Title 36 — Title 36 COUNTIES

The public defender shall make an annual report to each board of county commissioners within his or her district. If any public defender district embraces more than one county or a cooperating city, the public defender shall maintain records of expenses allocable to each county o…

(1) The board of county commissioners shall:(a) Fix the compensation of the public defender and of any staff appointed to assist him or her in the discharge of his or her duties: PROVIDED, That the compensation of the public defender shall not exceed that of the county prosecutor…

The public defender must represent, without charge to any accused, every indigent person who is or has been arrested or charged with a crime for which court appointed counsel for indigent defendants is required either under the Constitution of the United States or under the Const…

Whenever the public defender represents any indigent person held in custody without commitment or charged with any criminal offense, he or she must (1) counsel and defend such person, and (2) prosecute any appeals and other remedies, whether before or after conviction, which he o…

For good cause shown, or in any case involving a crime of widespread notoriety, the court may, upon its own motion or upon application of either the public defender or of the indigent accused, appoint an attorney other than the public defender to represent the accused at any stag…

The provisions of this chapter shall be cumulative and nonexclusive and shall not affect any other remedy, particularly in counties electing not to create the office of public defender: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the appointment of a full time or …

Prosecuting attorneys are attorneys authorized by law to appear for and represent the state and the counties thereof in actions and proceedings before the courts and judicial officers.[ 1963 c 4 s 36.27.005. Prior: 1891 c 55 s 3; RRS s 113.]

No person shall be eligible to the office of prosecuting attorney in any county of this state, unless he or she is a qualified elector therein, and has been admitted as an attorney and counselor of the courts of this state.[ 2009 c 549 s 4045; 1963 c 4 s 36.27.010. Prior: 1891 c …

The prosecuting attorney shall:(1) Be legal adviser of the legislative authority, giving it his or her written opinion when required by the legislative authority or the chairperson thereof touching any subject which the legislative authority may be called or required to act upon …

When from illness or other cause the prosecuting attorney is temporarily unable to perform his or her duties, the court or judge may appoint some qualified person to discharge the duties of such officer in court until the disability is removed.When any prosecuting attorney fails,…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5068.SL) ***The prosecuting attorney may appoint one or more deputies who shall have the same power in all respects as their principal. Each appointment shall be in writing, signed by the prosecuting attorney, and filed in the county auditor's office. …

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent a prosecuting attorney from employing legal interns as otherwise authorized by statute or court rule.[ 1974 ex.s. c 6 s 1.]

No prosecuting attorney shall receive any fee or reward from any person, on behalf of any prosecution, or for any of his or her official services, except as provided in this title, nor shall he or she be engaged as attorney or counsel for any party in any action depending upon th…

(1) The prosecuting attorney, and deputy prosecuting attorneys, of each county with a population of eighteen thousand or more shall serve full time and except as otherwise provided for in this section shall not engage in the private practice of law.(2) Deputy prosecuting attorney…

The prosecuting attorney of each county in the state of Washington must keep an office at the county seat of the county of which he or she is prosecuting attorney.[ 2009 c 549 s 4049; 1963 c 4 s 36.27.070. Prior: 1909 c 122 s 1; RRS s 4139.]

The legislature recognizes that, due to the magnitude or volume of offenses in a given area of the state, there is a recurring need for supplemental assistance in the prosecuting of drug and drug-related offenses that can be directed to the area of the state with the greatest nee…

There is established a statewide advisory committee comprised of the attorney general, the chief of the Washington state patrol, both United States attorneys whose offices are located in Washington state, and three county prosecuting attorneys appointed by the Washington associat…

The project director of the drug prosecution assistance program shall employ up to five attorneys to act as special deputy prosecuting attorneys. A county or counties may request the assistance of one or more of the special deputy prosecuting attorneys. The project director after…

(1) The prosecutor of a county in which an offender was sentenced for a felony offense may petition the sentencing court or the sentencing court's successor to resentence the offender if the original sentence no longer advances the interests of justice.(2) The court may grant or …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5974-S2.SL) ***The sheriff is the chief executive officer and conservator of the peace of the county. In the execution of his or her office, he or she and his or her deputies:(1) Shall arrest and commit to prison all persons who break the peace, or att…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5974-S2.SL) ***In addition to the duties contained in RCW 36.28.010, it shall be the duty of all sheriffs to make complaint of all violations of the criminal law, which shall come to their knowledge, within their respective jurisdictions.[ 1963 c 4 s 3…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5974-S2.SL) ***Every deputy sheriff shall possess all the power, and may perform any of the duties, prescribed by law to be performed by the sheriff, and shall serve or execute, according to law, all process, writs, precepts, and orders, issued by lawf…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5974-S2.SL) ***A person who files a declaration of candidacy for the office of sheriff after September 1, 1979, shall have, within twelve months of assuming office, a certificate of completion of a basic law enforcement training program which complies …

Whenever the company acting as surety on the official bond of a sheriff is disqualified, insolvent, or the penalty of the bond becomes insufficient on account of recovery had thereon, or otherwise, the sheriff shall submit a new or additional bond for approval to the board of cou…

No sheriff, deputy sheriff, or coroner shall be liable for any damages for neglecting or refusing to serve any civil process unless his or her legal fees are first tendered him or her.[ 2009 c 549 s 4053; 1963 c 4 s 36.28.040. Prior: 1941 c 237 s 1, part; 1935 c 33 s 1, part; Cod…

If any property levied upon by virtue of any writ of attachment or execution or other order issued to the sheriff out of any court in this state is claimed by any person other than the defendant, and such person or his or her agent or attorney makes affidavit of his or her title …

(1) The sheriff shall make duplicate receipts for all payments for his or her services specifying the particular items thereof, at the time of payment, whether paid by virtue of the laws of this state or of the United States. Such duplicate receipts shall be numbered consecutivel…

When there is no sheriff of a county, or he or she is disqualified from any cause from discharging any particular duty, it shall be lawful for the officer or person commanding or desiring the discharge of that duty to appoint some suitable person, a citizen of the county, to exec…

The sheriff or director of public safety shall employ all able bodied persons sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail in such manner and at such places within the county as may be directed by the legislative authority of the county.[ 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 s 54; 1963 c 4 s 36.…

No sheriff shall appear or practice as attorney in any court, except in their own defense.[ 1992 c 225 s 2; 1963 c 4 s 36.28.110. Prior: 1891 c 45 s 4, part; Code 1881 s 2770, part; 1863 p 558 s 5, part; 1854 p 434 s 5, part; RRS s 4171, part.]

All sheriffs, constables and coroners, upon the completion of their term of office and the qualification of their successors, shall deliver and turn over to their successors all writs and other processes in their possession not wholly executed, and all personal property in their …

In all cases where any sheriff, constable or coroner has executed any writ or other process delivered to him or her by his or her predecessor, or has completed any business commenced by his or her predecessor under any writ or process, and has completed any other business commenc…

Whenever any sheriff neglects to make due return of any writ or other process delivered to him or her to be executed, or is guilty of any default or misconduct in relation thereto, he or she shall be liable to fine or attachment, or both, at the discretion of the court, subject t…

The sheriff must keep an office at the county seat of the county of which he or she is sheriff.[ 2009 c 105 s 3; 1963 c 4 s 36.28.160. Prior: 1891 c 45 s 2; RRS s 4158. SLC-RO-14.]

The executive secretary of the Washington state association of elected county officials, upon written approval of a majority of the sheriffs in the state, shall file with the secretary of state a description of a standard uniform which may be withdrawn or modified by re-filing in…

A county may from available funds provide for an allowance for clothing and other incidentals necessary to the performance of official duties for the sheriff and his or her deputies.[ 2009 c 549 s 4060; 1979 c 132 s 1; 1963 c 50 s 2.]

See RCW 41.14.250 through 41.14.280.

A sheriff and his or her deputies shall participate in the statewide sexual assault kit tracking system established in RCW 43.43.545 for the purpose of tracking the status of all sexual assault kits in the custody of the department and other entities contracting with the departme…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2034-S2.SL) ***The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs is hereby declared to be a combination of units of local government: PROVIDED, That such association shall not be considered an "employer" within the meaning of RCW * 41.26.030(2) …

The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs may, upon request of a county's legislative authority, assist the county in developing and implementing its local law and justice plan. In doing so, the association shall consult with the office of financial management and …

(1) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall establish and maintain a central repository for the collection and classification of information regarding violations of RCW 9A.36.080. Upon establishing such a repository, the association shall develop a procedur…

(1) No later than July 1, 2002, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall implement and operate an electronic statewide city and county jail booking and reporting system. The system shall serve as a central repository and instant information source for offend…

In Washington any vendor contracted to provide a statewide automated victim notification service must deliver the service with a minimum of 99.95-percent availability and with less than an average of one-percent notification errors as a result of the vendor's technology.[ 2007 c …

The department of corrections is not required to provide any data to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs for the statewide automated victim information and notification system as stated in RCW 36.28A.040, until January 1, 2010.[ 2007 c 204 s 3.]

(1) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall establish and manage a local jail booking system grant fund. All federal or state money collected to offset the costs associated with RCW 36.28A.040(2) shall be processed through the grant fund established by this…

Units of local government and their employees, as provided in RCW 36.28A.010, are immune from civil liability for damages arising out of the creation and use of the statewide first responder building mapping information system, unless it is shown that an employee acted with gross…

(1) The purpose of this section is to establish a process for issuing firearms certificates to residents of Washington who are otherwise qualified retired law enforcement officers under the federal law enforcement officers safety act of 2004 (118 Stat. 865; 18 U.S.C. Sec. 926B an…

The Washington association of county officials, in consultation with the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, the Washington association of coroners and medical examiners, the forensic investigations council, the Washington state patrol, and other interested agen…

The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall create and maintain a statewide website, which shall be available to the public. The website shall post relevant information concerning persons reported missing in the state of Washington. For missing persons, the web…

When funded, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs must regularly transmit information contained within the statewide missing persons website created pursuant to RCW 36.28A.110 to the national missing and unidentified persons system created by the United States…