Lewis County Public Records / Lewis County Arrest Records

Lewis County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Lewis County

Arrest records in Lewis County, Washington, are generally considered public records under state law. Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, codified at RCW § 42.56, all government agencies — including law enforcement — are required to make records available for public inspection and copying unless a specific exemption applies. This statute establishes a strong presumption in favor of disclosure, meaning that members of the public may inspect most arrest-related documents maintained by the Lewis County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies.

An important distinction exists between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Washington law, certain arrest records — particularly those involving charges that were dismissed, never filed, or resulted in acquittal — may be subject to vacation or sealing, limiting their public availability. Records involving juvenile arrests are also subject to heightened confidentiality protections under RCW § 13.50.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office administers public records requests in accordance with state law. Members of the public seeking arrest records may submit requests through the Sheriff's Office Special Services Bureau, which serves as the designated public records coordinator for the agency.

What's in Lewis County Arrest Records

Lewis County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and throughout the custodial process. The following categories represent the information typically documented in an arrest record:

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Physical description, including height, weight, hair color, and eye color
Race and gender
Last known residential address

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Name and badge number of arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Lewis County Sheriff's Office, Centralia Police Department)
Circumstances or narrative summary of the arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed at the time of arrest
Applicable Washington Revised Code statute citations
Classification of offense (felony, gross misdemeanor, or misdemeanor)

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant, or DOC warrant)
Jurisdiction of originating warrant

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the Lewis County Jail
Date and time of booking
Facility where the individual is held

Bond/Bail Information:

Bond type (cash, surety, personal recognizance)
Bond amount set by the court
Current bond status

Court Information:

Assigned court and case number
Scheduled court dates
Billing agency associated with the case

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Projected or actual release date

Additional Information May Include:

Prior booking history within the county
Detainer or hold information from other jurisdictions
Arresting agency case report number

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Lewis County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Lewis County arrest records through several official channels. The primary point of contact for law enforcement records is the Lewis County Sheriff's Office Special Services Bureau, which processes public records requests pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act.

To submit a formal public records request, individuals should take the following steps:

Prepare the request. Identify the subject of the record by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest, if known. The more specific the request, the more efficiently it can be processed.
Submit the request. Requests may be submitted online through the Lewis County records request portal, by email at publicrecords@lewiscountywa.gov, or by calling (360) 740-2674.
Await agency response. Under RCW § 42.56.520, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within five business days, either by providing the records, acknowledging the request and providing an estimated timeline, or denying the request with a written explanation.
Pay applicable fees. Agencies may charge fees for copying and staff time associated with fulfilling large or complex requests, as permitted under state law.
Review the records. Upon fulfillment, records may be provided electronically or in paper format, depending on the nature of the request.

Lewis County Sheriff's Office — Special Services Bureau 345 W. Main Street, Chehalis, WA 98532 (360) 740-2674 Lewis County Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

How To Find Lewis County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Lewis County arrest and booking information without requiring a formal written request.

Lewis County Jail Roster: The current jail roster displays individuals presently held at the Lewis County Jail, including custody status and projected release dates. This resource is updated regularly and is accessible to the general public at no cost.
Lewis County Jail Bookings: The jail bookings log provides a chronological record of recent bookings, including the arrestee's name, booking number, arrest date, arresting agency, court, bond type, bond amount, and associated warrant or charge information.
Washington State Courts Name and Case Search: Members of the public may use the Washington Courts case search to locate court case records associated with an arrest, including case numbers, hearing dates, and case dispositions across all Washington superior, district, and municipal courts.
Washington State Department of Corrections Warrant Search: The DOC warrant search tool allows users to search for active Department of Corrections warrants by name, DOC number, crime, or county, including Lewis County.

Lewis County Superior Court 351 NW North Street, Chehalis, WA 98532 (360) 740-1261 Lewis County Superior Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

Lewis County District Court 345 W. Main Street, Chehalis, WA 98532 (360) 740-2704 Lewis County District Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

How To Search Lewis County Arrest Records for Free?

Multiple no-cost options are available for members of the public seeking Lewis County arrest information without incurring fees.

Lewis County Jail Roster (free): The publicly accessible Lewis County Jail Roster provides real-time custody information for individuals currently detained at the county jail, including release calendar data.
Jail Bookings Log (free): The jail bookings page lists recent arrests with associated charge and bond details at no cost to the requester.
Washington Courts Case Search (free): The statewide name and case search tool is available at no charge and provides access to court records linked to arrests across Washington, including Lewis County.
DOC Warrant Search (free): The Washington State Department of Corrections maintains a publicly accessible warrant search database that is searchable by name or county without any fee.
Washington State Patrol WATCH System: Members of the public may access the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) system for a nominal fee to obtain statewide criminal history information. While not entirely free, this system provides the most comprehensive conviction history data available to the public.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Lewis County

Washington State law provides two primary legal mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: vacation (legal erasure of the record) and sealing (restricting public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). These are distinct remedies with different eligibility criteria and legal effects.

Vacation of a criminal record, governed by RCW § 9.96.060, allows eligible individuals to have a conviction or arrest record cleared from public view. Upon vacation, the record is treated as if it did not exist for most purposes, and the individual may lawfully state that no such record exists.

Sealing restricts public access to court records but does not eliminate the underlying record. Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement and certain government agencies.

Arrest records may be eligible for vacation or sealing under the following circumstances:

Charges were never filed following the arrest
Charges were dismissed by the prosecutor or the court
The individual was acquitted at trial
The individual has completed all terms of a sentence and meets statutory waiting periods
The offense qualifies under Washington's vacation statutes

Steps to pursue vacation or sealing of a Lewis County arrest record:

Obtain a copy of the arrest record and associated court case records from the Lewis County Superior Court or District Court.
Determine eligibility based on the nature of the charge, case disposition, and time elapsed since the arrest or conviction.
File a motion to vacate or seal with the court that handled the underlying case. Forms are available through the Washington Courts system.
Attend any scheduled hearing. The court will notify the prosecuting attorney, who may object.
If the motion is granted, provide certified copies of the court order to the Lewis County Sheriff's Office, the Washington State Patrol, and any other agencies holding the record.

Lewis County Prosecutor's Office 345 W. Main Street, Chehalis, WA 98532 (360) 740-1240 Lewis County Prosecutor's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM

What Happens After Arrest in Lewis County?

The criminal justice process in Lewis County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest: A law enforcement officer takes an individual into custody based on probable cause, a warrant, or observation of a criminal offense.
Booking: The individual is transported to the Lewis County Jail, where personal information, charges, and physical identifiers are recorded. A booking number is assigned.
Initial Appearance: Within 24 to 48 hours of arrest, the individual appears before a judge for an initial hearing. The court reviews the charges, advises the defendant of their rights, and sets bail or bond conditions.
Arraignment: The defendant formally enters a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest before the assigned court.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: Both the prosecution and defense engage in discovery, motions practice, and plea negotiations.
Trial or Plea Resolution: If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to trial. The defendant is either convicted or acquitted.
Sentencing: Upon conviction, the court imposes a sentence in accordance with Washington's Sentencing Reform Act.
Post-Conviction: The defendant may appeal the conviction or sentence, or pursue post-conviction relief such as vacation of the record.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Lewis County?

Arrest records in Lewis County are retained in accordance with the Washington State Records Retention Schedule established by the Washington State Archives. Under current law, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain arrest records for defined minimum periods depending on the nature of the offense and the outcome of the case.

Key retention principles include:

Felony arrest records are generally retained permanently or for extended periods, given the severity of the underlying offense and the ongoing evidentiary value of the record.
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor arrest records are typically retained for a minimum of six years following case closure, though individual agency policies may extend this period.
Arrest records with no charges filed are subject to shorter retention schedules but are not automatically destroyed; they remain on file unless the subject successfully petitions for destruction.
Juvenile arrest records are governed by RCW § 13.50.050, which establishes specific retention and destruction timelines based on the nature of the offense and the age of the subject.
Different agencies — including the Sheriff's Office, the jail, and the courts — maintain separate records with potentially different retention schedules.

Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for ongoing or future legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system. The Washington State Archives publishes the official Local Government Common Records Retention Schedule (CORE), which governs retention practices for county agencies statewide.

Washington State Archives — Southwest Regional Branch 1129 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 586-1492 Washington State Archives

How to Find Mugshots in Lewis County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photographic record taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. Mugshots are part of the official booking record and document the physical appearance of an individual at the time of arrest.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Lewis County, mugshots are maintained by the Lewis County Jail as part of the booking record. The Washington State Patrol also retains booking photographs as part of statewide criminal history records.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public may request mugshots as part of a formal public records request submitted to the Lewis County Sheriff's Office. Requests should identify the subject by name, date of birth, and approximate booking date.

Can They Be Found Online The Lewis County Jail's publicly accessible booking records may include booking photographs for recently arrested individuals. Statewide criminal history records, including associated photographs, may be accessed through the Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) system maintained by the Washington State Patrol.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official mugshot requests are processed through the Lewis County Sheriff's Office Special Services Bureau. Requesters may submit inquiries online, by email, or by telephone. The Washington State Patrol's criminal history records unit also processes requests for statewide booking photograph records.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Certain mugshots may be withheld from public disclosure where release would endanger an individual, compromise an ongoing investigation, or where the subject is a juvenile. Washington law does not currently prohibit the republication of lawfully obtained mugshots, though legislative proposals addressing this issue have been considered in prior sessions.