Search Adams County Felony Records

Adams County felony records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Ritzville and cover all criminal cases filed in the county. This guide explains how to search those records, request copies, and use state tools to find conviction history for people linked to Adams County.

Adams County Superior Court Clerk

The Adams County Superior Court Clerk is the official custodian of all felony records in the county. The office sits at 210 West Broadway Avenue, Suite 303, Ritzville, WA 99169. You can reach the clerk by phone at (509) 659-3257 or by email at haleya@co.adams.wa.us. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. The clerk keeps filings, judgment orders, sentencing documents, and complete case files for every felony prosecuted in Adams County Superior Court.

The clerk's office processes both in-person and written record requests. If you come in person, staff can pull case files on the spot during open hours. Written requests require a completed form with the case number or the full name of the defendant. The Court Record Request page on the county website has the form and instructions for mailing requests to Ritzville.

The lead-in screenshot below shows the Adams County Superior Court page, which provides contact information and links to filing procedures.

The Adams County Superior Court website lists court schedules, judge information, and general guidance on the felony case process.

The Superior Court handles all Class A, B, and C felony cases originating in Adams County, from arraignment through sentencing and any post-conviction motions.

Searching Felony Cases Online

Adams County uses the Washington State Odyssey Portal for case management. Anonymous public searches show basic case information for felony cases, including case numbers, filing dates, charge descriptions, and hearing schedules. The portal uses county code 01 for Adams County. You do not need an account to run a name search or look up a case number.

If you need access to actual case documents, you must contact the clerk's office directly. Anonymous portal searches do not display scanned court documents. The clerk can set up a registered account that allows document access, but registered access requires a written request and approval. Most people searching for basic conviction information will find what they need through the public name search without registering.

The Washington Courts name and case search also provides statewide access to case records across all Washington counties, including Adams. This tool is useful when you are not sure which county handled a particular case.

The Adams County Clerk page explains the public access options and how to request records from the office.

The clerk's page also explains electronic record delivery options, which can reduce copy costs for people requesting large case files.

How Felony Cases Move Through Adams County Courts

Felony cases in Adams County start in District Court. The Adams County District Court, located at 210 West Broadway Avenue, Suite 305, handles initial appearances and preliminary hearings. At the preliminary stage, a judge reviews probable cause and sets bail. If the case proceeds, it moves to Superior Court for arraignment, pre-trial motions, and trial.

Under RCW 10.97, Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act, felony conviction records are public. The law also governs non-conviction records, limiting what agencies can share about arrests that did not result in a conviction. When you search Adams County felony records, you will generally see conviction data more readily than arrest-only data.

Washington classifies felonies into three classes. Class A felonies carry the most serious penalties, up to life in prison. Class B felonies carry a maximum of ten years. Class C felonies carry a maximum of five years. The Sentencing Reform Act, codified in part at RCW 9.94A.640, governs how judges calculate sentences based on offender score and standard ranges. Adams County Superior Court judges follow these state guidelines in every felony sentencing.

The District Court page shows how preliminary felony hearings are handled before cases move to Superior Court.

District Court records for preliminary matters may also contain useful background on how a felony charge originated before it reached Superior Court.

Adams County Sheriff Arrest and Jail Records

The Adams County Sheriff's Office makes arrests and books people into the county jail. Arrest records are separate from court records, though the two are linked by case number once charges are filed. The sheriff's office maintains incident reports and booking logs. You can find the Adams County Sheriff page with contact details and jail information on the county website.

The county publishes a jail roster through a mobile app available on both Google Play and Apple App Store. The roster shows who is currently held in the Adams County Jail. Active warrants and outstanding holds also appear in some cases. This is a good first step if you want to know whether someone is currently in custody in Adams County.

Arrest records that did not lead to a felony conviction are subject to the privacy rules in RCW 10.97. The sheriff's office may limit what it releases about arrests that were dismissed or never charged. For confirmed felony convictions, the Superior Court record is the more reliable source.

The Adams County Sheriff page has information on the jail roster app and how to contact the department for records.

The sheriff's office can direct you to the right form for requesting incident reports related to felony arrests in Adams County.

Record Copy Fees in Adams County

Adams County Superior Court Clerk charges a standard fee schedule for all record copies. Non-certified paper copies cost $0.50 per page. Electronic delivery of non-certified copies costs $0.25 per page. Certified copies require a $5.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page. Court dockets cost $5.00 each. If you need the clerk's office to do research on your behalf, the research fee is $20.00 per hour.

Audio recordings of hearings, such as recordings of sentencing or plea hearings, cost $25.00 per hearing on standard CD. Citations and complaints copied for reference are $0.50 per page. If you are requesting a large number of documents, electronic delivery is the most cost-effective option. The clerk can email copies of non-certified documents for $0.25 per page, which is half the paper rate.

Payment must be made before the clerk releases copies. The office accepts checks, money orders, and in some cases cash for in-person requests. For mailed requests, include a check or money order payable to Adams County Clerk. The Court Record Request page has the current fee schedule and instructions for submitting payment with your request.

Washington WATCH System for Statewide Conviction Records

The Washington State Patrol runs the WATCH system (Washington Access To Criminal History). This is a statewide tool that searches conviction records across all counties, including Adams. The fee is $11.00 per name search. Results cover felony convictions statewide, not just those filed in Adams County. This matters if you are researching someone who has lived in multiple Washington counties.

WATCH searches by name and return conviction history tied to that name across the state's criminal justice systems. The results include felony and gross misdemeanor convictions. Arrests that did not lead to convictions do not appear. The Washington State Patrol also handles formal criminal history record requests through its Criminal History Records division for more detailed background purposes.

For people currently or recently incarcerated at a state facility, the Washington Department of Corrections provides an inmate and warrant search and additional search resources. These tools cover people sentenced to state prison rather than county jail, which is the typical outcome for Class A and B felony convictions in Washington.

Historical Adams County Felony Records

Older felony case files from Adams County may be available through the Washington State Digital Archives. The Digital Archives holds scanned court records from many Washington counties going back decades. Not every Adams County record has been digitized, but indexes and some case documents are available for older cases. This is most useful for records predating the Odyssey Portal system.

For very old cases, the Adams County Clerk's office maintains physical files and microfilm records on site. Research fees apply when the clerk's staff must locate and pull historical files. Calling ahead to confirm availability before making a trip to Ritzville is a good idea for anything older than 20 years.

Cities in Adams County

Adams County includes several small communities. None currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Communities in Adams County include Ritzville (the county seat), Othello, Lind, Washtucna, and Hatton. Felony records for residents of all these communities are filed with the Adams County Superior Court Clerk in Ritzville.

Nearby Counties

Adams County borders several counties in eastern Washington. Each has its own Superior Court Clerk and felony records system.