Kittitas County Jail Recent Bookings And Arrests
Kittitas County Jail Inmate Booking Information
This is the jail that books adult felony and misdemeanor arrests for Kittitas County:
205 West 5th Avenue
Ste. 1
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Sheriff’s deputies bring their arrests here, as do officers from cities and towns in the county that do not operate their own jail or contract with one elsewhere. At intake, corrections officers photograph and fingerprint each person, inventory their belongings, run warrant checks and complete a health screening before assigning housing.
Troopers with the Washington State Patrol also book arrestees here, and the jail may house people held for the U.S. Marshals. Federal immigration detention is handled separately; use the ICE detainee locator to search for someone in ICE custody.
Immigration Holds Under the Keep Washington Working Act
Since 2019, the Keep Washington Working Act has limited how local jails work with federal immigration authorities. A jail may not hold someone past their release time on an ICE detainer or administrative warrant unless it is accompanied by a warrant signed by a judge. Jails also may not share nonpublic personal information with immigration agents, and ICE may interview a person in custody only with that person’s written consent after they are told they may decline or have a lawyer present.
The public roster is taken from the Kittitas County Jail official booking list (opens in a new tab) or an official statewide jail list. Listings may show charges, the arresting agency and, where allowed, a booking photo. To fill in gaps in a record, call the jail at 509-962-7527.
The stretch between arrival at the Kittitas County Jail and placement in housing, or release, can be as short as two hours or as long as a day, mostly depending on how many others are being booked.
First Appearance and Bail in Kittitas County
Under Washington court rules, a person arrested and held in jail must have a preliminary appearance before a judge no later than the end of the next court day. Judges in Washington start from a presumption of release on personal recognizance unless there is a showing that the person is likely to miss court or poses a danger. Where bail is set, licensed bail bond agents regulated by the Washington State Department of Licensing can post it. Release instructions are on our Bail page.
Kittitas County Jail Booking FAQ
- How do I find out if someone has been arrested and booked into the Kittitas County Jail?
- What happens during booking in Kittitas County?
- What is the booking process like at the Kittitas County Jail?
- What kind of questions are asked during booking?
- What happens to an offender’s personal property during booking?
- What happens after booking?
- How long does the Kittitas County Jail booking process take?
How do I find out if someone has been arrested and booked into the Kittitas County Jail?
To learn whether someone was recently booked, call the Kittitas County Jail at 509-962-7527.
Depending on the time of day, you may use an automated system or talk to jail staff, who may ask for the person’s date of birth to confirm identity.
It is common for a new booking to take a few hours to appear in the records.
To search without calling, use the online Kittitas County Jail Booking Roster.
What happens during booking in Kittitas County?
After an arrest and Miranda warnings, officers transport the person to the Kittitas County Jail or to a city holding facility in Kittitas County, where booking begins.
Booking is a multi-step process. Attorneys commonly tell clients to stay quiet about the alleged crime during booking, since jail phone calls and conversations can be recorded and used as evidence.
What is the booking process like at the Kittitas County Jail?
Intake officers take a booking photo, fingerprints and a detailed history. Washington collects DNA after conviction for qualifying offenses rather than at arrest. Records checks cover Kittitas County, other parts of Washington and national databases.
If a DUI suspect refuses a breath test, the Department of Licensing revokes their license for at least a year, and a blood draw generally requires a warrant.
Washington law restricts strip searches. Someone booked for a minor offense that does not involve weapons, violence or drugs may not be strip-searched without a warrant or reasonable suspicion that they are hiding contraband, and any strip search must be authorized by a supervisor and done in private.
What kind of questions are asked during booking?
Staff ask about prescriptions, medical and mental health conditions, allergies, drug or alcohol dependence, thoughts of self-harm, tattoos and gang ties. These answers shape classification and any special care the person needs.
What happens to an offender’s personal property during booking?
All personal property is collected and logged, then held until release. The person can sign a release so a friend or family member can pick up some items.
Collected items include street clothing, money, wallets, purses, phones, jewelry, body piercings and watches. Glasses may be kept if they are a hazard, and shoelaces are removed from any footwear the person keeps.
What happens after booking?
Washington court rules require that a person in custody who wants a lawyer be given access to a telephone and the public defender’s number at the earliest opportunity. Most jails also allow a call to family to discuss bail.
People held until their court appearance are issued jail clothing, footwear, bedding, a towel and hygiene supplies.
A shower, and in some jails a treatment for lice or scabies, is often required before the person moves to a housing unit.
How long does the Kittitas County Jail booking process take?
Booking might wrap up in an hour or stretch past 24 hours. The number of people ahead in line, the number of officers on shift and the person’s conduct all play a part.
A person who is heavily intoxicated or violent is commonly placed in a holding cell for a few hours before staff finish booking.