Whatcom County Felony Records

Whatcom County felony records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Bellingham and cover all felony criminal cases filed in the county. This page covers how to access Whatcom County felony records through the clerk's office, online court search tools, Bellingham Police records, and the Washington State criminal history system.

Whatcom County Superior Court Document Requests

The Whatcom County Superior Court Clerk handles all document requests for Superior Court records, including felony cases. The Document Requests page on the Whatcom County website covers how to request copies of filed court documents, what information to include, and how the process works.

The Whatcom County Superior Court itself has a dedicated page for general court information. Note that the Superior Court page at www.whatcomcounty.us/4381 may occasionally return a 404 error due to website issues. If you encounter this, use the Document Requests page instead or call the clerk's office directly. The court is fully operational even when the website has technical problems.

The clerk maintains records for all cases in Whatcom County Superior Court, including felony criminal matters. These records cover everything from the initial charging document through the final judgment, any appeals handled at the Superior Court level, and post-conviction matters like motions to vacate or modify sentences.

The image below shows the Whatcom County document requests page on the county website.

Start with this page to understand the process before calling or submitting a written request to the clerk's office.

Online Case Search for Whatcom County

The Odyssey Portal covers Whatcom County Superior Court and is the primary online tool for case searches. Search by name or case number at no cost. Case summaries, docket entries, party information, and hearing dates appear in public results. You do not need to create an account to search, though creating one may unlock some additional features.

The Washington State Courts name search is another free option for initial lookups. It covers all Washington courts and can be useful when you are not sure which county handled a specific case. Results link back to Odyssey for more detail.

For historical Whatcom County felony records, the Washington State Digital Archives is worth searching. Many older court records from Washington counties have been digitized and indexed in the archives. For cases that predate electronic filing, the archives may provide the most direct online access.

When you need a confirmed statewide criminal history, use the WATCH system. WATCH covers Whatcom County convictions along with all other Washington counties. The system uses fingerprint-linked records and charges a fee per search. It is the most accurate tool available for confirming felony convictions.

Bellingham Police Records Bureau

The Bellingham Police Department Records Bureau operates 24 hours a day and processes requests for police reports, arrest records, and incident documentation. Bellingham is the county seat and the largest city in Whatcom County, so many felony arrests in the county happen within the city and involve Bellingham Police rather than the county sheriff.

Police arrest records and court case records are different things and come from different offices. If someone was arrested by Bellingham Police, you request the arrest report from the police department. If you want to know what happened in court after the arrest, you request court records from the Superior Court Clerk.

The 24-hour records bureau is a notable feature. Many smaller police departments only process records requests during business hours. Bellingham's round-the-clock operation means you can submit requests at any time, though staff may not process them immediately outside of normal hours.

The image below shows the Bellingham Police Records Bureau page.

Use this page to submit a records request for police reports related to felony arrests in Bellingham.

City of Bellingham Public Records

The City of Bellingham Public Records office handles requests for city records that go beyond police department files. Public Records Officer Kelley Goetz manages the office. You can reach the city's public records team at publicrecords@cob.org or (360) 778-8156.

City public records include administrative documents, council actions, city department files, and other city government records. For court case records and felony criminal history, the county clerk and state WATCH system are the right sources. But for city-level records related to a case, such as code enforcement history or city licensing actions tied to a criminal matter, the city's public records office handles those requests.

The image below shows the City of Bellingham public records page with contact information for the records officer.

Contact Kelley Goetz's office for city-level records that fall outside the scope of the county clerk or police department.

Washington State Criminal Record Laws

Whatcom County's felony records follow Washington State law. RCW 10.97, the Criminal Records Privacy Act, governs public access to criminal history information. Felony convictions are part of the public record. Arrests without conviction and dismissed charges are restricted from public disclosure under this statute.

Vacated convictions are an important issue to understand. Under RCW 9.94A.640, people who have completed their felony sentences and met other requirements can petition to have convictions vacated. Once a Whatcom County court grants vacation, the record will not appear in WATCH or in normal case searches. The person is treated as if they were never convicted.

Sealed records present similar challenges for researchers. A judge can seal a case file when privacy interests outweigh public access. Sealed Whatcom County cases will not appear in Odyssey or in clerk searches. If you are looking for a case you believe exists but cannot find, it may be sealed. The clerk cannot confirm the contents of sealed records to the public.

For active DOC warrants, the Department of Corrections warrant search tool is free and available to the public. It covers people under DOC supervision with active warrants and works for Whatcom County residents the same as for any other county.

The image below shows the Washington State WATCH portal, the statewide criminal history tool that covers Whatcom County.

Run a WATCH search when you need a confirmed statewide felony record that includes Whatcom County convictions.

Cities in Whatcom County

Bellingham is the largest city in Whatcom County and has its own page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Whatcom County is in the northwest corner of Washington, bordering Canada to the north.