Find Taylor County Criminal Records

Taylor County criminal records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk offices in Abilene, the county seat. If you need to find a felony or misdemeanor case, look up what charges were filed, or check how a court case was decided in Taylor County, both clerk offices hold those files and respond to public requests. The District Clerk is where felony case files from the district court are kept, and the County Clerk holds misdemeanor records from the county court. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest and booking records separately. Abilene is the largest city in the region and serves as the courthouse hub for all criminal filings in Taylor County.

Taylor County District Clerk

The Taylor County District Clerk keeps all felony criminal case records in the county. Felony charges can include aggravated assault, drug offenses, burglary, robbery, and other serious crimes. The clerk holds the full file from indictment through final judgment, including motions, plea agreements, jury verdicts, and sentencing orders. Records are open to the public during office hours.

You can search Taylor County criminal records in person at the courthouse in Abilene. 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 under state law.

The Taylor County portal at taylorcounty.org links to the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office. Use it to confirm current hours and procedures for requesting criminal case records.

The statewide re:SearchTX system covers Taylor County felony case records. You can search by party name across multiple Texas courts. Documents cost 10 cents per page to download, with a $6 cap per document.

Taylor County Clerk - Misdemeanor Records

The Taylor 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 Taylor County.

The County Clerk's office is at the courthouse in Abilene. You can reach them at (325) 674-1205. Records are available for public inspection. Felonies go to the District Clerk. Misdemeanors go to the County Clerk. Both offices are in the same courthouse building.

Some Taylor County criminal cases may also be accessible through the statewide TOPICs system.

Taylor County Arrest Records

The Taylor 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's Office creates a record that includes the person's name, date of birth, charges at the time of arrest, bond amount, and booking date. These records are separate from court case files, though both relate to the same criminal matter.

You can contact the Taylor County Sheriff's Office at (325) 674-1307. Requests for arrest records can be made in person or by mail. The Abilene Police Department and other city agencies also book through the county jail system for felony charges.

An arrest record only reflects what was alleged at the time of booking. The person may not have been charged or may have had charges dropped. The District Clerk's case file shows the final outcome. Check both sources if you need a full picture of a criminal matter in Taylor County.

Arrest records in Taylor County are public records under Texas law, but some details may be withheld if a case is active or involves certain protected categories.

Texas DPS Criminal History - Taylor County

Taylor County criminal records feed into the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. When Taylor County courts report convictions or deferred adjudications to the Texas Department of Public Safety, those records appear in the statewide database.

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 appear in public results. Fingerprint-based checks are available through IdentoGO under the DPS FAST program.

For county-level case details in Taylor County, the District Clerk's office in Abilene has more detailed information on each individual case. Use both sources together when you need a thorough records check.

You can also check the Texas Sex Offender Registry for Taylor County residents. The registry is searchable by name or zip code.

What Taylor County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal records in Taylor County can include a range of documents depending on the case type and stage. Felony case files at the District Clerk typically contain the indictment or information, 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 shorter in most cases.

Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office contain booking information: name, date of birth, physical description, charges at booking, bond amount, and release date. Jail records may also include mugshots. Taylor County arrest records are available through the Sheriff's Office by request.

Court case records show legal outcomes. Arrest records show what was alleged. The DPS CCH shows the consolidated conviction history. For detailed court documents, the District Clerk in Abilene is the right starting point for Taylor County felony records.

Expunction and Nondisclosure in Taylor 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 Taylor County arrests, that means a district court in Abilene. Once granted, all agencies holding records on that arrest must destroy their copies.

Qualifying situations include acquittals, pardons, identity theft cases, and some dismissals. 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 Taylor County District Clerk can tell you what forms apply and what fees to expect.

Cities in Taylor County

Abilene is the county seat and the largest city in Taylor County, with all felony criminal cases filed in the Taylor County District Courts in Abilene.

• Abilene - county seat and largest city in Taylor County

Smaller communities in Taylor County, including Merkel and Tye, do not have individual city pages. Criminal cases from those areas are also processed through the District Clerk's office in Abilene.

Nearby Counties

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