Texas Felony and Misdemeanor Records Search Texas Felony and Misdemeanor Records Search

Q: How much does the Texas DPS criminal history search cost?

Texas DPS currently lists online search credits at one dollar each. Credit-card purchases add a 2.25 percent fee per credit and a 25-cent transaction fee. A search credit is used even when the system returns no matching records, and opening additional possible matches can use additional credits.

Texas statewide criminal history · Felony, misdemeanor, court and custody routes

Search Texas Criminal Records Without Mistaking a Name Match for a Final Court Result

Texas does not place every felony, misdemeanor, arrest, jail stay and court document inside one public database. The fastest route depends on whether you need a statewide public history, a pending county case, a certified disposition, your own fingerprint-confirmed record or a current inmate location.

Start with Texas DPS for available statewide conviction and deferred-adjudication information. Then verify the actual case through the district clerk, county clerk, justice court or municipal court that handled it. This guide shows what to search, what each result proves and what to do when a charge, dismissal or disposition is missing.

Search Texas DPS criminal history Find the correct Texas court Check your own fingerprint record

Full legal name Date of birth County of arrest or filing Approximate case year Case, SID or TDCJ number

TEXAS RECORD LATTICE ROUTING

DPS CCH MATCH

FELONY · DISTRICT COURT

MISDEMEANOR · LOCAL COURT

NAME MATCH ≠ FINGERPRINT MATCH

An arrest, charge or DPS name match is not proof of guilt. Verify the correct person, read the disposition for every count and use a fingerprint-based review when identity accuracy matters.

Statewide public route

Use Texas DPS for available conviction and deferred-adjudication history.

Felony case details

Search the district clerk in the county where the case was filed.

Class A or B case

Start with the county clerk or county court records system.

Class C case

Check the justice of the peace or municipal court.

Official review

Statewide procedures and contacts checked August 3, 2026.

Choose the correct record lane

Start with the question you need answered

STATEWIDE NAME SEARCH Does a public Texas history appear?

Use DPS to search available public conviction and deferred-adjudication information from reporting agencies across Texas.

Best first step when the county is unknown.

COUNTY COURT FILE What happened to a specific charge?

Search the filing county for the charging document, court dates, plea, dismissal, judgment and sentence.

The court docket controls the legal outcome.

YOUR OWN HISTORY Does the record actually belong to you?

Request a fingerprint-based Texas Personal Review instead of relying on a similar name, birth date or photograph.

Use before disputing an employer or licensing result.

CURRENT CUSTODY Where is the person now?

Use the county jail for local custody, TDCJ for state prison and the Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal custody.

A criminal record search is not an inmate locator.

Best verification sequence: Run the DPS search, identify the county and case number, open the correct local court file, read every count’s disposition and obtain a certified copy when formal proof is required.

Texas DPS public name search

How to search statewide felony and misdemeanor history

Texas DPS operates the state Computerized Criminal History system and its public Criminal History Name Search. The public search is useful for available conviction and deferred-adjudication records, but it is not a substitute for checking the local court file.

Open the official Texas DPS search Use the Crime Records Division website rather than a commercial people-search service. Open Texas Criminal History Name Search

Create an account or sign in Follow the New User registration path when you do not already have access.

Purchase only the credits you expect to use Search credits currently cost $1 each. Credit-card orders add a 2.25% fee per credit and a $0.25 transaction fee.

Enter the most complete identifying information available Use the legal first, middle and last name, date of birth, sex and race when known.

Review how each possible result matched The system may show exact, partial or similar-sounding name matches. A close match is still not confirmed identity.

Preview before opening a complete record Use the available descriptive details and photograph to eliminate obvious mismatches before spending another credit.

Open only the record you can reasonably verify A search allows access to one selected record. Opening another possible match can use another credit.

Save the SID, arrest date, county, agency and case identifiers These details help locate the controlling local court record.

Search the filing county next Use the district clerk, county clerk, justice court or municipal court depending on the offense level.

Obtain a certified disposition when proof matters A downloaded DPS result may not replace a certified judgment, dismissal or disposition from the filing court.

A no-match search still uses a credit. DPS treats “No Matching Records” as a completed search result rather than an unused credit.

Open the official search Read current search and credit instructions

Coverage and limitations

What a Texas statewide criminal-history result can miss

Reported Texas history

DPS compiles information submitted by Texas law-enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts and supervision agencies.

Class B or greater reporting

Texas criminal-history reporting requirements generally cover arrests, prosecutions and dispositions for Class B misdemeanors or greater offenses.

Class C uncertainty

A Class C arrest or citation may appear when reported, but agencies are not generally required to report every Class C matter to DPS.

Public-access limits

The public name-search product does not expose every item that may exist in a restricted government criminal-history system.

Texas-only repository

A Texas DPS search does not provide a complete nationwide, federal or other-state criminal history.

Reporting delays and errors

An arrest may appear before the disposition, or the court result may be missing because it was not successfully reported.

Use the database that answers the actual question
Question	Best starting source	What it can show	What to verify next
Does public statewide history appear?	Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search	Available public conviction and deferred-adjudication information.	County court file and identity.
Was someone recently arrested?	County sheriff or jail roster	Booking date, charges, bond and custody.	Court filing and disposition.
What happened to a felony?	County district clerk	Indictment, hearings, plea, judgment and sentence.	Certified disposition when needed.
What happened to a Class A or B misdemeanor?	County clerk or county court records	Complaint, settings, dismissal, plea and judgment.	Correct county court or court at law.
What happened to a Class C case?	Justice or municipal court	Citation, plea, fine, dismissal or warrant activity.	City or precinct with jurisdiction.
Where is a state prisoner?	Texas Department of Criminal Justice	Location, offenses and projected release information.	Current unit and TDCJ notices.

Identity protection

Do not rely on a Texas name match by itself

Legal first, middle and last names are consistent

Date of birth matches an independent source

Sex, race and descriptive information are consistent

Photograph is reviewed only as supporting information

County and arrest date fit the known timeline

SID, case or tracking number matches another record

Court charge follows the same arrest event

Disposition is checked for every separate count

Only fingerprint identification can positively link a person to a Texas criminal-history record. Similar names, aliases, data-entry errors and identity misuse can produce a misleading name-based result.

Before sending money, making an employment decision, publishing an accusation or confronting someone, match multiple identifiers and verify the controlling court record.

No-match troubleshooting

Why a felony or misdemeanor may not appear in DPS

Different spelling or alias

Try a former name, maiden name, suffix, middle name, hyphenated surname or alternate spelling.

Pending local case

The county court file may exist before a public statewide result becomes available.

No public DPS disposition

The case may have ended without a public conviction or deferred-adjudication entry in the name-search product.

Class C reporting gap

The citation may remain only in a justice or municipal court system.

Federal case

Federal district court and Bureau of Prisons records are outside the Texas DPS court system.

Out-of-state case

DPS is the Texas repository, not a complete national criminal-history search.

Restricted record

Juvenile, expunged, sealed, nondisclosed or otherwise confidential information may not be publicly visible.

Reporting error

The arrest, prosecutor action or court disposition may have been returned, delayed or never successfully added.

Better next step: Search the county of filing, not the county where the person currently lives. Court jurisdiction follows the case, not the present address.

Texas court jurisdiction

Which clerk holds the felony or misdemeanor file?

General Texas criminal-court routing
Offense level	Typical trial court	Record office	Search terms to use
Capital or first-, second-, third-degree felony	District court	District clerk	Criminal case search, felony docket, district clerk records
State jail felony	District court	District clerk	Felony case, state jail felony, criminal district records
Class A misdemeanor	County court or county court at law	County clerk in most counties	County criminal records, misdemeanor docket
Class B misdemeanor	County court or county court at law	County clerk in most counties	County criminal records, Class B case
Class C misdemeanor outside a city case	Justice of the peace	Justice court or precinct clerk	JP case search, precinct court records
City ordinance or city-filed Class C	Municipal court	Municipal court clerk	City citation, municipal warrant, court case search

Local structures vary. Some counties have several specialised criminal district courts or county courts at law. Others use one clerk for several court levels. Confirm the exact clerk through the Texas Judicial Directory.

Open the Texas Judicial Directory Review Texas trial-court jurisdiction

Local case verification

Search the county court record after finding a DPS match

Identify the filing county Use the DPS event, arresting agency, court name, case number or known prosecution location.

Determine the offense level Route felonies to the district clerk, Class A/B misdemeanors to the county-level clerk and Class C matters to the justice or municipal court.

Open the official county or court website Avoid third-party portals that charge for information available directly from the clerk.

Search the case number first It is usually more precise than a broad name search.

Search by name and filing year when the number is unknown Add the date of birth only when the official portal accepts it.

Compare the offense, court and filing date Confirm that the case logically follows the arrest event shown in DPS or the jail roster.

Read the newest docket entries Look for indictment, information, complaint, plea, dismissal, deferred adjudication, judgment and sentence.

Review every count independently Different counts in the same case can have different outcomes.

Check for related case numbers An arrest can produce separate felony, misdemeanor or probation matters.

Order the right document Ask for a certified disposition, judgment, dismissal order or charging document depending on why proof is needed.

Copy-ready certified-disposition request

I am requesting a certified copy of the final disposition for [full legal name], date of birth [date], case number [number], filed in [court] on or about [date]. Please include the disposition of every count, the judgment or dismissal order and certification or seal required for official use. Please provide the current fee and delivery options before processing.

Do not ask only whether the case is “closed.” Closed can mean dismissal, plea, conviction, transfer, completion or another procedural ending. Request the actual disposition language.

Record-field decoder

Understand the events inside a Texas criminal history

Arrest or custody event Identifies an agency action and alleged offense. It does not prove that prosecutors accepted or proved the charge.

Tracking number Connects events reported through the Texas criminal-history process. It is not the same as a court case number.

State identification number Helps distinguish a person across reported Texas criminal-history events. Verify identity before relying on it.

Prosecutor action May show whether a case was accepted, rejected, changed or filed under another offense.

Court disposition Shows how each filed count ended, such as dismissal, acquittal, plea, deferred adjudication or conviction.

Deferred adjudication Is not the same as a final conviction, but Texas treats deferred-adjudication information as public criminal-history information unless restricted by law.

Sentence or supervision Can include confinement, probation, community supervision, fine or another court-ordered condition.

Reported or updated date Shows when information entered the system, not necessarily the exact date the underlying event happened.

A booking offense, prosecutor charge and final court offense can differ. Follow the same person and event through the tracking identifiers and local case file rather than comparing offence names alone.

Fingerprint-confirmed personal review

Check your own Texas record before disputing it

A Texas Personal Review is the stronger route when a job, licence, housing application or private background report may have matched you to a criminal record.

Open DPS Fingerprinting Services Locate the current Texas Personal Review procedure and identification requirements. Open DPS fingerprinting and personal review resources

Use the Personal Review instructions Do not use an employer or licensing fingerprint service code unless that agency specifically supplied it.

Schedule the required fingerprint appointment Follow the current FAST or IdentoGO appointment process listed by DPS.

Bring acceptable original identification Confirm the current ID list before travelling.

Use the address where you can securely receive results Personal-review results are returned to the requester using the current DPS procedure.

Compare every event to certified court records Mark missing dispositions, wrong identity information, duplicate events or incorrect offence outcomes.

Use the error-resolution route when necessary Submit certified supporting documents rather than screenshots from a commercial website.

Current fingerprint, appointment and review fees can change. Confirm the total with DPS and the fingerprint vendor before scheduling.

Jail and prison status

A felony record search does not show every current inmate

County jail

Use the sheriff or official jail roster in the county where the person was booked. This is the best route for recent arrests, pretrial custody and many local sentences.

Find Texas local government resources

Texas state prison

Use TDCJ after a person enters state custody. Search by name, SID or TDCJ number for location, offenses and projected release information.

Open TDCJ Inmate Information

Federal custody

Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator for federal inmates. A federal prosecution may not appear as a Texas county criminal case.

Open the federal inmate locator

Release dates can change. Verify current custody directly with the facility or responsible corrections agency before travelling, sending money or arranging a visit.

Missing or inaccurate history

Correct the agency record with certified proof

Obtain your Texas Personal Review Fingerprints help establish whether the record belongs to you.

Identify the exact error Note the arrest date, agency, TRN, SID, county, court, case number and disputed field.

Contact the court of jurisdiction Request a certified disposition, corrected judgment, dismissal or other controlling order.

Complete the DPS error-resolution materials Follow the current Error Resolution Unit instructions and attach the required certified documents.

Keep copies of everything sent Preserve the form, certified records, tracking information and correspondence.

Recheck the record after processing Confirm that the corrected disposition appears in the DPS history.

Dispute private reports separately DPS cannot directly force every third-party website or background company to update its database.

Open DPS Error Resolution Find the court for a certified disposition

Copy-ready court correction request

I am requesting a certified disposition or corrected certified record for [full legal name], date of birth [date], case number [number]. The Texas criminal-history record currently shows [describe incorrect or missing information]. Please provide the final disposition of every count and advise whether a corrected report must be transmitted to Texas DPS.

Identity misuse is a different problem. When another arrested person used your identifying information, contact the DPS Error Resolution Unit and the sheriff in your county of residence for the identity-misuse process rather than filing only a normal case-disposition correction.

Expunction and nondisclosure

Know whether you are correcting, clearing or sealing a Texas record

Record correction

Used when the information is wrong, incomplete, duplicated or connected to the wrong identity.

Does not require the event to qualify for expunction.
Usually needs certified proof from the court or reporting agency.
Targets a factual reporting problem.

Expunction

Can remove covered arrest and court records when the event meets Texas eligibility requirements.

Eligibility is limited.
A conviction generally creates a major eligibility barrier.
The petition is normally connected to the arresting county.

Nondisclosure

Restricts public disclosure of an eligible offense but does not erase every government record.

Law enforcement and authorised agencies may retain access.
Different statutes apply to different outcomes.
One order usually addresses one specific offense.

Pardon or other relief

A pardon, appellate ruling, actual-innocence finding or another order can affect the available record-clearing route.

Do not assume the normal self-help form fits.
Preserve every original court document.
Get case-specific legal advice when the history is complex.

Do not file from a DPS summary alone. Obtain the arrest details and complete certified disposition before evaluating expunction or nondisclosure eligibility.

Compare expunction and nondisclosure Open the Texas expunction guide Open the nondisclosure guide Find a Texas lawyer referral

Texas statewide contacts

Criminal-history search, fingerprint and correction help

DPS Criminal History Inquiry Unit

512-424-2474

Personal criminal history, fingerprint results, open-record questions and related Crime Records assistance.

Online search support

1-855-481-7071

Account access, password, search-credit and payment support.

DPS Error Resolution Unit

512-424-7256

error.resolution@dps.texas.gov

Crime Records mailing address

Texas Department of Public Safety
PO Box 4143
Austin, TX 78765-4143
Attn: Criminal History Inquiry Unit

State Bar Lawyer Referral

800-252-9690

Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central for participating service areas.

Texas Judicial Directory

Use the live directory to identify district clerks, county clerks, justice courts and municipal courts.

Open the directory

Most criminal-history tasks begin online, by phone, by fingerprint appointment or through the court clerk. Do not travel to a DPS address expecting walk-in criminal-record service unless the agency has specifically confirmed it.

High-value search habits

Small steps that prevent expensive Texas record mistakes

Preview before spending another credit

Use the DPS preview details to eliminate obvious same-name matches before opening a complete record.

Search the filing county

The court file remains with the court that handled the case, not the county where the person later moved.

Save every identifier

SID, TRN, cause number, booking number and court number each solve a different search problem.

Read every count

One charge may be dismissed while another results in deferred adjudication or conviction.

Use fingerprints for yourself

A name search is not strong enough to settle an identity dispute involving employment or licensing.

Keep certified proof

Preserve certified dismissals, judgments and clearing orders before asking DPS or a private company to update a record.

10 Texas record questions

Texas felony and misdemeanor search questions answered

How do I search for felony records in Texas?

Start with the Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search for public statewide conviction and deferred-adjudication information. Then identify the county where the felony case was filed and search that county’s district clerk records for the indictment, court events and final disposition. Texas does not have one complete statewide portal containing every trial-court document.

How do I search Texas misdemeanor records?

Use Texas DPS for available statewide public criminal-history information, then verify the case locally. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases are generally handled by county courts or county courts at law, while Class C misdemeanors are usually handled by justice of the peace or municipal courts.

Does the Texas DPS public search show every arrest?

No. The public DPS name search is not a complete list of every arrest, pending case, dismissal or local court document. Texas agencies report qualifying criminal-history information to DPS, but access and reporting rules vary. Check the arresting county, court clerk and jail system when the DPS result is incomplete.

How much does the Texas DPS criminal history search cost?

Texas DPS currently lists online search credits at $1 each. Credit-card purchases add a 2.25% fee per credit and a $0.25 transaction fee. A search credit is used even when the system returns no matching records, and opening additional possible matches can use additional credits.

What does no matching records mean in the Texas DPS search?

A no-match result does not prove that the person has never been arrested or charged. The name may be entered differently, the case may not be public through the name-search system, or the matter may be pending, local, federal, out of state, juvenile, restricted or incompletely reported. Verify the county court and request a fingerprint-based personal review when checking your own record.

What is the difference between a name search and a fingerprint review?

A name search compares names, dates of birth and other descriptive information and can produce false matches or miss the correct person. A fingerprint-based personal review is the more reliable way to determine whether a Texas criminal-history record belongs to you.

Where can I find a pending Texas felony court case?

Find the county where the felony was filed and search the district clerk’s official criminal-record portal. Use the case number when available, or search by the defendant’s name and date of birth. Read the newest docket entries and the disposition for every count rather than relying only on the arrest charge.

Where are Class A, Class B and Class C misdemeanor records filed in Texas?

Class A and Class B misdemeanors are generally filed in constitutional county courts or county courts at law. Class C misdemeanors are generally handled by justice of the peace or municipal courts. Local court structures vary, so use the Texas Judicial Directory to identify the correct clerk and court.

How do I correct an error on a Texas criminal history record?

Obtain a fingerprint-based Texas personal review, identify the incorrect or missing entry and request a certified disposition from the court that handled the case. Submit the certified document and required error-resolution materials to the Texas DPS Error Resolution Unit. A screenshot or private background report is generally not a substitute for a certified court disposition.

Can Texas felony or misdemeanor records be expunged or sealed?

Some records may qualify for expunction or an order of nondisclosure. Expunction can remove covered records, while nondisclosure generally restricts public disclosure but leaves access available to law enforcement and certain authorised agencies. Eligibility depends on the exact offense, disposition, supervision, waiting period and criminal history.

Accuracy, privacy and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource. It is not the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Judicial Branch, a county clerk, district clerk, sheriff, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons or a law firm.

Criminal-history, court, custody, fee and eligibility information can change. Verify the correct person with multiple identifiers and obtain the current official court record before making a legal, employment, housing, licensing, financial, safety or publication decision.

Every accused person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This page explains public search procedures and does not provide legal advice or determine eligibility for expunction or nondisclosure.

Official-source review completed August 3, 2026. Primary sources reviewed include the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division, Texas Judicial Branch, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, State Bar of Texas and current Texas criminal-record self-help resources.

Texas Felony and Misdemeanor Records Search