Fort Bend County Criminal Records
Fort Bend County criminal records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk offices in Richmond, the county seat of one of the fastest-growing counties in the Houston metro area. The District Clerk handles felony case files from the county's district courts, covering serious charges across the range of felony categories. The County Clerk keeps misdemeanor records from the county criminal courts at law. Fort Bend County has added hundreds of thousands of residents over the past two decades, which means court filings have grown sharply as well. If you want to look up a criminal case, find charges against a specific person, or check how a case was resolved, both clerk offices in Richmond are the right places to start. The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office maintains separate arrest and booking records.
Fort Bend County Overview
Fort Bend County District Clerk
The Fort Bend County District Clerk keeps all felony criminal case records filed in the county. Felony charges can include burglary, aggravated assault, drug manufacturing, murder, and other serious offenses. The clerk holds the full case file from initial indictment through final disposition, including plea documents, jury verdicts, and sentencing orders. Records are open to the public during office hours.
You can search Fort Bend County criminal records in person at the Justice Center in Richmond. The clerk's office searches by name or case number. Staff can help locate case files and pull certified copies on request. Certified copies carry a per-page fee plus a certification charge set by state law. Fort Bend County uses an online case search tool through its district clerk website that lets you look up case information before visiting in person.
| Office | Fort Bend County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 Jackson St. Richmond, TX 77469 |
| Phone | (281) 341-8608 |
| District Court Phone | (281) 341-8600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | fortbendcountytx.gov/district-clerk |
The Fort Bend County portal at fortbendcountytx.gov links to all departments that handle criminal records, including the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office.
The statewide re:SearchTX system covers Fort Bend County district court cases. You can search by party name across multiple Texas courts. Documents cost 10 cents per page to download, with a $6 cap per document. This is a useful option when you want to search remotely without a trip to Richmond.
Fort Bend County Clerk - Misdemeanor Records
The Fort Bend County Clerk maintains misdemeanor criminal records from the county courts at law. Class A and Class B misdemeanors are filed here. These cases cover DWI, simple assault, petty theft, and possession of small amounts of controlled substances. The County Clerk holds charge information, plea records, and final dispositions for all misdemeanor cases in Fort Bend County.
The County Clerk is located at 301 Jackson St. in Richmond. You can reach the office by phone at (281) 341-8600. Records are available for public inspection, and staff can pull certified copies. Felonies go to the District Clerk. Misdemeanors go to the County Clerk. Both offices are in the Fort Bend County Justice Center in Richmond.
Some Fort Bend County criminal cases may also appear in the statewide TOPICs system, which collects court data from participating Texas counties.
Fort Bend County Arrest Records
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office holds arrest records and jail booking data for the county. When someone is arrested and booked into the county jail, the Sheriff creates a record that includes the person's name, date of birth, charges at booking, bond amount, and booking date. These records are separate from court case files but relate to the same criminal matter.
You can contact the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office at (281) 341-4665. Requests for arrest records can be made in person or by mail. The Sheriff handles arrests made by county deputies. City police agencies in Fort Bend County also book through the county system for felony charges. An arrest record only reflects what was alleged at the time of booking. The District Clerk's case file will show the final outcome.
Texas DPS Criminal History - Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County criminal records feed into the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. When Fort Bend County courts report convictions or deferred adjudications to the Texas Department of Public Safety, those records appear in the statewide database. The CCH system consolidates data from all 254 Texas counties into one searchable index.
The DPS public name-based search at publicsite.dps.texas.gov costs $3 per search. Results only show convictions and deferred adjudications that were reported to DPS. Arrests without a conviction, dismissed cases, and sealed records do not show up in public results. For a more complete search, fingerprint-based checks are available through IdentoGO under the DPS FAST program.
You can also check the Texas Sex Offender Registry for Fort Bend County residents. The registry is searchable by name or zip code.
What Fort Bend County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records in Fort Bend County can include a range of documents depending on the case type. Felony case files held by the District Clerk typically contain the indictment, motions filed by both sides, hearing notices, plea agreements, jury instructions if the case went to trial, the judgment, and sentencing documents. Misdemeanor files at the County Clerk are similar but generally shorter.
Arrest records from the Sheriff contain booking information: name, date of birth, physical description, charges at booking, bond amount, and release date. For detailed court documents including docket entries and case notes, the District Clerk in Richmond is the right starting point for Fort Bend County felony records. Fort Bend County's size means there is a large volume of records filed each year across multiple district courts.
Expunction and Nondisclosure in Fort Bend County
Texas law allows eligible people to have criminal records expunged or sealed. Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 removes and destroys records for cases that qualify. You file the petition in the district court of the county where the arrest happened. For Fort Bend County arrests, that means the district court in Richmond. Once granted, all agencies holding records on that arrest must destroy their copies.
If expunction is not available, you may seek an order of nondisclosure under Texas Government Code Section 411 for cases that ended in deferred adjudication. Nondisclosure seals records from the public but does not destroy them. Serious felonies and sex offenses do not qualify. The Fort Bend County District Clerk can tell you what forms apply and what fees to expect.
Cities in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County includes several large cities in the Houston metro area. Felony criminal cases from all cities in Fort Bend County are filed in the Fort Bend County District Courts in Richmond.
Other communities in Fort Bend County including Stafford, Rosenberg, and Pearland (partly) do not have individual city pages.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Fort Bend County. Each has its own District Clerk and court system for criminal records.