Kittitas County Arrest Records

Local arresting agents, such as the Kittitas County Sheriff and municipal police departments, generate Kittitas County arrest records. By law, officers from these agencies are authorized to apprehend offenders and bring them before a judge.

After the arrest, offenders may be remanded to the county jail for booking and processing. After processing the offender will be arraigned before a judge who determines if they will be released on bail or remain in detention till their trial. Normally, this decision may be informed by the severity of the crime and other factors.

Arrest information is typically available as part of criminal histories available from the Washington State Police and Kittitas County Court records that can be obtained from the local courts and the state judiciary.

Are Arrest Records Public in Kittitas County?

Arrest records for Kittitas County are considered public under the Washington Public Records Act. With some exceptions, custodians of public records, including arrest records, must provide access to these records to the general public. Records that may be restricted from public records under the Public Record Act include the following.

• Arrest records concerning juveniles or minors
• Any records that have been sealed or vacated under a court order
• Records concerning ongoing investigations that may compromise the investigation if released
• Records that would identify victims of a crime or undercover law enforcement

Kittitas County Arrest Statistics

The FBI Crime Data Explorer provides access to data submitted to the FBI by local law enforcement, such as the Kittitas Sheriff. According to the data, the following arrest statistics were submitted in 2023. 55 arrests for driving under the influence, 35 arrests for simple assaults, 10 arrests for aggravated assault, five arrests for larceny, four arrests for stolen property, three arrests for burglary, three arrests for weapons violations, two arrests for weapons violations, and one arrest each for motor vehicle theft and forgery. The Kittitas County Sheriff reported a total of around 150 arrests for the year.

Find Kittitas County Arrest Records

Interested parties may request arrest records or inmate information for Kittitas County from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office. Requests can be made directly to the Sheriff's Office using the contact information given below.

Kittitas County Sheriff
Public Safety Building
307 W Umptanum RD
Ellensburg WA 98926
Phone: (509) 962-7525
Fax: (509) 962-7599
Email: sheriff.office@co.kittitas.wa.us

Information may be available from the Records Division of the Sheriff’s Office. For records of inmates in custody at the county jail, interested parties may look up the online Jail Roster. On the state level, record seekers may look up inmate information using the resources on the Incarcerated Data Search page maintained by the Washington Department of Corrections.

Kittitas County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Kittitas County arrest and criminal records describe a person’s relationship and interaction with law enforcement. These records are separated by their extent and what agencies generate them. Arrest records are generated by local law enforcement agencies that serve as arresting agencies and cover only arrests within the jurisdiction. A typical arrest record would contain personal information about the suspect, arrest details, bail amounts, and charges brought.

Criminal records cover all aspects of a person’s criminal history, including arrests, court cases, verdicts, prison time, and any supervisory sentences. A full criminal record consists of various documents and may be generated by different agencies, including arresting agencies, the judiciary, and correctional facilities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Kittitas County and Washington, the time an arrest remains on a record will generally depend on several factors. These include the type of crime, the case's final disposition, whether charges were filed, and whether the subject of the record took legal steps to vacate, seal, or expunge the record.

When a person is arrested, but no charges are brought, or charges are dismissed, the arrest will remain on their record, but they are eligible to be expunged or sealed. Arrests that did not lead to convictions can generally be expunged two years after the dismissal of the case.

Convictions and arrests that lead to convictions will remain on a record permanently unless the subject of the record takes specific steps to vacate or seal the record. Depending on the sort of offense, petitions to vacate the record can only made after a certain amount of time.

• Applicants may petition to vacate a misdemeanor conviction between three and five years after all sentencing requirements have been completed.
• The waiting period for vacating a felony conviction will depend on the type of crime. Petitions to vacate Class B felonies can be made 10 years after all sentencing requirements are completed, and Class C felonies are eligible 5 years after all sentences are finished.

It should be noted that Class A felonies generally do not qualify to be vacated or sealed.

Kittitas County Arrest Warrants

Generally, arrest warrants may be issued in Kittitas County when indictments are found on a suspect or information is filed about the suspect. Before issuing a warrant, the court may also need the complainant and any witnesses to appear in person and be examined under oath. The warrant may only be issued if the complainant can show the court probable cause the suspect committed a crime. Probable cause can also be based on an affidavit or sworn testimony.

Warrants issued in Kittitas County must be in writing and contain the following details.

• It must be in the name of the State of Washington, and the date and location(county) where it was issued must be stated.
• It must specify the name of the defendant or if their name is unknown an alias or description by which they may be identified with reasonable certainty.
• It must specify the crimes charged against the defendant and the statutes the crime breaks.
• It must state that the court has found probable cause and commanded law enforcement to apprehend the suspect and bring them before the issuing court.
• If the offense is bailable, then the bail amount or any other conditions for release must be specified.
• It must contain the name, title of office, and signature of the judicial officer who issued it.

Washington Court Rules 2.2 provides information about the issuance and execution of arrest warrants and summons.

Do Kittitas County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Kittitas County and the rest of Washington, arrest warrants issued by a court do not have an expiration date. The warrant will remain in effect until the subject is arrested, passes away, or turns into law enforcement. In some cases, a judge may quash or cancel a warrant if it is proven that it was issued illegally or in error.