Knox County Criminal Records

Knox County criminal records are kept by the District Clerk and County Clerk at the courthouse in Benjamin, the county seat in North Texas. The District Clerk maintains felony case files from district court, while the County Clerk holds misdemeanor records from the county court. Knox County is a small, rural county, and the courthouse in Benjamin operates with limited staff. If you need to find a criminal case, search for charges, or get a copy of a court record, both offices are open to the public during regular hours. Calling ahead is a good idea. The Knox County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency and keeps arrest and booking records.

Knox County District Clerk

The Knox County District Clerk keeps felony criminal case records for the 50th Judicial District. Knox County is a small and rural county, and the volume of felony cases is low compared to larger counties. The clerk holds all case files from indictment through final disposition, including motions, plea documents, and sentencing orders. All records are public. Call ahead before visiting Benjamin to confirm the office is open and staffed.

In-person searches at the Benjamin courthouse are the main way to access Knox County records. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Certified copies carry the standard state-set fees. The courthouse is located at 100 W. Cedar Street in Benjamin.

The Knox County portal at knoxcounty.org provides additional contact information for county offices. Confirm hours before visiting Benjamin.

The statewide re:SearchTX system may include Knox County felony case records. You can search by party name across multiple Texas courts without driving to Benjamin. Document downloads cost 10 cents per page with a $6 cap per document.

Knox County Clerk - Misdemeanor Records

The Knox County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal records from the county court. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases are filed here, including DWI charges, simple assault, and minor drug possession. The County Clerk holds charge data, plea records, and final case outcomes for all misdemeanor matters in Knox County.

You can reach the County Clerk at (940) 459-2214. The office is at the Benjamin courthouse. Felony cases go to the District Clerk. Misdemeanor cases go to the County Clerk. In a small county like Knox, both offices are closely coordinated. Staff can help you find the right record when you call or visit.

Knox County Arrest Records

The Knox 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. You can contact the Sheriff's Office at (940) 459-2216. Requests for arrest records can be made in person or by mail.

An arrest record only shows what was alleged at booking. Charges may be dropped or never formally filed. Check the District Clerk's case file for the final legal outcome. Knox County arrest records are public records under Texas law. Some details may be withheld for active cases or protected categories. Munday is the largest city in Knox County, and city police there may also route felony bookings through the county jail.

The county is served by a small courthouse staff, so calling ahead before a visit to the Sheriff's Office is a good practice.

Texas DPS Criminal History - Knox County

Knox County criminal convictions are reported to the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. When local courts send conviction data to the Texas Department of Public Safety, those records appear in the statewide database covering 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. Fingerprint-based searches for more complete results are available through IdentoGO under the DPS FAST program.

For detailed Knox County case records, the District Clerk in Benjamin has docket information on each case. The DPS search is a good first step for a statewide overview before contacting the Knox County courthouse directly. The Texas Sex Offender Registry at the DPS public site is searchable by name or zip code.

What Knox County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal records in Knox County vary by case type. Felony case files at the District Clerk include the indictment or information, motions filed, hearing records, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Misdemeanor files at the County Clerk are similar but 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. Contact the Sheriff's Office at (940) 459-2216 for Knox County arrest records. Court files show legal outcomes. Arrest records show what was alleged. The DPS CCH shows the statewide conviction history. For detailed case documents in Knox County, start with the District Clerk in Benjamin for felony records.

Expunction and Nondisclosure in Knox 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. The petition is filed in the district court of the county where the arrest took place. For Knox County arrests, that is the district court in Benjamin. Once an order is granted, all agencies holding records on that arrest must destroy their copies.

Qualifying cases include acquittals, pardons, identity theft cases, and some dismissals. Not all dismissed cases qualify. If expunction is not available, 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 depend on offense class. The Knox County District Clerk can explain what forms apply and what fees to expect.

Cities in Knox County

Benjamin is the county seat of Knox County. Munday is the largest city in the county. All felony criminal cases from cities across Knox County are filed in the district court in Benjamin.

Nearby Counties

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