Washington Background Check

• Washington Background Check

You can obtain criminal histories from the State Patrol in two ways:

1. Going on-line by using WATCH (Washington Access To Criminal History). This feature requires either a credit card or a pre-established account. A $10 fee is charged for each name search, regardless of the outcome of the results of the search.
   
   
2. Forms are available through the WATCH link above. Return the completed background forms to us through the US Postal Service. If setting up an account print and fill out an application packet and submit by mail or the fax number on the form.

Depending on the purpose, the Identification and Criminal History Section responds to public inquiries under two different statutes.

• Criminal Records Privacy Act
• Child and Adult Abuse Information Act

Criminal Records Privacy Act

Under the Criminal Records Privacy Act, conviction CHRI may be made public to anyone without restriction and without the consent of the subject of the record. The requestor must submit either a Request for Conviction Criminal History Record (using Form 3000-240-569 or WATCH) or a full set of the subject's fingerprints.

Child and Adult Abuse Information Act

Under the Child and Adult Abuse Information Act, requests for CHRI are limited to businesses or organizations licensed in the state of Washington; any agency of the state; or other governmental entities that educate, train, treat, supervise, house, or provide recreation to developmentally disabled persons, vulnerable adults, or children under 16 years of age.

The requestor may submit either a Request for Criminal History Information Child/Adult Abuse Information Act (using Form 3000-240-430 or WATCH) or a full set of the subject's fingerprints.

• Learn about background check contents
• How can you run a background check?
• Running a background check if you have someone's social security number
• Tell me more about a background check?
• How far back do background checks report?
• Tell me about the information that shows up on a background check?
• Can I get a federal background check?
• Are there really free background checks?