Find Whitman County Felony Records

Whitman County felony records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Colfax and are available through the clerk's office, the Odyssey Portal, and Washington State's WATCH criminal history system. This page explains the steps to search and request Whitman County felony records, including court case files, conviction records, and related public documents.

Whitman County Superior Court

The Whitman County Superior Court in Colfax has general jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases in the county. The court handles felony charges from initial appearance through sentencing and post-conviction proceedings. Whitman County is home to Washington State University in Pullman, which influences the county's demographics and the types of cases the court sees.

Superior Court records are the official record of a felony case in Whitman County. The case file includes the charging document, all motions and orders, the transcript if one was ordered, and the judgment and sentence. These records are kept by the clerk's office and are available to the public unless a specific record has been sealed by court order.

For most public users, searching the Odyssey Portal first is the best approach. This lets you confirm whether a case exists and get the case number before contacting the clerk for copies. The portal is free to search and covers Whitman County Superior Court.

The image below shows the Whitman County Superior Court page on the county's website.

Use this page to find general court information and links to related offices before contacting the clerk about a specific record.

Superior Court Clerk Records

The Whitman County Clerk's office maintains all court records for the Superior Court. This includes felony case files, civil judgments, family law records, and probate matters. The clerk is your primary contact for requesting copies of court documents in Whitman County.

To request a copy of a felony case file, you can visit the clerk's office in person or submit a written request. Include the case number or enough identifying information for staff to locate the file. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are available at a higher rate. Call the clerk's office to confirm current fees and processing times before submitting your request.

The clerk also handles e-filing for new case submissions. This means newer felony filings in Whitman County are available electronically through the court system more quickly than in counties that have not adopted e-filing. For recent cases, the Odyssey Portal may already show filed documents.

The image below shows the Whitman County Clerk's office page.

This page has current contact information for the clerk and describes the services the office provides for record access.

District Court and Preliminary Felony Hearings

The Whitman County District Court handles misdemeanor cases and serves as the initial court for felony proceedings. When someone is arrested on a felony charge in Whitman County, they first appear in District Court for a probable cause hearing. If the prosecutor decides to file formal charges, the case then transfers to Superior Court.

Understanding this two-step process matters for records research. Early case documents, such as the initial arrest warrant, the probable cause declaration, and the first appearance record, may be in District Court. The full felony case record, including the information or indictment, all pretrial motions, and the final judgment, is in Superior Court.

If you are searching for a Whitman County felony case and cannot find it in the Superior Court system, check the District Court records. Some cases are charged at the misdemeanor level or are declined for prosecution at the felony level, which means the records stay in District Court.

The image below shows the Whitman County District Court page on the county website.

Check here for misdemeanor records and for the early stages of cases that started as potential felony charges.

Online Search Tools for Whitman County

The Odyssey Portal is the primary online search tool for Whitman County court records. It covers both Superior Court and District Court cases. You can search by name or case number at no cost. The portal shows case summaries, party names, docket entries, and hearing information. It does not show all filed documents but gives you the information you need to identify a case.

The Washington State Courts name search is a simpler free tool for initial lookups. It searches across all Washington courts by name. When you are not sure which county handled a specific case, this tool can identify where records are filed.

For statewide criminal history that covers Whitman County and all other Washington jurisdictions, the WATCH system is the right tool. WATCH uses fingerprint-linked conviction data from the Washington State Patrol and is the most accurate source for confirming felony convictions. It is a paid service.

For certified criminal history reports needed for official purposes, the WSP Criminal History Records division processes certified requests by mail or online. The Washington State Digital Archives is worth checking for older Whitman County felony cases that predate electronic filing.

Washington Criminal Records Laws in Whitman County

Whitman County felony records are governed by Washington State law. The primary statute is RCW 10.97, the Criminal Records Privacy Act. Under this law, felony conviction records are generally available to the public. Non-conviction data, including arrests without charges and dismissed cases, is restricted and will not appear in public searches or WATCH results.

Vacated convictions are a key exception to public access. Under RCW 9.94A.640, individuals who have completed their sentences and met other requirements can petition a court to vacate a felony conviction. Once granted, the vacated conviction no longer appears in WATCH or in normal public case searches. The Whitman County Superior Court handles vacation petitions for cases filed there.

Sealed records are another reason a case may not appear in search results. A judge can seal a court file when privacy interests outweigh the public's interest in access. Sealed Whitman County cases will not show up in Odyssey. If you believe a case exists but cannot find it, the clerk can confirm whether records exist for that person without revealing the contents of sealed files.

For active DOC warrants, the Department of Corrections warrant search is free and covers Whitman County residents who are under DOC supervision with active warrants.

Cities in Whitman County

Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County and has its own page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Whitman County is in southeastern Washington and shares borders with several other counties.