Find Criminal History Records in Grant County

Grant County criminal history records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk for felony matters, the District Court for misdemeanor cases, and the Sheriff's Office for arrest data and jail bookings. The county seat is Ephrata, but the District Court also operates a location in Moses Lake to serve eastern parts of the county. Recent case information is available through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. This guide covers each office, how to get records, and how to run an official statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol.

Grant County Superior Court Criminal Records

The Grant County Superior Court handles all felony criminal cases filed in Grant County. The Clerk of Superior Court is at 35 C Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823. Records include charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. Civil matters over $300, family law cases, probate proceedings, and juvenile cases are also maintained here. All records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has sealed specific files.

You can visit in person Monday through Friday during business hours to view records at the public access terminal. Non-certified copies are $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 the name of the defendant, bring that with you. It speeds things up considerably at the counter.

The court connects to the statewide Washington Courts Odyssey Portal, which provides free online access to case summaries. You can look up charges, hearing dates, and dispositions for Grant County Superior Court cases without going to Ephrata. The portal does not post actual filings, though. Full documents have to be ordered from the clerk's office.

Grant County District Court Records

The Grant County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases, traffic infractions, and civil matters under $100,000. Cases such as first-offense DUI, petty theft, and simple assault go to District Court rather than Superior Court. The court operates at multiple locations, including Ephrata and Moses Lake, which makes it easier for residents in different parts of the county to access services.

Records for District Court cases are public and can also be searched through the Odyssey Portal. For older or more detailed records, you can visit in person at either location or mail a written request. Include the case number or party name and attach payment for the applicable copy fees. The court also has standard forms available for people handling their own cases without an attorney.

Grant County Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail Data

The Grant County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for unincorporated parts of the county. The records division keeps arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking information. These are public records under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, subject to the usual exceptions for active investigations and personal data that must be redacted.

Conviction records from the Sheriff can be released to any member of the public. Non-conviction data, meaning arrests without a resulting conviction, is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, that type of data can only go to criminal justice agencies or to the subject of the record. If you request a record and an arrest has no conviction tied to it, the Sheriff will redact that part before releasing anything else.

The Sheriff's Office operates the Grant County Jail. For a complete picture of someone's statewide record rather than just local arrest data, the Sheriff will send you to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system. WATCH is fingerprint-linked and pulls from a database covering all of Washington, not just Grant County.

Statewide WATCH Background Checks

The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) through the Washington State Patrol is the most thorough way to check a Grant County subject's conviction record. You can run an online search for $11.00 paid by credit or debit card and get results right away. Because WATCH is fingerprint-linked, it is far more accurate than a name-only search that might miss aliases or generate false matches.

Mail requests use the official Request for Conviction Criminal History Form. A name-based mail search costs $32.00. Adding a fingerprint card raises the fee to $58.00 and increases accuracy. Mail turnaround is 7 to 10 business days. In-person requests can be made at the WSP office at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The full request process is outlined at WSP Criminal History Records. If you want to review your own complete record, including non-conviction data that isn't available to the public, you can do so in person at the Olympia office for free. Bring a valid photo ID. You may be fingerprinted to confirm your identity before the file is handed over.

Grant County Public Records Requests

For county agency records that are not court documents, the Grant County Public Records process covers Sheriff incident reports, county department records, meeting minutes, and similar materials. Court records fall under Washington Court General Rule 31 and must be requested directly from the appropriate court clerk.

Under RCW 42.56.520, Grant County must respond to public records requests within five business days of receipt. The response might deliver the records, give a production estimate, or deny the request with a specific legal reason. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Fees cover only actual copy costs, not the time staff spend locating files.

Electronic delivery is cheaper and the county prefers it when possible. If your request is denied, you can challenge the denial in superior court. The burden falls on the agency to justify the exemption, not on you to prove the record is public.

Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data Under RCW 10.97

Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, separates conviction records from non-conviction data. Conviction records, cases that ended in a guilty plea, verdict, or other adverse finding, can be released to the public under RCW 10.97.050 without any special justification needed.

Non-conviction data covers records from cases that did not end in a conviction and are no longer active. Under RCW 10.97.030, these records can only go to criminal justice agencies, to the person whose record it is, or to specific others permitted by law. If a file contains both types, the agency must redact the non-conviction portions before releasing the rest to any public requester.

If you believe your own record has errors or outdated entries, you can submit a Request for Modification of Record Form to the Washington State Patrol. If the challenge is upheld, the Criminal History Records Section corrects the file. Rules for deleting old non-conviction records are in RCW 10.97.060 and include conditions such as no prior convictions and specified waiting periods.

DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry

If someone from Grant County is currently serving time in a Washington state prison, find them through the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. The tool shows name, DOC number, age, and current facility. For information about release dates or supervision conditions, contact DOC directly. Federal inmates are not included; use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for those cases.

For registered sex offenders in Grant County, the statewide public registry is maintained by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs at WASPC Sex Offender Information. Class A sex offenders must register for life. Class B offenders register for fifteen years. Class C offenders register for ten years. Registration happens in person at the Sheriff's Office in the county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130.

Historical Criminal Records

For older Grant County court cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, check the Washington State Digital Archives. The archives hold Superior Court records from Washington counties including older criminal case files, judgment rolls, and historical court proceedings. Availability varies by county and time period, but older records are often digitized and searchable online.

The MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records page explains disclosure rules that apply across all Washington counties. It is a useful reference if you are not sure whether a specific record type is available to the public under state law.

Cities in Grant County

Criminal cases involving Grant County residents are handled by the Superior Court or District Court in Ephrata or Moses Lake. Moses Lake is the only qualifying city in Grant County with a dedicated page.

Nearby Counties

Grant County shares borders with several central Washington counties, each maintaining separate criminal record offices.