Texas Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Texas criminal records, arrest records, court records, warrants, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, plus how Texas background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Texas sources, and it points you to the state agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Texas?

There are three main ways to look up a Texas criminal record:

• Texas DPS public conviction search. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Crime Records Service runs an online Criminal History Conviction Name Search. It returns conviction and deferred-adjudication records, which are public under Texas law. You create an account and pay a small per-search credit fee (roughly $3 plus a processing fee per name). See the DPS Crime Records Service page to get started.
• The court or clerk where the case was filed. District clerks and county clerks keep the actual case files. You can search or request copies directly from the county.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for the official DPS search or an FCRA-compliant background check.

A full official search by fingerprint is the only way to confirm a record truly belongs to a specific person. A name-and-date-of-birth search can return matches that belong to someone else.

Where can I look up arrest records in Texas?

Arrest records in Texas are kept by the arresting agency, such as a city police department or a county sheriff. Many county sheriffs publish an online jail roster or "who's in jail" list showing recent bookings. The Texas DPS conviction database does not show arrests that did not lead to a conviction or deferred adjudication, so for arrest-only information you usually go to the county sheriff or the local court. An arrest record is different from a criminal record: it documents that a person was taken into custody, not that they were convicted of anything.

Are Texas arrest records public?

In general, yes. Texas treats most law-enforcement records as public under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552), so arrest records, jail bookings, and incident reports are usually open to anyone, not just Texas residents. There are limits: records of an open or active investigation can be withheld, and some information about victims, juveniles, and peace officers is confidential. An arrest record typically lists the arresting officer or agency, the date, time, and location of the arrest, the jail where the person was booked, and basic descriptive details. Remember that an arrest is not a conviction.

How do I look up warrants in Texas?

Warrants are issued by courts, but the easiest place to check is usually the county sheriff or the local court clerk. Many Texas counties post a searchable list of outstanding or "open" warrants on the sheriff's or constable's website. You can also call or visit the clerk of the court where charges would be filed. For court records statewide, the Texas judiciary's re:SearchTX portal lets you search case information from participating counties. Active warrants can also surface on third-party background reports, but the county is the authoritative source.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Texas?

It depends on the type of check and how old the record is. For employment, tenant, and credit screening done through a consumer reporting agency, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) controls what can be reported. An arrest that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported once it is more than seven years old. Convictions can be reported indefinitely under federal law, though some states add their own limits (see the next question). A basic, official DPS conviction search will not list arrests that never became convictions or deferred adjudications.

How far back does a criminal background check go in Texas?

Texas is often called a "seven-year state." Under Texas Business and Commerce Code rules layered on top of the FCRA, a consumer reporting agency generally will not report non-conviction arrests, dismissed charges, or other adverse items older than seven years. There is an important exception: when the job pays $75,000 or more per year, the FCRA lifts the seven-year reporting limit, so an employer's screening company can report convictions going back further (often to age 18). Key points:

• The seven-year limit applies mainly to non-conviction information (arrests that did not lead to conviction, dismissed cases, civil judgments, paid tax liens).
• Actual convictions can generally be reported beyond seven years under federal law.
• The $75,000 salary threshold removes the seven-year cap for higher-paying jobs.
• The clock generally runs from the disposition date or release date, not the date you finish probation.

The Texas State Law Library guide to background checks covers these rules in plain language.

How do I find court records in Texas?

Texas court records are held at the county level by district clerks and county clerks, and many are searchable online. The statewide starting point is re:SearchTX, the Office of Court Administration's public portal, which lets you search case information from many of the state's 254 counties in one place; a free account covers basic civil case searches, with documents sometimes available for a fee. Large counties also run their own portals, such as the Harris County District Clerk's online case search. To pull a specific case file, contact the district clerk (felonies and larger civil cases) or the county clerk (misdemeanors and smaller matters) in the county where the case was filed. You can also request records under the Texas Public Information Act.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Texas?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison. Use the TDCJ Online Inmate Search from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. You can search by name, SID number, or TDCJ number to find an offender's location, offenses, and projected release date. The data is updated on business days and is at least 24 hours old.
• County jail. People awaiting trial or serving short sentences are usually in a county jail. Check that county sheriff's online jail roster or inmate lookup.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than TDCJ.

Are criminal records public in Texas?

Most adult criminal records in Texas are public. Conviction and deferred-adjudication records held by DPS are public information, and court records are generally open under the Texas Public Information Act. Anyone can access them, not only Texas residents. The main exceptions are records that have been expunged (destroyed), records sealed by an order of nondisclosure, juvenile records, and information that is confidential by law (such as certain victim, witness, and ongoing-investigation details).

Are traffic violations crimes in Texas?

Most routine traffic tickets are Class C misdemeanors, the lowest level of criminal offense in Texas. A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine only (up to $500) and no jail time. Because it is technically a criminal offense, it can appear in court records, but minor traffic infractions rarely affect employment decisions. More serious driving offenses, such as driving while intoxicated (DWI), are charged at higher levels and can carry jail time.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Texas?

Parole in Texas is supervised by the TDCJ Parole Division, and an offender's supervision status may appear in the TDCJ inmate search results. Probation (formally called community supervision) is handled locally by county community supervision and corrections departments and through the court that imposed it, so the sentencing court's records are the best source. Probation lets a person serve a sentence in the community under conditions set by the court, usually with a supervision officer, instead of being incarcerated.

How do I clear or expunge my criminal record in Texas?

Texas has two different remedies, and they are not the same thing:

• Expunction (expungement). Governed by Chapter 55A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (which replaced the old Chapter 55 on January 1, 2025), an expunction destroys the records of an arrest or charge. It is available only in narrow situations, mainly acquittals (found not guilty), dismissals, grand jury no-bills, certain arrests where no charge was ever filed, and some Class C deferred-disposition cases.
• Order of nondisclosure. Governed by Government Code Chapter 411, this seals a record from public view rather than destroying it. The record still exists for law enforcement and certain agencies but is hidden from most employers and landlords. Nondisclosure is the typical path for people who successfully completed deferred adjudication or certain probations.

Waiting periods and eligibility vary by offense. Some misdemeanors have a waiting period of two years (longer for offenses involving family violence, weapons, or certain other categories), and serious or repeat offenses may be barred entirely. Because the rules are detailed and were recently rewritten, check the Texas State Law Library expunction and nondisclosure guide and consider talking to an attorney about your specific case.

Do I need a lawyer to expunge or seal my record in Texas?

You are not legally required to hire a lawyer to file for an expunction or an order of nondisclosure, and the courts make the forms and information available. That said, the petitions are technical, eligibility rules changed in 2025, and a mistake can cost you the chance to clear the record. Many people hire an attorney to improve their odds and avoid procedural errors. Free legal-aid organizations and the Texas State Law Library also publish self-help materials if you choose to proceed on your own.

How do I search the Texas sex offender registry?

The Texas DPS maintains a statewide public registry. You can search it for free at the Texas Public Sex Offender Registry by name or location. The registry shows an offender's risk level (from low, level one, to high, level three), current or last-known address, and basic offense information. DPS also offers an email subscription that alerts you to changes for offenders you follow. Every local law-enforcement agency in Texas keeps its own registry as well, and some publish neighborhood search tools.

Can a sex offender be removed from the registry in Texas?

In limited cases, yes. Texas allows certain registrants to petition for early termination of the duty to register if their offense qualifies and a state-approved risk assessment supports it. The process generally requires a court petition, an evaluation by a qualified expert, and proof that the person completed required treatment. Many offenses, especially violent sexual offenses, are not eligible, and the lifetime registration requirement remains for the most serious cases. Eligibility is fact-specific, so an attorney should review the particular conviction.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Texas?

A Texas felony conviction stays on your record permanently unless you obtain relief such as an expunction (rare for convictions) or, in some cases, an order of nondisclosure. There is no automatic seven-year deletion of a conviction. Note that the FCRA "seven-year" rule discussed above limits what a background-check company may report for certain items; it does not erase the underlying record. Texas recognizes several felony levels:

• Capital felony (for example, capital murder): punishable by life without parole or, where the state seeks it, the death penalty.
• First-degree felony: generally 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
• Second-degree felony: generally 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
• Third-degree felony: generally 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
• State jail felony: generally 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and a fine up to $10,000.

These ranges come from Chapter 12 of the Texas Penal Code and are general; actual punishment depends on the offense, prior history, and other factors. Consult an attorney or the statute for specifics.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Texas?

Texas misdemeanors are divided into three classes, punishable by county jail time and/or a fine rather than state prison:

• Class A misdemeanor: up to one year in county jail and/or a fine up to $4,000. Examples include some second-offense DWI cases, resisting arrest, and certain theft and assault offenses.
• Class B misdemeanor: up to 180 days in county jail and/or a fine up to $2,000. Examples include a first DWI and certain low-level theft offenses.
• Class C misdemeanor: a fine only, up to $500, with no jail time. Examples include most traffic tickets, public intoxication, and minor disorderly conduct.

How a specific offense is classified can depend on the facts and prior convictions, so treat the examples above as general illustrations.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Texas?

Juvenile records in Texas are confidential by law and are generally not available to the public or to ordinary background checks, even before they are formally sealed. They can still be accessed by police, prosecutors, juvenile-justice officials, and in some situations schools. Under Family Code Chapter 58, many juvenile records are sealed or restricted automatically when the person reaches age 18 or 19, without the need to file anything or hire a lawyer, as long as they have no disqualifying adult convictions or pending charges. More serious cases may require a separate request to seal.

Harris County (Houston) criminal records

Harris County, home to Houston, is the most populous county in Texas with more than 4.7 million residents, so it generates a large share of the state's criminal and court records. The Harris County District Clerk runs an online case-search system for felony and civil cases, and the Harris County Sheriff's Office publishes a jail inmate roster for people currently in county custody. For convictions statewide, you can still use the DPS conviction search, and for state-prison inmates you would use the TDCJ inmate search. To request a specific Harris County case file, contact the district clerk (felonies) or county clerk (misdemeanors) directly.

Official Texas criminal record sources

• Texas DPS Crime Records Service - statewide criminal history and public conviction name search.
• TDCJ Online Inmate Search - locate people in Texas state prison and check parole status.
• re:SearchTX - statewide public portal for Texas court case records.
• Texas Public Sex Offender Registry - free DPS registry search by name or location.
• Texas State Law Library: expunctions and nondisclosure - how to clear or seal a record.
• Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 (Punishments) - official felony and misdemeanor penalty ranges.
• Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) - how to request public records.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A mugshot or arrest record is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Texas public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.