Hidalgo County Criminal Records

Hidalgo County criminal records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk at the courthouse in Edinburg, the county seat in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley along the Texas-Mexico border. The District Clerk handles felony case files from the 92nd and other district courts, and the County Clerk keeps misdemeanor records from the county court. Hidalgo County is one of the most populous counties in Texas, and both offices handle a large volume of cases. McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, and Pharr are among the major cities in the county. If you need to find a case or look up a court result, those two clerk offices in Edinburg are where to start. The Sheriff's Office holds arrest and booking records.

Hidalgo County District Clerk

The Hidalgo County District Clerk keeps all felony criminal case records filed in the county. Felony charges handled here include drug trafficking, aggravated assault, robbery, 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. Hidalgo County has multiple district courts given its large population.

You can search Hidalgo County criminal records in person at the courthouse in Edinburg. 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.

The Hidalgo County portal at hidalgocounty.us links to the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff, all of which hold parts of the county's criminal records. Check the site for current hours and any changes to copy request procedures.

The statewide re:SearchTX system covers Hidalgo 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 Edinburg.

Hidalgo County Clerk - Misdemeanor Records

The Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo County.

The County Clerk is located at 100 N. Closner Blvd. in Edinburg. 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 Hidalgo County courthouse complex in Edinburg. Some cases may also appear in the statewide TOPICs system.

Hidalgo County Arrest Records

The Hidalgo 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 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 Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office at (956) 383-8114. Requests for arrest records can be made in person or by mail. The Sheriff handles arrests made by county deputies. City police agencies in Hidalgo County also book through the county system for felony charges. An arrest record only reflects what was alleged at booking. The District Clerk's case file shows the final outcome.

Texas DPS Criminal History - Hidalgo County

Hidalgo County criminal records feed into the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. When Hidalgo 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 reported to DPS. Arrests without a conviction, dismissed cases, and sealed records do not show up. 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 Hidalgo County residents. The registry is searchable by name or zip code.

What Hidalgo County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal records in Hidalgo 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 usually shorter. Hidalgo County's large population means a high volume of criminal filings each year across multiple district courts.

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 and docket entries, the District Clerk in Edinburg is the right starting point for Hidalgo County felony records.

Expunction and Nondisclosure in Hidalgo 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 qualifying cases. You file the petition in the district court of the county where the arrest happened. For Hidalgo County arrests, that means filing in one of the district courts in Edinburg. 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 Hidalgo County District Clerk can tell you what forms apply and what fees to expect.

Cities in Hidalgo County

Hidalgo County is home to several large cities in the Rio Grande Valley. Edinburg is the county seat. Felony criminal cases from all cities in Hidalgo County are filed in the Hidalgo County District Courts in Edinburg.

• McAllen
• Edinburg
• Pharr
• Mission

Other communities in Hidalgo County including Weslaco, Donna, and Mercedes do not have individual city pages.

Nearby Counties

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