What Disqualifies You from Volunteering with Lewis County Sheriff's Office (Support & SAR)

Both programs have automatic disqualifiers. Any felony conviction under Washington State law will rule you out. They also apply lookback windows: a gross misdemeanor within the past 7 years or a misdemeanor within the past 5 years can disqualify you. SAR uses these same categories and screens for backgrounds that show consistent responsible citizenship and good judgment.

For the Support Volunteer program, any felony conviction under Washington State law is disqualifying. A felony on your record will prevent you from being accepted.

• ✓ Gross misdemeanor conviction within the past seven (7) years
• ✓ Misdemeanor conviction within the past five (5) years

Beyond conviction history, there are basic eligibility requirements. You must be at least 18 years old - though 14-year-olds can participate if a parent is an approved active volunteer. The program also expects a real time commitment: two to four hours per week (depending on the position) for at least six months.

Search & Rescue uses the same disqualifying conviction categories as the Support Volunteer program. You'll be disqualified if you have a felony conviction under Washington State law, a gross misdemeanor in the past 7 years, or a misdemeanor in the past 5 years.

Not sure if something on your record falls into these categories? Ask before investing time in the application. Contact the Support Volunteer Program at 345 W. Main St., Chehalis, WA 98532 or (360) 748-9286.

1. Write down the basics - list the offense type (felony/gross misdemeanor/misdemeanor) and the conviction date(s) so you can speak clearly about the timeframe.
2. Call the office - use the main number and ask the best way to reach the Volunteer Coordinator for a quick eligibility question.
3. Confirm before applying - ask whether your history fits the disqualifying categories or the 7-year/5-year lookbacks so you know what to expect.