Des Moines Jail Roster

The Des Moines jail roster covers people booked into the SCORE Jail, which is located right in Des Moines at 20817 17th Avenue South. Des Moines is unique among south King County cities because the regional jail sits within its borders. The SCORE Jail serves multiple cities, so the roster includes bookings from Des Moines Police and several other departments. You can search the Des Moines jail roster online through the SCORE inmate lookup tool. This page explains how to find a booking, what the roster contains, and where to look when the online data falls short.

How the Des Moines Jail Roster Works

The Des Moines Police Department handles arrests in the city. After an arrest, the person goes to the SCORE Jail. SCORE stands for South Correctional Entity. It is a regional jail that serves Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila. The jail is at 20817 17th Avenue South, Des Moines, WA 98198, and the phone number is (206) 870-6910.

The SCORE inmate lookup lets you search by name. Type in the last name and the system shows all current inmates that match. Each record lists the booking date, charges, and bail. Some bookings from Des Moines may also end up at the King County Correctional Facility in downtown Seattle, depending on the charge and the bed count at SCORE.

If the name does not appear, the person may not be processed yet. Jail intake runs a few hours from the point of arrest to the moment the record shows up in the system.

Des Moines Police Records

The Des Moines Police Department page is shown below. This is the city agency that handles arrests in Des Moines before transport to the SCORE Jail.

The police file and the jail file are two different records. The police report covers the incident, the officer, and the reason for the arrest. The jail roster covers the booking. For a copy of a Des Moines police report, submit a public records request to the city. Under RCW 42.56, the Public Records Act, the city must reply within five business days.

Some data in the report may be redacted. Juvenile names and active investigation notes are often held back. The rest of the record should come as a copy or a file.

SCORE Jail Register and State Law

Under RCW 70.48.100, the SCORE Jail must keep a register that is open to the public. The law requires the jail to log the name of each person, the hour and date of booking, the cause, and the hour, date, and manner of release. This applies to every Des Moines booking at SCORE.

The full inmate file is not public. Medical records, mental health data, and security plans stay sealed. Only criminal justice agencies, courts, and certain research groups can see the full record. The public sees the register portion only. Booking photos may be used by law enforcement for investigation purposes but are not part of the open register by default.

Searching the Des Moines Jail Roster

The SCORE inmate lookup is the best starting point. Type the last name. Add the first name to narrow results. SCORE serves seven cities, so the roster can be long. If you do not see a match, check the King County DAJD site too. Some Des Moines bookings go there.

For people who have been sentenced and moved to state prison, use the DOC Incarcerated Search. The DOC runs under RCW 72.09 and handles all state adult prisons. The DOC Search Resources page links to both state and federal inmate search tools.

Note: The Des Moines jail roster is a booking log, not a conviction record or a full case file.

Custody Alerts for Des Moines Inmates

The VINE service sends free custody alerts. Sign up with the person's name and your contact info. VINE sends a call, text, or email when the person is booked, moved, or released. It covers the SCORE Jail, so Des Moines bookings flow into the system.

There can be a short delay between the jail update and the VINE alert. For the fastest answer, call the SCORE Jail at (206) 870-6910.

Des Moines Municipal Court Data

The Des Moines Municipal Court handles misdemeanors and city code violations from Des Moines Police arrests. Felony cases go to King County Superior Court. Pair the jail roster with the court docket for the full picture. The roster says where the person is. The docket says what comes next.

Use the Odyssey court portal to search court cases by name or case number. A booking date from the jail roster often lines up with a first appearance the next business day in court.

Criminal History and the Des Moines Roster

The jail roster is not a criminal history. It logs who is in jail now or who was booked recently. For a Washington criminal history check, use the WATCH service from the State Patrol. WATCH is the official statewide source for conviction data and covers every county in the state.

The DOC maintains a Public Records Office for prison and supervision data not in the online search. If a person left the SCORE Jail for a state prison, the DOC system is where you find them next.

Nearby Cities and Counties

Des Moines is part of King County. For countywide jail data, see the King County page. You can also check the jail roster pages for nearby cities.