How to Search Texas Criminal Records (Start Here)
Texas criminal records come from two main sources: the Texas Department of Public Safety criminal history database and individual county court systems. These are separate databases that may show different information.
What this page covers: Texas state-level criminal history searches, county court criminal case lookups, and sex offender registry searches. What it does not cover: Federal criminal cases (those require PACER) or arrest records that did not result in charges.
Where to start: For a broad criminal history check, start with the state repository. For specific case details (charges, dispositions, documents), go to the District Clerk (felony/civil) / County Clerk (misdemeanor/probate) in the county where the case was filed. For sex offenders, use the state sex offender registry.
Common mistake: A state criminal history search and a county court search are not the same thing. The state repository compiles conviction data from across the state. County courts have the actual case files with full detail. You may need both.
Statewide criminal-history agency
Public name-based search
Fingerprint-based screening
Sex offender registry
Open records statute
Number of counties
254 counties
Population
31,290,831
Households
11,099,400
Median Income
$75,780
Median Home Value
$260,400
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Texas repository URL, fee, and statute verified against the official Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) publisher on review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.
Texas Criminal Records — Key Numbers (2026)
Texas CCH is the cheapest public state check in the U.S. at $3 per name-based search. FACT Clearinghouse also operated by CRD.
$3 name / $25 fingerprint
Public access fee
Per state-only check
Online via CCH Computeri
Primary method
How to submit
Texas DPS
Issuing agency
Statewide repository
Texas Gov't Code §411
Governing statute
State law citation
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems
State-only check (State Identification Bureau): Returns arrests, dispositions and convictions reported to that one state's repository. It does not include arrests from other states or most federal cases. See the FBI's directory of state agencies: State Identification Bureau Listing.
Multi-state / federal check (FBI Identity History Summary): Returns records contributed by federal, state, local, and tribal agencies through the FBI's Interstate Identification Index (III). See FBI Identity History Summary FAQs and Interstate Identification Index (III).
What state repositories miss: The FBI's national survey of state criminal-history information systems documents known reporting gaps (missing dispositions, delayed updates, sealed/expunged handling). See BJS: Survey of State Criminal History Information Systems.
What Changed in 2026 — Texas Criminal Records
2026
Texas state-only check active
The Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) continues to process state criminal history checks via crimerecords.dps.texas.gov.
2026
Texas background check fee structure
Current fee for a Texas state-only check: $3 name / $25 fingerprint. Method: Online via CCH Computerized Criminal History.
2026
Texas statutory framework
Texas criminal history records are governed by Texas Gov't Code §411 and disseminated through Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD).
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside Texas, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements the state-only result.
The 4-Step Texas Criminal Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Confirm what you need
For most non-employment uses, a Texas state-only check from the Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) is sufficient.
2
Step 2 — Choose your method
Online via CCH Computerized Criminal History. Current fee: $3 name / $25 fingerprint.
3
Step 3 — Submit your request
Use the official portal at crimerecords.dps.texas.gov — never a third-party data broker.
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Step 4 — Add federal coverage if needed
For pre-employment FCRA screening or out-of-state coverage, add an FBI Identity History Summary check ($18) — fingerprint required.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Texas Criminal Records
MYTH"Texas background check shows everything."
FACTThe Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) check covers ONLY Texas arrests/convictions. Out-of-state and federal records are NOT included.
MYTH"Free third-party 'instant' checks are accurate."
FACTOnly crimerecords.dps.texas.gov (the official Texas repository) is authoritative. Data brokers often have stale data.
MYTH"Sealed records will show on a check."
FACTRecords sealed or expunged under Texas law are removed from public-facing checks. Law enforcement may still access them.
MYTH"Arrest = conviction on my record."
FACTAn arrest is not a conviction. Most Texas public checks distinguish arrests, dispositions, and convictions; the FCRA bars non-conviction arrests older than 7 years from employer checks.
MYTH"State and FBI checks return the same data."
FACTThe Texas state check shows Texas-only records. The FBI check is fingerprint-based and shows records reported by all agencies nationwide.
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- crimerecords.dps.texas.gov — Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) — Official Texas criminal history portal
- fbi.gov — Identity History Summary — FBI fingerprint-based federal check ($18)
- fbi.gov — State ID Bureau listing — FBI listing of every state's repository
- ftc.gov — FCRA basics — Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act rules
- ftc.gov — Background Checks employer guide — FTC + EEOC employer guidance
- bjs.ojp.gov — Bureau of Justice Statistics — Federal stats on state criminal record systems
Related Criminal Records Resources
📍 Other Texas records:
- Texas Court Records →
- Texas Property Records →
- Texas Vital Records →
- Texas Voter Records →
- Texas Wants & Warrants →
- Texas Licenses →
- Texas Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 Criminal Records in other states:
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- Vermont
- Washington
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- West Virginia
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National: U.S. Criminal Records hub →
Related Public Records
More Texas records: Court records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National view of this topic: All states: Criminal records
Not sure who may legally check whom? The Texas background check guide explains the official routes, the court-record option, and your FCRA rights.
Looking for someone in custody right now? The Texas inmate search page collects the state, county, and federal locators in one place.
Criminal Records Databases
67 official Texas criminal records sources.
Criminal Records
Criminal History Records | Department of Public Safety
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Texas runs this system centrally, so Texas records appear alongside the rest of the state. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Texas Highway Patrol High Value Data Sets | Department of Public Safety
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THP Violation Column Names · NOTE: Due to changes in race/ethnicity codes in the THP database, all code options are listed below with notations as to when they were implemented and/or removed and those that are currently utilized
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Inmate Information
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General Information Guide for Families of Inmates (PDF), Spanish (PDF) GO KIDS · Offender Orientation Handbook (PDF), Spanish (PDF) Chaplaincy and Volunteer Services Division · Rehabilitation and Reentry Division · Resolution Support/Ombudsman · Review & Release Processing (E-mail) Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles ·
Death Row Information
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A total of 361 inmates were electrocuted in the State of Texas. When capital punishment was declared "cruel and unusual punishment" by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 29, 1972, there were 45 men on death row in Texas and seven in county jails with a death sentence.
Correctional Institutions Division - Death Row
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The TDCJ CID is charged with confining these inmates and carrying out punishment once an execution date is set by the sentencing court. Male death row inmates are currently confined at the Polunsky Unit and female death row inmates are confined at the O'Daniel Unit.
Death Row Information
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Vital-record certificates connected to Texas are ordered here. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Texas
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Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking or another appropriate federal agency or office the accuracy of the list of reportable convictions or ... Under Art. 62.403(b), a person with a single reportable adjudication or conviction may apply to the Council on Sex Offender Treatment ...
iDocket Summer 2020 Newsletter Letter from the President
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Court · case information resides on the iDocket.com server, not your system. ... No charge to the County, and the County shares in subscription revenue. ... Ability to put images online with redaction software. Copy fees are paid ... Onyx and Emerald make an unbeatable team. Emerald service is free to clerks · and allows them to display property record information on the internet.
List of BOP Locations
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SeaTac FDC Seattle RRM Sheridan FCI South Central RO Southeast RO Springfield MCFP St Louis RRM Talladega FCI Tallahassee FCI Terminal Island FCI Terre Haute FCC Texarkana FCI Thomson FCI Three Rivers FCI Tucson FCC Victorville FCC Waseca FCI Western RO Williamsburg FCI Yankton FPC Yazoo City FCC · All Prison Types · RRM - Residential Reentry Management Offices · FCC - Federal Correctional Complexes ·
🌐 bop.gov
Welcome to Bell County, Texas
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This office holds the sheriff's records for Bell County. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
Brazoria County, TX | Home
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The sheriff's side of Brazoria County record-keeping — bookings, incident reports, and records requests start here. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
District Clerk | Brazos County, TX - Official Website
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Government Code Section25.0232 dictates that the district clerk's office shall be the clerk of the district courts and the county courts. Therefore, in Brazos County, all filings and documents for misdemeanor and felony cases are the responsibility of the district clerk's office .
Court Dockets | Brazos County, TX - Official Website
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Case records from the Texas courts serving Brazos County surface through this system. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
Jail Division - Cameron County
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ONLY money orders or certified checks will be accepted through the mail. No cash will be accepted and will be returned to sender. All money orders or certified checks need to be mailed to the address below and made payable to the inmate. CAMERON COUNTY JAIL DIVISION CO Inmate Trust Fund Inmate Name/Inmate ID # P.O.
Case Records | Chambers County, TX
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The sheriff's side of Chambers County record-keeping — bookings, incident reports, and records requests start here. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
COLLIN COUNTY TEXAS
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the appropriate District Clerk, County Court at Law Clerks, or Justice Court office for assistance.
Records & Resources | Comal County, TX
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If you are trying to find a case ... Judicial Record Search page. Pursuant to Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 21(f)(10), the Comal County District Clerk's Office is integrated with re:Search TX, an approved electronic filing and service system. Effective September 1, 2025, the Clerk's Office will discontinue the practice of e-serving or emailing Court Orders and ...
Coryell County, Texas Criminal Records | CoryellRecords.us
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These records encompass a comprehensive chronology of a person's criminal history as maintained by various law enforcement and judicial agencies throughout Coryell County. Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 411.082, criminal history record information is defined as information collected about a person by a criminal justice agency that consists of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, and other formal criminal charges and their dispositions.
Dallas County | Online Record Search
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Dallas County and District Court Case Information and Documents Registration to this site is not required for public access Civil District Courts Family District Courts (Case Information Only) County and Probate Courts Felony and Misdemeanor ** to watch a video on how to use the Dallas County Courts Portal **
Inmate Information – Sheriff Department
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The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office is the chief law enforcement agency in the county. Established on March 30, 1846, we operate the seventh-largest jail in the United States with an average jail population of over 6,000 inmates and more than 2,000 employees.
Dentoncounty
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The sheriff's side of Texas record-keeping — bookings, incident reports, and records requests start here. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
ECTOR COUNTY PORTAL - District, County & Justice Court Records
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This is the court-records channel for Texas: case searches and docket details. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
County of El Paso Texas - Official Public Records
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Indexes to El Paso County records are provided as a service to and for the convenience of the community.
Jail Records
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Custody roster covering Texas — who is currently held, with booking dates. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
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You can search for case records using the public access website. If you wish to perform a search, follow the steps below: 1. Select the appropriate area that you would like to search from the search menu.
122nd Judicial District Court | Galveston County, TX
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Court case information for Galveston County — dockets, hearing dates, and case lookups. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
Documents and Forms | Galveston County, TX
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Local Rule for 212th (PDF) Regional Rules of Administration (PDF) Civil Discovery & Docket Control Order (PDF) Criminal Docket Control & Discovery Order (PDF) District Court Docket Settings for Criminal Cases (PDF) Texas Lawyer's Creed (PDF) Senate Bill 7 Rules & Related Documents (PDF) Application for Criminal Appointments (PDF) Application for Approval as Qualified Counsel in Death Penalty Cases (PDF) Protocol for Discovery of Electronically Stored Information (PDF) 2013-2014 Criminal Justice Community Plan (PDF) Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
Records Search | Galveston County, TX
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Law-enforcement records for Galveston County route through this office. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Galveston County Sheriff's Office P2C
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Galveston County Sheriff's Office — official department page (booking, jail, wanted).
Tylertech
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The sheriff's side of Texas record-keeping — bookings, incident reports, and records requests start here. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
Help - Guadalupe County Records
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You can search for civil, family or probate case records using the public access website.
Docket Information – Welcome to the 242nd District Court Public Web Site!
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Welcome to the 242nd District Court Public Web Site! Hale County - Jury Week - April 13, 2026 · Swisher County - Jury Week - March 24, 2026 · Castro County Jury Docket - May 5, 2026 ·
Hardin County Sheriff's Office - Law Enforcement, Texas Sheriff
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An additional variable number of volunteer employees brings the overall employment to around 105 employees at any given time. The Hardin County Sheriff's Office provides 24-hour law enforcement services to the citizens of Hardin County. The Office provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, mental health and court security services as well operation of the County Jail.
Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess
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The Harris County District Clerk’s Office has worked to make our services easier to reach, easier to understand, and easier to use. Many residents now start online, where they can find clear information about records, payments, and key forms without needing to make an extra trip downtown.
Harris County Justice of the Peace Courts
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If there has been a warrant issued for your arrest for your failure to appear or failure to pay, you may still be eligible to pay online. However, the warrant will not be recalled until payment is received by the court. This can take up to the next business day. If you are convicted of a criminal offense, the sentence will include payment of a fine and court costs.
Index—Harris County Texas Sheriff's Office
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Law-enforcement records for Harris County route through this office. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
Criminal Indexes - District Clerk Jefferson County TX
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Index for Criminal Cases Filed in District Court for Jefferson County, Texas District Clerk.
TX - Kerr County
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Law-enforcement records for Kerr County route through this office. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
Lamar County Court Records Portal
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Welcome to the Lamar County Portal. If you would like to make a payment on a criminal or traffic case, please click on the "Make Payments" button below.
Sheriff / Lubbock County, Texas
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Testified before the Texas State Legislature to prevent the abolishment of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards that would have placed regulatory control over county jails under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Hearing Lists | McLennan County, TX
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This office holds the sheriff's records for McLennan County. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Current Detainees | Midland County, TX
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View a list of current detainees in the Midland County detention Center.
Kara Sands | Nueces County, TX
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The Nueces County Clerk's Office Filing Department files, records and maintains Real Property Records, Personal Property Records, Notice of Trustee Sales, Military Discharges, and other Official Public Records. These records unless otherwise restricted by law or by court order are made available through our Official Public Records Search Portal.
Smart Search - Parker County, Texas - Public Portal
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The sheriff's side of Parker County record-keeping — bookings, incident reports, and records requests start here. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
Rockwall County Jail Search
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Current inmate information for Rockwall County is published here. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Smith County, Texas Arrest Records | SmithRecords.us
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Note that this system only displays current inmates, not historical arrest records · Smith County Judicial Records Search · Access the Smith County District Clerk's online records portal · Create a user account if required · Search by defendant name or case number · Review case information related to arrests, including charges and court proceedings · Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal History Search ·
TARRANT COUNTY 2 0 2 1 T R A N S P O R TAT I O N B O N D P R O G R A M
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This map was prepared by Tarrant County for general reference purposes only, and may be revised at any time without notification to any user. Tarrant County does not guarantee the correctness or accuracy of any features on this map.
Criminal Docket Search
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Tarrant County provides the information contained in this web site as a public service. Every effort is made to ensure that information provided is correct. However, in any case where legal reliance on information contained in these pages is required, the official records of Tarrant County ...
Inmate Search
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Current inmate information for Texas is published here. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
Tom Green County, Texas Public Records Lookup | TomGreenRecords.us
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Law-enforcement records for Tom Green County route through this office. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Criminal Docket Search
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This is the court-records channel for Texas: case searches and docket details. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
Find an Inmate | Travis County Sheriff's Office, Texas
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No warranty is expressed or implied as to the accuracy or completeness of the data. Individuals obtaining information from this website should verify accuracy before reliance upon or use of this data. The Travis County Sheriff's Office does not endorse any website that has a link to or from ...
Misdemeanor FAQ - Travis County Clerk
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Download the Order Refunding Cash Bond form from the Forms page and submit it to the Misdemeanor Records Division either by mail or in person. We cannot accept faxed documents. ... All fees due to the County Clerk for misdemeanor cases are paid to the Central Collection Division of the Tax Office in the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, located at 509 W.
Williamson County Texas - Judicial Records
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You can search for case records using this website. If you wish to perform a search, follow these steps: 1. Select the appropriate area that you would like to search from the search menu.
Detention | Wise County, TX
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In-custody listings for Wise County post here, typically updated daily. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Wood County Court Records Inquiry
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This is the court-records channel for Wood County: case searches and docket details. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
Police Department – Jail Inmate List - Arlington
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Arlington Police Department Jail In Custody List
Jail Visitation and Protocol | Baytown, TX
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Current inmate information for Texas is published here. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official criminal record office.
Official records
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This office holds the sheriff's records for Texas. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
Community Crime Map - Neighborhood Watch Unsubscribe
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You have been already unsubscribed from your Neighborhood Watch Report. —The Community Crime Map Team
Texas Counties
254 Texas counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which Texas counties publish jail rosters and sheriff records online
75 of Texas's 256 counties run their own online source for jail rosters and sheriff records, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
Angelina Aransas Archer Bastrop Bell Bexar Blanco Brazoria Brazos Brown Cameron Carson Chambers Coleman Collin Comal Concho Dallas Denton Ector Erath Floyd Freestone Galveston Gillespie Gregg Grimes Guadalupe Hale Hardin Harris Hutchinson Jackson Kerr Kimble Knox Lamar Llano Loving Lubbock Madison Marion Martin Matagorda Mc Mullen Midland Milam Mills Montague Nolan Nueces Ochiltree Orange Parker Polk Potter Reeves Roberts Rockwall Runnels Sabine Shackelford Shelby Smith Tarrant Terry Trinity Tyler Victoria Walker Waller Webb Wise Wood Young
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I run an official Texas background check?▼
Texas's official statewide criminal-history check is administered by the Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD). Begin the request at crimerecords.dps.texas.gov. Most state-level checks require submitting fingerprints (live-scan or ink) plus a processing fee, and the response covers convictions and certain non-conviction data permitted by Texas statute.
Are Texas criminal records public?▼
Most adult criminal-history information in Texas is considered public record, but access is restricted depending on the requester (self, employer, government agency) and the data type (arrest, conviction, sealed, juvenile). The Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) explains who can request what at crimerecords.dps.texas.gov. County-court records are also public and searchable through the trial-court system.
What's the difference between a state and an FBI background check in Texas?▼
A state check from the Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) (crimerecords.dps.texas.gov) covers only criminal activity within Texas. An FBI Identity History Summary (fbi.gov) is the nationwide check covering federal records and contributing states. Employers and licensing boards often require both.
Can I get someone else's Texas criminal record?▼
Generally, no — only the record subject (with their own ID and signature) or a specifically authorized requester (such as a credentialed employer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a licensing board, or law enforcement) can pull a third-party criminal history from the Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD). The Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) documentation at crimerecords.dps.texas.gov lists each authorized requester category.
How do I challenge or correct a Texas criminal record?▼
If you find an error on your Texas criminal history, the Texas DPS - Crime Records Division (CRD) offers a record-review and challenge process. Begin at crimerecords.dps.texas.gov — typical steps include fingerprint verification, a written dispute, and supporting court documents (such as a dismissal or expungement order) for each contested entry.