Pierce County Main Jail Criminal Court Process

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Criminal Court Process for Pierce County Washington

Tacoma is the Pierce County seat, and most criminal cases from this county run through one tower: the County-City Building at 930 Tacoma Ave S. Felonies go to Pierce County Superior Court. County misdemeanors go to Pierce County District Court, and city cases go to Tacoma Municipal Court or one of about a dozen other city courts. The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney files felony charges, while city attorneys handle most city cases. Adults arrested on county charges are booked into the Pierce County Jail next door, where a judge reviews custody and bail at the first hearing.

  • Pierce County Superior Court (felonies), County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 334, Tacoma, WA 98402, (253) 798-3654
  • Pierce County Clerk (Superior Court files), 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 110, Tacoma, (253) 798-7455
  • Pierce County District Court (clerk counter), 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 239, Tacoma, (253) 798-7487
  • Tacoma Municipal Court, 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 841, Tacoma, (253) 591-5357
  • Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney, 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 946, Tacoma, (253) 798-7400
  • Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel (public defender), 949 Market St, Suite 334, Tacoma, WA 98402, (253) 798-6062
  • Pierce County Sheriff's Office, 930 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, (253) 798-7530; non-emergency dispatch (253) 287-4455
  • Pierce County Jail, Main Jail at 910 Tacoma Ave S (the newer building faces Nollmeyer Lane), Tacoma, booking and in-custody status (253) 798-4590
  • Pierce County Juvenile Court and Remann Hall, 5501 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98406, (253) 798-7900

Which court hears your case. Location of the arrest and the agency that made it decide the court. A misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor inside Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup or another city with its own court is charged under city code in that city's municipal court. The same offense in unincorporated Pierce County, or in Eatonville, Edgewood or University Place, goes to Pierce County District Court. Every felony, wherever it happened in the county, belongs to Superior Court. Anyone under 18 goes to Juvenile Court at Remann Hall unless the law sends the case to adult court. Traffic infractions follow the same city-or-county split.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Pierce County Jail is a two-building complex beside the courthouse, with room for roughly 1,800 people (staffing has kept the working population lower). It holds felony suspects from every police agency in the county, District Court defendants, and many city prisoners under contract. Smaller lockups exist too: the 51-bed Puyallup City Jail at 311 W Pioneer Ave holds misdemeanor inmates for Puyallup and other cities, (253) 841-5425, and the Puyallup Tribal Jail on the Puyallup Reservation holds people charged in Puyallup Tribal Court. Some cities, including Lakewood, also book misdemeanor prisoners into the Nisqually Tribal Jail in Thurston County, so a missing name on the county roster does not always mean release.

Local courts in Pierce County (Superior, District, and every municipal court)

Pierce County Superior Court and Pierce County District Court both sit in the County-City Building. District Court now runs all of its criminal calendars from Tacoma (courtrooms on floors 5 through 8), with probation in Room 610 and a Court Resource Center across the street at 925 Tacoma Ave S, (253) 798-7631. Many smaller cities do not keep their own judge; they contract with District Court or with a neighboring city, as shown below. Hearings for people held in the Pierce County Jail are often done by video, and a bail set by a city judge must be posted for that city's case.

Municipal courts and who uses them

  • Tacoma Municipal Court, 930 Tacoma Ave S, Room 841, Tacoma, (253) 591-5357. Tacoma Community Court meets at 1102 Tacoma Ave S.
  • Lakewood Municipal Court, 6000 Main St SW, Lakewood, (253) 512-2258. Also hears cases from Steilacoom and DuPont.
  • Puyallup Municipal Court, 929 E Main, Suite 120, Puyallup, (253) 841-5450. Puyallup's court staff also run the Milton Municipal Court at this address.
  • Bonney Lake Municipal Court, 9002 Main St E, Suite 100, Bonney Lake, (253) 862-6606. Also staffs Sumner Municipal Court at the same address and hears South Prairie cases.
  • Fife Municipal Court, 3737 Pacific Hwy E, Fife, (253) 922-6635
  • Fircrest Municipal Court, City Hall, 115 Ramsdell St, Fircrest, (253) 564-8922. Also covers the Town of Ruston.
  • Gig Harbor Municipal Court, 3510 Grandview St, Gig Harbor, (253) 851-7808
  • Buckley Municipal Court, 811 Main St, Buckley, (360) 829-2118. Also hears Carbonado cases.
  • Orting Municipal Court, Orting City Hall, 104 Bridge St S, Orting, (360) 893-3160
  • Roy Municipal Court, 216 McNaught St S, Roy, (253) 843-0463
  • Wilkeson Municipal Court, 540 Church St, Wilkeson, (360) 829-0171
  • Pierce County District Court hears city cases for University Place, Edgewood and Eatonville (Eatonville moved over from Bonney Lake on January 1, 2024), plus everything from unincorporated areas such as Spanaway, Parkland, Frederickson and the Key Peninsula. Call (253) 798-7487.

Prosecutors, public defense, police and juvenile intake

  • Prosecuting Attorney (felonies, District Court misdemeanors, juvenile offenses), (253) 798-7400
  • Department of Assigned Counsel: felony division (253) 798-7834; misdemeanor division (253) 798-6975. DAC covers Superior Court, District Court, Juvenile Court, and the Tacoma, Fircrest and Ruston city cases. Other cities hire contract public defenders; the clerk of each court can give the name.
  • Sheriff's Office, (253) 798-7530, which also polices University Place and Edgewood under contract
  • Lakewood Police Department, 9401 Lakewood Dr SW, (253) 830-5000
  • Tacoma, Puyallup, Fife and other city police, reached through South Sound 911 non-emergency at (253) 287-4455; Fife Police front desk (253) 922-6633
  • Juvenile intake and probation, Remann Hall, (253) 798-7900

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Therapeutic courts in Pierce County

Pierce County runs one of the larger groups of treatment courts in the state. Each is voluntary, needs the prosecutor's agreement, and swaps a regular sentence for close supervision, frequent hearings, drug testing and treatment. Ask your Department of Assigned Counsel lawyer about screening early, ideally before a plea and while any bail question is still open, because some programs are offered as release plans for people in the Pierce County Jail.

  • Felony Drug Court (Superior Court, since 1994): for nonviolent felony defendants with addiction, at least 12 months, run with Pierce County Alliance. It has graduated more than 2,700 people and includes a veterans track.
  • Felony Mental Health Court (Superior Court): for people whose chronic mental illness drives their offending, at least 18 months; graduates have the felony dismissed.
  • District Court therapeutic courts: Veterans Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, the Drug Addiction Reduction Team (DART), and a Community Court, all for misdemeanor cases.
  • Tacoma Municipal Court: Community Court at 1102 Tacoma Ave S and other therapeutic calendars for Tacoma city charges.
  • Friendship Diversion: a prosecutor-run program in which some first-time defendants do community work and avoid a conviction.

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Misdemeanor (for example, DUI, domestic violence assault in the fourth degree, shoplifting, criminal trespass)

Plenty of Pierce County misdemeanor arrests end with a citation and a court date instead of a trip to jail. DUI and domestic violence arrests are different: officers usually book the person, and DV suspects generally stay in custody until a judge sees them. Booking happens at the Pierce County Jail for county cases and Tacoma cases, while a Puyallup or Lakewood officer may take the person to the Puyallup City Jail or the Nisqually Tribal Jail instead.

First appearance and release

A judge must find probable cause within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest, and the first appearance is normally held the next court day, by video from the jail. Washington's court rules presume release on personal recognizance. The judge can instead set bail, add conditions such as alcohol monitoring or no driving, and in DV cases will almost always sign a no-contact order on the spot. Bail can be paid in cash at the jail or posted through a licensed bail bond company. Family members should note the case number and which court set the amount, because Tacoma, District Court and other city holds are separate.

Lawyers, pleas and penalties

If you cannot afford a lawyer, the judge screens you at arraignment. In District Court and in Tacoma, Fircrest and Ruston cases, the Department of Assigned Counsel takes the case; other city courts appoint their contract defenders. Most cases settle through a reduced charge, a stipulated order of continuance, or a deferred sentence; the rest go to a six-person jury. A Pierce County judge can impose up to 90 days and $1,000 for a misdemeanor and up to 364 days and $5,000 for a gross misdemeanor. DUI carries mandatory jail or electronic home monitoring, fines, and license consequences even on a first offense, and repeat DUIs within the state's lookback period can become a felony. Drug possession is now a gross misdemeanor that steers people toward treatment and diversion.

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Felony (for example, residential burglary, auto theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm)

Every felony arrest in Pierce County, whether made by Tacoma Police, a sheriff's deputy or the State Patrol, ends with booking at the Pierce County Jail. Within about a day the person sees a judicial officer for a preliminary appearance on probable cause, conditions of release and bail. Deputy prosecutors then decide whether to file an information in Superior Court; if nothing is filed within 72 hours, the person is usually released while the investigation continues.

Arraignment to trial

Arraignment comes within three days of filing for someone held in jail and within 14 days of the next appearance for someone released, and the Department of Assigned Counsel felony division, (253) 798-7834, represents people who qualify. Conflict cases go to the county's Public Defense Conflict Office or assigned private counsel. Court rules require trial within 60 days of arraignment for someone in custody and 90 days for someone out, but continuances are routine in a court this busy. Expect omnibus and status hearings, plea talks, and possibly a 12-person jury trial.

Sentencing

Sentences come from the Sentencing Reform Act grid, which sets a standard range from the seriousness of the offense and the person's offender score. A Pierce County Superior Court judge can reach up to 5 years and $10,000 on a Class C felony, 10 years and $20,000 on a Class B, and life and $50,000 on a Class A, but the standard range is usually far lower. Terms of a year or less are served locally; longer terms go to the Department of Corrections, followed by community custody. Alternatives include the First-Time Offender Waiver, the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative, the Parenting Sentencing Alternative, and Felony Drug Court. There is no parole for crimes committed after 1984.

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Violent felony (for example, first-degree robbery, drive-by shooting, first-degree assault, murder)

Serious violent cases follow the felony path above but with far higher stakes at the first hearing. Prosecutors routinely ask for high bail or no release, and defendants frequently spend the entire case in the Pierce County Jail. Victims have a constitutional right under the Washington Constitution to be told about hearings and to speak at sentencing, and the Prosecutor's victim advocates contact them early.

Violent cases are assigned to experienced deputy prosecutors and senior Department of Assigned Counsel attorneys, and homicide cases commonly take a year or more because of forensic testing and expert work. Firearm and deadly weapon enhancements add flat, consecutive time that cannot be reduced for good behavior. Washington no longer has a death penalty: the state Supreme Court struck it down in 2018 and the Legislature repealed it in 2023. Aggravated first-degree murder carries life without parole for adults, though courts have limited that sentence for people who were under 21 at the time of the crime. Most "most serious offenses" also count as strikes under the state's three-strikes law.

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Juveniles (under 18) arrested in Pierce County

Youth cases are heard by Pierce County Juvenile Court, a division of Superior Court housed at Remann Hall, 5501 6th Ave in Tacoma, (253) 798-7900. When police hold a young person rather than releasing them to a parent, the youth goes to Remann Hall, the county's juvenile detention center. A detention hearing must take place within 72 hours, where a judge decides whether the youth goes home, stays in detention, or is released with conditions. Washington juvenile courts do not use money bail the way adult courts do; release depends on court-ordered conditions.

The Department of Assigned Counsel represents youth whose families qualify. Many first-time and low-level cases go to the Juvenile Court Diversion Unit, which can assign a class, a Community Accountability Board, or an individual agreement; finishing it keeps the case out of court. Charged cases end in local sanctions (probation, community service, short detention) or, for serious or repeat offenses, commitment to Juvenile Rehabilitation through the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families, at Green Hill School in Chehalis, Echo Glen Children's Center in Snoqualmie, or a community facility. Juvenile Rehabilitation can hold some youth up to age 25.

Some 16- and 17-year-olds begin in adult court automatically when charged with a serious violent offense such as first-degree murder or first-degree robbery, and other youth can be moved to adult court after a decline hearing. A young person charged as an adult may be held at Remann Hall rather than the Pierce County Jail until age 18.

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Federal cases (U.S. District Court) from Pierce County

Pierce County is in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, and most of its federal criminal cases are heard at the Tacoma courthouse in historic Union Station, 1717 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402, clerk's office (253) 882-3800. Some cases are assigned to the Seattle courthouse instead.

When a case becomes federal

Crimes on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (civilian offenses there; service members may also face military court-martial), inside Mount Rainier National Park, or involving federal agencies, mail, interstate firearms or drug trafficking, child exploitation, or immigration can be charged federally. On Puyallup and Nisqually tribal lands, whether a case is federal, tribal or state depends on the offense and whether the people involved are tribal members, so the same incident may be prosecuted in more than one system. Federal cases from Pierce County are brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office Tacoma branch, 1201 Pacific Ave, Suite 700, (253) 428-3800.

How a federal case moves

After arrest, the person appears before a U.S. magistrate judge, usually the next court day, and is offered counsel. The Federal Public Defender's Tacoma office, 1331 Broadway, Suite 400, (253) 593-6710, or a court-appointed Criminal Justice Act panel lawyer represents people who cannot pay. Federal court has no commercial bail bond system; release is decided under the Bail Reform Act at a detention hearing, and people held for trial usually stay at the Federal Detention Center SeaTac. Someone held under a U.S. Marshals contract may also show up on a local roster such as the Pierce County Jail list for a short time. An indictment must follow within 30 days of arrest, and the Speedy Trial Act sets 70 days to trial, with frequent exclusions.

Sentences are based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and any mandatory minimums. Federal prison has no parole; people serve roughly 85% of the term after good-conduct credit, then supervised release. Appeals go to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco, which also hears cases at the Nakamura Courthouse in Seattle. A Pierce County defendant already in federal hands can be found through the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.

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This Pierce County guide is general information, not legal advice, and court locations, contracts and procedures change. Speak with a Washington-licensed criminal defense attorney about any specific case. For a public defender, call the Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel at (253) 798-6062; to check whether someone is in custody, call Pierce County Jail booking at (253) 798-4590 or the Sheriff's Office at (253) 798-7530.

Criminal Court Process for Pierce County Washington

Pierce County Washington Criminal Court System – Definitions

It might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site, when explaining the Washington Court System and how it works. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.

If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Pierce County, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.

Arrest is when Washington, Pierce County or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed. 

In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Pierce County court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.

Booking is when the Pierce County sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation, and verification of identity. Bail for lower-level crimes may be set right after booking so the arrested can “bail or bond out” before being detained.

The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that presses the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the state of Washington, Pierce County or a city or town.  The prosecuting attorney for Pierce County or the district is called the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.  A U.S. Attorney prosecutes federal cases.  

Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case.  For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case.  If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime.  

Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.

Arraignment is when a judge determines whether the charges are supported by the prosecution’s initial evidence and tells the arrested what they are charged with, and the person says whether they are guilty or not guilty. At this time, the person is called the defendant, and the opposing side is called the prosecution. If there is reason to believe that the arrested is guilty, the judge will set bail conditions or send the defendant to jail or release them ROR (release on recognizances). An arraignment is not a trial, and the defendant is entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time after the arraignment.

Bail is money paid that is held by the Pierce County or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. Bail amounts and other conditions are determined at the arraignment. Once the case is over, the bail money is returned to the defendant. If a person does not pay bail, they remain in the Pierce County Jail until their trial.  

Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.

A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or municipal court sets bail. Judges in Washington rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.

It is always important to have family involvement after being arrested.  Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf (not all bond companies will accept collect calls), but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court, not only for the defendant’s own good, but because they may have signed bond paperwork and responsible to pay if the defendant does not show in court. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.  

(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information.  A bondsman will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)

A judicial public bond or personal recognizance bond is a bond where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the money if the defendant does not show up to court. If the defendant does not show, the full amount will be due and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court.  Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance.  

Cash percentage in lieu of bonds.  If the bond order permits, the defendant pays a percentage of the amount, (sometimes up to 100%) to the court, which then holds the money until the case is over. The amount is returned if the defendant is acquitted or the case is dismissed, or it can be used toward paying any court fines incurred by the defendant.

Surety Bond is when defendant pays a percentage of the bond amount (usually 10–15%) to a professional bondsman or bail bond company licensed to do business in Washington, {county extended}. The bondsman then signs the bond on behalf of the defendant. The defendant does not receive any of the money back. If the bondsman feels the defendant is a flight risk, they can refuse to give a bond or charge a higher fee. For example, a bondsman may determine a defendant is a flight risk if they are from a state other than Washington.

A Property Bond is a bond in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).  Usually, the property must be in Pierce County, and it must be worth at least the amount of the bond.

An Unsecured Bond is when the defendant is released without paying bail upfront, but they must pay the full amount if they do not appear in court.

A Secured Bond is when the defendant pays a portion of the bail up front. If they show to court, they would get the money back and if they don’t show up to court, would have to pay the entire bail amount.

A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest.

If there is a chance that the case might go to trial and the defendant cannot afford an attorney, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the court provide an attorney. This is called indigent representation and a public defender or assigned attorney would represent the defendant in all proceedings. Indigent representation is only available misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time, juvenile cases, and certain appeal cases.

In Washington, the counties and city governments are responsible for paying for indigent defense.  Here is the website to find more about qualifying for an indigent defense attorney.

For less serious cases or civil cases, there are pro bono volunteers who volunteer legal services for free or for a small fee. They often will hold clinics to teach people how to represent themselves in court or expunge their record which means to legally erase or eliminate a criminal or arrest record from public view.

This website provides contact information for pro bono services in Washington State: A list of pro bono contacts can be found at this website.Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se.  These sites (here and here) will provide you with self-help guidance in Washington. 

A district court can refer to the first level of the legal system, or a minor court. District courts are in the community.  A district court can also refer to a U.S. Federal District Court that hears federal cases. There are two U.S. federal district courts in Washington State, with offices throughout the state. It is important that you check the address of the court you are to appear in rather than to ask someone because that person might give you directions to the wrong “district” court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.

Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered.  This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.

Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings.  A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment.  The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty.  There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of a more serious criminal related to the crime.  

Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial.  If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial.  If the defendant is found not guilty, they are released.  If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.

Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be jail or prison time, fines, community service, probation, or a combination.

Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again at an appellate court.  If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.

Washington State Misdemeanor vs Felony

In Washington, examples of misdemeanors are trespassing, simple assault, petty theft and shoplifting.  In Washington, any crime that is punishable by a fine of up to $1000 and/or jail time of 90 days is considered a misdemeanor.  Any crime that is not a felony and not a misdemeanor is called a gross misdemeanor. A gross misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail (instead of state prison) for up to one year and/or a fine up to $5000.
    
A felony crime in the state of Washington is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor and are divided into different classes which are general guidelines and are based on the crime, prior criminal history and other factors. Examples of felony crimes are murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping and identity theft.  

In Washington state, there are 3 classes of felonies.

  • A Class A felony is punishable by life in prison and/or $50,000 fine.  
  • A Class B felony is punishable by 10 years in prison and/or $20,000 fine.
  • A Class C felony is punishable by 5 years in prison and/or $10,000 fine.

The Pierce County Clerk of Court is an elected official whose responsibilities for Criminal Court’s administrative issues include receiving criminal warrants, receiving bail, creating the trial schedule, receiving fees, fines and maintaining court records.

A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement.  There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime. 

A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date.  It does not involve an arrest.  A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.

A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.

Fines are usually paid to the District Court or clerk of court and payment methods can be found on the District Court or Pierce County Clerk of Court website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, must pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest.  It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket. 

Washington Criminal Court System - How it Works

Municipal courts handle the infractions, violations or crimes that happen within a city or town.  Examples are misdemeanor cases, traffic and parking violations or orders of protections. Both municipal courts and district courts can issue domestic violence orders of protection or non-harassment orders.  Not all areas have municipal courts, so the same types of cases are heard at the county level in district courts.
Some cities or towns in Washington offer a traffic violation bureau just to handle traffic violations that only involve a fine and not jail time. The traffic violation bureau is supervised by the municipal court and is designed to move on traffic violation cases more quickly.

District courts handle cases similar to municipal courts and have additional jurisdiction over misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases. Unlike municipal courts, trials for misdemeanor cases can be held in district courts.  Other types of cases handled in district court include DUI, reckless driving and assault in the fourth degree.  District courts in Washington can conduct preliminary hearings for felony cases then referred to the superior courts for further prosecution and trial.

The Washington Superior Courts handle felony cases that have been started in the district courts or started in the superior courts.  The felony case will be prosecuted in the superior court until the case is settled or goes to court.  The superior court also hears appeals from the district and municipal courts. 

The Superior Court has a division that handles juvenile cases for individuals under the age of 18 who have been charged with a crime. For more information regarding juvenile justice in the state of Washington, click this link.

Specialty courts or treatment or therapeutic courts are being adopted in many states to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. Washington has therapeutic courts. The following link will provide further information about therapeutic courts in your are.

The Washington Courts of Appeal hear cases that are appealed from the lower courts, mostly the Washington Superior Courts.

The Washington Supreme Court is like our United States’ Supreme Court because it has a panel of judges that rule on matters that have to do with someone’s constitutional rights or policies and laws. The Washington State Supreme Court deals with the state constitution or laws or policies. Sometimes the Supreme Court will hear criminal cases on appeal when there is a question on the state laws or procedures that lead to the appeal.  

The criminal cases are usually referred from the district courts of appeal.

Tribal courts are available in Washington and further information can be found by following this link.

FEDERAL COURT

Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws.  Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.  

Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime. 

There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the Washington state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).  

Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.

There are two U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in Washington.

Courts

BUCKLEY CITY MUNICIPAL COURT
811 MAIN ST
BUCKLEY WA, 98321
360-829-2118
GIG HARBOR MUNICIPAL COURT
3510 GRANDVIEW ST
GIG HARBOR WA, 98335
253-851-7808
ORTING MUNICIPAL COURT
401 WASHINGTON AVE SE
ORTING WA, 98360
360-893-3160
MILTON MUNICIPAL COURT
929 E MAIN # 120
PUYALLUP WA, 98372
253-841-5450
PUYALLUP MUNICIPAL COURT
929 E MAIN # 120
PUYALLUP WA, 98372
253-841-5450
COMMITTEE TO RETAIN JUDGE
4227 S MERIDIAN # C PMB 373
PUYALLUP WA, 98373
253-875-8627
BONNEY LAKE MUNICIPAL COURT
9002 MAIN ST E # 100
BONNEY LAKE WA, 98391
253-862-6606
WILKESON MUNICIPAL COURT
540 CHURCH ST
WILKESON WA, 98396
360-829-0171
COURT OF APPEALS DIV II
909 A ST # 200
TACOMA WA, 98402
253-593-2970
PIERCE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
930 TACOMA AVE S # 239
TACOMA WA, 98402
253-798-7487
TACOMA MUNICIPAL COURT
930 TACOMA AVE S # 841
TACOMA WA, 98402
253-591-5357
PIERCE COUNTY DIST COURTHOUSE
930 TACOMA AVE S # 601
TACOMA WA, 98402
253-798-7487
TACOMA MUNICIPAL COURT ADMIN
930 TACOMA AVE S # 841
TACOMA WA, 98402
253-591-5259
RUSTON MUNICIPAL COURT
5117 N WINNIFRED ST
RUSTON WA, 98407
253-759-3544
FIFE MUNICIPAL COURT
3737 PACIFIC HWY E # 100
FIFE WA, 98424
253-922-6635
FIRCREST MUNICIPAL COURT
115 RAMSDELL ST
FIRCREST WA, 98466
253-564-8922
LAKEWOOD MUNICIPAL COURT
6000 MAIN ST SW
LAKEWOOD WA, 98499
253-512-2258
ROY CITY MUNICIPAL COURT
216 MCNAUGHT RD S
ROY WA, 98580
253-843-0463

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Pierce County

Human-verified information Manually curated

Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.