Find Criminal Records in Howard County

Howard County criminal records are divided between the District Clerk and the County Clerk, both located at the courthouse in Big Spring, the county seat in West Texas. The District Clerk is responsible for felony cases that go through district court. Misdemeanor cases filed in the county court at law are held by the County Clerk. You can search records at either office during regular business hours. The Howard County Sheriff's Office and Big Spring Police Department also hold arrest records. If you want to look up a criminal case or check charges filed in Howard County, Big Spring is where to go.

Howard County District Clerk

The Howard County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal case records for the 118th Judicial District. Felony charges here include drug offenses, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, and other serious crimes. The clerk holds each case file from indictment through final disposition, including all motions, plea records, jury documents when applicable, and sentencing orders. All files are public records.

You can search Howard County felony records in person at the Big Spring courthouse. Staff look up cases by name or case number. Certified copies are available for a per-page fee plus certification charge set by state law. The courthouse is located at 300 Main Street in Big Spring.

The Howard County official website at co.howard.tx.us lists contact information for the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office. Check the site to confirm current hours before visiting.

The statewide re:SearchTX system includes Howard County felony case records. You can search by name across multiple Texas courts without visiting Big Spring. Document downloads cost 10 cents per page with a $6 cap per document.

Howard County Clerk - Misdemeanor Records

The Howard County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal records from the county court at law. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases are filed here. These include DWI charges, simple assault, theft, and small-amount drug possession cases. The County Clerk holds charge data, plea records, and final case outcomes for all misdemeanor matters in Howard County.

The County Clerk is at the same Big Spring courthouse. You can reach the office at (432) 264-2223. Felony cases go to the District Clerk. Misdemeanor cases go to the County Clerk. Both offices are in the same courthouse building at 300 Main Street. Staff can direct you to the correct office if you are unsure which type of case you are looking for.

Howard County Arrest Records

The Howard County Sheriff's Office holds arrest and jail booking records for the county. Each booking record includes the person's name, date of birth, charges at arrest, bond amount, and release date. These records are created at the time of booking and are separate from the court case files held by the District Clerk.

You can contact the Howard County Sheriff's Office at (432) 264-2505. Requests for arrest records can be made in person or by mail. An arrest record only reflects what was alleged at booking. Charges may be dropped or never formally filed. The District Clerk's case file shows the final outcome. Always check both sources when you need a full view of a criminal matter in Howard County.

Howard County arrest records are public records under Texas law. Some details may be withheld for active investigations or cases involving protected categories. City police agencies in Big Spring also route felony bookings through the county jail system, so the Sheriff's Office records cover a broad range of local arrests.

Texas DPS Criminal History - Howard County

Howard County criminal convictions are reported to the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. When local courts report convictions and deferred adjudications to the Texas Department of Public Safety, those records are added to the statewide database. The CCH covers all 254 Texas counties.

The DPS public name-based search at publicsite.dps.texas.gov costs $3 per search. Results show convictions and deferred adjudications reported to DPS. Dismissed cases, arrests without conviction, and sealed records do not appear in public results. Fingerprint-based searches for more complete results are available through IdentoGO under the DPS FAST program.

For detailed Howard County case records, the District Clerk in Big Spring has full docket information on each case. The DPS search is best used as a statewide overview. Both sources together give the most complete picture. The Texas Sex Offender Registry at the DPS public site is also searchable by name or zip code.

What Howard County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal records in Howard County vary by case type. Felony case files at the District Clerk include the indictment or information, all motions filed, hearing records, plea agreements, jury instructions when the case went to trial, the final judgment, and sentencing orders. Misdemeanor files at the County Clerk follow a similar structure but tend to be shorter.

Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office contain booking data: name, date of birth, physical description, charges at booking, bond amount, and release date. Mugshots may be part of the record depending on county policy. Contact the Sheriff's Office directly for Howard County arrest records.

Court case files show legal outcomes. Arrest records show what was alleged at booking. The DPS CCH shows the statewide conviction history. For detailed case documents in Howard County, the District Clerk in Big Spring is the right place to start for felony records.

Expunction and Nondisclosure in Howard County

Texas law lets eligible people have criminal records expunged or sealed. Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 removes and destroys records for qualifying cases. The petition is filed in the district court of the county where the arrest took place. For Howard County arrests, that is the district court in Big Spring. Once granted, all agencies holding those records must destroy their copies.

Qualifying cases include acquittals, pardons, identity theft cases, and some dismissals. Not every dismissed case qualifies. If expunction is not an option, nondisclosure under Texas Government Code Section 411 may apply 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. Waiting periods vary by offense class. The Howard County District Clerk can tell you what forms are needed and what fees to expect.

Cities in Howard County

Big Spring is the county seat and largest city in Howard County. All felony criminal cases from cities across Howard County are filed in the district court in Big Spring.

Nearby Counties

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