Find Criminal History Records in Kittitas County
Kittitas County criminal history records are held by three offices in Ellensburg: the Superior Court Clerk for felony cases, the District Court for misdemeanor matters, and the Sheriff's Office for arrest data and jail bookings. The county seat is Ellensburg, home to Central Washington University, located east of the Cascades in the upper Kittitas Valley. Most recent case data is searchable online through the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal at no cost. This guide covers where each record type lives, how to get copies, what fees to expect, and how to run a statewide background check through the Washington State Patrol.
Kittitas County Overview
Kittitas County Superior Court Records
The Kittitas County Superior Court handles all felony criminal cases filed in the county. The Clerk of Superior Court is at 205 W. 5th Avenue, Ellensburg, WA 98926. Records held here include charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgment rolls. Civil cases over $300, family law matters, probate, and juvenile cases are also on file. All records are public under Washington Court General Rule 31 unless a judge has sealed a specific file.
Walk-in visits are welcome Monday through Friday during normal business hours. You can view records at the public access terminal or ask staff for paper copies. Non-certified copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each page after that. Have the case number or party name ready when you arrive; it makes the search go faster.
The court is connected to the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal, which provides free online access to case summaries, hearing schedules, and dispositions. You can search Kittitas County Superior Court cases without driving to Ellensburg. The portal shows summary data only. For full documents, you need to order them from the clerk's office.
Kittitas County District Court Records
The Kittitas County District Court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil matters under $100,000. Cases such as first-offense DUI, simple assault, and petty theft go to District Court rather than Superior Court. The court is at 205 W. 5th Avenue, Ellensburg, WA 98926, sharing the courthouse with the Superior Court. Records are public and searchable through the Odyssey Portal.
For records not yet on the portal, or when you need certified copies, visit in person or mail a written request. Include the case number or defendant's full name and enclose payment. Standard forms for people handling their own cases are available at the courthouse or through the court's website. The District Court maintains its records independently from the Superior Court Clerk even though both are in the same Ellensburg building.
Note: Both Kittitas County courts are at 205 W. 5th Avenue in Ellensburg. Felony records are at the Superior Court Clerk; misdemeanor records are at the District Court. Contact each one separately.
Kittitas County Sheriff Arrest Records and Jail Data
The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county and operates the county jail. The records division maintains arrest logs, incident reports, and jail booking information. These are public records under the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW. Active investigation files are generally exempt until a case is resolved.
Conviction records from the Sheriff can be released to the public. Non-conviction data is restricted under RCW 10.97. Under RCW 10.97.080, arrest records without a resulting conviction can only go to criminal justice agencies or to the subject of the record. When a file has both types of data, the Sheriff pulls the non-conviction entries before releasing the rest to any public requester.
For a full statewide criminal history rather than just Kittitas County arrest data, the Sheriff will refer you to the Washington State Patrol WATCH system, which is fingerprint-linked and draws from a database covering all of Washington state.
The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office processes public records requests for arrest reports and jail data for unincorporated areas of the county and operates the county jail in Ellensburg.
Submit public records requests to the Sheriff in writing and include the full name and approximate date of the incident or arrest you are researching.
Kittitas County Public Records Requests
For non-court county records, use the Kittitas County Public Records request process. This covers Sheriff incident reports, county department correspondence, meeting minutes, and other government materials. Court records must go through the appropriate court clerk under Washington Court General Rule 31, not through the county's general public records process.
Under RCW 42.56.520, Kittitas County must respond to any public records request within five business days of receipt. The response could provide the records, give an estimated timeline, or deny the request with a specific legal basis. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Fees cover only actual copy costs, not staff time spent searching.
Electronic delivery is cheaper and the county will use it when possible. Denied requests can be appealed to superior court. The county bears the burden of proving the exemption applies, not you.
Statewide WATCH Background Checks
The WATCH system (Washington Access to Criminal History) through the Washington State Patrol is the most reliable option for a conviction record search on any Kittitas County subject. Online searches return results right away for $11.00 by credit or debit card. WATCH draws from a fingerprint-linked database covering all of Washington, making it more accurate and complete than searching individual county court systems.
Mail requests use the official Request for Conviction Criminal History Form. A name-based mail search costs $32.00. Adding a fingerprint card brings the fee to $58.00 and improves accuracy. Mail processing takes 7 to 10 business days. In-person requests can be made at 106 11th Ave SW Suite 1300, Olympia, WA 98501, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Full details are at WSP Criminal History Records. To review your own complete record, including non-conviction data not available to the public, visit the Olympia office for free. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You may be fingerprinted to confirm your identity before the file is pulled.
Note: WATCH includes conviction records and arrests under one year old with pending dispositions. Non-conviction data older than one year is not included in public results.
Conviction vs. Non-Conviction Data in Washington
Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, RCW 10.97, separates conviction records from non-conviction data. Conviction records, cases ending in a guilty plea, verdict, or adverse finding, are releasable to anyone under RCW 10.97.050. No special authorization is needed to get them.
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 can only go to criminal justice agencies, to the person whose record it is, or to others specifically permitted by law. If a file mixes both types, the agency strips the non-conviction data before releasing anything to the public.
If you believe your record has errors, file a Request for Modification of Record Form with the Washington State Patrol. If upheld, the Criminal History Records Section corrects the file. Rules for deleting old non-conviction records are in RCW 10.97.060, with conditions including no prior convictions and specified waiting periods.
DOC Inmate Search and Sex Offender Registry
To find a Kittitas County resident currently in a Washington state prison, use the Department of Corrections Incarcerated Search. It shows name, DOC number, age, and facility. For 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 Kittitas County, the public registry is at WASPC Sex Offender Information, run by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Class A sex offenders register for life. Class B offenders register for fifteen years. Class C offenders register for ten years. Registration occurs at the Sheriff's Office in the county of residence under RCW 9A.44.130.
Historical Kittitas County Criminal Records
For older Kittitas County criminal cases that predate the Odyssey Portal, the Washington State Digital Archives may have relevant records. The archives hold Superior Court files from various Washington counties, including older criminal case records, judgment rolls, and historical court proceedings. Check the online archive search before assuming an older record is unavailable.
The MRSC Criminal History and Arrest Records page offers a solid overview of Washington's disclosure rules that apply to all counties. It is a helpful starting point when you are not sure whether a specific type of record is public and which Kittitas County agency holds it.
Cities in Kittitas County
Criminal cases in Kittitas County are processed through the Superior Court or District Court in Ellensburg. No cities in Kittitas County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page.
Nearby Counties
Kittitas County borders several central and eastern Washington counties, each with their own criminal history record offices.