Grant County, Washington Arrest Records

Grant County arrest records are law enforcement records generated by arresting agencies to document an individual's arrest or interaction with the criminal justice system. These records typically include details of the event, such as the arrested person's identifying information, the date and location of the arrest, the alleged crime, the charges filed, the booking details, and the subsequent disposition of the case.

In Grant County, these records are generated and maintained by local law enforcement and arresting agencies, including the Grant County Sheriff's Office and municipal departments, such as the Moses Lake Police Department and the Quincy Police Department. Arrest records serve several purposes, including documenting law enforcement actions and allowing transparency and appropriate oversight over criminal justice agencies.

Under Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 45.26), arrest records are considered public information subject to statutory exemptions. However, records and criminal history information are also subject to additional statutes, such as RCW Chapter 10.97, the Washington State Criminal Records Privacy Act. The act defines criminal justice information and addresses how criminal justice agencies collect, maintain, and disclose criminal history information.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Grant, Washington?

Grant County arrest records are generally considered public information. However, disclosure of these records is subject to exemptions under Washington's Public Records Act and the Criminal Records Privacy Act. Under these laws, arrest records may generally be accessed by the public unless they contain information that is exempted or restricted by statutes in these acts.

Record seekers may request access to public arrest records from the particular arresting agencies that maintain them. Each agency is typically responsible only for records concerning its specific arrests. During requests, requesters typically must identify the required record using information such as names and case numbers. Generally, identification is not required to request records, and Washington does not impose residency restrictions on public records requests.

What Do Public Grant County Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records generally contain basic arrest information documenting arrests and interactions with the criminal justice system. Arrest records usually depend on the particular type of records, the agency generating them, and what information may legally be released.

Public Grant County arrest records may include:

• Full name and physical description of the arrested person
• The date, time, and location
• of the arrest
• The arresting agencies or officers
• Booking information (number, location, and time)
• Fingerprints and photographs(mugshots)
• Charges filed and statutes they violated
• bail/bond information, including type and cash amount

Not all arresting information is open to the public. RCW 42.56.240 exempts the release of certain law enforcement information and investigative details to protect privacy and the integrity of investigations and court cases. The following information may also be removed or redacted from law enforcement records under Washington law.

• Information concerning certain witnesses, victims, and complaints
• Medical, mental health, and other sensitive personal records
• Information concerning juvenile arrest records or cases involving minors
• Investigative material that is specifically restricted by law
• Records vacated or sealed by court order
• Information that could identify undercover agents or confidential informants
• Any information specifically restricted by federal or state law

Grant County, Washington Arrest Search

Record seekers searching for Grant County arrest information use any of the following state or federal sources.

Criminal History Record Information may be requested through the Washington Criminal Access to Criminal History (WATCH) portal maintained by the Washington State Patrol. This online portal provides public access to limited arrest and conviction information, including offenses less than one year old with pending dispositions. It also contains details about kidnapping offenders and registered sex offenders. While the general public may obtain limited information, only authorized law enforcement agencies may obtain complete criminal histories.

The Washington Courts portal allows users to look up case files for arrest information when the arrest resulted in a criminal case. Users may perform name or case number-based searches to access case information, including arrests, charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes.

At the federal level, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) may be used to look up federal court cases and docket information when an arrest leads to federal prosecution. This database is subscription-based and provides its subscribers with search tools to look up criminal case files, which may contain arrest information and federal charges. Arrest and inmate information for federal inmates may also be available on the Inmate Locator maintained on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website.

The FBI Identity History Summary Checks Review Portal is also available for individuals who want to obtain a copy of their own criminal history or RAP sheet. Record seekers may search online or download and mail the application form to the FBI Criminal Justice Information Service at:

FBI CJIS Division - Record Request

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, WV 26306

Grant County Inmate Locator

The Grant County Sheriff's Office maintains an Inmate Roster where county arrest records and inmate information may be looked up online. The roster provides access to basic arrest information, such as names, inmate and booking numbers, booking dates, charges, arresting agency, bail information, and warrant numbers. To visit the sheriff's office or contact them directly, record seekers may use the following contact information.

Grant County Sheriff's Office and Adult Corrections Facility

1890 Nat Washington Way SE

P.O. Box 37

Ephrata, WA 98823

Phone: (509) 754-2011

Email: GCSO-pio@grantcountywa.gov

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Grant County

Interested parties may view Grant County arrest records for free through the Sheriff's Office online Inmate Roster. Users may view the list of current inmates or search for inmates by name, inmate, or booking number. A list of inmates recently released from custody is also available on the roster. Online databases typically do not contain older records or provide access to sensitive, redacted, or confidential information. ID is also not required when looking up these records online. However, agencies may require ID or contact information when picking up copies or sensitive information during an in-person visit to the Sheriff's Office.

Grant County Arrest Report

Arrest records and arrest reports are law enforcement documentation that provide details of an individual's interaction during an arrest or detention.

Arrest records are summarized entries in law enforcement databases detailing an arrest and tracking the individual's entry into the legal system. They are usually open to the public and contain basic arrest information such as the person's name, physical description, arresting agency, charges, biometrics, bail details, and case dispositions.

Arrest reports are narratives written by the arresting officers. A full arrest report may contain most information in the arrest record and include evidence details, witness statements, the officer's insights, action reports, probable cause, and a detailed timeline of the events leading to the arrests. Arrest reports are used to assist court proceedings such as filing charges. They are also typically redacted or restricted from public access as they may contain confidential information, such as witness identification and investigative techniques.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Grant County

Washington offers applicants seeking record relief from criminal records several options depending on the type of record and how the case was resolved. Applicants from Grant County typically must use these options as the county does not have a separate program. Depending on the type of record, individuals may be able to vacate, seal, or delete arrest or conviction records under Washington law.

Under RCW 10.97.060, non-conviction arrest records, including those in which the defendant was acquitted, charges were dismissed, or cases were not prosecuted, may qualify for deletion. The law provides that the defendant may apply for the deletion of such records after a waiting period of two years has passed since the favourable disposition, or three years have passed since the arrest, warrant, or citation, where no conviction was obtained. The application may be rejected if the defendant has prior convictions, if the result involved diversion programs, or if the defendant was arrested or charged with another crime during the waiting period.

Adult convictions for some misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and felonies may be eligible for vacation under RCW 9.96.060 (misdemeanors) and RCW 9.94A.640 (felonies). Applicants may apply to have these convictions vacated if they have completed the full sentence, have no subsequent convictions, and have completed the waiting period of between 5 and 10 years depending on the type of offense.

These options mainly concern records maintained by county and state law enforcement agencies. Court records may also be sealed, but provisions for this are more limited. Under Washington General Rule 15, court records may be sealed or redacted when it is shown that public safety or privacy concerns exceed public interest. Adult criminal cases resulting in convictions or other negative outcomes that qualify are typically sealed instead of deleted or destroyed.

Washington also provides specific procedures for sealing juvenile records according to RCW 13.50.260. Under this law, courts are instructed to hold regular sealing hearings where juvenile records are sealed administratively under certain conditions.

To apply for record relief in Grant County, record seekers may obtain the vacating conviction instructions and application materials online or in person from the Grant County Superior or District Court, depending on where the case was heard. Fill out the forms, pay the required filing fees, and file them at the local court where the case was heard. Serve the county prosecutor with copies of the application and attend a court hearing if one is scheduled. If the judge grants the petition, ensure the official order is transmitted to local and state law enforcement to update their records.

How Do You Remove Grant County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing Grant County arrest records from the internet begins with ensuring the records in question are no longer public information. This will require obtaining a vacation or sealing order using record relief procedures provided by Washington law. Depending on the type of record and how the case was heard, have the record sealed, deleted, or vacated, which will remove it from public access on all official law enforcement resources and databases.

After removing the record from official databases, identify other third-party websites and online sources that may show these records. Public aggregator websites, news outlets, and search engine results may republish older records obtained from official sources.

Using the court order, affected persons may contact these sites individually and request removal of the record from their databases. Aggregator sites typically have opt-out or privacy options to respond to such requests. Search engines may also agree to de-index the arrest record to reduce its visibility in search results.