Find Snohomish County Police Records
Snohomish County police records, including incident reports, arrest logs, and booking information, are managed by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Public Disclosure Unit in Everett, Washington. The county uses a GovQA online portal for records submissions, and that same unit also processes records for many city police departments within the county. All requests are handled under Washington's Public Records Act, Washington's Public Records Act, with a five-business-day response window.
Snohomish County Police Records Overview
Snohomish County Sheriff's Public Disclosure Unit
The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Public Disclosure Unit (PDU) processes all public records requests for the Sheriff's Office and for many police departments within the county. Starting March 1, 2020, all public records requests for Snohomish Police Department records are handled by the SCSO Public Disclosure Unit rather than by the city directly. This centralized approach makes it easier for the public to submit requests without tracking down the right contact at each individual agency.
The PDU is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave, M/S 606, Everett, WA 98201. You can reach them by phone at (425) 388-3769, by email at Unit.SCSOPublicDisclosure@snoco.org, or by fax at (425) 388-3939. Requests can also be submitted in person at the fourth floor of the Snohomish County Courthouse, or by visiting precincts and police department lobbies to fill out a paper form. The online GovQA portal is the fastest option and allows you to track your submission from start to finish.
The GovQA portal requires an email address to submit requests online. Once you have an account, you can file a new request, track its progress, and download responsive documents electronically when they are ready. The system times out after a period of inactivity, so have your information ready before you start. You can also browse inter-agency records through a separate GovQA section reserved for law enforcement and government agencies.
Cities in Snohomish County
Snohomish County is a large, suburban county north of Seattle with many incorporated cities. Several of those cities have their own police departments and records, though many now route requests through the SCSO Public Disclosure Unit. Everett has one of the larger city police forces in the county. Marysville, Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and Bothell also operate their own departments.
If you are not sure which agency handled a specific incident, contact the SCSO PDU and they can direct you. Submitting to the wrong agency will delay your response because each department must tell you they don't have the records and point you elsewhere. The central PDU model helps reduce that problem for many departments in the county.
The following cities in Snohomish County have their own pages in this directory: Bothell, Edmonds, Everett, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mountlake Terrace.
Types of Police Records in Snohomish County
The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office maintains incident reports, arrest records, and jail booking information for unincorporated areas of the county. The Snohomish County Jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office, and an online jail roster provides current inmate information. Arrest records cover people booked into the jail system, including charges and booking dates. Incident reports document law enforcement calls and responses throughout the county's unincorporated territory.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. Active investigation files may be withheld to avoid jeopardizing a case. Victim and witness information is often redacted. Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, limits what nonconviction data can be shared and with whom. The PDU follows these rules and will redact exempt portions of a document rather than withholding it entirely when only part of the record is protected.
Statewide Criminal History Searches
For a full Washington State criminal history search rather than just Snohomish County police records, the Washington State Patrol WATCH system is the right tool. WATCH provides conviction records, recent arrests with pending dispositions, and sex offender registry information for the entire state. The fee is $11 for an online search. Access it at the WSP WATCH portal.
The WSP Criminal History Records page covers all options for obtaining criminal history in Washington, including mail-in and in-person requests. Name-based searches by mail or in person cost $32. Fingerprint-based checks cost $58. The county's public records office also notes that WATCH is the official state resource for criminal history conviction records. WATCH does not include out-of-state records, so if you need a broader check, contact other states directly.
Collision Reports and Traffic Records
Traffic collision reports in Snohomish County are filed with the Washington State Patrol, not the Sheriff's Office or city police departments. Order reports through the WSP collision records page. The fee is $10.50 per report under RCW 46.52.085. The WRECR online system lets you search and order quickly without a mail submission or in-person visit.
If a Sheriff's deputy or city officer also responded to the crash and wrote a separate incident report, that document is held by the responding agency. You would need to contact the Snohomish County Sheriff's PDU or the relevant city police department separately for that record. WSP and local law enforcement do not share records with each other automatically.
Washington Public Records Act and Snohomish County
The Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, gives any person the right to inspect and copy public records from government agencies in Washington State, including Snohomish County and the cities within it. The law presumes records are public unless a specific exemption applies. You are not required to explain why you want the records or how you plan to use them.
You can inspect records in person at no charge for the inspection. Copying fees are allowed and are set by the county's published fee schedule. For large or complex requests, the county may estimate costs before processing. You can choose to narrow your request or accept the estimate. If your request is denied, the agency must cite a specific exemption. You can appeal to the Prosecuting Attorney and, if needed, seek review in superior court under RCW 42.56.550.
The MRSC law enforcement records resource explains how Washington public records law applies to police reports and arrest records. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs also offers guidance for those requesting police records in Washington. Court records from Snohomish County cases are searchable at the Washington Courts name and case search tool.
Nearby Counties
Snohomish County borders several counties in the greater Puget Sound region. Find police records resources for neighboring counties below.