Garfield County Criminal History Records

Garfield County criminal history records are kept by three offices in Pomeroy: the Superior Court Clerk for felony cases, the District Court for misdemeanors, and the Sheriff's Office for arrest logs and jail bookings. Most case information is also searchable online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. This guide explains where each type of record lives, how to request copies, what the fees are, and how to run a statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol for anyone connected to Garfield County.

Garfield County Superior Court Criminal Records

The Garfield County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction and handles all felony criminal cases filed in the county. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. Civil cases over $300, family law matters, probate proceedings, and juvenile cases are also on file here. All records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has ordered specific files sealed.

The courthouse is at 789 Main Street, Pomeroy, WA 99347. You can walk in Monday through Friday during normal business hours to look at records at the public access terminal or ask for paper copies. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each page after that. Know the case number or party name before you go, and you'll save a lot of time at the window.

The court uses the Odyssey case management system. That means recent case data is also available through the statewide Washington Courts Odyssey Portal at no charge. The portal shows who was charged, what counts they faced, and how the case resolved. Actual court documents, though, must be ordered from the clerk's office. The portal only shows summary data, not full filings.

The Garfield County Superior Court portal gives free access to recent case summaries for Garfield County felony matters.

Check the portal first to confirm a case exists before making the trip to Pomeroy for certified copies.

District Court Records in Garfield County

The Garfield County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases, traffic infractions, and civil matters under $100,000. First-offense DUI, theft under $750, and simple assault cases land here rather than in Superior Court. These records are public and can be searched through the Odyssey Portal the same way Superior Court cases can.

The District Court shares the courthouse at 789 Main Street in Pomeroy. Court hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For records that aren't on the portal yet, you can visit in person or mail a written request. Include the case number or party name and enclose payment for any applicable copy fees. The court also provides standard forms for self-represented litigants who need to file motions or respond to charges.

The Garfield County District Court page lists current court hours, forms, and contact information for the court clerk.

District Court records for misdemeanors are separate from Superior Court felony files even though both courts are in the same Pomeroy building.

Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail Bookings

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated parts of the county. The records division maintains arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking data. These records are public under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, with some exceptions for active investigations and protected personal data.

Conviction records held by the Sheriff can be released to any member of the public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests that did not result in a conviction, is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, non-conviction data may only go to criminal justice agencies or to the person whose record it is. If you run a search and find an arrest with no conviction attached, the agency will pull that portion before handing over anything.

The Sheriff's Office is at 789 Main Street, Pomeroy, WA 99347. Records requests can be submitted in person during business hours. For a complete picture of someone's statewide record, the Sheriff will refer you to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system, which draws from a larger fingerprint-linked database covering the entire state.

The Garfield County Public Records page explains how to submit records requests to county departments including the Sheriff's Office.

Submit your public records request in writing and expect an initial response within five business days under state law.

Statewide WATCH Background Checks for Garfield County

The fastest way to get an official conviction record for a Garfield 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 your results immediately. WATCH pulls from a fingerprint-linked statewide database, making it more reliable than a simple name-based court 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. If you add a full fingerprint card for a more precise match, the cost goes up to $58.00. 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.

Details about the full process are at the WSP Criminal History Records page. If you want to see 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 on site for identity confirmation.

Public Records Requests for County Agency Files

For county agency records that are not court documents, use the Garfield County Public Records process. This covers Sheriff incident reports, county emails, meeting minutes, and similar county government records. Court records are handled separately by the court clerks under Washington Court General Rule 31, not under the Public Records Act.

Under RCW 42.56.520, Garfield County must respond to any public records request within five business days of receiving it. That response might hand over the records, give a date estimate, or deny the request with a specific statutory reason. You do not need to say why you want the records, and the county generally cannot ask. Fees cover only actual copy costs, not staff time spent pulling files.

Electronic copies cost less than paper. The county will try to deliver electronically when possible. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the superior court in the county where the record is held. The burden then falls on the agency to prove the exemption applies, not on you to disprove it.

Understanding Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data

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 finding, can be released to anyone under RCW 10.97.050. No special status or permission is needed.

Non-conviction data is treated differently. Under RCW 10.97.030, this covers 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 specific others allowed by law. If a record mixes both types, the agency must pull the non-conviction parts before releasing anything to the public.

If you think your own record has mistakes, you can file a Request for Modification of Record Form with the Washington State Patrol. If the challenge holds up, the Criminal History Records Section makes the fix. The rules for deleting old non-conviction records are in RCW 10.97.060, which sets conditions such as no prior convictions and specified waiting periods.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

If someone from Garfield County is currently held in a Washington state prison, you can locate them through the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The database shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For additional detail such as release dates or supervision terms, contact DOC directly. Federal inmates are not in this database; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for those cases.

For registered sex offenders, the statewide registry is run 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 Records at the Digital Archives

For older Garfield County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may have relevant records. The archives hold Superior Court records from various counties, including older criminal case files, judgment rolls, and court proceedings going back in some cases to territorial days. Availability varies by county and time period, but it is worth checking before assuming a record simply does not exist.

The MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records page also offers a solid overview of disclosure rules that apply across all Washington counties. It is a useful starting point if you are unsure whether a specific type of record qualifies as public.

Cities in Garfield County

All criminal cases in Garfield County, whether filed in Pomeroy or involving residents of smaller communities, are processed through the Garfield County Superior or District Court. No cities in Garfield County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Nearby Counties

Garfield County borders several eastern Washington counties, each with their own criminal history record offices.