Grant County Jail Records and Arrest Search
Grant County arrest records are managed by the Grant County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division in Ephrata, Washington. The county operates a 188-bed jail facility and posts a public inmate roster online as required by RCW 70.48.100. For copies of arrest reports and other public records, you can submit a request to the county's Public Records Officer. This page covers the jail roster, how to request records, what's exempt, and statewide resources for criminal history searches.
Grant County Overview
Grant County Jail Inmate Roster
The Grant County Sheriff's Office publishes a live inmate roster at grantcountywa.gov/1538/Jail-Inmate-Roster. The roster is public record under RCW 70.48.100, which requires county jails to make basic inmate information available to the public. No account is needed and no formal records request is required to view the roster.
The roster shows each inmate's name, the hour and date of confinement, the cause of confinement, and discharge information when available. Sheriff's Office staff and news media are authorized to publish roster information as well. If you need to check whether someone is currently in custody at the Grant County Jail, the online roster is the quickest way to find out. The roster is updated regularly and reflects current custody status.
The Grant County Jail inmate roster is a public record portal showing current custody information for the Corrections Division.
The roster is one of the most direct ways to find current inmate information in Grant County without filing a formal public records request.
Note: Booking photos are exempt from public disclosure in Grant County except in specific situations, such as when the Sheriff's Office uses them to assist an investigation or for registered sex offender community release notifications.
Grant County Corrections Division
The Grant County Corrections Division operates the county jail in Ephrata and has done so since January 1986. The facility has 188 beds and holds people who are awaiting trial on local charges, serving short sentences, or on holds from other agencies. The Corrections Division follows Washington state standards for detention facilities and maintains an inmate handbook and Custody Policy Manual, both of which are available for public review upon request.
VINE victim notification is available through VINELink for Grant County Jail inmates. If you register, you will receive automatic notifications when an inmate's custody status changes, including releases, transfers, or changes to their case. Registration is free and works for most county jails in Washington.
| Division | Grant County Corrections Division |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Ephrata, WA |
| Jail Capacity | 188 beds (operating since January 1986) |
| Website | grantcountywa.gov/332/Corrections |
| Inmate Roster | grantcountywa.gov/1538/Jail-Inmate-Roster |
The Grant County Corrections page includes facility details, inmate services, and rules for visitation and inmate communication.
The Corrections Division provides the inmate handbook and Custody Policy Manual to anyone who requests them, in line with the county's public records obligations.
How to Request Grant County Arrest Records
Public records requests for Grant County are handled through the county's Public Records Officer and governed by RCW 42.56. You can submit a request through the public records portal at grantcountywa.gov/235/Public-Records. The portal accepts requests online and lets you track the status of your submission.
Under RCW 42.56.080, requests must be for "identifiable records." That means you need to describe the record with enough specificity that staff can find it. The county uses this example of a good request: "Requesting a copy of the Grant County Sheriff's Office police report for case number 24GS01234." A poor request would be: "Requesting the police report," which is too vague to process efficiently. Being specific helps the office respond faster and reduces the chance of your request being returned for clarification.
Fees for Grant County public records are set by Grant County Resolution 23-103-CC. Typical fees include per-page charges for paper copies and postage at cost for mailed records. Electronic records may be provided at no charge for straightforward requests. Ask the Public Records Officer about fees before submitting a large request so you know what to expect.
The county must respond within five business days per RCW 42.56.520. The response may acknowledge your request and give an estimated completion date rather than providing records immediately. For complex requests involving many documents, the office may provide records in installments.
The Grant County public records portal provides access to submit and track records requests under RCW 42.56.
Electronic delivery through the portal is faster than waiting for mailed copies and is available for most record types.
Note: Requests that are too broad or vague may be returned. Include a case number, date, and names when possible for faster processing.
Washington Public Records Law
Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) is one of the most open records laws in the country. It creates a broad presumption that all government records are public. Agencies can only withhold records by citing a specific statutory exemption. If a record is partially withheld, the agency must explain which exemption applies to each withheld section and provide the rest of the record.
Jail roster data is specifically covered by RCW 70.48.100. That statute requires county jails to disclose names of confined persons, their booking time and date, the cause of confinement, and discharge information. This is why the Grant County inmate roster is available online without a formal request. Booking photos are handled differently and are generally exempt from routine public disclosure under Washington law.
Criminal history records fall under RCW 10.97.050. Conviction records are freely shareable. Non-conviction records, like arrests without charges or dismissed cases, have more restrictions. For a complete statewide criminal history check, use the Washington State Patrol's WATCH system, which runs name-based checks for $11. That system covers agencies across Washington, not just Grant County.
For court case records, the Washington Courts case search is free and covers Superior Court and District Court cases statewide. Search by name or case number to find charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes for Grant County cases. The Washington Department of Corrections also maintains a public offender search for people serving state sentences.
Cities in Grant County
Arrest and booking records for all cities in Grant County are processed through the Grant County Corrections Division and Sheriff's Office in Ephrata.
Nearby Counties
Grant County is in central Washington and borders several other counties with their own records systems.