Where to Find and How to Access Texas Arrest Records

Searching Texas arrest records may be done for a variety of reasons. If you are applying for a job, screening a daycare or adult services provider, or thinking of going into business with someone, a Texas arrest record can tell you a lot about that person.

Arrest Records Online

Texas arrest records may be obtained by request for a small fee by visiting https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DPS_WEB/Cch/index.aspx. The Computerized Criminal History contains statewide data reported to the Texas Department of Public Services by local law enforcement agencies and the Texas Criminal Justice Information System.

Fees for searching the CCH public website are very reasonable. Each search costs around $3 regardless of how many searches you request or the results of those searches.

Access to Arrest Records

The state of Texas limits who can use the background check database search functions. Private entities such as schools, housing authorities, treatment centers, health care providers, and daycare providers may conduct criminal background checks on potential employees and volunteers. Government agencies are also allowed to search the database. If you are a private individual, you must contact Texas law enforcement to find out if you qualify to subscribe to the database.

You may, of course, request your personal criminal history background check by contacting the Department of Public Safety. You or your authorized agent may make the request and enclose a fee of $15 to cover costs incurred. This fee will get you a Texas criminal history and a fingerprint card, if one is available.

If you are seeking to adopt in the state of Texas, you may conduct a criminal background check on yourself or the adoption agency may conduct it. This request is also made to the Texas Department of Public Safety and costs $15.

Information in Texas Arrest Records

Texas arrest information is only available for those who have been arrested for or convicted of Class B misdemeanors or above. Minor offenses are not recorded, nor are juvenile records publicly available. Certain records may have been expunged or altered to protect the privacy of individuals involved, especially the victims of the crime.

A full Texas criminal background check can also detail relatives and neighbors, bankruptcies, tax liens, judgments, lawsuits, and marriage and divorce records as well as Texas arrests and convictions.

Records on Texas arrests can contain any or all of the following information, depending on individual history:

•    Legal names and known aliases, including close matches to known names
•    Known addresses, from the most current to previous addresses known
•    Workplace addresses, as available
•    Sex offender information, which is required under state and federal law to be made available to the public for Level 3 and Level 2 sex offenders
•    Texas criminal convictions, including charges brought; if charges are dropped, they may not be available in the public record
•    Distinguishing marks such as tattoos and scars
•    Arrests and mug shots, where available
•    Probation information and parole information

Anyone who purchases search credits for the Texas CCH database is recorded as well. The name of the person or company, address and phone number, and when they performed the search is publicly available for viewing. Not only can you search the database, your own information then becomes available so others can know that you searched it.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains an offender search portal at http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/offender_information.htm. The offender’s location, offenses, and projected release date are available, along with previous convictions and incarcerations. Information is available via email by request, or through an online search if you know the offender’s first and last name and/or state ID number. Parolees are included in the search database along with current offenders, so the search can find anyone who was imprisoned in Texas and released on parole.

General information on rules, laws, and legislation in Texas is available by visiting http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/crime_records/pages/index.htm. Here you will find many informational documents which detail the most current laws in Texas.

More information on how to access criminal conviction records from Texas repositories can be obtained by calling (214) 358-2840.