Texas Criminal Records Search

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How to Check for Texas Criminal Records

The Texas Department of Public Safety handles all criminal record checks for the state. They have a web portal where you can sign up and access records by someone’s name. All of the information comes directly from the DPS Computerized Criminal History System (CCH). You can purchase credits that stay on your account until you use them. You can access arrest records, criminal dispositions, Class B misdemeanors, and felonies. You will also get to see any sex offenses. You can also choose to use a third-party service to look up someone’s criminal records.

Texas criminal records online

Federal Records vs. Court Criminal Records in Texas

Texas has a special archive center for all federal criminal records in the state. It is called The Federal Records Center (FRC). You can request copies of federal cases by mail but not by phone. You must pay a shipping fee of $7.50 when ordering and you will receive your records within 2-3 days. For local district criminal records, you can contact the courthouse where they were processed. You will have to pay a fee for copies. You can also use their online search form to find someone and request a copy.

 

How Long do Felony or Misdemeanor Charges Last?

Felonies will stay on your criminal record indefinitely if you don’t request that they be sealed. You can do so after five years, and you have completed the terms of your punishment. With misdemeanors, you can ask that they be sealed immediately after you have completed your deferred adjudication. Not all felonies are eligible to be sealed. For things like violent sex offenses, they will remain on your record forever. There is a list of the crimes that will never be removed from your file.

 

Who Can Lookup your Criminal Background?

Anyone can look up your criminal background in Texas. Criminal records are public record, and Texas allows you to search by creating an account and paying a small fee. Only sealed and juvenile records will not show up in someone’s criminal background.

 

Why Check Someone’s Filed Criminal Charges?

There are many reasons why you might want to check on someone’s criminal charges. The most common is when you ask them to watch your kids or aging family member. Other reasons might be property rental, when they purchase firearms, adopting children, applying for licenses, security clearance or travel.

 

Types of Criminal Records

The types of criminal records you can find on someone are extensive. You can see their arrests, any warrants, charges including misdemeanors and felonies. You can see how they fared in court and what their punishment was. You can also see mug shots, fingerprints and if they spent any time in prison.

 

How Are TX Criminal Records Created?

All forms of law enforcement create criminal records when they arrest someone. When police fill out an initial report, apply for an arrest warrant, take them to court or complete a RAP sheet. These are all examples of how criminal records are created. When someone ends up in criminal court, those records are added to someone’s file to complete the picture.