Public Records Requests

Records are made available to the public in accordance with the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). 

Requesting Sheriff's Law Enforcement Records

South Sound 911 is the records coordinator for the Sheriff’s Department. If you want to request Incident Reports, CAD Reports, traffic citations and/or audio recordings of 911 calls (these are kept for approximately 90 days) please visit their website. 

To assist us in locating other documents (witness statements, photographs, etc.) please provide as much information as possible on our Public Records Request Form. Helpful information to provide includes:

  • Your contact information (i.e. name, mailing address, email and/or phone number)
  • Incident number and type of call (i.e. Burglary)
  • If the Incident number is unknown include:
    • Date and time incident occurred
    • Address where incident occurred
    • Type of call (i.e., Assault, Burglary)
    • Names of parties involved

Records can also be requested via email: [email protected]. 

Exemptions

Listings of the most common exemptions are found at RCW 42.56.210-510. These exemptions are non-inclusive and the disclosure of particular information may be required or prohibited by other sources of legal authority. In addition, other Washington laws may prohibit or exempt the disclosure of other classes of information.

Some of the most common redactions (black out) include names of victims, juveniles/minors, and Social Security Numbers. Redacting is a major reason why it takes time to prepare reports to fill a request.

Other Public Records

For information on requesting jail or inmate records, please see below.

Fees

The cost for records is outlined in PCC 2.04.030 as follows:

  • Printed copies: $0.15 per page
  • Electronic copies: $0.10 per gigabyte (GB)
  • Converting paper documents to electronic format: $0.10 per page
  • CD/DVD/USB drive : device cost plus postage
  • Body-worn camera or dash camera video: $0.63 per minute of redaction time

PERSONAL CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED

To visually inspect records in person at the Sheriff’s Department, please contact our Public Records Officer at 253-798-4800 to make an appointment; there is no cost for viewing records. You will be charged for any copies requested at this appointment.

When a fee is due, you will be mailed a letter notifying you of the cost and that the records are available. The fee must be paid before the records will be released.

Timeline

Within five business days after the receipt of a request the Sheriff’s Department will do one or more of the following:

  • Make requested records available for inspection or copying.
  • Acknowledge the receipt of request and provide a reasonable estimate of when requested records will be available.
  • Seek clarification of unclear requests.
  • Deny the request and cite the legal exemption(s).

Abandoned Requests

The requester must claim, pay for, or review the assembled records within 30-days of notification that the records are available for inspection or copying. If the requester fails to claim, pay for, or review the records within the 30-day period, or make other arrangements, the public records officer may close the request and consider it abandoned.

Frequently Requested Documents



For your convenience we are pleased to provide the public with access to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Policy Manual. The policies published in this manual have been adopted for the guidance of the members of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. Members have the responsibility to know and abide by these policies and procedures.

As you look through this Manual, you will notice some portions have been edited out. These sections include tactical and investigative techniques that could allow an offender to use counter-measures that would compromise public safety.

Should you have questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail the Sheriff’s Department.

Requesting Jail Records


To submit a request for jail records, please read the following and submit your request as directed in each section.

Inmate Jail Records


Please note that most inmate jail records, including booking photos, are not public records and are exempt from disclosure.

The following information is available for public release via the Pierce County website on the Jail Roster:
  • Inmate name
  • Booking Date
  • Charge
  • Warrant Type
  • Charging Agency
  • Court Jurisdiction
  • Court Date
  • Sentence Date/Bail
  • Sentence/Fine
  • Release Date
All other inmate records are confidential (per RCW 70.48.100) and may only be given directly to the inmate, to a third-party with a signed release from the inmate, or by a court order.

To request inmate records, please complete the Authorization for Release of Inmate Records form and submit by mail or by fax to:

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department
Attn: Public Disclosure Unit

3602 Pacific Avenue S. #100
Tacoma WA 98418

FAX: 253-798-7366


Inmate Healthcare Records


The release of medical records, even directly to an inmate, requires an Authorization for Release of Inmate Healthcare Records form signed by the inmate. No medical records on an inmate will be released without this completed form or without a court order signed by a judge. Once the form has been completed and signed, it may be submitted by mail, by email, or by fax to:

Pierce County Sheriff’s Department
Attn: Public Disclosure Unit

3602 Pacific Avenue S. #100
Tacoma WA 98418

FAX: 253-798-7366


Fees


Paper copies--$0.15 per page
CD/DVD--$1.15 per disk (plus postage)

Payment must be received before records will be provided to the requester. Upon receiving payment, the records will be mailed via the US Postal Service or picked up at the front desk of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department in the County City Building. 

Payment options: Check or money order payable to “Pierce County”

Payments may be mailed to:
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department
Attn: Public Disclosure Unit

3602 Pacific Avenue S. #100
Tacoma WA 98418