Kitsap County Bench Warrants

Kitsap County bench warrants are signed by judges at the Superior Court in Port Orchard and at the District Court branches across the peninsula. With a population near 275,000 and a busy court calendar, Kitsap County keeps a steady stream of active warrants on file. You can run a Kitsap County warrant search through the statewide Odyssey portal or by contacting the clerk in Port Orchard. This page covers the local court info, the records request process, and what to do if your name shows up on a Kitsap County warrant lookup.

Kitsap County Superior Court

The Superior Court is the felony court for Kitsap County and the court that handles family law and civil contempt cases. The court page is at kitsapgov.com. The clerk is at 614 Division St, Port Orchard, WA 98366. The phone is (360) 337-7164. Most bench warrants in Kitsap County come out of this court or the District Court that shares the same campus.

Search Kitsap County records on the statewide Odyssey portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov. Pick Kitsap County, type the name, and check the docket. The state public access page at dw.courts.wa.gov is a backup tool that pulls from older data.

Kitsap County Sheriff Records Request

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office serves warrants and answers public records requests through an online portal. Use the Public Records Center at kitsapcountywa.govqa.us. Create an account with an email address and submit your request. All correspondence runs through the portal, which is faster than email and avoids delays from staff being on leave.

You can also drop a request in person at any Kitsap County Sheriff Office during business hours. The mailing address is Kitsap County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Public Records Officer, 614 Division St MS-37, Port Orchard, WA 98366. The phone is (360) 337-7101 x3738. Within five business days the records officer will provide the records, deny the request, ask for clarification, or give a time estimate.

Note: For a fast warrant lookup, the court Odyssey portal is faster than a sheriff records request because the court file shows the warrant flag in real time.

Records Fees in Kitsap County

The Kitsap sheriff fee schedule is set by ordinance. Paper records are $0.15 per page. Records scanned to digital are $0.10 per page. A Washington State Traffic Collision Form is $10.50. Body camera video runs $0.75 per minute of redacted footage. Postage is added for mailed records.

Court copies from the clerk are billed under the Superior Court fee schedule. Certified copies of a bench warrant or other order cost more than plain copies. Call the clerk to confirm before you go.

Kitsap County Most Wanted

Kitsap County subjects with active arrest warrants sometimes appear on the Washington DOC most wanted list at doc.wa.gov wanted arrest. The image below shows the DOC warrant search page that links to the wanted feed.

The list is short and only shows priority subjects. For the full Kitsap County warrant database you have to use the Odyssey court portal.

Bench Warrant Statutes That Apply

Kitsap County judges issue bench warrants under the same Washington rules every county uses. The rule for Superior Court is CrR 2.2. The District Court rule is CrRLJ 2.2. The community custody warrant statute is RCW 9.94A.716, and the related sanctions are at RCW 9.94A.685. The full RCW is online at apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw.

The arrest power that backs up a bench warrant is at RCW 10.31.030. Once a warrant is signed, any officer in Washington can act on it.

Clearing a Kitsap County Warrant

Hire a defense attorney to file a motion to quash. The lawyer sets a new hearing date with the Kitsap court. You appear, the warrant is lifted, and the case moves forward. Skipping the new date is the worst possible move because the second warrant often has no bail attached.

• Confirm the warrant on the Odyssey portal
• Note the case number and the judge
• Hire a lawyer or apply for a public defender
• File a motion to quash with the Kitsap clerk
• Show up to the new hearing

Note: Kitsap public defenders are assigned through the Office of Public Defense after a financial screening at the courthouse.

Cities and Nearby Counties

The largest cities in Kitsap County are Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, and Silverdale. For city level info on bench warrants, see Bremerton if it has a city page. Nearby counties with their own court systems include Jefferson County, Mason County, Pierce County, and King County across the sound.