Overview
The Criminal Records Division (CRD) is comprised of four sections:
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- Collision Records
- A Central Computerized Enforcement Service System (ACCESS)
- Identification and Background Check
- Criminal History Records
The approximately 100 employees of CRD provide information services for both criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes. CRD provides a telecommunications link for all law enforcement agencies in the state and is also responsible for maintaining the statewide repository for fingerprint-based criminal history record information, sex and kidnapping offender registration, and collision reports.
Key Measurements and Statistics
Successes of 2021
CRD staff met with court, law enforcement, prosecutor, and jail personnel from 22 counties in the state to collaborate on improving methods of sharing criminal history record information.
CRD provided 308 classes statewide to criminal justice personnel on topics such as proper fingerprinting techniques, how to read and interpret a record of arrest and prosecution (Rapsheet), administration of the statewide telecommunications system, and conducting background checks for firearm purchases. Training personnel did an excellent job in transitioning classes that have traditionally been done in person throughout the state to new virtual formats due to COVID-19.
As the central state repository for individual criminal history record information and for vehicle collision reports, CRD received and processed 124,000 fingerprint arrest submissions, 464,000 court dispositions, and 122,000 police traffic collision reports.
CRD also processed 5,500 sex and kidnapping offender registrations and updates submitted from Sheriff Offices.
Additional Information and Resources
After six years in development, CRD replaced two major systems in 2021; the state’s electronic criminal history system (WASIS) and the electronic “hot file” system (WACIC) that contains information about missing persons, wanted persons, warrants, and stolen vehicles. More information about this major project can be found at: https://wsp.wa.gov/crime/criminal-history/w2-replacement-project/.
In addition, CRD completed another major technology project by replacing the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). This system is used to analyze digitized images of individual fingerprints and compare them to a database of stored images, in search of a potential exact or partial match and to make positive identification of arrestees and applicants for employment and licenses.
