Texas Criminal Arrest Records Search

Texas arrest-to-court record route

Texas Public Arrest and Criminal History Lookup

Use this guide to locate a recent county booking, search the Texas DPS criminal-history system, check a court case, find a TDCJ inmate and move quickly to bond, lawyer, visitation or victim-notification help.

Open Texas DPS Crime Records Search TDCJ inmates Search Texas court cases

County bookings DPS criminal history Bond records Court status TDCJ custody Legal help

Use the right record. An arrest entry is not a conviction, a county jail result is not a statewide criminal history, and a TDCJ record does not cover people held only in a local jail.

Fast answer

Texas Does Not Use One Database for Every Arrest Record

Recent arrest

Start with the arresting county sheriff or city jail.

State criminal history

Use the Texas DPS public criminal-history route.

State-prison custody

Use TDCJ only for people under TDCJ supervision.

Court result

Use re:SearchTX and the county or district clerk.

Someone was arrested today?

Identify the arresting agency and county first. Allow time for booking, search the county jail by surname, then call the booking desk if the person is still missing. Do not pay an unsolicited caller who promises immediate release.

Task finder

Choose What You Need to Do

This browser-only helper does not collect a name, date of birth or case number.

Select your immediate task

Local custody

How to Find a Recent Texas Arrest by County

Most fresh arrests begin in a city or county booking system. A statewide DPS search is not the best first stop when you only need to know where someone was taken today.

Identify the arresting agency Use the city, traffic-stop location, police department or county named by the caller, news report or witness.

Open the official county sheriff website Choose the page labelled Inmate Search, Jail Lookup, Bookings, Custody Search or Central Magistrate.

Search with fewer fields Start with the last name. Add the first name or date of birth only if the result list is too broad.

Open the matching booking Compare age, middle name, booking date, agency, charge, booking number and facility.

Check the status fields Look for bond, hold, release, court and housing information. A blank field may mean processing is incomplete.

Call when the arrest is very recent Ask the booking desk whether processing is complete and which court will handle magistration or bond.

Official booking examples for major Texas counties
County	Official search	Useful detail	Phone or next step
Harris	Find Someone in Jail	Search by SPN, SSN or name; surname-only search is available.	Verify the booking through the Harris County Sheriff portal and court record.
Dallas	Dallas County Jail Lookup	Search by prisoner name or book-in number.	Jail and bond information: 214-761-9025.
Bexar	Central Magistrate Search	Useful for Class B or higher arrests processed during the recent search window.	Inmate and bond line: 210-335-6201.
Tarrant	Tarrant Inmate Search	The official page routes users to the county inmate-search system.	Jail information: 817-884-3000.
Travis	Travis Find an Inmate	Search by last and first name; verify before relying on the result.	Inmate charge information: 512-854-9033.

County-line tip: A person arrested in a large metro area may be held by a neighboring county, city marshal, constable, university police department or federal agency. Follow the arresting agency, not only the city name.

State repository

Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search

The Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Service is the statewide route for public criminal-history information. It is different from a county booking list; begin on the Crime Records page and choose the public Criminal History Conviction Name Search.

Use it for Publicly available Texas computerized criminal-history results associated with the identity entered.

Prepare Legal name and, when known, full date of birth. Accurate birth information narrows similar-name results.

Remember A name match can be wrong or incomplete. Verify identity and disposition with the reporting court or agency.

Open the official DPS record page Open the Texas DPS Crime Records page and select Criminal History Conviction Name Search.

Open the public search route Choose the public criminal-history option rather than an agency-only secure service. Follow the sign-in or account instructions shown by DPS.

Review the current search charge DPS can change fees and account steps. Confirm the current charge on the official payment screen before submitting the search.

Enter the best identity information Use the full legal name and date of birth when available. The system can broaden name combinations, so inspect each candidate carefully.

Read the record source and disposition Note the arresting agency, offense, prosecution and disposition details. Do not equate an arrest line with conviction.

Save the search date and verify locally Download or print the result, then check the court or agency that reported the event if accuracy matters.

DPS help: Crime Records Access and Dissemination Bureau: 512-424-2474. Use option 1 for secure-site account questions and option 2 for personal fingerprint results, open-record requests or guidance on obtaining your own criminal history.

Record types

Arrest Record, Criminal History, Court Record and Inmate Record

Choose the record that answers the question
Record	What it normally shows	What it may not show	Best source
County booking	Current or recent jail intake, charges, bond and booking number	Final court outcome or older released bookings	County sheriff or city jail
DPS criminal history	Publicly available statewide criminal-history information reported to DPS	Every local event, sealed information or unreported updates	Texas DPS Crime Records
Court case	Filed charges, hearings, docket activity and disposition	Live jail location or every document without account access	re:SearchTX and county clerk
TDCJ inmate	TDCJ location, offenses and projected release information	People held only in a county jail or federal custody	TDCJ Inmate Search
Bail form	Public Safety Report System bail-form information	Release completion or every local payment instruction	Texas Courts Bail Forms Search

Court and release

Check the Texas Criminal Case, Bail Form and Bond Status

Arrest

Magistration

Bail decision

Court case

Disposition

Search the case

Open re:SearchTX Use re:SearchTX to search case information across Texas counties.

Search the legal name Add a county, case number or filing period when a common name returns too many cases.

Open the correct criminal case Compare county, court, filing date, charge and party information.

Review upcoming events and disposition Look for hearing dates, docket entries and final outcome. The county clerk remains the best contact for certified records.

Check a Texas bail form

The Texas Judicial Branch provides a public bail-forms search. Search by name, cause number, magistration location or offense, then open the matching form. Confirm payment and release instructions with the holding jail before sending money.

A bond amount is not a release time Other holds, warrants, paperwork, payment confirmation or transport can delay release.

Never guess how to pay Use the jail or court’s published method. Verify a bail-bond company through the county Bail Bond Board where one exists.

State custody

How to Search for a Texas TDCJ Inmate

TDCJ is for people under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. A person booked today in a county jail may not appear in this system.

Open TDCJ Inmate Search Go to the official TDCJ search.

Use a TDCJ or SID number first A unique identifier is safer than selecting a person from a common-name list.

Otherwise search by name Enter last and first name, then narrow carefully. Check spelling and aliases if the record is missing.

Open the detail record Confirm the name, number, unit, offenses and projected release information.

Use phone or email if needed Call 936-295-6371 during the published Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. information hours, or follow the official email-request instructions.

Email option: TDCJ says users may email the full name and seven-digit TDCJ number to pia@tdcj.texas.gov. If the number is unknown, include exact date of birth or approximate age and county of conviction.

Family contact

Texas Inmate Visitation, Calls, Mail and Money

First identify the facility. County jails set their own visitation, phone, mail and deposit rules. The instructions below are for TDCJ state facilities unless the county jail says otherwise.

Visitation Use the TDCJ visitation page, check the unit schedule and create an approved visitor profile before scheduling.

Telephone Eligible TDCJ inmates place paid calls through the approved inmate telephone system; inmates generally initiate the call.

Digital mail General mail must include the inmate’s full commitment name and TDCJ number and be sent to the official Digital Processing Center.

Trust fund Use only deposit methods listed by TDCJ. Confirm the TDCJ number before paying and retain the receipt.

TDCJ visit readiness checklist

Confirm the person is in TDCJ, not county custody.

Find the assigned unit and unit schedule.

Create the visitor account and profile.

Wait for visitor-to-inmate relationship approval.

Schedule through the official visitation portal.

Read ID, clothing, child and prohibited-item rules.

Check for unit closures before travelling.

Contact the unit when the portal does not work.

TDCJ mail address

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Inmate’s Full First and Last Name + TDCJ Number
PO Box 660400
Dallas, TX 75266-0400

Missing the full commitment name or TDCJ number can cause mail to be returned. Legal, business and government mail may follow different routing rules.

2026 book rule: TDCJ announced that books mailed to inmates must be new softback books under the revised policy effective April 1, 2026. Check the current correspondence rules before ordering.

Legal help

Find a Court-Appointed or Private Criminal Lawyer in Texas

Request appointed counsel

Texas counties use local indigent-defense procedures. Contact the indigent-defense coordinator, court coordinator or judge in the county where the charge is pending.

Read TIDC “My Rights” guidance and find the county indigent-defense plan.

Find a private lawyer

Use the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral & Information Service. The telephone service is published for Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central, excluding legal holidays.

Open LRIS or call 800-252-9690.

Ask who will personally handle the case.

Confirm the fee structure in writing.

Ask whether bond hearings are included.

Provide the cause number and court.

Do not accept guaranteed-outcome promises.

Verify the lawyer through the State Bar directory.

Victim services

Texas Custody and Release Notifications

Texas changed its county-jail notification route in September 2025. County notifications now use Texas IVSS-Counties rather than the former statewide VINE route. TDCJ custody and parole notifications use the TDCJ Integrated Victim Services System.

County jail notifications

Use Texas IVSS-Counties for participating county custody notifications. For help, call 866-268-8959.

TDCJ and parole notifications

Use the TDCJ IVSS portal. TDCJ Victim Services also lists 800-848-4284.

Notification is not emergency protection. Contact 911 or local law enforcement for an immediate threat. Verify release information directly when personal safety depends on it.

Troubleshooting

Why a Texas Arrest Record May Be Missing

The booking is still being processed.

The person is in a city jail rather than county custody.

The arrest occurred in a neighboring county.

The name is filed under an alias or different spelling.

The person was released before the portal updated.

The person transferred to TDCJ or federal custody.

The event is not public or has been sealed.

The court or agency has not yet reported the update.

The portal needs JavaScript, cookies or pop-ups.

The search uses too many conflicting fields.

Better search sequence: surname only → surname plus first name → date of birth → county → booking number or SID. Do not fill every field at once.

Accuracy and privacy

Correct, Expunge or Seal a Texas Criminal Record

Identify the source of the error Compare the DPS result, county booking, court disposition and TDCJ record. Correct the originating agency or clerk first.

Contact DPS for criminal-history questions Use the Crime Records contact page and call 512-424-2474 for the proper record-review or error-resolution route.

Separate expunction from nondisclosure An expunction can remove qualifying arrest records; a nondisclosure order limits public disclosure of a qualifying offense. Eligibility is fact-specific.

Use current forms and guidance Review TexasLawHelp’s expunction versus nondisclosure guide and the Texas Judicial Branch forms page.

File in the correct court The correct clerk and procedure depend on the arrest, court and relief requested. Keep certified copies of the disposition and any signed order.

Follow up after an order Confirm that DPS, the court and listed agencies received the order, then contact private data publishers separately where necessary.

Official office

Texas DPS Crime Records Contact, Address and Map

Crime Records physical address
5805 N. Lamar Blvd., MSC 214
Austin, TX 78752
Criminal History Inquiry mailing address
Texas Department of Public Safety
PO Box 4143
Austin, TX 78765-4143
Crime Records phone
512-424-2474
DPS customer service
512-424-2000
Before visiting
Call first. A local jail, county clerk or court may hold the record you actually need.

Crime Records contacts Driving directions

Official resources

Texas Arrest, Court, Custody and Legal-Help Links

DPS Crime Records re:SearchTX Texas bail forms TDCJ inmate search TDCJ visitation TDCJ calls TDCJ trust fund TDCJ digital mail Appointed counsel Lawyer referral County victim alerts TDCJ victim alerts Texas sex offender registry

Common situations

What to Do Next in Common Texas Arrest Situations

Arrested this morning Search the county jail, wait for booking to finish, call the booking desk and ask which court will handle bond.

Bond is listed but no release Ask about holds, warrants, payment confirmation and release processing. A posted bond does not create an exact release time.

Person disappeared from jail search Check release, transfer, TDCJ, neighboring counties and federal custody before assuming the record is wrong.

Need the next court date Use re:SearchTX, then contact the county or district clerk for the official setting and certified record.

Cannot afford a lawyer Request counsel through the county court or indigent-defense coordinator and review the county plan on TIDC.

Old arrest still appears Get the certified disposition, compare the DPS record and ask a Texas lawyer whether expunction or nondisclosure may apply.

Questions

Texas Criminal Arrest Records FAQs

Is there one free statewide Texas arrest search?

No. Recent arrests are usually searched through the arresting county or city jail. Texas DPS provides the statewide public criminal-history route through its Crime Records page, and the search may require account and payment steps shown by DPS.

How do I find someone arrested in Texas today?

Identify the arresting agency and county, open the official sheriff or jail lookup, search the last name first and call the booking desk when the arrest is too recent to appear online.

What is the official Texas criminal-history search?

The official statewide route begins on the Texas DPS Crime Records page. Select the public Criminal History Conviction Name Search, follow the current account and payment instructions, and search using identity details such as legal name and date of birth.

Does an arrest record mean the person was convicted?

No. An arrest or booking shows that a person entered the criminal process. Check the court case and disposition to learn whether charges were filed, dismissed, deferred or resulted in conviction.

Can I find a county jail inmate in the TDCJ search?

Usually not. TDCJ search covers people under Texas Department of Criminal Justice supervision. Search the county sheriff or city jail for a person held only in local custody.

How can I check a Texas criminal court case?

Search re:SearchTX by name or case number, then verify the result with the county or district clerk that handles the case. The clerk is the correct source for certified documents.

Where can I check Texas bail or bond information?

Check the county inmate record and contact the holding jail. Texas Courts also provides a public bail-forms search, but payment and release instructions must be confirmed with the jail or court.

How do I request a court-appointed lawyer in Texas?

Contact the indigent-defense coordinator, court coordinator or judge in the county where the charge is pending. Texas counties publish local indigent-defense plans through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.

How do victims receive Texas custody notifications?

Use Texas IVSS-Counties for participating county-jail notifications and TDCJ IVSS for people in TDCJ custody or on parole or mandatory supervision. Notification is not a substitute for emergency safety planning.

Can a Texas arrest record be removed or sealed?

Some records may qualify for expunction or an order of nondisclosure, but eligibility depends on the arrest, charge and disposition. Obtain the certified court outcome and use current Texas forms or legal advice before filing.

Official-resource review: July 31, 2026.

This independent guide is not affiliated with Texas DPS, TDCJ, the Texas Judicial Branch, a county sheriff, court or private arrest-record publisher. Portal availability, fees, office hours, jail rules, contact providers and record scope can change. Verify time-sensitive details on the linked official page.

Responsible-use notice: An arrest is not a conviction. Do not use a name-only match to identify or harass a person, and do not use this page as a consumer report for employment, housing, credit or another regulated decision.