Garfield County Criminal Court Records
Garfield County criminal court records are held by the Superior Court Clerk in Pomeroy, Washington, and cover felony cases, misdemeanors, and other criminal proceedings filed in this southeastern Washington county. You can search Garfield County criminal cases online through the statewide Washington Courts Case Search portal or through the county's case management system at researchwa.tylerhost.net. To get actual case documents, contact the Clerk's office in Pomeroy by mail or in person. Criminal court records in Garfield County are public under Washington law, with a small set of exceptions defined by statute.
Garfield County Overview
Garfield County Superior Court Records
The Garfield County Superior Court is located in Pomeroy and serves as the court of general jurisdiction for the county. It handles all felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law proceedings, and juvenile cases. Garfield County is one of Washington's smallest counties, and the Superior Court handles a smaller volume of cases than urban courts, but it follows the same state rules and procedures.
The Garfield County Clerk of Superior Court is the official record keeper for all court files in Pomeroy. The Clerk maintains dockets, charging documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and final judgments for every case that goes through the court. Criminal records are open to the public under Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56. You can request a file by case number or by the name of a party to the case. Garfield County uses the Odyssey case management system, and case data is accessible through the statewide portal. The Superior Court hears appeals from the Garfield County District Court, which handles lower-level criminal matters.
Records can be requested in person at the Pomeroy courthouse or by mail. Include the case number or party names, the type of document needed, and payment for any applicable fees. The Clerk issues certified copies for documents that require the court seal.
| Office | Garfield County Superior Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Location | Pomeroy, Washington |
| Case System | Odyssey / Tyler Host Portal |
| Website | garfield-county.com |
| State Directory | courts.wa.gov/court_dir |
Searching Garfield County Criminal Records Online
There are two main online tools for searching Garfield County criminal court records. The statewide Washington Courts Case Search portal covers Superior Court records across Washington and is the most common starting point. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal shows case status, hearing information, and disposition results for free.
Garfield County also participates in the Tyler Technologies court portal at researchwa.tylerhost.net, which provides access to Garfield District Court case information. This portal can be useful for finding misdemeanor-level cases and other matters handled at the District Court level that may not appear in the statewide portal. For both tools, online access gives you summary-level information. To get actual court documents or certified copies, contact the Garfield County Clerk in Pomeroy. Include specific case details so staff can locate the record quickly. The Odyssey Portal is also available and provides statewide Superior Court case data.
Note: Online searches give basic case information. For complete records or certified copies, contact the Garfield County Clerk in Pomeroy directly.
District Court and Misdemeanor Cases in Garfield County
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases in Garfield County go to District Court rather than Superior Court. The Garfield County District Court handles these lower-level criminal matters, traffic infractions, and small civil disputes. The court serves Pomeroy and all communities within Garfield County.
District Court records are public records. Many District Court cases in Garfield County can be found through the Tyler Technologies portal at researchwa.tylerhost.net, which provides District Court access for this county. For cases not available online, submit a direct request to the District Court Clerk. Gross misdemeanor convictions in Washington can carry up to 364 days in jail, making these records significant for legal and research purposes. If a District Court case is appealed, it moves to Superior Court, and the Superior Court Clerk becomes the record keeper from that point forward.
Garfield County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Garfield County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement throughout the county and maintains arrest records and incident reports for those matters. When an arrest is made, the Sheriff submits fingerprint-based data to the Washington State Patrol for inclusion in the Washington State Identification System. Garfield County is rural and small in population, so the Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement presence outside Pomeroy.
Arrest records held by the Sheriff's Office are separate from court records. An arrest record shows that someone was taken into custody. What happened after that is reflected in court records held by the Clerk. Both are generally public in Washington. Records tied to ongoing investigations may be withheld under exemptions in RCW 42.56. To request records, submit a written request to the Sheriff's records division. Include the date, location, and names of people involved to help staff find the record efficiently.
The Sheriff's Office coordinates with state agencies on criminal reporting and follows state retention schedules for law enforcement records.
Note: Arrest records are not evidence of guilt. The outcome of any criminal case is shown in court records maintained by the Clerk's office.
Washington State Patrol and Criminal History
The Washington State Patrol Criminal History section runs the statewide criminal history database. It is built from fingerprint submissions sent by law enforcement agencies throughout Washington, including the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. For anyone researching a full Washington criminal history, WSP is the most complete source because it covers all counties and jurisdictions in the state.
You can request your own criminal history from WSP. Third-party requests require legal authorization. The WSP database is separate from the court case portals and may include information from agencies in other counties where the same person had prior contact with law enforcement. Under RCW 10.97, Washington's Criminal Records Privacy Act governs how criminal history data is shared and used, and gives individuals the right to request corrections if a record is wrong.
Public Records Access in Garfield County
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives the public broad access to government records, including criminal court files in Garfield County. The Clerk's office must provide access unless a specific legal exemption applies. Most criminal records are open to review and copying.
Some categories of records have limited access. Juvenile court records in Garfield County fall under RCW 13.50, which restricts who can view records involving minors. Sealed records require a court order. Washington criminal offenses are defined at RCW Title 9A, and criminal procedure is at RCW Title 10. These statutes shape every criminal case and the records it produces. The Revised Code of Washington is the official online source for Washington state law.
Legal Help in Garfield County
Garfield County is small and rural, and local legal resources may be limited. The Washington State Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service and has a public directory searchable by practice area and location. Attorneys who practice in Garfield County may also handle cases in neighboring Whitman, Asotin, and Columbia counties.
The Washington Courts website offers self-help guidance for those who represent themselves. Court staff in Pomeroy can help you find forms and explain procedures, but they cannot give legal advice. The Garfield County official website lists courthouse contact details and hours relevant to records requests.
The Garfield County official website covers courthouse services, court contacts, and public records access information for Pomeroy. The screenshot below shows the county's main portal, which is the starting point for in-person and mail-based records requests.
The Pomeroy courthouse is where the Garfield County Clerk maintains Superior Court criminal case records and handles public records requests from the community.
The Washington Courts Case Search portal shown below is the primary statewide tool for searching Garfield County criminal cases online by name or case number.
Use the statewide portal as your first search step before contacting the Garfield County Clerk or using the Tyler Technologies portal for District Court records.
Cities in Garfield County
Pomeroy is the county seat and the only incorporated city in Garfield County. All criminal cases from this small county are handled at the Garfield County Superior Court or District Court in Pomeroy. Pomeroy does not meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page, but all cases from the area are filed in Pomeroy.
Nearby Counties
Garfield County is in southeastern Washington and borders several other counties. Criminal records from each neighboring county are maintained by their own Superior Courts.