Carrollton Criminal Records

Carrollton criminal records can sit in two different county systems because the city spans both Dallas County and Denton County. Most of Carrollton falls in Dallas County, but the northern section crosses into Denton County. If you are searching for a criminal case tied to Carrollton, you may need to check both county courts depending on where the offense took place. The Carrollton Police Department handles city-wide law enforcement, and cases get filed in the county that covers the incident location. This page explains both systems and how to search them.

How to Search Carrollton Criminal Records

Start with Dallas County since most of Carrollton is in that county. The Dallas County District Clerk in downtown Dallas handles felony cases from the Dallas portion of the city. Search online at dallascounty.org or visit the George Allen Courts Building at 600 Commerce Street. Staff there can search by name or cause number and pull full files on request.

For cases from the northern part of Carrollton, which falls in Denton County, search the Denton County District Clerk at 1450 E. McKinney Street in Denton. Call (940) 349-2330 to ask about search options. The Denton County online portal also covers these cases. If you are not certain which county applies, try both portals or use the statewide re:SearchTX system, which covers both counties in a single search.

What you need for the search:

• Full name of the defendant
• Cause number if available
• Approximate year and location of the incident

If you know the area of the city where the arrest happened, that helps narrow down which county court to check first. The southern and central parts of Carrollton are Dallas County. The northern end near Old Town Carrollton can fall in Denton County.

Carrollton Police Department Records

The Carrollton Police Department covers the entire city regardless of which county a given street falls in. When CPD makes an arrest, the case is filed in whichever county the location falls under. Police report requests for Carrollton incidents go through the department directly. Visit cityofcarrollton.com/police for public records request information.

Carrollton has a municipal court for Class C misdemeanor cases. These are the lowest level of offense and include traffic violations and city ordinance matters. Municipal court records are separate from both county court systems. Contact Carrollton Municipal Court for lookups and case information on Class C matters.

Dallas County District Clerk Records

The Dallas County District Clerk is the primary court for Carrollton criminal cases. Dallas County is one of the busiest court systems in Texas, and the District Clerk's online portal covers a large volume of cases. Felony charges include drug offenses, violent crimes, property crimes above threshold amounts, and other serious offenses. Class A and B misdemeanors go to the Dallas County criminal courts at law.

For cases from the Denton County portion of Carrollton, contact the Denton County District Clerk at 1450 E. McKinney Street, Denton, TX 76209. Phone: (940) 349-2330. The Denton courthouse is about 30 miles north of Carrollton. If you are not sure which county handled a specific case, the re:SearchTX statewide portal is the fastest way to check both at once.

Certified copies of criminal records require a fee per page plus a certification charge. Call the appropriate clerk before you visit to confirm current rates. Both offices are open standard business hours. Security checks are in place at both courthouses, so bring a valid photo ID.

Texas DPS Criminal History

The Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History system collects conviction data from all Texas courts, including both Dallas and Denton County. This is useful for Carrollton searches because both counties feed into the same statewide database. Run a single search at publicsite.dps.texas.gov for $3 and get results from across the state.

The DPS search will not show arrests without dispositions or pending cases. For current case status, use the county clerk portals or re:SearchTX. The DPS result is most useful for a quick overall check. If you need certified results for employment or licensing, a fingerprint-based search through IdentoGO at 1-888-467-2080 gives the most thorough and official outcome. You can schedule an appointment at any IdentoGO site in the Dallas or Denton area.

Expunction and Nondisclosure in Carrollton

If you were arrested in Carrollton and the case was dismissed or ended in acquittal, expunction may apply. Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 destroys the record. You file the petition in the county where the case was handled. That means Dallas County for most Carrollton cases, or Denton County if the arrest happened in the Denton portion of the city.

If expunction does not apply, a nondisclosure order under Texas Government Code Section 411 may seal the record from public view. This applies to deferred adjudication cases that meet state requirements. Waiting periods vary by offense type. Violent crimes, family violence, and sex offenses are excluded. Some misdemeanor cases allow filing right after completing the deferred sentence. Felonies require a five-year wait after the probation period ends.

Lone Star Legal Aid covers Dallas and Denton counties. Call (800) 733-8394. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas also serves the area at (888) 529-5277. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has free guides and forms. The State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 can refer you to an attorney in the Carrollton area.

Dallas County Criminal Records

Most of Carrollton falls in Dallas County, and the Dallas County District Clerk handles the majority of criminal cases from the city. For more on the Dallas County court system, search tools, and courthouse details, visit the Dallas County page.

View Dallas County Criminal Records