Washington Public Records

State Level Information

The Washington Public Records Act or PRA was designed as series of statues that would assure access to public records of government agencies at all levels to members of the public in the state of Washington.

The introduction to these statutes explains the reason for the PRA: "The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may maintain control over the instruments that they have created."

State of Washington Secretary of State
Washington State Department of Agriculture
Washington State Department of Licensing
Washington State Department of Revenue
Washington Department of Transportation
Washington State Veterinary Medical Examining Board

Court Record Resources

The Washington State Patrol Identification and Criminal History Section (WASIS) maintains a web site that includes a searchable online database of criminal history records of convictions for the state of Washington. The records that comprise its information are submitted by criminal justice and law enforcement agencies through the state along with the court system.

Included are:

Additional information is contained that is not searchable or otherwise accessible by members of the general public.

Washington Courts
Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission
Washington State Patrol
Washington State Department of Corrections
Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings

Vital Records Facts

Washington Department of Health Services
Washington State Archives
Washington State Department of Social & Health Services