Richardson Criminal Records
Richardson criminal records can be in two different county systems because the city spans both Dallas County and Collin County. Which county holds a case depends on where in Richardson the arrest or charge took place. Felony records go through the District Clerk of whichever county has jurisdiction. Misdemeanor records go through the County Clerk in the same county. If you are not sure which county applies, check both Dallas County and Collin County systems.
Richardson Overview
Dallas and Collin County Courts for Richardson
Richardson sits on the county line between Dallas County and Collin County. Most of the city is in Dallas County, but a portion in the northern part falls in Collin County. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense occurred. If you are not sure, checking both systems is the safest approach.
The Dallas County District Clerk handles felony criminal cases from the Dallas portion of Richardson. The office is in downtown Dallas at the Frank Crowley Courts Building. The Collin County District Clerk in McKinney handles cases from the Collin County portion of Richardson.
| Dallas District Clerk | Dallas County District Clerk 600 Commerce Street, Suite B-60 Dallas, TX 75202 |
|---|---|
| Dallas Phone | (214) 653-7300 |
| Dallas Website | dallascounty.org |
| Collin District Clerk | Collin County District Clerk 2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12132 McKinney, TX 75071 |
| Collin Phone | (972) 548-4186 |
| Collin Website | collincountytx.gov |
Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you are unsure which county a case is in, call the Richardson Police Department records division. They can tell you where a charge was filed.
How to Search Richardson Criminal Records
Use the statewide re:SearchTX portal to search both Dallas County and Collin County cases in one place. The system is free for basic lookups and covers felony district court records from both counties. You search by defendant name or cause number.
Go to re.search.txcourts.gov and search by name. If you find a case, note the county so you know where to go for copies. Document downloads cost 10 cents per page with a $6 cap per document.
The Texas DPS public criminal history search at publicsite.dps.texas.gov costs $3 and returns statewide results. It does not break down by county but will show convictions from either Dallas or Collin county for Richardson-area charges.
Dallas County also has its own online records search through the county clerk and district clerk websites. Collin County has a case search tool at collincountytx.gov. Both are free for basic case lookups.
Richardson Police Department
Police reports for incidents in Richardson come from the Richardson Police Department. RPD handles all law enforcement within the city. Police reports are separate from court records. If you need an incident report, contact the RPD records division. Requests are processed under the Texas Public Information Act.
| Agency | Richardson Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 140 N. Greenville Avenue Richardson, TX 75081 |
| Non-Emergency | (972) 744-4800 |
| Website | cor.net/police |
RPD accepts records requests online through the city's public records portal. Response times vary. Some records may be withheld for active investigation reasons.
Texas DPS Criminal History for Richardson
Criminal records from Richardson flow into the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History system when courts in Dallas County or Collin County report convictions and deferred adjudications. The public can search by name for $3. Results cover all Texas counties in one search, which makes it useful for Richardson since the city spans two counties.
Keep in mind the DPS public search only shows public criminal history. Arrests that were dismissed, charges that were dropped, and juvenile records generally do not appear. For full case details, go to the specific county court records system.
Employers and licensing agencies can request fingerprint-based searches through IdentoGO for more complete results. General public lookups are limited to the name-based search at the DPS website.
Expunction in Dallas and Collin Counties
Texas allows eligible people to expunge or seal certain criminal records. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, you file a petition in the district court where the arrest happened. For Richardson, that is either Dallas County District Court or Collin County District Court depending on the location of the charge.
Cases that may qualify include acquittals, pardons, identity theft, and certain dismissals. Nondisclosure orders under Texas Government Code Section 411 may seal deferred adjudication records from public view. Not all charges qualify. Serious felonies and sex offenses do not.
Legal aid resources in the Dallas-Collin area include Lone Star Legal Aid at (800) 733-8394. The Texas Bar referral service is at (800) 252-9690. Check texaslawhelp.org for self-help tools and forms related to expunction.
Dallas County Criminal Records
Most of Richardson is in Dallas County. All felony and misdemeanor cases from the Dallas County portion of Richardson go through the Dallas County courts. For details on the clerk offices, search tools, and court resources for the county that covers most of Richardson, see the Dallas County criminal records page.