Texas DPS Arrest Records & Criminal Lookup

Texas statewide record route

Texas DPS Criminal History Search, Fingerprint Review and Court Verification

The public Texas DPS portal is useful for finding reported convictions and deferred adjudications—not for locating every recent arrest or person currently in jail. This guide shows you how to run the official name search, avoid false matches, obtain your own fingerprint-based review, correct an error, and move to the proper county court, county jail or TDCJ system when DPS is not the right database.

Open DPS public search Open Crime Records Choose the right lookup

$1 search credits Name-match preview Personal fingerprint review Error correction County court verification Texas inmate routing

Fast official answers

Texas DPS Arrest Record Search Quick Facts

Public database scope

The public conviction database contains reported conviction or deferred-adjudication information extracted from DPS CCH.

Search price

One search credit costs $1. A credit-card order adds a 2.25% fee per credit plus a $0.25 transaction fee.

No-hit searches still cost

DPS debits a search credit even when the search produces no matching records.

Best identity proof

DPS warns that a name and birth date cannot positively link a record; fingerprint identification is the reliable method.

Crime Records help

512-424-2474. Option 2 covers personal fingerprint results and obtaining your own history.

Fingerprint scheduling

IdentoGO: 888-467-2080. Follow the requesting agency’s service-code instructions.

TDCJ inmate help

936-295-6371 for state-prison location and general inmate information.

DPS is not a live jail search

Use the arresting county sheriff for current county custody and TDCJ for state-prison custody.

Trying to find someone arrested today?

Do not start by purchasing a DPS conviction search. Identify the arresting city or county, open the county sheriff’s official inmate locator, and contact that jail if the booking is too recent to appear. Use DPS later for statewide public criminal-history information.

Private browser helper

Which Texas Record System Do You Need?

Select your goal. The result runs locally and does not request a person’s name, date of birth, fingerprint, case number or payment information.

Choose the record task

Public search Conviction database

Create a public account, buy credits and search reported convictions or deferred adjudications.

Personal review Fingerprint-based record

Use fingerprints when you need to know whether DPS has a record linked to your identity.

Verification County court docket

Confirm filed charges, case status and disposition with the court that handled the case.

Custody Jail or TDCJ lookup

Use county sheriffs for local custody and TDCJ for state-prison location.

Correction Error resolution

Submit certified documents after a fingerprint-based personal review identifies a DPS error.

Authorized use FACT Clearinghouse

Eligible organizations receive fingerprint-based DPS and FBI results through restricted access.

Official public CCH route

How to Run a Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search

The public portal is called the Criminal History Conviction Name Search. DPS states that the public database is extracted from its Computerized Criminal History system and is public only when a conviction or deferred adjudication has been reported on an offense.

Open the CRD Public Website Go to Texas DPS Criminal History Conviction Name Search. Use the public site unless you represent a legislatively authorized organization approved for secure access.

Create or sign in to the public account Follow the account prompts. Keep your login private and verify that the address ends in dps.texas.gov before entering account or payment information.

Purchase only the credits you need Each search credit costs $1. Credit-card purchases add a 2.25% fee per credit plus a $0.25 transaction fee per order.

Enter the legal name Last name and first name are required. Add the middle or maiden name and complete date of birth when known. DPS advises against nicknames, initials and partial names.

Review how each result matched The system may test exact names, names without the middle name, middle initials, birth-date matches and similar-sounding names.

Preview before opening the full record Use the available preview and descriptive information to reduce the risk of selecting the wrong person. Opening additional full records may consume additional credits.

Save the response and search date Print or securely save the result, the criteria used and the date searched. A current county court docket may contain later information.

Verify important findings elsewhere Use the court that handled the case for the official disposition, and use fingerprints when a positive identity match is essential.

Best-search tip: Use the person’s complete legal name, maiden name and full birth date when available. Do not add a nickname merely because it appears on social media or an old booking page.

A “no record” response is not a statewide clearance. The search may miss an event that was not reported, does not meet the public-disclosure criteria, is sealed or expunged, belongs to another jurisdiction, or is not accurately matched by the entered identifiers.

Search-cost helper

Estimate Texas DPS Search Credit Cost

This local estimator uses the currently published public-search pricing: $1 per credit, plus 2.25% per credit and a $0.25 transaction fee for a credit-card order. Confirm the actual checkout total before purchasing.

Number of search credits

Estimated credit-card total: $1.27 Includes one $1 credit, estimated 2.25% fee and one $0.25 transaction fee.

Control unnecessary charges: A no-hit search still uses a credit, and opening additional possible records can use additional credits. Confirm spelling and use the preview before opening a full record.

Avoid false matches

How Texas DPS Expands and Ranks Name Matches

DPS starts narrowly and expands the search to find possible variations. This improves recall but also increases the need to compare identity details carefully.

1 Exact legal name

First, middle and last name with the closest identifiers.

2 Name without middle

The system can search first and last name without the middle name.

3 Birth-date match

Month, day or full birth date can narrow possible results.

4 Similar-sounding name

Soundex may return names that sound alike but are spelled differently.

Compare complete name and maiden names

Compare full date of birth when displayed

Check reported sex, race and physical description

Review county, arresting agency and offense date

Compare state identification or tracking numbers

Check the court disposition and reporting date

Do not rely on a photograph alone

Use fingerprints when identity certainty matters

What the DPS public search can and cannot answer
User question	DPS public search	Better source when DPS is not enough
Does the person have a reported Texas conviction or deferred adjudication?	This is the main purpose of the public conviction database.	Verify the final disposition with the county or district clerk.
Was the person arrested today?	Not a reliable live-arrest tool.	Arresting agency or county sheriff jail locator.
Is the person still in jail?	No current custody status.	County sheriff, municipal jail or TDCJ.
What is the next court date?	Not the primary scheduling system.	County or district clerk and the handling court.
Is this definitely the same person?	Name searches can produce false matches.	Fingerprint-based personal or authorized review.
Does the person have a Texas driving record?	Crime Records does not contain driving-record information.	Texas DPS Driver License driving-record service.

Your own Texas record

How to Obtain a Personal Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Review

Use a personal review when you need to know whether DPS has a Texas criminal-history record linked to your fingerprints, or when you intend to dispute a name-search result. A public name search is not a substitute for this identity-based process.

Open the DPS personal-review guidance Start from the DPS Criminal History Records section or call 512-424-2474, option 2.

Confirm which request process applies Tell the Criminal History Inquiry Unit whether the request is for your own record, immigration, adoption, a legal-name change or another purpose.

Follow the current fingerprint instructions DPS uses Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas for qualifying electronic fingerprint submissions. Use the correct service code and authorization instructions for your request.

Schedule with the authorized provider Use IdentoGO Texas locations or call 888-467-2080.

Bring matching, unexpired identification The name used for the appointment should match the identity document. Follow the current acceptable-identification list.

Retain the receipt and tracking information Save the appointment confirmation, payment receipt and transaction or tracking number until the result is received.

Review every arrest cycle and disposition Compare names, dates, agencies, charges and court outcomes against your certified court documents.

Use Error Resolution when something is wrong DPS states that certified documents are required to update or correct a criminal-history record.

Fingerprint fees vary by purpose. Employment, licensing, volunteer, FBI and personal-review submissions may use different fees or agency arrangements. Confirm the amount shown for your specific service code instead of applying a fee from another fingerprint program.

Record accuracy

How to Correct an Error in a Texas DPS Criminal History Record

DPS’s Error Resolution Unit evaluates possible criminal-history errors reported by agencies and private citizens. The correction process is evidence-based; a screenshot from a private background-check website is usually not enough.

Obtain your fingerprint-based personal review Confirm that the disputed entry is actually associated with your identity rather than another person with a similar name.

Identify the exact problem Mark the incorrect name, date, charge, agency, disposition, duplicate entry or missing court outcome.

Contact the reporting agency or court Ask the arresting agency, prosecutor or clerk for the certified record that proves the correct information.

Complete the current DPS error-resolution form Use the form linked from Criminal History Error Resolution.

Attach certified supporting documents DPS specifically instructs people seeking an update or correction to provide certified documents to the Error Resolution Unit.

Keep copies and delivery proof Retain the form, certified records, mailing receipt and any DPS correspondence.

Run a fresh review after processing Confirm that the corrected entry now appears accurately before sending it to an employer, licensing body or private publisher.

Correction is not expunction. Error Resolution fixes inaccurate information. It does not erase an accurate arrest or disposition that remains legally reportable.

Use the right Texas system

County Court, County Jail and TDCJ Lookup Routes

Texas does not use one statewide public website for every live county-jail booking and every trial-court record. Route the search according to the question.

Texas arrest and custody routing
Need	Correct official source	What to prepare	What to do next
Recent county arrest	Arresting county sheriff or city jail	Legal name, birth date, arrest time and agency	Confirm booking, custody, bond and release status.
Trial-court case or disposition	County or district clerk; re:SearchTX may help route statewide case information	County, case number, legal name and filing year	Open the docket and verify charge-level disposition.
Texas state-prison inmate	TDCJ Inmate Search	Last name, first name, TDCJ number or SID	Check unit, offenses and projected release information.
Federal inmate	Federal Bureau of Prisons Locator	Legal name or federal register number	Verify institution and release information.
Public statewide conviction history	DPS public conviction search	Legal name, maiden name and date of birth	Preview the match and verify with fingerprints or court records.

How to find the right county court

Use the case’s arrest county, filing county or DPS court information. The Texas Judicial Directory can help locate court personnel and official contact information.

Need bail or visitation information?

Contact the county jail holding the person. Bond methods, visiting hours, money providers and mail rules are facility-specific and are not controlled by the DPS conviction database.

Employment and licensing

Texas Fingerprint Checks and FACT Clearinghouse Explained

Fingerprint-based employment or licensing checks are not the same as purchasing a public name-search credit. The requesting agency should provide the correct authorization and service code.

FAST fingerprint capture

Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas electronically captures and submits qualifying fingerprints for the required check.

FACT Clearinghouse

Authorized entities can access consolidated DPS and FBI fingerprint results and qualifying notification services.

Not a public search account

FACT and the CRD Secure Site are restricted to eligible organizations; members of the public use the CRD Public Website.

Get instructions from the requesting agency Do not invent or borrow a service code from another employer, license or volunteer program.

Schedule the correct IdentoGO service Use the provided code and confirm the appointment type, location and fee.

Bring acceptable identification Use current, unexpired documents that match the scheduled identity information.

Keep the Universal Enrollment ID or receipt The requesting organization may need the tracking information to locate the submission.

Ask the requesting agency for status DPS and the fingerprint vendor may not be able to release an employer’s eligibility decision directly to the applicant.

Dispute identity or record errors through the proper route A fingerprint-based result should be challenged using DPS personal-review and error-resolution procedures, not by repeatedly buying public name searches.

Fingerprint and secure-site help: 512-424-2474. DPS lists option 5 for FAST appointment availability or location issues and option 6 for FACT, FBI Rap Back and technical FAST concerns.

Separate public registry

Texas Public Sex Offender Registry Search

The sex-offender registry is a separate DPS public system with different legal reporting rules. Do not treat an ordinary criminal-history search and registry search as interchangeable.

Open the official registry search Use Texas Public Sex Offender Registry Search.

Choose address, name or school search The public portal supports map-address, registrant-name and institute-of-higher-education search routes.

Compare the full registry record Review identity, photograph, registration address, offense and verifying law-enforcement agency.

Check unmapped results DPS warns that not every registration address can be shown on the map. Review the unmapped category when using an area search.

Report an error to the verification agency The local law-enforcement agency that verified the registration is listed on the record.

Use the information lawfully DPS warns that using registry information to injure, harass or commit another unlawful act can create criminal or civil liability.

Legal and record-clearing route

Find a Texas Lawyer, Expunction Help or Nondisclosure Forms

State Bar Lawyer Referral

800-252-9690
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central

Open the official referral service

Expunction guidance

TexasLawHelp provides updated instructions and forms for qualifying adults seeking to clear an arrest record.

Open expunction guidance

Nondisclosure guidance

A nondisclosure order can restrict public disclosure of qualifying records but does not erase the record for every government or authorized user.

Open nondisclosure guidance

Keep a copy before clearing a record. Immigration, professional licensing, federal applications and future legal matters may require accurate historical documents even after a Texas expunction or nondisclosure order.

DPS Crime Records contact

Texas DPS Crime Records Phone, Address and Map

Access and Dissemination Bureau

512-424-2474

Option 1: Secure Site or FACT account and password help
Option 2: Personal fingerprint results, open records, legal-name change, adoption, immigration or obtaining your own record
Option 5: FAST appointment availability and location issues
Option 6: FACT, FBI Rap Back and technical FAST concerns

Crime Records mailing address

Texas Department of Public Safety
PO Box 4143
Austin, TX 78765-4143
Attn: Criminal History Inquiry Unit

Confirm the correct attention line and required form before mailing sensitive or certified documents.

Overnight or physical delivery

Texas Department of Public Safety
Crime Records
5805 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78752

Open Crime Records contacts

Before visiting

DPS does not publish general public walk-in hours for every Crime Records service. Call first to confirm whether the request is handled online, by fingerprint appointment, by mail or by the reporting court or agency.

DPS Crime Records location

5805 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78752

Open driving directions

Do not visit for county jail questions

DPS headquarters cannot provide a county jail’s live housing, bond payment, visitation schedule or release-processing time.

Do not mail original identity documents unless required

Follow the current form instructions and keep copies of all supporting records and delivery tracking.

Portal support number

New-user and search support is also listed at 855-481-7071.

Before searching or calling

Prepare These Details Before Using Texas DPS

Complete legal first and last name

Middle and maiden names

Full date of birth

Known Texas counties or cities

Approximate arrest and offense dates

Arresting agency

Court name and case number

Certified disposition when correcting a record

Fingerprint transaction or tracking number

The exact question you need answered

Real user scenarios

Common Texas DPS Criminal Record Situations

Need a quick public check

Create a public account, buy the minimum credits, use the legal name and birth date, and preview possible matches.

Searching a recent arrest

Use the arresting county’s sheriff or city jail first; DPS is not a live booking locator.

Name search shows the wrong person

Do not republish the result. Obtain a fingerprint-based personal review before disputing identity.

Disposition is missing

Get a certified disposition from the handling court and use DPS Error Resolution if the CCH entry needs updating.

Employer requested fingerprints

Use the employer or licensing agency’s service code; do not substitute a public $1 name search.

Record may qualify for clearing

Compare expunction and nondisclosure, gather every disposition and consult current Texas forms or a lawyer.

Verified official directory

Texas DPS and Criminal Record Resources

DPS public conviction search CRD Public Website DPS Crime Records Criminal History search help DPS Error Resolution DPS fingerprint services IdentoGO Texas locations FACT Clearinghouse Texas sex-offender search re:SearchTX court search Texas Judicial Directory TDCJ inmate search TDCJ inmate information Federal inmate locator Texas lawyer referral Texas expunction guide Texas nondisclosure guide Crime Records contacts

Quick answers

Texas DPS Arrest Records FAQs

What does the Texas DPS public criminal history search include?

The public DPS conviction database contains public information extracted from the Computerized Criminal History system when a conviction or deferred adjudication has been reported on an offense. It is not a complete live-arrest, warrant, jail or national background-check database.

How much does a Texas DPS criminal history name search cost?

Each search credit costs $1. For a credit-card order, DPS currently lists a 2.25% fee per credit plus a $0.25 transaction fee. A search that returns no matching record still uses a credit.

Do I need an account to search Texas DPS criminal history?

Yes. Members of the public use the CRD Public Website account to access the Criminal History Conviction Name Search and purchase search credits. The CRD Secure Site and FACT Clearinghouse are restricted to eligible organizations.

Can I use Texas DPS to find someone arrested today?

Texas DPS is not the best live-booking source. Contact the arresting city or county and use that county sheriff’s official inmate locator. Use TDCJ only after a person has entered Texas state-prison custody.

Why did the DPS search return several people with similar names?

DPS expands searches using name variations, birth-date matches and Soundex for similar-sounding names. Compare the full legal name, maiden name, birth date, physical description, counties, agencies and offenses before opening a full record.

Is a Texas DPS name search a fingerprint background check?

No. A public name search uses names, birth dates and other identifiers and can produce false matches. DPS states that fingerprint identification is the way to positively link a person to a criminal record.

How do I get my own Texas criminal history record?

Use the DPS personal fingerprint-review process. Call Crime Records at 512-424-2474, option 2, for current instructions, then follow the authorized fingerprint appointment and submission route.

How do I correct an error in my Texas DPS record?

First obtain a fingerprint-based personal review. Gather certified documents from the reporting court or agency, complete the current DPS Error Resolution form and submit the evidence using the instructions on the official Error Resolution page.

Does Texas DPS show current jail or prison custody?

The public conviction search is not a current custody locator. Use the appropriate county sheriff for county-jail custody, the TDCJ inmate search for Texas state-prison custody and the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for federal custody.

Can a Texas DPS criminal record be expunged or sealed?

Some records may qualify for expunction or an order of nondisclosure, depending on the charge, disposition and criminal history. Obtain every court disposition and use current Texas forms or legal advice. Correcting an error is a separate process from clearing an accurate record.

Official-resource review completed 1 August 2026

This independent guide is not affiliated with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Judicial Branch, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, IdentoGO, State Bar of Texas or another government agency.

Search fees, fingerprint charges, portal access, contact options, court availability and public-record rules can change. Recheck the responsible official source before paying, submitting fingerprints, mailing certified documents or making a legal decision.

Responsible-use notice: A name-based result is not proof that a record belongs to a particular person. Do not use criminal-history information to harass someone or to make employment, housing, credit, insurance or other decisions that require a legally compliant consumer report.