Texas has 254 counties -- more than any other state -- and a decentralized criminal record landscape to match. The DPS Crime Records Division is the central state repository and offers a $1-per-credit name-based search, but arrest records without a resulting charge or conviction may not be in the DPS system at all. The practical starting points are county sheriff booking rosters for recent arrests and the DPS system for criminal history. Texas also has two distinct legal relief pathways: expunction under Texas CCP Chapter 55A (true record destruction) and Order of Nondisclosure under Texas Government Code 411.081 (sealing from public but not law enforcement). These serve different situations and have different eligibility requirements. This guide covers the full system.
What Makes Texas Arrest Records Public
Texas's public records framework is governed by the Texas Public Information Act at Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Government records, including arrest records, are presumptively public unless specifically excepted.
The DPS Crime Records Division serves as the central repository for criminal history record information in Texas. DPS tracks Class B misdemeanors, Class A misdemeanors, and all felonies in its Computerized Criminal History system. Deferred adjudication and conviction records are public information in the DPS system.
Texas DPS notes that public access to a full criminal history system is limited by law and agency rules. Arrest records without a resulting charge -- or Class C misdemeanor arrests that did not result in the DPS tracking threshold -- may not appear in the DPS system and are typically held at the arresting agency level.
Exemptions from public access include juvenile records, sealed records under Orders of Nondisclosure, expunged records, and active investigation materials.
What a Texas Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A DPS criminal history record includes personal identifying information, arrest data for fingerprinted arrests meeting the reporting threshold (agency, date, charges), court dispositions, and conviction information. The DPS system uses name and date of birth for searching; results are not guaranteed to uniquely identify the subject, as the only way to positively link someone to a record is through fingerprint identification.
Local law enforcement records at county sheriff offices and police departments include full booking information: name, DOB, date and time of arrest, location, arresting agency, charges, bail amount, court date, and booking photograph.
How to Search Texas Arrest Records
The DPS name-based criminal history search is available through the DPS Crime Records Service secure website at securesite.dps.texas.gov. This requires creating a CRD Secure Website Account and purchasing search credits at $1 per search (plus a 2.25% fee and $0.25 transaction fee per order). The search uses name and date of birth and employs a Soundex algorithm to match similar-sounding names. A credit is charged even for searches that return no records.
For personal fingerprint-based record review, individuals can schedule a FAST fingerprinting appointment through IdentoGO via IdentoGO's website or by calling 1-888-467-2080. DPS headquarters for Crime Records: 5805 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78752.
County sheriff offices are the primary practical tool for recent arrest information and booking rosters. Texas has 254 counties and each county sheriff manages the local detention facility. Most publish online inmate rosters or booking information updated frequently.
The Texas courts do not have a single statewide public case search. Each court maintains its own records, and some counties post records online. Contacting the county district clerk (for felonies) or county clerk (for misdemeanors) directly is the path to court case records.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Texas's 254 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the TDCJ system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Texas
Texas has 254 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences. Most county sheriff offices publish online inmate rosters.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) system. TDCJ provides a free online offender search at tdcj.texas.gov. You can search by name or TDCJ number to locate current state inmates and get facility, offense, and sentence information.
Federal Arrests in Texas
Federal arrests in Texas are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Texas is home to U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas -- four separate federal districts.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the DPS criminal history system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. The DPS system includes both arrest and conviction data for reported offenses. However, arrests without resulting charges -- especially Class C misdemeanor arrests -- may exist only at the local law enforcement agency level and may not be in the DPS system.
In Texas, an arrest that ended in dismissal or acquittal may still appear in DPS records and local agency files unless addressed through expunction. This is an important practical reality for anyone with a non-conviction arrest that is surfacing on background checks.
Texas Expunction and Nondisclosure
Texas provides two distinct record relief pathways, and understanding the difference is critical.
Expunction (Texas CCP Chapter 55, renumbered as Chapter 55A effective January 1, 2025): Expunction in Texas is true record destruction. An expunction order commands every government agency holding records to physically destroy or delete them. After expunction, the person may legally deny the arrest ever occurred in most situations. Felony convictions are not eligible for expunction -- only pardoned felony convictions qualify.
Eligible situations for expunction under Chapter 55A include:
- Acquittals (immediate, no waiting period).
- Pardons based on innocence (immediate).
- Arrests where charges were not filed -- after a waiting period of 180 days (Class C misdemeanor), 1 year (Class A/B misdemeanor), or 3 years (felony or case with felony charge) from the arrest date, or if the prosecutor certifies the records are not needed.
- Dismissed charges where the case is no longer pending and no final conviction occurred -- subject to waiting periods similar to above.
- Class C misdemeanor deferred adjudication completions (immediately upon successful completion of deferred disposition).
Order of Nondisclosure (Texas Government Code Chapter 411, Sections 411.081-411.0837): Nondisclosure seals records from public view but does not destroy them. Law enforcement agencies, courts, and certain licensing authorities can still access sealed records. Nondisclosure is available for:
- Deferred adjudication completions for eligible felony and misdemeanor offenses, after applicable waiting periods (generally 5 years for felonies, 2 years for most misdemeanors, immediate for certain misdemeanors).
- Straight probation completions for certain misdemeanors.
Offenses ineligible for nondisclosure include: aggravated kidnapping, murder, capital murder, trafficking of persons, sexual offenses, family violence offenses, and specifically enumerated serious crimes.
InmateAid's guides on expunction and nondisclosure cover Texas's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expunction is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Texas arrest records public?
Yes, under the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). Arrest records are generally public. The DPS maintains the central criminal history repository and tracks Class B/A misdemeanors and all felonies. Deferred adjudication and conviction records are public information in DPS. Expunged and nondisclosure records are not publicly accessible. Juvenile records and active investigation materials are also exempt.
How do I search Texas arrest records?
The DPS name-based criminal history search at securesite.dps.texas.gov requires a free account and $1 per search credit. For personal fingerprint-based records, schedule a FAST appointment through IdentoGO. For recent arrests, check the relevant county sheriff's website (Texas has 254 counties). For court case records, contact the county district or county clerk directly. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For custody notifications, VINELink at vinelink.com is free. For TDCJ state prison inmates, search at tdcj.texas.gov.
What does a Texas arrest record contain?
A DPS criminal history record includes personal identifying information, arrest data (agency, date, charges) for offenses meeting the reporting threshold, and disposition and conviction information. Results are name-based and are not guaranteed to uniquely identify the subject without fingerprint verification. Local law enforcement records include name, DOB, arrest date/time/location, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Texas?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. In Texas, dismissed charges and acquittals may still appear in DPS records and local agency files until addressed through expunction under Chapter 55A. There is no automatic removal of non-conviction arrests.
How do I find someone in a Texas county jail?
Check the county sheriff's website where the arrest occurred. Texas's 254 counties each operate county jails and most publish online booking rosters updated frequently. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many Texas facilities and provides free notification registration. For someone in state prison, use the TDCJ offender search at tdcj.texas.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in Texas?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the DPS criminal history system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Texas?
Texas arrest records remain in DPS and local agency files indefinitely unless addressed through expunction or nondisclosure. There is no automatic removal. Non-conviction arrests can be expunged after applicable waiting periods or upon acquittal. Conviction records for most offenses remain permanently unless expunged (narrow eligibility) or covered by an Order of Nondisclosure.
How does expunction differ from nondisclosure in Texas?
Expunction under Texas CCP Chapter 55A destroys records permanently -- every government agency must physically delete or destroy the records. The person may deny the arrest ever occurred in most situations. Nondisclosure under Texas Government Code 411.081 seals records from the public but does not destroy them -- law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing authorities retain access. Expunction is available for non-conviction cases (acquittals, dismissed charges, certain arrests without charges). Nondisclosure is available for deferred adjudication completions for eligible offenses. Expunction is the stronger remedy; nondisclosure is available where expunction is not.
Who qualifies for expunction in Texas?
Under Texas CCP Chapter 55A: acquittals and pardons based on innocence qualify immediately. Arrests where charges were not filed qualify after waiting periods (180 days for Class C, 1 year for Class A/B, 3 years for felony). Dismissed charges qualify after similar waiting periods when the case is no longer pending and there was no final conviction. Class C misdemeanor deferred adjudication completions qualify immediately. Felony convictions are not eligible for expunction absent a pardon based on innocence.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Texas does not automatically remove non-conviction arrests. Even if charges were dismissed or you were acquitted, the arrest entry remains in DPS records and local agency files until expunged under Texas CCP Chapter 55A. After the applicable waiting period (or immediately for acquittals), filing for expunction in the district court where the arrest occurred is the path to record destruction for qualifying non-conviction arrests. ---
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