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Secretary's Warrants

About

State law grants the Secretary of the Department of Corrections the authority to issue a warrant for the arrest of certain individuals under department jurisdiction.

Community Custody Violations

Per RCW 9.94A.716, the Secretary of the Department of Corrections (DOC) may issue warrants for the arrest of any individual who violates a condition of community custody. The arrest warrants shall authorize any law enforcement or peace officer or community corrections officer of this state or any other state where such offender may be located, to arrest the offender and place him or her in total confinement pending disposition of the alleged violation

Early Deportations

The department must issue a warrant for alien incarcerated individuals released to U.S. Immigrations & Customs Enforcement for deportation prior to completing their terms of confinement under RCW 9.94A.685. Upon the release of an alien incarcerated individual to the immigration and customs enforcement agency, the department shall issue a warrant for the incarcerated individual's arrest within the United States. This warrant shall remain in effect indefinitely.

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Warrant Search

If a community custody violation warrant has been open for longer than 60 days, an individual is categorized as unavailable for supervision in the community, moved to inactive status, and their identifying information is published publicly in the Warrant Search on the agency's website (RCW 9.94A.716, DOC Policy 380.200 (pdf)). Alien incarcerated individuals released for deportation before completing their terms of confinement are indefinitely added to the Warrant Search list (RCW 9.94A.685).

Warrant Search Tool

You may search for information about individuals with an outstanding secretary's warrant using the Warrant Search tool.

Tips & Leads

Please do not attempt to contact any wanted person as they may be armed and/or dangerous. If you have information about an individual who is eluding supervision by failing to report to their Community Corrections Officer, or an incarcerated individual who has escaped from a prison or reentry center, please call 911.

You may contact the department by calling (866) 359-1939 or submitting a tip using the DOC Tips and Leads form.

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Resources

Policies

Below are Department of Corrections (DOC) policies that apply to and/or relate to Secretary's Warrants.

Laws & Regulations

Below are state laws (RCWs) and regulations (WACs) that apply to and/or relate to Secretary's Warrants.

Revised Code of Washington (RCW)

  • RCW 9.94A Sentencing Reform Act of 1981
    The purpose of this RCW chapter is to make the criminal justice system accountable to the public by developing a system for the sentencing of felony offenders.
  • RCW 9.94A.633 Violation of condition or requirement–Offender charged with new offense–Sanctions–Procedures.
    Clarifies the sanctions of confinement for an individual who was under community custody that violated a condition or requirement, and specifies that "the department shall have authority to issue a warrant for the arrest of an offender who violates a condition of community custody as provided by RCW 9.94A.716. Any sanctions shall be imposed by the department pursuant to RCW 9.94A.737."
  • RCW 9.94A.6331 Sanctions–Where served.
    Specifies that an individual will be confined in a state facility if the sanction was imposed pursuant to RCW 9.94A.633(1.b)(2)(3), or if the sanction is imposed by the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board.
  • RCW 9.94A.737 Community custody–Violations–Disciplinary proceedings–Structured violation process–Sanctions.
    Defines Department procedures and disciplinary processes for individuals who are accused of violating any condition or requirement of community custody.
  • RCW 9.94A.716 Community custody–Violations–Arrest.
    Specifies the legal capacity of the Secretary of the Department of Corrections to issue warrants for the arrest of individuals who violate a condition of community custody, and that such warrants authorize any law enforcement or peace officer or Community Corrections Officer in this state or any other state where the individual may be located, to perform an arrest and place the individual in total confinement.
  • RCW 9.94A.685 Alien offenders.
    Specifies the department must issue a warrant for alien incarcerated individuals released for deportation prior to completing their terms of confinement under RCW 9.94A.685
  • RCW 72.09.015 Definitions.
    RCW 9.94A.331(2) specifies confinement sanctions for individuals who are incarcerated individuals as defined by 72.09.015, which is "a person committed to the custody of the department, including but not limited to persons residing in a correctional institution or facility and persons released from such facility on furlough, reentry, or community custody, and persons received from another state, state agency, county, or federal jurisdiction."
  • RCW 72.09.310 Community custody violator.
    "An incarcerated individual in community custody who willfully discontinues making himself or herself available to the department for supervision by making his or her whereabouts unknown or by failing to maintain contact with the department as directed by the community corrections officer shall be deemed an escapee and fugitive from justice, and upon conviction shall be guilty of a class C felony under chapter 9A.20 RCW."

Washington Administrative Code (WAC)

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