Mason County Criminal Records

Mason County criminal records are maintained at the county courthouse in Mason, which is both the county seat and the county's only incorporated city. The District Clerk holds felony case files from the district court. The County Clerk keeps misdemeanor records at the county court level. To search for a case, look up charges, or find out how a matter ended, those two offices are where you go. Arrest and booking data comes from the Mason County Sheriff's Office. Mason is in the Texas Hill Country, and the courthouse on Moody Street is the one place where all criminal case records for this small county are filed and stored.

Mason County District Clerk

The Mason County District Clerk keeps all felony criminal case records filed in the 198th Judicial District. The 198th District is a multi-county district that serves Mason, Llano, McCulloch, San Saba, and Menard counties. Felony charges filed in Mason County include drug offenses, theft above certain amounts, assault with serious injury, and other major criminal matters. Each file runs from indictment or information through the final judgment and sentencing documents.

In-person record searches are done at the Mason County Courthouse on the town square in Mason. Staff search by name or case number. Certified copies are available on request, with fees set by state law. Mason is a small county, and the courthouse is the only filing point for criminal district court cases.

The Mason County official website at co.mason.tx.us has contact information for the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office. Check there for current hours and procedures for requesting copies.

The statewide re:SearchTX system may include Mason County criminal records. Documents cost 10 cents per page to download, with a $6 cap per document.

Mason County Clerk - Misdemeanor Records

The Mason County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal records from the county court. Class A and Class B misdemeanors are filed there. These cases include DWI, simple assault, petty theft, and possession of small drug amounts. The County Clerk keeps charge details, plea records, and final dispositions for all misdemeanor cases in Mason County.

The County Clerk is at the Mason County Courthouse in Mason. Phone: (325) 347-5253. Both the District Clerk and County Clerk share the same courthouse. If you are not sure whether a case is a felony or a misdemeanor, the charge class determines which office holds the file.

Some Mason County records may show up in the TOPICs system, which collects court data from participating Texas counties.

Mason County Arrest Records

The Mason County Sheriff's Office holds arrest and jail booking records. When someone is arrested and booked into the county jail, a record is made that includes name, date of birth, charges at booking, bond amount, and booking date. These records differ from court case files but both relate to the same criminal event. Contact the Sheriff's Office at (325) 347-5252.

Requests for arrest records can be made in person or by written request. Arrest records in Texas are public records under state law, though some information may be withheld if the case is still active or falls under certain protected categories.

An arrest record shows only what was alleged at booking. Charges may have been dropped or changed later. Always check the District Clerk's case file for the final court outcome in Mason County.

Texas DPS Criminal History - Mason County

Mason County conviction data goes into the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. When courts in Mason County report convictions and deferred adjudications to the Texas Department of Public Safety, those records become part of the statewide database used across all 254 Texas counties.

The DPS public name search at publicsite.dps.texas.gov costs $3 per search. Results only show convictions and deferred adjudications that were reported to DPS. Dismissed cases and arrests without conviction do not show up. For a more complete check, fingerprint-based searches are available through IdentoGO under the DPS FAST program.

The Texas Sex Offender Registry can be searched by name or zip code to find registered offenders in Mason County.

What Mason County Criminal Records Contain

Felony case files at the Mason County District Clerk typically include the indictment or information, motions from both sides, hearing notices, plea agreements if applicable, and the judgment with sentencing documents. Cases that went to trial also contain jury instructions and the verdict. Misdemeanor files at the County Clerk are structured similarly but are usually shorter in volume.

Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office contain booking data: name, date of birth, physical description, charges at booking, bond amount, and release date. Mason County arrest records are available by request through the Sheriff's Office.

For full case documents, the District Clerk in Mason is the right starting point for felony records. For a broad statewide conviction history, the DPS CCH is the better tool. The two complement each other well.

Expunction and Nondisclosure in Mason County

Texas law lets eligible people have criminal records expunged or sealed. Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 removes and destroys qualifying records. The petition is filed in the district court of the county where the arrest occurred. For Mason County arrests, that is the district court in Mason. Once an order is entered, all agencies holding related records must destroy them.

Cases that may qualify include acquittals, pardons, identity theft situations, and some dismissals. If expunction is not available, an order of 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 generally do not qualify. Contact the Mason County District Clerk for guidance on the forms and fees that apply in your situation.

Cities in Mason County

Mason is the county seat and only incorporated city in Mason County. All felony criminal cases from across the county are filed in the district court in Mason.

Nearby Counties

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