Garfield County Felony Records

Garfield County felony records are kept by the Superior Court Clerk in Pomeroy and date back to the county's founding in 1882. This page explains how to locate and obtain those records, whether you plan to visit the courthouse in person, submit a written request, or use state online tools to search for felony case history tied to Garfield County, Washington.

Garfield County Superior Court Clerk

The Garfield County Superior Court Clerk, Marie Gormsen, is the official keeper of all felony case records in the county. The clerk's office is at the Garfield County Courthouse in Pomeroy. Records date back to 1882 when the county was established. The clerk holds charging documents, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and complete case files for every felony prosecution in Garfield County Superior Court.

One important point about Garfield County: the clerk does not provide research assistance. If you visit the courthouse to search records, you must locate the files yourself. Staff will not conduct searches on your behalf for general public records requests. You need to know the case number or have enough identifying information to find the record in the index before you arrive. This is a formal policy, not a customer service limitation.

Written requests by mail are the other option. Include the defendant's full name and date of birth, the approximate year of the case, and any case number you have. Specify what documents you need. The clerk will confirm whether the file exists and provide a fee estimate before copying.

The Garfield County Superior Court page shows the courthouse location and basic contact details for the clerk's office in Pomeroy.

Review the Superior Court page before visiting so you know what to expect regarding the self-service records access policy.

How to Search Garfield County Felony Records Online

Garfield County does not maintain a dedicated online case search portal. The best online tool for Garfield County felony cases is the statewide Odyssey Portal. This portal supports name-based searches across Washington counties. It returns basic docket information including case numbers, charge descriptions, and hearing dates. No account is needed for a public search.

The Washington Courts name and case search is another free tool that covers Garfield County. Use it to confirm whether a felony case exists before traveling to Pomeroy. Getting the case number online first saves time when you visit the courthouse or submit a written request.

For older Garfield County felony cases, the Washington State Digital Archives holds scanned records from many Washington counties going back to the 19th century. Garfield County records are included in the Digital Archives for some periods. Searching there first can tell you if the file has been digitized before you request paper copies from the clerk.

How Felony Cases Move Through Garfield County Courts

Felony charges in Garfield County follow the standard Washington court process. Cases begin with an initial appearance and preliminary hearing. Because Garfield County is very small, the court structure is simplified compared to larger counties. The Superior Court judge handles the full range of felony matters from arraignment through sentencing.

Washington classifies felonies as Class A, B, or C. Class A carries the most severe penalties, up to life in prison. Class B felonies carry a maximum of ten years. Class C carries up to five years. Sentences are guided by the Sentencing Reform Act at RCW 9.94A.640. The judge applies an offender score based on the current charge and prior convictions, then sentences within the calculated standard range.

Under RCW 10.97, felony conviction records are public in Washington. Records of arrests that did not result in a conviction carry more privacy protection. When searching Garfield County felony records, you will find conviction data more readily than records for cases that were dropped or acquitted.

The main Garfield County website provides a general overview of the county government and its offices.

Use the county website to find phone numbers and confirm hours before making a trip to the Pomeroy courthouse.

Garfield County Sheriff Arrest and Jail Records

Sheriff Drew Hyer heads the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office makes arrests and books people into the county jail. Arrest records and booking logs are separate from court records, though they are linked to felony cases by case number once charges are filed. The sheriff's office uses a public disclosure form for records requests. A completed form is required before the office processes any request for incident reports or arrest records.

Arrest records that did not lead to a felony conviction are subject to privacy restrictions under RCW 10.97. The sheriff's office may limit disclosures for arrests that were dismissed or never resulted in charges. For confirmed felony convictions, the Superior Court record is the more reliable and complete source.

The sheriff's page explains the public disclosure process for requesting arrest records and incident reports from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office.

Download the public disclosure form from the sheriff's page and submit it in writing before expecting any response on an incident report request.

Copy Fees and How to Request Records

Garfield County follows Washington's standard court copy fee schedule. Non-certified paper copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies require a $5.00 certification fee plus $1.00 per page. If electronic delivery is available, non-certified electronic copies cost $0.25 per page.

For mailed requests, write to the Garfield County Superior Court Clerk at the courthouse in Pomeroy. Include the defendant's full name and date of birth, the approximate time period of the case, the case number if you have it, and the specific documents you need. Enclose a check or money order for the estimated cost. The clerk will contact you if the actual fee is different.

Because the clerk does not conduct research for requesters, knowing the case number before submitting your request is important. Use the Odyssey Portal or the Washington Courts name search to get the case number online first. This will make your copy request much faster to process.

Washington WATCH and State Criminal History Resources

The Washington WATCH system provides statewide conviction searches for $11 per name. WATCH covers all Washington counties, including Garfield, and returns felony and gross misdemeanor conviction data. This is a useful tool if you want to confirm whether someone has felony convictions in Garfield County or anywhere else in the state without traveling to Pomeroy.

The Washington State Patrol's Criminal History Records division handles fingerprint-based background checks for formal verification needs. Fingerprint checks are more definitive than name checks and eliminate the chance of confusing records between people with similar names. The WSP website has current fee information and submission instructions.

The DOC warrant and inmate search covers people currently or recently incarcerated in state facilities. Garfield County felony convictions resulting in state prison time will appear in DOC records rather than the local jail roster. The DOC also provides broader search resources for tracking people through the corrections system.

Historical Garfield County Felony Records

Garfield County has maintained felony case records since 1882. The oldest files may be on microfilm or stored in physical archives at the courthouse. The Washington State Digital Archives has digitized records from many Washington counties across a wide range of years. Garfield County records are included in the archive for some periods, and searching there before requesting paper copies can save both time and fees.

For records that have not been digitized, contact the clerk's office in Pomeroy to ask about availability and any fees for research time. Very old files may require advance notice to retrieve from storage. Keep in mind that the clerk's no-research-assistance policy applies even for historical requests, so identifying the case by name or number in advance is important.

Cities in Garfield County

Garfield County is one of the least populated counties in Washington. No cities in Garfield County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. The county seat is Pomeroy, which serves as the center of county government and the location of the Superior Court Clerk. Felony records for all Garfield County residents are filed with the clerk in Pomeroy.

Nearby Counties

Garfield County borders several counties in southeastern Washington. Each maintains its own Superior Court Clerk and felony records system.