University Place Inmate Population Lookup
University Place inmate population records are maintained at the Pierce County Jail in downtown Tacoma, the single booking facility that handles all arrests made by University Place Police and other law enforcement agencies operating in Pierce County. Because University Place does not operate its own detention facility, everyone arrested within city limits is transported to the county jail at 910 Tacoma Avenue South. Pierce County maintains two free online search tools for the public: the LINX jail roster, which provides detailed booking data and links to Superior Court case records, and the Pierce County Sheriff inmate search, which gives a quick view of current custody status and charges. This page explains how to use both tools and where to go for additional records.
University Place Jail Overview
Where University Place Arrests Are Processed
University Place is an incorporated city in Pierce County, but it relies on the county jail for all detention needs. There is no city-run lockup. When University Place Police arrest someone, they transport the person to the Pierce County Jail at 910 Tacoma Avenue South in downtown Tacoma. That facility handles the entire booking process, from fingerprinting and photographing to setting a bond. The jail is about four miles from the center of University Place.
The University Place Police Department operates out of 3609 Market Place W Suite 200, University Place, WA 98466. The department handles city patrol and responds to incidents within city limits. For arrests, that work ends at the county jail door. All University Place bookings then become part of the Pierce County Jail population and show up in the county's online inmate rosters. The jail itself can be reached at 253-798-4590, and the Pierce County Jail information page at piercecountywa.gov has details on services, visitation, and policies.
| Facility | Pierce County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 910 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402 |
| Phone | 253-798-4590 |
| University Place Police | 3609 Market Place W Suite 200, University Place, WA 98466 |
| Online Roster (LINX) | LINX Jail Roster |
| Sheriff Inmate Search | Pierce County Sheriff |
University Place sits just west of Tacoma on the Puget Sound shoreline. It shares many county services with Tacoma, including jail, courts, and the public defender office. Felony cases from University Place are handled in Pierce County Superior Court. Misdemeanor cases go through University Place Municipal Court or Pierce County District Court depending on the charge type. Both court systems are searchable through the statewide portal at courts.wa.gov.
How to Search University Place Inmate Records
Two online systems cover Pierce County jail bookings, and both are free to use. Start with the one that fits your need. If you want detailed charge information and court case links, use LINX. If you just want a quick custody check, the Sheriff inmate search is faster to load.
The LINX system at linxonline.co.pierce.wa.us is Pierce County's main booking database interface. You can view the entire jail population or type in a last name to filter results. Each entry shows the person's name, booking date, charges, and links to any related Pierce County Superior Court cases. That court link feature is useful when you want to check the hearing schedule or see if charges were changed after the initial booking. The LINX Help Desk can be reached at 253-798-7757 if you run into access issues.
The screenshot below shows the LINX jail roster, the primary portal for finding University Place inmate population records within the Pierce County system.
Once you have confirmed a record in LINX, the Pierce County Sheriff inmate search at piercesheriff.org/inmate-search gives a clean, up-to-date view of whether the person is still in custody.
The Pierce County Sheriff inmate search at piercesheriff.org/inmate-search is the second option. It shows in-custody status, booking date, and current charges in a straightforward format. It does not link to court records the way LINX does, but it works well as a quick check when you already know the person's name and want to confirm they are still held. No account or login is required for either system.
Note: Both systems reflect the current day's in-custody population. Past bookings from earlier dates are not available through either online tool. A formal public records request is needed for historical data.
Public Records Access for University Place Inmate Data
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives the public the right to request government records from any agency, with limited exceptions. You do not need to state a reason. Jail rosters, booking logs, and police reports from University Place Police and Pierce County are all covered. Agencies have five business days to respond with either the records, a timeline, or a request for clarification.
The law that specifically covers jail registers is RCW 70.48.100. It requires all county jails to keep a public register of everyone booked, including name, date and time of confinement, and manner of release. Pierce County's online rosters are the public interface for this legally required information. For records beyond what those portals show, contact Pierce County Sheriff Public Records at 3602 Pacific Ave S #100, Tacoma, WA 98418, or call 253-798-7366.
For records generated by University Place Police specifically, such as incident reports or officer notes tied to a particular arrest, contact the University Place Police Department directly at 3609 Market Place W Suite 200. Each agency maintains its own files, and the county does not hold city police records on their behalf.
VINE Custody Notifications for University Place Cases
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) tracks custody changes at Pierce County Jail and sends free alerts by phone, text, or email. Register at VINELink.com to get notified when a specific inmate is released, transferred, or has a scheduled court event. You do not have to give your name. Registration is completely anonymous and can cover more than one individual at the same time.
Since all University Place arrests flow through Pierce County Jail, VINE covers them without any extra steps. The service updates roughly every 15 minutes, giving you near-real-time alerts. This is practical for people who cannot check the online roster frequently but still want to know when something changes. If the person is later transferred to a Washington State DOC facility after sentencing, the state-level VINE registration at VINELink covers that facility as well.
Court Records for University Place Cases
Booking records and court records are different things. A booking record shows you the charge at the time of arrest. A court record shows you what the prosecutor actually filed, whether the charge changed, and how the case ended. You need both if you want the full picture. The LINX system links booking records to Superior Court cases, but for Municipal Court and District Court cases you need the statewide portal.
The Washington Courts case search at courts.wa.gov covers all courts in the state. You can run a name search and see results from Pierce County Superior Court, University Place Municipal Court, and Pierce County District Court in a single query. The portal shows hearing dates, charge information, and basic disposition data. For complete case documents, contact the relevant clerk's office. Pierce County Superior Court Clerk is at 930 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402. University Place Municipal Court information is available through the city website.
State Databases for University Place Inmate Searches
When a University Place resident is convicted of a felony and sentenced to more than one year, they are housed in a Washington State DOC facility rather than the county jail. The Washington State DOC incarcerated person search at doc.wa.gov covers all state prisons and reentry centers. Search by name or DOC number. The system shows current facility, projected release date, and related conviction information. It is updated regularly and is free to use.
The Washington State Patrol WATCH system at watch.wsp.wa.gov provides fingerprint-based criminal history searches for $11 per lookup. WATCH covers statewide convictions and recent arrests with pending dispositions. It is more reliable than a court name search because it uses biometric records rather than name-matching alone. For people trying to verify a specific person's background in connection with a University Place case, WATCH gives the most complete view available to the public.
Pierce County Inmate Population Records
University Place is in Pierce County. All city arrests are processed through the Pierce County Jail. The county page has full details on the booking facility, both online search systems, and public records contacts for Pierce County inmate lookups.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to University Place and use the same Pierce County Jail for all bookings.