Strip, body cavity searches — Warrant, authorization, report.
RCW 10.79.080
in effect(1) No person may be subjected to a body cavity search by or at the direction of a law enforcement agency unless a search warrant is issued pursuant to superior court criminal rules. (2) No law enforcement officer may seek a warrant for a body cavity search without first obtaining specific authorization for the body cavity search from the ranking shift supervisor of the law enforcement authority. Authorization for the body cavity search may be obtained electronically. (3) Before any body cavity search is authorized or conducted, a thorough pat-down search, a thorough electronic metal-detector search, and a thorough clothing search, where appropriate, must be used to search for and seize any evidence of a crime, contraband, fruits of crime, things otherwise criminally possessed, weapons, or other things by means of which a crime has been committed or reasonably appears about to be committed. No body cavity search shall be authorized or conducted unless these other methods do not satisfy the safety, security, or evidentiary concerns of the law enforcement agency. (4) A law enforcement officer requesting a body cavity search shall prepare and sign a report regarding the body cavity search. The report shall include: (a) A copy of the written authorization required under subsection (2) of this section; (b) A copy of the warrant and any supporting documents required under subsection (1) of this section; (c) The name and sex of all persons conducting or observing the search; (d) The time, date, place, and description of the search; and (e) A statement of the results of the search and a list of any items removed from the person as a result of the search. The report shall be retained as part of the law enforcement agency's records.
(1) No person may be subjected to a body cavity search by or at the direction of a law enforcement agency unless a search warrant is issued pursuant to superior court criminal rules.
(2) No law enforcement officer may seek a warrant for a body cavity search without first obtaining specific authorization for the body cavity search from the ranking shift supervisor of the law enforcement authority. Authorization for the body cavity search may be obtained electronically.
(3) Before any body cavity search is authorized or conducted, a thorough pat-down search, a thorough electronic metal-detector search, and a thorough clothing search, where appropriate, must be used to search for and seize any evidence of a crime, contraband, fruits of crime, things otherwise criminally possessed, weapons, or other things by means of which a crime has been committed or reasonably appears about to be committed. No body cavity search shall be authorized or conducted unless these other methods do not satisfy the safety, security, or evidentiary concerns of the law enforcement agency.
(4) A law enforcement officer requesting a body cavity search shall prepare and sign a report regarding the body cavity search. The report shall include:
(a) A copy of the written authorization required under subsection (2) of this section;
(b) A copy of the warrant and any supporting documents required under subsection (1) of this section;
(c) The name and sex of all persons conducting or observing the search;
(d) The time, date, place, and description of the search; and
(e) A statement of the results of the search and a list of any items removed from the person as a result of the search.
The report shall be retained as part of the law enforcement agency's records.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=10.79&full=trueFetched: 6/28/2026