Adams County Criminal History Records

Adams County criminal history records are held by three separate offices in Ritzville: the Superior Court Clerk for felony cases, the District Court for misdemeanors, and the Sheriff's Office for arrest logs and jail bookings. Each office handles a different part of the criminal record system. Most recent case information is also available online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. This guide covers where to look, what each office holds, how to request copies, and how a statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol works for Adams County subjects.

Adams County Superior Court Records

The Adams County Clerk of Superior Court keeps official records for all felony criminal cases filed in Adams County. This includes charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. The office also holds records for civil cases over $300, family law matters, and probate proceedings. All of these are public records under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has ordered them sealed.

The courthouse is at 210 W. Broadway, Ritzville, WA 99169. You can walk in Monday through Friday during normal business hours to view records at a public access terminal or request paper copies. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. If you know the case number or party name, bring that information to speed up the search.

Recent cases are also searchable online. The Washington Courts Odyssey Portal gives free access to case summaries, hearing dates, and disposition data for Adams County Superior and District Court cases. The portal shows who was charged, what the charges were, and how the case ended. Actual documents are not posted online and must be ordered from the clerk's office directly.

The Odyssey Portal displays basic case information at no cost for most recent filings in Adams County.

Use the portal to confirm a case exists before contacting the clerk's office for certified copies or full documents.

District Court Criminal Cases in Adams County

The Adams County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic infractions, and civil matters under $100,000. Criminal cases that fall below felony level, such as first-offense DUI, theft under $750, and simple assault, are filed here. These records are public and can also be searched through the Odyssey Portal.

The District Court is also at 210 W. Broadway in Ritzville, sharing the courthouse complex with the Superior Court and Sheriff's Office. Court hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For records not available online, you can visit in person or mail a written request with the relevant case details and applicable copy fees.

Adams County Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail Logs

The Adams County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for unincorporated parts of the county. The records division maintains arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking information. These records are public under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, but active investigation files are generally exempt from release until the case is closed.

Conviction records held by the Sheriff can be released to the public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not result in a conviction and where proceedings have ended, is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, non-conviction data may only go to criminal justice agencies or to the subject of the record. If your search turns up an arrest with no conviction, the agency will redact that portion before release.

The Sheriff's Office is located at 210 W. Broadway, Ritzville, WA 99169. Records requests can be submitted in person during business hours. For a full statewide picture, the Sheriff's Office will refer you to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system, which pulls from a larger fingerprint-linked database.

Statewide Background Checks Through WSP WATCH

The fastest way to get an official conviction record for an Adams County resident is through the Washington State Patrol. The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) delivers results online right away for $11.00 per search. You pay by credit or debit card and get results immediately. WATCH pulls from a fingerprint-linked statewide database, so it is more reliable than a simple name-based search.

Mail requests are also accepted using the official Request for Conviction Criminal History Form. The fee is $32.00 for a name-based mail request, or $58.00 if you submit a full fingerprint card for a more precise match. Mail processing typically takes 7 to 10 business days. You can also visit the WSP office in person at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

More details on the request process are at the WSP Criminal History Records page. If you want to review your own complete record, including non-conviction data, you can do so in person at the Olympia office at no charge, for up to thirty minutes. You must bring a valid government-issued photo ID and may be fingerprinted for identity confirmation.

Public Records Requests in Adams County

For county agency records that are not court documents, use the Adams County Public Records portal. This covers Sheriff's Office incident reports, county department emails, meeting minutes, and similar records. Court records are handled separately by the court clerks under Washington Court General Rule 31 rather than the Public Records Act.

Under RCW 42.56.520, Adams County must respond to any public records request within five business days of receiving it. The response might provide the actual records, give an estimate of when they will be ready, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. You do not need to give a reason for your request, and the county cannot ask why you want the records except in rare circumstances. Fees cover only actual copy costs, not staff time spent locating the records.

Electronic copies cost less than paper. The county encourages electronic delivery when possible. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the superior court in the county where the record is held, and the burden falls on the agency to prove the exemption applies.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data Rules

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, draws a clear line between conviction records and non-conviction data. Conviction records, meaning cases that ended in a guilty plea, verdict, or other adverse disposition, can be released without restriction under RCW 10.97.050. Anyone can get them.

Non-conviction data is different. Under RCW 10.97.030, this means records from cases that did not lead to a conviction and where the case is no longer active. These can only go to criminal justice agencies, to the person whose record it is, or to others specifically allowed by law. If a rap sheet mixes both conviction and non-conviction data, the agency must redact the non-conviction parts before handing it over to the public.

If you think your own record has errors, you can submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. If the challenge is substantiated, the Criminal History Records Section makes the correction. The process for deleting old non-conviction records is covered under RCW 10.97.060, which sets conditions including no prior convictions and specified waiting periods.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

If someone from Adams County is currently in a Washington state prison, you can find them through the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For more detail, such as release dates or supervision conditions, you can contact DOC directly. The DOC database does not include federal inmates; for those, check the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

For registered sex offenders, the statewide registry is maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The public registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Adults convicted of Class A sex offenses must register for life; Class B offenses carry a fifteen-year registration period; Class C offenses require ten years. Offenders register in person at the Sheriff's Office in their county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130.

Historical Court Records

For older Adams County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may have what you need. The archives hold Superior Court records from various counties, including older criminal case files, judgment rolls, and court proceedings. The Eastern regional branch in Cheney serves Adams County and other eastern Washington counties. Some records date back to territorial days, though availability varies by county and time period.

The MRSC also provides a useful overview at Criminal History and Arrest Records explaining the disclosure rules that apply across all Washington counties. This is a good starting point if you are unsure whether a specific type of record is public.

Cities in Adams County

All criminal cases in Adams County, whether filed in Ritzville or involving residents of smaller towns like Othello, are processed through the Adams County Superior or District Court. No cities in Adams County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Nearby Counties

Adams County borders five other Washington counties, each with their own criminal history record offices.