending on the type of record requested. Below are some of the major Police Departments in Whatcom County:
Washington State Patrol
To obtain criminal records in Whatcom County, interested individuals may request a background check online through Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH), available on the Washington State Patrol (WSP) portal. Additionally, criminal records may be requested in person by completing a Request Form or by submitting a full set of fingerprints to the Washington State Patrol's Office at:
Washington State Patrol's Office
Helen Sommers Building
106 11th Avenue SW
Olympia, WA 98501
However, certain Whatcom County criminal records may not be open to the general public. Authorized individuals who may request these records include government entities, certain employers with consent, courts, licensed private investigators, and the person named in the record.
Whatcom County Criminal Court Records
Individuals seeking arrest records in Whatcom County that led to formal charges may obtain these records through the Whatcom County Superior Court. The Whatcom County Clerk's Office is responsible for maintaining and providing access to criminal court records. Records may also be accessed online through the Washington State Digital Archives or the Washington Courts' Odyssey Portal to find Whatcom County court records by entering the names of the parties involved in the case or their record number. The Odyssey Portal allows users to view case files or documents online; however, obtaining copies of these records may require visiting the Clerk's Office at:
311 Grand Avenue
Suite 301
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: (360) 778-5560
Regular copies cost $0.50 per page, while certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
Additionally, interested individuals may search current Whatcom County arrest records on reliable third-party websites, such as InfoTracer, which offers easy access to public records.
Arrest Statistics
Whatcom County has an incarceration rate of 276 per 100,000 residents. The crime rate in Whatcom County is 53.45 per 1,000 people during a standard year. Below are statistics related to Whatcom County's annual report.
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Simple Assault | 242 |
| Rape | 25 |
| Kidnaping | 8 |
| Assault | 105 |
| Manslaughter | 1 |
| Robbery | 16 |
| Burglary | 294 |
| Larceny | 711 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 4,111 |
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office
It is situated in Whatcom county, Washington with a total number of 185 employees - 6 female, 78 male officers and 101 civilians. Whatcom County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is WA0370000, it belongs to the Pacific division in the West region with a region code of Region IV.
- Agency Name: Whatcom County Sheriff's Office
- State: Washington
- City: Bellingham
- Type: County
- Address: 311 Grand Avenue
- Phone Number: 360-778-6600
- Email: Sheriff@co.whatcom.wa.us
- Website: http://www.whatcomcounty.us/200/Sheriff
Police Departments in Whatcom County
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Bellingham Police Department | 505 Grand Ave | 360-778-8800 |
| Blaine Police Department | 322 H St. | 360-332-6769 |
| Ferndale Police Department | 2220 Main Street | 360-384-3390 |
| Lynden Police Department | 203 19th St | 360-354-2828 |
Whatcom County Jail
- Agency Name: Whatcom County Jail Work Center
- State: WA
- City: Bellingham
- Type: County
- Address: 2030 Division Street
- Phone Number: 360-778-6450
- Email: Sheriff@co.whatcom.wa.us
- Website: http://www.whatcomcounty.us/258/Inmate-Databases
Prisons and Jails in Whatcom County
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Facility | 311 Grand Avenue, 6th Floor | 360-778-5490 |
| Whatcom County WA Jail | 311 Grand Avenue | 360-778-6500 |