Des Moines Inmate Population and SCORE Jail Records
Des Moines inmate population records are processed through SCORE, the South Correctional Entity, which is physically located within Des Moines city limits at 20817 17th Ave S. Des Moines was one of the founding member cities when SCORE opened in 2011, and all Des Moines Police arrests for misdemeanor-level offenses are booked here. The 802-bed facility also serves Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila, and more than 37 contract jurisdictions. Felony arrests go to King County's jail system. You can search the SCORE roster online by last name to check whether a specific person is currently in custody.
Des Moines Jail Overview
Where Des Moines Arrests Are Processed
Des Moines holds a unique place in the SCORE system. The facility sits inside Des Moines at 20817 17th Ave S, so when Des Moines Police make a misdemeanor arrest, officers do not have to travel far to book the person in. SCORE opened January 1, 2011, as a joint effort among seven South King County cities that each gave up their standalone jails to pool resources in a single regional facility.
SCORE houses pre-trial detainees charged with misdemeanors, people serving sentences of up to one year, and individuals who have violated Washington State DOC supervision conditions. The facility can hold up to 802 people. Member cities pay into the system based on their use of the facility. Des Moines was a founding member and helped design the structure that now serves the bulk of South King County's jail needs.
| Facility | SCORE (South Correctional Entity) |
|---|---|
| Address | 20817 17th Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98198 |
| SCORE Website | scorejail.org |
| Des Moines Police | 21900 11th Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98198 |
| Des Moines PD Phone | 206-878-3301 |
| SCORE Member Cities | Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila |
Felony arrests are handled differently. When Des Moines Police arrest someone on a felony charge, that person goes to the King County Correctional Facility downtown rather than SCORE. SCORE is not equipped for long-term felony detention. That means if you are searching for someone arrested in Des Moines and can't find them at SCORE, a felony charge and King County booking is the next place to check.
How to Search the Des Moines Inmate Population
Searching for a Des Moines inmate depends on the type of charge involved. For misdemeanor cases, SCORE is where you will find the record. For felony charges, the King County system is where you need to look. Both searches are free and available online.
The SCORE website at scorejail.org has an inmate roster you can search by last name. The roster displays current detainees along with their booking date, charges, arresting agency, bond amount, and release date if scheduled. Because SCORE serves so many jurisdictions, results will include people arrested by many different police departments. Look at the arresting agency field to confirm a specific person was booked by Des Moines Police.
The image below shows the Washington State DOC inmate search, which is relevant when a Des Moines arrest leads to a felony conviction and state prison placement.
For felony arrests, use the King County JILS system. The King County jail inmate lookup covers people held at the King County Correctional Facility. The main King County page at kingcounty.gov has additional search options and directions to the facility.
If the person does not appear in either system, they may have been released on personal recognizance, posted bail, or had their charges dropped before formal booking was complete. Booking can also take several hours after an arrest, so a name may not show up right away in the roster.
Note: SCORE's online roster covers only current detainees and does not show historical booking records going back more than a few days.
Public Records Access for Des Moines Inmate Records
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 grants the public broad access to government records, including jail booking data, arrest logs, and incident reports. Agencies must respond to requests within five business days. You do not need to state your purpose when making a request.
Jail registers fall under RCW 70.48.100, which requires all county jails to keep public records of everyone confined. The register must include each person's name, the date and time they were confined, and how they were released. SCORE's online roster satisfies this requirement for all member cities, including Des Moines.
For arrest records and incident reports from Des Moines Police, contact the department at 21900 11th Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98198. The non-emergency line is 206-878-3301. The Des Moines Police Department page is at desmoineswa.gov. For records from SCORE itself, contact the facility through scorejail.org.
Court records for Des Moines cases are available through the Washington Courts system at courts.wa.gov. Des Moines Municipal Court handles misdemeanor and infraction cases within city limits. King County District Court and Superior Court handle higher-level matters. The court record will show what happened after an arrest, including any plea, conviction, or dismissal.
VINE Notification for Des Moines Inmates
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) lets you track custody changes for inmates held at SCORE or King County facilities. You can sign up for alerts at VINELink.com and receive notifications by phone, text, or email when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a scheduled court date. Registration is free and does not require your name.
Because Des Moines inmate population records span two facilities depending on charge level, VINE is especially useful here. You can register a single individual and receive alerts no matter whether they are held at SCORE or King County. The system updates frequently, typically every 15 minutes, and covers both facilities. The service is run by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs on behalf of jurisdictions across the state.
Note: VINE covers both SCORE and King County Correctional Facility, so one registration tracks a Des Moines inmate regardless of which facility holds them.
State Resources for Des Moines Inmate Searches
If a Des Moines resident is convicted of a felony and sentenced to more than one year, they will be transferred to a Washington State DOC facility. The DOC incarcerated person search at doc.wa.gov covers all state prisons and reentry centers. You can search by name or DOC number. The result shows the current facility, status, and basic sentence information.
The Washington State Patrol WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov provides fingerprint-verified criminal history checks for $11. WATCH is more thorough than a jail roster because it covers conviction records and recent arrests with pending dispositions. It is a good tool when you need verified background information about a Des Moines resident rather than just a snapshot of current custody status.
King County Inmate Population Records
Des Moines is in King County. Felony arrests go to the King County Correctional Facility. The county page covers the King County jail system, the JILS inmate search, and full details on King County corrections resources.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Des Moines in South King County and use SCORE or the King County jail for their arrests.