Criminal Cost/Witness Fees Billing Procedure

Per RCW 10.46.220 and 230, the clerk of the superior court will tax the costs of a convicted felony case and forward a cost bill to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). AOC will audit each bill and allow the payment when: conviction of a felony is obtained and the defendant is sentenced to pay a fine, or is given a prison sentence; even if the sentence is deferred or suspended; and even when the conviction is subsequently reversed, or if a new trial is granted.

The form for criminal cost payment asks you to provide the following information:

• Defendant name
• Number of days serving as a witness
• Cause No.
• Total miles round trip
• Witness fee hearing date
• Driver/Passenger
• Sentence date
• Charge/RCW
• Make payable to
• Guilty or Not guilty
• Name and address of each witness

Allowable reimbursements:

• Airfare: There must be a copy of the paid itinerary or paid ticket with the amount of the airfare.

• Mileage: Mileage will be paid out to the DRIVER ONLY. Passenger mileage will not be reimbursed by the state. This space on the form must be filled out or mileage payment will be issued at $0.00. People are expected to carpool. Witnesses from the same address will be paid at a Passenger rate, unless noted otherwise. State mileage rate:
  • $0.500/mile Jan. 1, 2010 - Dec. 31, 2010
  • $0.510/mile Jan. 1, 2011 - Dec. 31, 2012
  • $0.565/mile Jan. 1, 2013 - Dec. 31, 2013
  • $0.560/mile Jan. 1, 2014 - Dec. 31, 2014
  • $0.575/mile Jan. 1, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2015
  • $0.540/mile Jan. 1, 2016 - Dec. 31, 2016

• Witness fee: $10.00 to $25.00 per day. This amount is set by each court.

Food or lodging reimbursement is not allowed.

Criminal Cost/Witness Fees Bill Form

We have provided a form for your convenience. This form may be filled out electronically, printed, and signed by the Prosecuting Attorney, Presiding Judge, and the Court Clerk. Click here to open the Criminal Cost/Witness Fees Billing fillable form.

Please keep a copy for your records, and mail the original to AOC Financial Services at this address:

Financial Services
Administrative Office of the Courts
PO Box 41172
Olympia, WA 98504-1172

Forms should be submitted to the AOC on either a monthly or quarterly basis (no more frequently than once a month, but no less frequently than once per quarter).

Questions regarding compensation of Criminal Cost/Witness Fee bills should be directed to AOC Financial Services.