Search Dallas County Criminal Records

Dallas County criminal records are filed with the District Clerk and County Clerk offices in Dallas, the county seat and one of the largest cities in the country. The District Clerk manages felony case files across more than 40 district courts, covering everything from drug charges to violent offenses. Misdemeanor records go to the County Clerk, which handles cases out of the county criminal courts at law. With a population over 2.7 million, Dallas County processes more criminal cases each year than almost any other county in Texas. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office and the Dallas Police Department both generate arrest records that feed into the court system. If you are searching for a specific case, the District Clerk's online portal is a good first step.

Dallas County District Clerk

The Dallas County District Clerk maintains felony criminal case records for all cases filed in Dallas County district courts. Dallas County has dozens of district courts, including criminal district courts that handle only criminal matters. Felony charges filed here include murder, aggravated robbery, sexual assault, major drug offenses, organized crime, and white collar crimes. The District Clerk holds the full case record from indictment through final disposition.

You can search Dallas County criminal records online through the Dallas County record search portal at dallascounty.org/services/record-search. The portal lets you look up cases by name, case number, or other identifiers without visiting the courthouse. For in-person records requests, staff at the Frank Crowley Courts Building can help. Certified copies carry a per-page fee and certification charge under state law.

The Dallas County record search portal allows public access to criminal case information online. You can search by name or case number without visiting the courthouse in person.

Dallas County felony records are also available through the statewide re:SearchTX platform. This covers Dallas County district court cases and allows name-based searches across multiple Texas courts. Documents cost 10 cents per page with a $6 cap per document.

Dallas County Clerk - Misdemeanor Records

The Dallas County Clerk maintains misdemeanor criminal records from the county criminal courts. Dallas County has multiple county criminal courts at law that handle Class A and Class B misdemeanors. These courts hear cases covering DWI, simple assault, theft under threshold amounts, possession of small amounts of controlled substances, and similar offenses.

The County Clerk's office is located at 509 Main Street in Dallas. You can reach the office at (214) 653-7300. Records can be searched in person, and certified copies are available on request. Dallas County also provides some online access to county court records through the county's main portal at dallascounty.org.

The Dallas County Clerk's website provides information on court filings, record requests, and county court procedures for misdemeanor cases in Dallas County.

Dallas County Arrest Records

The Dallas County Sheriff's Office handles booking and jail records for the county. When someone is arrested and booked into the Dallas County jail system, the Sheriff's Office creates a record with the person's name, date of birth, charges at arrest, bond amount, and booking date. Dallas County operates one of the largest jail systems in Texas. You can contact the Sheriff's Office at (214) 653-3430.

City police agencies in Dallas, Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Richardson, and Carrollton each handle their own arrests within city limits. Felony arrests by city police typically route through the county jail system. Misdemeanor bookings may go through municipal or county facilities depending on the offense and arresting agency. For records of arrests by a specific city agency, contact that city's police department directly.

An arrest record shows what was alleged at booking. It does not reflect a conviction or final court outcome. Always check the District Clerk's case file to see what happened to a case after booking. The DPS CCH database shows only convictions and deferred adjudications, not open arrests or dismissed charges.

Dallas County arrest records are public under Texas law, but active cases or protected categories may limit some details. The Sheriff's jail roster may be available on the county's website for recent bookings.

Texas DPS Criminal History - Dallas County

Dallas County criminal records feed into the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. Convictions and deferred adjudications reported by Dallas County courts to DPS appear in the statewide database. Given the size of Dallas County's court system, it contributes a large volume of data to the CCH each year.

The DPS public name-based search at publicsite.dps.texas.gov costs $3 per search. It returns convictions and deferred adjudications only. Dismissed cases, arrests with no conviction, and sealed records do not appear. For fingerprint-based background checks, use IdentoGO under the DPS FAST program for a more thorough result.

The DPS search provides a quick statewide snapshot. For full case details on Dallas County matters, the District Clerk's online portal and office in Dallas have more complete court-level information. The Texas Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name or zip code for Dallas County residents.

What Dallas County Criminal Records Contain

Felony case files held by the District Clerk contain the indictment or information, motions filed by the state and defense, hearing dates and notices, plea agreements, jury instructions when applicable, the judgment, and all sentencing documents. Dallas County felony files can be quite detailed given the complexity of many cases filed in this court system. The record stays with the clerk from initial filing through any appeals at the district level.

Misdemeanor case files at the County Clerk are similar in structure but shorter. They cover the charging document, plea, and disposition. Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office cover booking data including charges, bond, and physical description. Jail records may include additional booking details. The type of record you need depends on what you are trying to learn about a case.

For docket-level details and document copies, the Dallas County District Clerk's online portal is the best starting point for felony records. For a consolidated statewide conviction history, use the DPS CCH. All three sources together give the most complete picture of any criminal matter in Dallas County.

Expunction and Nondisclosure in Dallas County

Texas law allows eligible individuals to have criminal records expunged or sealed. Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 removes and destroys records for qualifying cases. You file the petition in the district court of the county where the arrest happened. For Dallas County arrests, the petition goes to one of the Dallas County criminal district courts.

Situations that may qualify for expunction include acquittals, pardons, identity theft cases, and some dismissals. Not all dismissed cases qualify. If expunction is not available, an order of nondisclosure under Texas Government Code Section 411 may apply to cases ending in deferred adjudication. Nondisclosure seals records from public view but does not destroy them. Serious felonies and sex offenses are not eligible. Waiting periods depend on the offense class. The Dallas County District Clerk's office can provide information on forms and fees for these petitions.

Cities in Dallas County

Dallas County is home to several large cities, each with its own municipal court system for Class C misdemeanor violations. Felony and Class A/B misdemeanor cases from all cities in Dallas County are filed through the Dallas County District Clerk and County Clerk.

• Dallas - county seat and largest city
• Irving
• Garland
• Mesquite
• Grand Prairie (partly in Dallas County)
• Richardson (partly in Dallas County)
• Carrollton (partly in Dallas County)

Nearby Counties

These counties border Dallas County. Each has its own District Clerk and court system for criminal records.