Warrant records in Pend Oreille County, Washington are considered public records pursuant to the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). This legislation establishes the public's right to access governmental records, including warrant information, to ensure transparency and accountability within the judicial system. The Act operates under the premise that the public has a fundamental right to be informed about governmental operations, including those related to law enforcement activities.
Access to warrant information serves multiple public interests, including allowing individuals to verify the existence of warrants that may affect them directly. The Washington State Supreme Court has consistently upheld that court records, including warrants, should remain accessible to the public except in specific circumstances where confidentiality is mandated by statute or court rule. Certain warrants may be temporarily sealed under provisions of RCW 10.27.090 when disclosure might compromise an ongoing investigation.
Members of the public seeking warrant information should be aware that while these records are generally accessible, specific details may be redacted to protect privacy interests as outlined in RCW 42.56.050, particularly when disclosure would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy.
Warrant records maintained by Pend Oreille County typically contain comprehensive information as required by Washington State law. Standard elements included in these official documents are:
The specificity of information contained in warrant records is governed by Washington Criminal Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CrRLJ) 2.2 for misdemeanors and Criminal Rules (CrR) 2.2 for felonies, which establish the required elements for valid warrants within the state's jurisdiction.
Residents and interested parties may access warrant information in Pend Oreille County without charge through several official channels. The following methods are available for conducting free warrant searches:
Pursuant to RCW 42.56.070, agencies must make records available for public inspection during customary office hours. Individuals conducting searches should be prepared to provide identifying information such as full name and date of birth to ensure accurate results. While basic searches are provided without charge, fees may apply for certified copies of documents in accordance with RCW 42.56.120.
The Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for executing warrants within county jurisdiction. Sheriff warrants are issued under authority granted by RCW 36.28.010, which empowers county sheriffs to execute all warrants delivered to them according to law. These legal instruments authorize peace officers to take specific actions including:
The Sheriff's Office maintains a comprehensive database of active warrants issued within the county and those from other jurisdictions that may be served within Pend Oreille County boundaries. Warrant execution is conducted by sworn deputies who have completed training in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 139-05-300.
Pend Oreille County Sheriff's Office
331 S. Garden Avenue
Newport, WA 99156
(509) 447-3151
Pend Oreille County Sheriff
The Pend Oreille County Corrections facility, operating under the Sheriff's Office, processes individuals arrested on warrants and maintains records of warrant status changes following apprehension or court appearances.
Individuals seeking to determine if they are subject to an active warrant in Pend Oreille County may utilize several official verification methods. The following procedures are established for warrant status inquiries:
Pursuant to Washington Court Rule GR 31, court records are presumptively open for public access unless restricted by statute, court rule, or court order. Individuals should be prepared to provide proper identification when making inquiries in person. For security reasons, telephone inquiries may require additional verification steps before information is released.
Outstanding warrants in Pend Oreille County may be verified through established procedures designed to provide accurate information while maintaining appropriate security protocols. The following methods are available for checking outstanding warrant status:
Individuals conducting searches should be aware that warrant status can change rapidly as courts issue, recall, or quash warrants daily. The most current information is maintained in the Judicial Information System (JIS) administered by Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts pursuant to RCW 2.68.
For warrants related to child support enforcement, interested parties may contact the Division of Child Support at:
Division of Child Support
1600 W Sinto Ave
Spokane, WA 99201
(800) 442-5437
Division of Child Support | DSHS