McAllen Criminal Records Lookup
McAllen criminal records are held by the Hidalgo County District Clerk for felony cases and the Hidalgo County Clerk for misdemeanor cases. McAllen is in Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley, and the county courthouse in Edinburg handles all local court filings. If you need to find a criminal case history, pull a court judgment, or get a certified copy of a court document, the Hidalgo County Courthouse is where you start.
McAllen Overview
Hidalgo County District Clerk
The Hidalgo County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal case records for McAllen and the rest of Hidalgo County. Felony cases include serious drug offenses, aggravated assault, robbery, human trafficking, and other charges that go before the district court. The office holds the complete court file for every case, from the initial indictment through sentencing. The courthouse is in Edinburg, which is the county seat and is about 10 miles north of McAllen.
Hidalgo County has online access to court records through its official website. You can search cases by party name or cause number and see docket history without visiting the courthouse. For certified copies or access to case files, you need to visit in person or submit a written request. Call the office at (956) 318-2200 to ask about the process and any current fees.
| Office | Hidalgo County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. Closner Blvd. Edinburg, TX 78539 |
| Phone | (956) 318-2200 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | hidalgocounty.us |
How to Search McAllen Criminal Records
You can search McAllen criminal records through the statewide re:SearchTX portal, through Hidalgo County's own online tools, or by visiting the courthouse in Edinburg. Each option gives you a different level of access. Online tools work for basic case lookups. In-person visits give you the full file and same-day copies.
The re:SearchTX portal covers Hidalgo County district court cases. Search by defendant name or cause number to pull up felony cases. Results show party names, docket entries, and case status. It is free to search; downloading documents costs 10 cents per page up to a $6 cap per document.
For a statewide conviction check, the Texas DPS name search at publicsite.dps.texas.gov costs $3. It returns convictions and deferred adjudications from courts across Texas. Dismissed cases do not show up in the public results.
To search, have ready:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth if known
- Approximate year of the case
- Cause number if available
For misdemeanor records, the Hidalgo County Clerk handles Class A and B cases tried in county court. That office is also at the Hidalgo County Courthouse in Edinburg.
McAllen Police Department
McAllen PD maintains incident reports and arrest records for events that happen within McAllen city limits. These are police records, not court records. If you need a report from a McAllen arrest or incident, go to the police department, not the District Clerk. The department processes public information requests under the Texas Public Information Act.
| Agency | McAllen Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1601 N. Bicentennial Blvd. McAllen, TX 78501 |
| Non-Emergency | (956) 681-2000 |
| Website | mcallen.net/departments/police |
McAllen PD's records division handles public information requests. You can submit requests in person or through the department's website. Reports tied to active investigations may be withheld until the case is resolved.
McAllen also has a Municipal Court for Class C misdemeanors, traffic violations, and city ordinance matters. Municipal Court records are separate from district and county court criminal files.
Texas DPS Criminal History for Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County courts report convictions and deferred adjudications to the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History system. The public can search the CCH by name for $3 at the DPS website. Results cover courts across Texas, not just Hidalgo County. Dismissed charges and acquittals are not included in the public search results.
Fingerprint-based searches through IdentoGO provide more complete results for employers and licensing boards. These checks pull from state and federal databases and are not available to the general public. Call 1-888-467-2080 or schedule online through IdentoGO if you need a background check for an employer or licensing process.
For case-level records, the Hidalgo County District Clerk and re:SearchTX give more detail than the DPS name check alone. The DPS search is best as a starting point or for a quick statewide overview.
Record Expunction in Hidalgo County
Texas law allows qualifying people to have criminal records expunged under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55. For McAllen-area arrests in Hidalgo County, you file the expunction petition in Hidalgo County District Court at the courthouse in Edinburg.
Expunction can apply to acquittals, pardons, some dismissed charges, and identity theft situations. If the case does not qualify for expunction, a nondisclosure order under Texas Government Code Section 411 may be available after completing deferred adjudication for eligible offenses. Serious felonies and all sex offenses do not qualify for nondisclosure.
For legal help in McAllen, contact the Texas Bar lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690. Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid serves the Valley area and may assist people who qualify based on income. The texaslawhelp.org website has self-help guides and cost information for expunction and nondisclosure proceedings.
Hidalgo County Criminal Records
McAllen is in Hidalgo County, and all local criminal cases go through Hidalgo County courts. For full details on clerk offices, court divisions, and search tools for Hidalgo County, see the county criminal records page.