Grant County Arrest Records

Arrest records are documents detailing the arrest of individuals who commit arrestable offenses. In Grant County, the Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol (WSP), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Municipal Police Departments, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies create arrest records when they take individuals into custody.

Generally, law enforcement in Grant County will detain individuals if they commit arrestable offenses or if there is evidence of a possible breakdown of law and order. These individuals are incarcerated at the

• Grant County Jail (this is the primary detention facility within Grant County)
• Municipal Jails (Short-Term Holding)
• Regional and State Facilities (for Transfers or Long-Term Sentencing)
• Grant County Juvenile Detention Center (for minors).

A Grant County arrest record may become part of a criminal record and a component of Grant County court records if the arrest results in criminal charges.

Are Arrest Records Public in Grant County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Grant County, WA. The Washington Public Records Act mandates state and local public records custodians to allow public inspection and copying of documents in their possession. However, due to legal concerns and privacy reasons, Grant County arrest records are publicly inaccessible if such documents relate to

• Juveniles
• Sealed or expunged records
• Active judicial or law enforcement investigations
• Law enforcement personnel records
• Victims or witnesses
• Mental health or medical information
• Personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers and financial data.

Applicants for exempted Grant County arrest records must have legal authorization or judicial orders to access them.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A Grant County arrest record contains the personal details of its owner, the reasons for the arrest, booking information, and the terms of release. Generally, this information includes

• Name, gender, date of birth, race, physical description, and the address at the time of arrest
• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Charges against the individual and the section of Washington State laws allegedly violated
• Name and badge number of the arresting officer
• Date and time of booking
• Booking number
• Name of the arresting agency
• Mugshots
• Bail/Bond information
• Court appearance details (if it applies).

Grant County Arrest Statistics

The FBI crime data show a decline in the number of arrests by law enforcement agencies within Grant County between 2020 and 2022. However, in 2023, there was a significant increase in the number of persons taken into custody by law enforcement agencies in Grant County.

In 2023, law enforcement agencies participating in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program reported 1,955 arrests within Grant County, a higher figure than the 1,761 incidents reported in 2022.

Between 2020 and 2023, 5,569 males and 2,027 females were taken into custody for arrestable offenses by various law enforcement agencies in Grant County. Also, during this period, simple assaults were the most common arrestable offense within Grant County. There were 1,737 simple assault arrests within Grant County between 2020 and 2023. In comparison, 1,013 larceny-related arrests (the next most common crime) occurred within the same period.

Find Grant County Arrest Records

There are several options for accessing Grant County arrest records. These documents are accessible through government online repositories and offline through custodian agencies offices.

Individuals seeking access to Grant County arrest records should

• Visit the Grant County Current Inmates Page and click inmate names to expand their arrest records
• Log in to the Washington State Patrol Access to Criminal History (WATCH) Portal:
  • Create an account, log in, and request access to Grant County arrest information through criminal records
• Log in to the Washington Courts Case Search Portal and use the online tools to look for Grant County arrest records through criminal records.

Alternatively, the interested public can contact the Grant County Sheriff's Office or other law enforcement agencies within the county and request access to their records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Grant County

Records seekers looking for free access to Grant County arrest records should do so through the Grant County Current Inmates Page or the Washington Courts Case Search Portal. These government resources offer free access to Grant County arrest information.

Alternatively, inquirers can search online for Grant County arrest records. Some private online databases may offer free access to Washington law enforcement documents.

Grant County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Grant County arrest and criminal records are connected documents; they outline individuals' interactions with law enforcement and provide crucial information for fighting crimes. However, several distinctions between these documents are evidenced by the list below.

• Grant County arrest records are law enforcement documents detailing the arrest of individuals within Grant County, WA. These documents are created by law enforcement when they take individuals into custody.

Contrariwise, Grant County criminal records are part of Grant County court records. The Grant County Superior, District, and Municipal Courts generate these documents during criminal trials.

• Arrest records contain personal details of their owners, the reasons for their arrests, and the conditions for their release.

Criminal records detail the trials, convictions, and incarceration of criminal offenders.

• An arrest may not impact an individual's social status. Per Washington and United States laws, an arrestee remains innocent of a crime until the court proves otherwise.

Criminal records are legal evidence of wrongdoing. They are proof of criminal convictions and may impact the individual's social status, housing, and employment.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Grant County arrest information will stay on a record indefinitely. However, Grant County arrest records owners can petition the courts to seal the information from the public domain if they fulfill the requirements of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 10.97.060 or 13.50.050.

Expunge Grant County Arrest Records

Per Washington State laws, a Grant County arrest record may be eligible for sealing if

• It results from a juvenile arrest.
• The record is for a non-conviction arrest.
• The conviction is for a misdemeanor (excluding DUI, sex offense, and domestic violence) or Class B or C felonies.

In addition to the above, the following waiting period applies to the sealing of arrest records in Grant County and other parts of Washington State:

• Non-conviction arrests - 2 years from the date of arrest
• Class B felonies - 10 years after completing the sentence for the crime (including probation), paying all applicable fines, and making restitution (if applicable)
• Class C felonies - 3 years after completing the sentence
• General misdemeanor - 3 years from the completion of the punishment for the crime
• Gross misdemeanor - 5 years after completing the sentence (note that some offenses in this category may not be eligible for sealing or removal)
• Juvenile arrest record - the petition must be 18 years or older, have completed the sentence for the crime, and observe a 2-year post-adjudication waiting period.

Also, to be eligible to seal or remove a Grant County arrest information, the petitioner must not have any pending case or conviction within the waiting period.

The following steps are useful for expunging Grant County arrest records:

• Determine eligibility for sealing of the arrest record
• Gather necessary supporting documents (this includes disposition records and proof of completion of sentence for the offense)
• Download the appropriate Sealing/Vacating Records Form from the Washington Courts website, fill it out, and file a petition at the Grant County Superior Court.
• Pay all applicable filing fees.
• Serve notice of the petition to the Grant County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the arresting agency.
• Attend court hearings on the petition (if applicable) to provide answers to questions or counter any objections from the public or interested parties.
• Wait for the judge's decision. If the court grants the petition, it will issue an order to the relevant agencies to seal or vacate the arrest information.
• Obtain copies of the court order and share it with the relevant law enforcement agencies for compliance and updating of their databases.

Grant County Arrest Warrants

A Grant County arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge/magistrate of Grant County Superior, District, or Municipal Court authorizing law enforcement to take an individual into custody. A judge/magistrate may issue an arrest warrant if there is evidence of a criminal offense or non-compliance with court orders. Also, a judge/magistrate may issue an arrest warrant if there is evidence that a person is a risk to the public or intends to flee from prosecution for an offense.

A valid Grant County arrest warrant may include the following:

• The name, aliases, and physical description of the subject
• Charges against the individual, date, and location of the offense, and the section of Washington laws allegedly violated
• Explanation of facts and circumstances leading to the arrest warrant
• The name of the issuing agency
• The name and signature of the issuing judge/magistrate
• Date of issuance of the warrant
• Type of warrant (bench or standard arrest warrant)
• Instructions to law enforcement on how to execute the warrant
• Geographical limits of the warrant (areas within the court's jurisdiction).

Do Grant County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire in Grant County or elsewhere in the United States. A Grant County arrest warrant will remain active until law enforcement takes the subject into custody. Nonetheless, a Grant County arrest warrant will become inactive if the subject dies or the court recalls it.