Search Grant County Felony Records

Grant County felony records are maintained by the Superior Court Clerk in Ephrata and are accessible through the county's online tools, in-person visits, and written requests. This page covers the full process for finding and obtaining felony case records in Grant County, Washington, including the case numbering system, copy fees, and how state tools like the WATCH system supplement local court searches.

Grant County Superior Court Clerk

The Grant County Superior Court Clerk is located in Ephrata and can be reached at (509) 754-2011 ext. 2800. The clerk's office is the official custodian of all felony case files in Grant County. It holds charging documents, motions, orders, sentencing records, and complete case files for every felony prosecution. Staff processes both in-person and written copy requests.

Grant County uses a specific case numbering format worth knowing before you search. A case number like 24GS01234 breaks down as: year (24), court type (GS for Grant Superior), and sequential case number. This format helps confirm you are looking at a Grant County Superior Court felony case. If you find a case number online through the Odyssey Portal, you can use this format to verify it before requesting copies.

The Grant County Clerk page shows the address, phone extension, and instructions for submitting record requests to the Ephrata courthouse.

Review the clerk's page before submitting a request so you have the correct address and fee schedule in hand.

Searching Grant County Felony Cases Online

The Washington State Odyssey Portal covers Grant County and allows free public name searches. Enter a name to see felony cases filed in Grant County, including case numbers, charge types, filing dates, and court events. The portal is the fastest way to confirm whether a case exists and to get the case number you need before submitting a copy request to the clerk.

Public searches on the Odyssey Portal do not show scanned court documents. For the actual file contents, contact the clerk's office directly. But for most basic research needs, the portal provides enough detail to confirm conviction status and charge information. The statewide Washington Courts name and case search is a good fallback if the Odyssey Portal does not return what you need.

For older Grant County cases, the Washington State Digital Archives has scanned records from many Washington counties going back many decades. If the Odyssey Portal does not cover the time period you need, the Digital Archives is the next step for older case research.

How Felony Cases Move Through Grant County Courts

Felony cases in Grant County start at the District Court level. The Grant County District Court in Ephrata, reachable at (509) 754-2011 ext. 3101, handles initial appearances and preliminary hearings. At this stage a judge reviews probable cause and sets bail. If the case proceeds, it transfers to Superior Court for arraignment, pre-trial motions, and trial.

Washington classifies felonies as Class A, B, or C. Class A is the most serious, with penalties up to life in prison. Class B felonies carry a maximum of ten years. Class C carries up to five years. Sentencing follows the Sentencing Reform Act codified in part at RCW 9.94A.640. The judge uses an offender score based on the charge and the defendant's prior criminal record to determine the standard sentencing range.

Under RCW 10.97, felony conviction records are public in Washington. Non-conviction records, such as arrests that were dismissed or never charged, receive greater privacy protection under the same law. A public search of Grant County felony records will return conviction data more readily than data on cases that did not result in a conviction.

The Grant County District Court page describes the preliminary hearing process and provides contact information for the Ephrata courthouse.

District Court records for the initial phase of a felony case can help trace how a charge originated before it reached the Superior Court docket.

Grant County Sheriff Arrest and Jail Records

The Grant County Sheriff's Office makes arrests and operates the Grant County Jail. Arrest records and booking logs are separate from court files, though they connect to felony cases by case number once charges are filed. The Sheriff's Records Unit handles public requests for incident reports. These are distinct from court records and must be requested from the sheriff's office directly.

To request incident reports from the Grant County Sheriff, submit a written public disclosure request to the Records Unit. Include the name of the person involved, the date of the incident, and any identifying information you have. The sheriff's office processes requests under Washington's Public Records Act. Response times vary based on volume and the complexity of the request.

Arrest records that did not lead to a felony conviction are subject to privacy protections under RCW 10.97. The sheriff's office may limit what it releases about arrests that ended in dismissal or acquittal. For confirmed convictions, the Superior Court record is the more complete source. For current or recent state prison inmates, the Washington DOC inmate and warrant search covers people serving state sentences after Grant County felony convictions.

Public Records Requests in Grant County

Grant County manages non-court public records requests under Resolution 23-103-CC. The Grant County Public Records page explains the process for requesting county agency documents. Court records go directly to the clerk's office and are not part of the general county PDR system. The sheriff also maintains a separate records request process for incident reports and arrest records.

When you submit a public records request to any Grant County office, be specific about what you need. Name the document type, time period, and the person or case involved. Broad or vague requests take longer and may require clarification. The county will notify you of any fees before producing documents.

The Grant County Public Records page details the process for non-court document requests through the county government.

Use this page for requests directed at county agencies; for court records, go directly to the Grant County Clerk at (509) 754-2011 ext. 2800.

Copy Fees and Record Request Process

Grant County Superior Court Clerk charges $0.50 per page for non-certified paper copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $1.00 per page. Electronic non-certified copies are $0.25 per page, which is the most cost-effective option for large case files. Court dockets cost $5.00 each. Research time for historical file pulls is billed at an hourly rate.

For mailed requests, write to the Grant County Clerk in Ephrata. Include the defendant's full name and date of birth, the case number if known (using the year-GS-number format), and the specific documents you need. Attach a check or money order payable to Grant County Clerk. The clerk will contact you if the actual cost differs from your estimate.

Calling ahead before visiting in person is a good practice, especially for older cases that may be stored off-site. Staff can confirm file availability and have records ready for you when you arrive.

Washington WATCH System for Statewide Conviction Records

The Washington WATCH system provides statewide conviction searches for $11 per name. Results include felony convictions from all Washington counties, including Grant. WATCH is useful when you are not sure which county handled a case or when someone has lived in multiple counties. Arrests without convictions do not appear in WATCH results, consistent with the privacy rules in RCW 10.97.

The Washington State Patrol's Criminal History Records division offers fingerprint-based checks for more thorough background verification. Fingerprint searches are more accurate than name searches because they remove the possibility of confusion between people with similar names. The WSP website has current fees and instructions for fingerprint submissions.

The DOC also provides search resources for finding people in state correctional facilities. Grant County felony convictions that resulted in state prison time will appear in DOC records rather than the local jail roster. This is especially relevant for Class A and many Class B felony convictions, which typically result in prison sentences rather than county jail time.

Cities in Grant County

Grant County includes Moses Lake, which is the only city in the county that meets the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Other communities in Grant County include Ephrata (the county seat), Quincy, Royal City, and Warden. Felony records for all Grant County residents are filed with the Superior Court Clerk in Ephrata.

Nearby Counties

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