Search San Juan County Felony Records

San Juan County felony records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Friday Harbor and are available to the public through several access methods. This guide covers how to search, request, and obtain court case files, criminal history documents, and related public records in San Juan County, Washington.

San Juan County Superior Court Records

All felony cases in San Juan County go through the Superior Court. The court has general jurisdiction over felony criminal matters, family law, and civil cases. Because San Juan County is an island county accessible mainly by ferry, many people prefer to access records remotely before making the trip to Friday Harbor.

The court uses the statewide Odyssey Portal for online case access. You can search by name, case number, or date range. Not all documents are available online, but basic case information and docket entries are publicly viewable without a login. Sealed records and some juvenile matters will not appear.

County Clerk Lisa Henderson manages all Superior Court records. Her office handles requests for copies of felony case files, civil judgments, and other court documents. You can reach the clerk at (360) 378-2163. The clerk's office implemented e-filing through eFileWA starting July 31, 2024, which means newer filings may be available electronically.

The Washington State Courts name search tool is another free option. It pulls from courts across the state and lets you search for a person's case history. This is useful when you need to know if someone has cases in multiple counties.

The San Juan County Clerk's website shows the full fee schedule for document requests. For details on viewing files and requesting copies, see the Requesting Documents and Viewing Files page. The site notes standard processing is about five business days for copies and seven days for audio recordings of hearings.

The image below shows the San Juan County document request portal where you can find viewing and copy information.

Reviewing this page before you submit a request will help you understand what to expect and how long the process takes.

How to Request Felony Court Records

San Juan County separates its public records into two types: general administrative records and judicial administrative records. The rules for each are different, and it matters which type you need.

General administrative records fall under the Public Records Act and are handled by Public Records Officer Jane Severin at (360) 370-7480. You can submit requests using the instructions on the Records Request Instructions page, which follows GR 31.1 procedures. These cover things like sheriff's department reports and county agency documents.

Judicial administrative records work differently. Under Washington state rules, court case files are not subject to the Public Records Act in the same way. Instead, you request them through the clerk's office using a written request form. The Judicial Administrative Records page explains this process in detail. Sealed records are never available to the public, regardless of how you ask.

The image below is taken from the San Juan County judicial records access page, which outlines the written request process.

Read this page carefully before submitting your request so you use the right form and contact the right office.

Fees for copies vary by format. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5 plus $1 per page. Authenticated copies cost $6 base plus $5 and $1 per page. Electronic copies are $4 plus $0.25 per page. Audio recordings of hearings cost $25 per hearing. These fees are set by court rule and are not negotiable.

Washington State WATCH and Criminal History

For a broader criminal history search that goes beyond one county, the Washington State Patrol operates the WATCH (Washington Access To Criminal History) system. This is the official state background check tool. It covers convictions from courts across all 39 Washington counties.

WATCH shows conviction records only, not arrests that did not lead to conviction. The system charges a fee for each search. Results are based on fingerprint-confirmed records, so they are more accurate than name-only searches. If you need a certified copy of a criminal history record, you submit that request through the WSP Criminal History Records division.

Under RCW 10.97, Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, certain records are restricted from public view. Arrests without conviction, juvenile adjudications in some cases, and records that have been vacated under RCW 9.94A.640 may not appear. Knowing these rules helps you understand why some records are missing from search results.

The image below shows the WSP Criminal History Records page where you can start a statewide background check.

Use this tool when you need records that go beyond what the county clerk holds or when you need a certified statewide report.

Sheriff and Law Enforcement Records

Sheriff Eric Peter leads the San Juan County Sheriff's Office, which handles law enforcement for the islands. The sheriff's office holds arrest records, incident reports, and booking information. These records are separate from court case files. You request them through the sheriff's office directly, not through the clerk.

Keep in mind that an arrest record is not a felony conviction record. Someone may have been arrested and never charged, or charged and found not guilty. When you are trying to confirm a felony conviction, you need the court's records, not just the arrest report.

For active warrants, the Washington Department of Corrections maintains a warrant search tool. This tool searches for people with active DOC-related warrants. It is a public tool and does not require registration.

The image below shows the San Juan County Clerk's office page, a starting point for most court record requests.

Contact the clerk's office directly if you are unsure whether the records you need come from the court or from law enforcement.

Historical and Archived Records

Older San Juan County court records may be available through the Washington State Digital Archives. The Digital Archives hold historical court files from counties across the state. Not every county has full digital holdings, but older case files that have been microfilmed or digitized will appear there.

The Digital Archives are free to search and require no account for basic searches. You can find case files, indexes, and sometimes full document images. This is the best starting point for records that predate the current electronic court system.

For records that are neither online nor in the Digital Archives, you may need to submit a written request to the clerk's office and wait for staff to pull physical files. Processing times for older records are longer than for current files. Plan for at least a week or two when requesting historical felony case files from San Juan County.

Understanding Washington Felony Record Laws

Washington's approach to public access for criminal records is shaped by several statutes. RCW 10.97 is the core law. It defines what criminal history information is, who can access it, and what limits apply. The law distinguishes between conviction data (generally public) and non-conviction data (restricted).

Vacated convictions are a key issue. Under RCW 9.94A.640, some felony convictions can be vacated after the person has completed their sentence and met other requirements. Once vacated, the record is treated as if the conviction never occurred. You will not find it in a WATCH search or on the Odyssey Portal after vacation is granted.

Court records themselves are generally public under Washington's open courts doctrine. But some records are sealed. Judges can seal records when privacy interests outweigh the public interest in access. Requests to seal or unseal are made by motion to the court. If a record you expect to find is not there, it may have been sealed by court order.

Knowing these rules helps you interpret your search results and understand why some records look the way they do. It also protects you from drawing wrong conclusions when a record appears missing or incomplete.

Nearby Counties

San Juan County sits in the islands of Puget Sound. The nearest mainland counties are linked below.