Tacoma Jail Mugshots Search
Tacoma jail mugshots and booking records are held by two offices. Tacoma Police make the arrests. Pierce County runs the jail. That split means a Tacoma booking photo search can go through either the city's public records office or the county sheriff. Tacoma Police do not post a direct inmate roster. For the live roster of Tacoma arrestees, you use the Pierce County LINX system. For the actual mugshot file, you go to the Tacoma Public Records Office or the sheriff. This page walks through how to find Tacoma jail mugshots, the court files that tie to them, and the state tools that help round out a search.
Tacoma Overview
Tacoma Jail Mugshots Overview
The Tacoma Police Department is the main arresting agency in the city. TPD is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, which only two percent of agencies hold. The department is at 3701 South Pine Street, Tacoma, WA 98409. The main line is 253-798-4721. Arrests made by Tacoma Police are booked into the Pierce County Jail. The non-emergency line for TPD is 253-287-4455 or 800-562-9800.
The Tacoma Municipal Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases from within city limits. The court is at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402. Court records are public. You can search them online or in person. Warrant info and case status come from the court clerk's office. The court also runs an online payment and case lookup tool.
The Pierce County LINX system is the public roster and case search for Tacoma arrestees.
Tacoma Police bookings flow into LINX with the rest of Pierce County.
The LINX roster shows every in-custody inmate with charges, booking date, bond, and a link to any Superior Court case. It covers all agencies in Pierce County, which means every Tacoma Police arrest. Inmate register rules come from RCW 70.48.100. That chapter makes the daily booking log a public record.
Request Tacoma Police Records
The City of Tacoma Public Records Office is the central office for Tacoma Police records. That includes administrative files, investigative files, photos, body camera footage, and in-car video. The fastest way to ask is through the city's online Public Records Request Center. You can also mail, fax, or email a written request. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Tacoma Public Records Office lists each fee and contact step.
Use this office for Tacoma Police records, photos, and BWC footage.
Mail written requests to James Kauffman, Public Disclosure Officer, Public Records Office, Management Services Office, PO Box 11007, Tacoma, WA 98411. Email is publicdisclosure@tacoma.gov. Fax is (253) 502-8598. Phone is (253) 231-0240. In-person drop-off is at the Tacoma Public Utilities Building (3628 South 35th Street) or the Tacoma Municipal Building (733 Market Street, #220).
Note: Beginning August 1, 2025, the City of Tacoma will charge a fee for public records requests. Review the city's Requesting Public Records Policy before you file.
Tacoma Public Records Fees
The city's fee schedule under the Public Records Act at RCW 42.56 sets the costs for Tacoma Police records. You can inspect records in person at no cost. Printed paper copies are $0.15 per page. Scanned copies are $0.10 per page. Electronic files and attachments are $0.05 per each four files. Transmission is $0.10 per 1 GB. Body worn camera footage is $0.49 per minute.
Large requests require a 10 percent deposit of the estimated fee. The office will send records in installments. You must pay each installment before the next is sent. If a request is denied in part or in whole, you can appeal in writing to the Public Records Officer at jkauffman@tacoma.gov. Appeals are due within two business days of the closure notice.
Other offices handle some records:
- Incident reports and 911 audio: South Sound 911
- Tacoma Municipal Court records: Tacoma Municipal Court Records Request Form
- Collision reports: Washington State Patrol
- Criminal history check: Washington State Patrol WATCH
Tacoma Arrest Records and Courts
Tacoma arrest records tie into three court systems. Felonies go to Pierce County Superior Court. City misdemeanors go to Tacoma Municipal Court. County misdemeanors outside the city go to Pierce County District Court. All three courts share some data with LINX. For a statewide case search, use the Washington Courts case search tool. It covers Superior, District, and Municipal courts in every county.
For a deeper criminal history check, use the Washington State Patrol WATCH service. Name checks are $11 and fingerprint checks are $58. State rules for criminal history are set by RCW 10.97. That chapter sets what stays open and what stays sealed.
The Tacoma Police Department also keeps a Most Wanted page with photos and charges. Crime maps and statistics are on the TPD site and through third-party vendors.
Tacoma Booking Photos and State Tools
Some Tacoma arrestees get moved to state prison. To track a state inmate, use the Washington Department of Corrections search. You can search by name or DOC number. Results show the current facility, age, and release date. For free custody alerts, use VINELink. The toll-free line is 1-877-846-3492. VINE sends phone, text, or email alerts when a Tacoma inmate is released, moved, or rebooked.
Old Tacoma arrest data is held at the Washington State Digital Archives. That site has historic Pierce County jail registers, court minute books, and police logs. Under RCW 10.97, juvenile files and sealed records are not released without a court order.
Note: Common exemptions on Tacoma Police records requests include attorney-client privilege, personnel records, and sensitive security information, and the office must give a detailed exemption log for any withheld file.
Request Tacoma Mugshots
To get a Tacoma mugshot, file a public records request. For city arrests made by Tacoma Police, send it to the City of Tacoma Public Records Office. For bookings at the jail itself, send it to the Pierce County Sheriff's Public Disclosure Unit at 3602 Pacific Avenue S. #100, Tacoma WA 98418. List the full name, date of birth, and booking date. Ask for the mugshot, the incident report, and the probable cause statement in one request. That way you get the full arrest packet in one reply.
Turnaround runs from five business days up to several weeks for large files. Staff may redact parts of a Tacoma file. Juvenile and sealed cases stay closed without a court order.
Offices to contact for a Tacoma case:
- Tacoma Police Department: 253-798-4721
- Tacoma Public Records Office: 253-231-0240
- Pierce County Sheriff: 253-798-7530
- Pierce County Jail Booking: 253-798-4590
- Tacoma Municipal Court: 253-591-5295
Pierce County Jail Mugshots
Tacoma is in Pierce County. All bookings feed into the county jail. See the county page for more detail on LINX, the jail facility, and the public records rules.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Tacoma. Each one uses Pierce County or a nearby county for its jail records.