King County does not rely on a simple one-page alphabetical “jail roster.” Instead, the county provides a Subject Lookup tool for adults held in its jail system. The search covers King County’s two adult detention facilities: the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. For someone trying to locate a family member after an arrest, the tool can confirm whether the person is in custody, where the person is housed and the booking number used by the jail. Because King County serves many law-enforcement agencies and operates more than one adult facility, checking the facility field and booking number is important. A custody entry is not proof of conviction and should be separated from the court case itself.
King County Jail Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Adult facilities | King County Correctional Facility (Seattle) and Maleng Regional Justice Center (Kent) |
| Operated by | King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention |
| Seattle address | 500 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Kent address | 620 W. James St., Kent, WA 98032 |
| Jail information phone | 206-296-1234 |
| Official search | King County Subject Lookup |
| Useful search fields | Name, DOB, facility, custody status, booking number, UCN, preferred name |
| Court-record route | https://dja-prd-ecexap1.kingcounty.gov/ |
What Information Does the King County Subject Lookup Show?
The Subject Lookup tool is built for more precise searches than a traditional roster. Users can search by last name and first name, and can narrow results with date of birth, facility and current-custody status. The system also supports booking number, UCN and preferred-name searches.
- Name and preferred name when available
- Facility where the person is being held
- Arresting agency for the current booking
- Booking number
- Booking date
- UCN or unique subject identifier
- Whether the person is currently in custody
The booking number is especially important in King County. The county notes that it may be needed when contacting a person in custody or sending money.
How to Search the King County Jail Roster or Subject Lookup
- Open the official King County Subject Lookup tool.
- Start with the person’s last name and first name.
- Add date of birth if the name is common.
- Use the facility or “currently in custody” filter to narrow the results.
- Compare the booking date, arresting agency, facility, booking number and UCN before deciding you found the correct person.
- Use the “Subjects Booked in Last 24 Hours” option when the arrest was recent.
- If the person does not appear, call the jail information system at 206-296-1234 or check nearby regional jails.
King County specifically points users to other regional facilities when a person cannot be found. An arrest within King County does not guarantee that the person will remain in a King County adult jail.
Understanding King County Booking and Custody Information
King County uses several identifiers that may look unfamiliar. The booking number refers to a particular jail booking. The UCN is a broader subject identifier. The facility field tells you whether the person is in the Seattle or Kent jail, while the arresting-agency field identifies the law-enforcement agency connected with the booking.
- Booking number: Identifies the current or listed jail booking.
- UCN: Identifies the subject in the county system.
- Facility: Shows whether the person is housed at KCCF in Seattle or MRJC in Kent.
- Booking date: Shows when the jail booking was recorded.
- Arresting agency: Identifies the agency associated with the current booking.
- Currently in custody: Helps separate active custody from older subject records.
What to Do If Someone Is Not Listed
Not finding someone in the Subject Lookup does not prove that the person was never arrested. The county itself directs users to consider other regional jails.
- Search again using date of birth or fewer name fields.
- Check the “Subjects Booked in Last 24 Hours” option.
- Call 206-296-1234 for adult jail information.
- Check SCORE, Kent City Jail, Pierce County, Snohomish County or Washington Department of Corrections when appropriate.
- If the person is under 18, use the county’s youth-custody contact rather than the adult Subject Lookup.
The adult jail phone system is available for another custody check when the online tool does not resolve the question.
King County Jail Addresses, Phone Number and Records
King County operates two adult jails. The King County Correctional Facility is at 500 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104. The Maleng Regional Justice Center is at 620 W. James St., Kent, WA 98032. The county lists 206-296-1234 for both facilities and for adult jail information.
For older incarceration records or records not available through Subject Lookup, King County’s Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention has a records-request process. The department lists 206-477-5130 for jail-record requests and uses the county public-records portal for incarceration and jail-operations records.
Jail Lookup vs. King County Court Records
The Subject Lookup is designed to locate a person in custody. It is not the place to determine the final outcome of a criminal case. King County Superior Court and King County District Court have separate public court-record systems.
Washington Courts advises users seeking King County Superior Court matters to use King County’s own records portal for the most current information. King County District Court also maintains a public portal. Court data and jail data can update on different schedules, so a person can be released from jail while the court case remains active.
Important Points to Remember
- King County uses a Subject Lookup rather than a simple alphabetical roster.
- The search covers both Seattle and Kent adult detention facilities.
- Booking number and UCN are useful identity checks.
- A person arrested in the region may be held in another jail.
- Release from jail does not end the court case.
- Use court records for filings and case outcomes, and the jail tool for custody questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why does King County have two possible jail locations?
King County operates two adult detention facilities: the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. The Subject Lookup identifies the facility associated with the booking.
Q. What is the difference between a booking number and a UCN?
A booking number identifies a particular jail booking, while the UCN is a subject identifier used in the county system. Both can help distinguish people with similar names.
Q. What if the person was arrested in King County but does not appear in Subject Lookup?
They may be in another regional jail or the booking may not yet be easy to locate. King County specifically suggests checking other regional facilities and also provides 206-296-1234 for jail information.
Q. Can I use Subject Lookup to see the final court result?
No. Use the appropriate King County court-record system for case filings, hearings and disposition. Subject Lookup is mainly for custody and booking information.
Q. How do I request an older incarceration record?
King County DAJD has a public-records process for incarceration records. Older records may require a formal request rather than a current Subject Lookup search.
