Travis County Criminal Records Search | History and Cases Travis County Criminal Records Search

Travis County, Texas · Sheriff, APD, felony, misdemeanor, JP and municipal warrant routes

Check Travis County Active Warrants Without Searching the Wrong Court

If you are worried that you or someone you know may have an active warrant in Travis County, start with the official Travis County Sheriff warrant search. Then use the court connected to the case—District Clerk for felony matters, County Clerk for Class A and B misdemeanors, a Justice of the Peace for many Class C cases, or Austin Municipal Court when the warrant comes from a City of Austin case.

One search is not enough for every situation. This guide shows how to identify the warrant type, verify the cause number, check whether the person has already been arrested, understand a failure-to-appear warrant, contact the Travis County Self Surrender desk, avoid warrant-payment scams and choose the correct next step without guessing.

Search TCSO warrants Check APD warrants Find the correct court

Full legal name Date of birth Cause number Citation number Issuing court if known

TRAVIS WARRANT SIGNAL VERIFYING COURT

ACTIVE?

TCSO
COUNTY

D-1-DC
FELONY

C-1
MISDEMEANOR

MC / J
CLASS C

MATCH WARRANT → MATCH COURT → VERIFY STATUS

Do not rely on a name match alone. Warrant databases can contain similar names, delayed status updates or records from different courts. Verify the date of birth, cause or citation number, issuing court and current status before acting on the result.

County starting point

Use the Travis County Sheriff’s official Warrant Search.

APD list limitation

The City of Austin search states that it contains APD warrants only.

Self surrender

Travis County Self Surrender: 512-854-7860.

Already arrested?

Use the TCSO inmate search or call 512-854-9889.

Source review

Official procedures reviewed August 8, 2026.

Start with your situation

Choose the warrant problem you are actually trying to solve

NOT SURE WHICH WARRANT Start with the Sheriff

Use the official TCSO warrant page, then identify the issuing court or cause number before doing anything else.

Follow the search sequence

AUSTIN POLICE WARRANT Use the APD list

The Austin search is useful for APD warrants but should not be treated as a complete Travis County search.

Check the Austin route

FELONY WARRANT Verify through District Clerk

Felony court records and felony search-warrant records are maintained through the Travis County District Clerk.

Verify a felony case

MISDEMEANOR WARRANT Use County Clerk records

Class A and B misdemeanor cases are handled through Travis County criminal county courts and County Clerk records.

Check misdemeanor records

TRAFFIC / CLASS C Identify JP or Municipal Court

A traffic or Class C warrant may belong to a Justice of the Peace, Austin Municipal Court or Austin Community Court.

Find the correct Class C court

YOUR OWN NAME APPEARS Verify before showing up

Contact the issuing court, your lawyer or the Self Surrender desk for current instructions rather than relying on an old web result.

See safe next steps

Official county starting point

Run the Travis County Sheriff warrant search first

The Travis County government homepage links directly to the Sheriff’s official Warrant Search. TCSO warns that public warrant data should be verified before anyone relies on it.

Open the official TCSO Warrant Search Do not start with a people-search or background-check website. Open Travis County Sheriff Warrant Search

Use the full legal name Search the surname carefully and include the first name or other identifiers when the interface permits.

Compare the date of birth A common Austin-area name can produce the wrong person. Do not rely on a matching name by itself.

Write down the warrant or cause information Save the warrant number, cause number, court, alleged offense, issue information and bond details if they are displayed.

Determine which court owns the case The prefix and court name tell you which Clerk or court system should be checked next.

Open the underlying court record Check whether the cause is active and whether there is a newer order, appearance, bond or recall entry.

Check jail custody if an arrest may already have happened A warrant result alone does not tell you whether the person was picked up afterward. Open TCSO inmate search

Call before relying on an uncertain result TCSO publishes 512-854-9770 for general assistance and 512-974-0845, option 3, for 24/7 non-emergency dispatch.

An empty search is not a guarantee that no warrant exists. Newly issued, sealed, juvenile, another-county, federal or differently indexed warrants may not appear in the same public search.

The most important decoder

Use the cause-number prefix to find the correct Travis County court

A warrant search becomes much easier once you know which jurisdiction owns the case
Clue	Usually points to	Typical matter	Where to verify
D-1-DC	District Court / District Clerk	Adult felony criminal case	Travis County Odyssey / District Clerk Criminal Division
C	County Criminal Court at Law	Class A or B misdemeanor	Travis County Clerk Court Data
J	Justice of the Peace	Many Class C / traffic cases	Travis County JP Judicial Records
MC	Austin Municipal Court	City municipal or traffic warrant	Austin Municipal Court / 512-974-4800
CC	Austin Community Court	Community Court case	Austin Community Court / 512-974-4879

Useful Austin-area shortcut: Travis County’s current court-payment guidance also uses prefix letters to distinguish jurisdictions: D for District Court, C for County Court and J for Justice of the Peace matters.

Warrant result decoder

Do not confuse the warrant entry with the entire criminal case

What common warrant fields mean
Field	What it helps identify	What it does not prove	Next check
Warrant number	A specific warrant record.	That it is still active at this moment.	Verify with the issuing court or agency.
Cause / case number	The underlying court case.	That every warrant under that name belongs to the same event.	Open the matching court docket.
Court	Which judge or court controls the matter.	That another court has no separate warrant.	Contact that specific court.
Offense	The charge associated with the warrant or case.	Guilt or conviction.	Read the formal charge and docket.
Issue date	When the warrant was issued.	That no later recall or replacement exists.	Check the newest court activity.
Bond	A release amount or condition may have been set.	That payment alone guarantees immediate release.	Check all cases and holds.
Failure to appear	A court appearance or requirement may have been missed.	That simply paying a fine is the only option.	Contact the court or counsel before entering a plea.
Active	The system currently treats the warrant as outstanding.	That every connected database has updated simultaneously.	Verify directly before surrender or payment.

Identity rule: Before treating a warrant as belonging to a particular person, match at least two independent identifiers such as full name plus date of birth, cause number, citation number or another court-specific identifier.

Austin Police warrants

Know the limit of the APD active-warrant list

The City of Austin specifically warns that its public warrant search contains APD warrants only. It is useful, but it is not a complete search of every warrant that could exist in Travis County.

Open the City of Austin warrant page Open Austin active warrant search

Follow the Search for a Warrant button The City sends users to the APD Warrant List.

Compare the warrant suffix An MC ending points to Austin Municipal Court. A CC ending points to Austin Community Court.

Use the correct resolution number MC: 512-974-4800. CC: 512-974-4879. Other warrants: Travis County Self Surrender desk at 512-854-7860.

Juvenile warrant? The City directs juvenile warrant arrangements to Gardner-Betts Juvenile Justice Center at 512-854-7090.

APD Warrant Office

512-974-5299

Published hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Austin Municipal Court

512-974-4800

6800 Burleson Road
Building 310, Suite 175
Austin, TX 78744

Felony cases

Verify a Travis County felony warrant through the District Clerk

The Travis County District Clerk Criminal Division maintains adult felony criminal records, including felony search-warrant records, and supports the criminal District Courts.

Look for a D-1-DC cause number Travis County District Attorney guidance identifies cause numbers beginning with D-1-DC as felony cases.

Open the Odyssey records portal Public users can view a register of actions for available cases. Open Travis County Odyssey

Search the cause number first It is safer than relying only on a name.

Read the newest docket entries Look for warrant issuance, recall, arrest, bond, appearance, attorney appointment and later court orders.

Call Criminal Records if the online record is unclear District Clerk Criminal Division: 512-854-9420, option 3.

Search warrant is different from arrest warrant. A search warrant authorizes law enforcement to search a person, place or property described by the order. An arrest warrant authorizes the arrest of a person. Do not assume that a reference to a felony “search warrant” means there is an active arrest warrant for the named person.

Travis County District Clerk – Criminal Division

Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center / Gault Annex
501 W. 11th Street, Room 2.300
Austin, TX 78701

512-854-9420

Class A and B misdemeanors

Use Travis County Clerk records for misdemeanor warrant clues

Travis County’s County Clerk maintains Class A and Class B misdemeanor records. Online misdemeanor case data extends from January 1981 forward, and current court data is updated regularly.

Look for a cause number beginning with C Travis County identifies C-prefix criminal causes with County Clerk / County Courts at Law.

Open the County Clerk Court Data page Open Travis County Court Data

Select the County Clerk search The Clerk notes that the County Clerk box must be selected when searching by cause number.

Compare name, date of birth and case information Newly filed document images may take longer to appear than the underlying case data.

Check the current court setting Hearing dates can change. Confirm the setting before travelling.

Read misdemeanor record instructions Search court settings

County Clerk Misdemeanor Division: 512-854-9188
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Traffic and Class C cases

A Class C warrant may belong to a JP court or the City of Austin

Travis County Justice of the Peace

The five JP courts handle Class C criminal misdemeanor matters such as many traffic citations.

Cause numbers commonly begin with J.
You can search criminal information through the JP Odyssey public-access system.
If the precinct is unknown, county guidance says searching one of the current JP payment sites can still locate traffic-ticket results from other JP courts.

Search JP judicial records

Austin Municipal Court

Municipal Court handles City of Austin Class C, traffic and ordinance cases.

Search the Municipal Court public portal for the underlying case.
Use last name plus date of birth or another accepted identifier.
Do not assume paying the case is your only legal option.

Search Austin Municipal Court case

Read the plea language before paying a warrant online. Travis County’s JP warrant-payment guidance warns that payment may constitute a plea of no contest and result in a conviction. If you want to contest the charge, request a hearing, bond or another available option instead of blindly clicking “pay.”

For an eligible JP warrant paid online, older county-wide instructions state that a warrant may not be recalled until the next business day. Keep the payment receipt because enforcement may remain possible until the court posts and recalls the warrant.

Nothing appears online

No warrant found does not always mean no warrant exists

The warrant was issued recently Different agency and court systems may not update at exactly the same time.

The name is indexed differently Try the full legal surname, former surname, suffix and correct date of birth.

The warrant belongs to Austin rather than the county Search the APD and Municipal Court routes separately.

The case belongs to a JP court Search Travis County Justice of the Peace judicial records.

The warrant is from another county Travis County public searches do not constitute a statewide warrant database.

The warrant is juvenile or restricted Some records are not available through ordinary adult public-search tools.

The warrant was already served Search TCSO inmate records and the court docket for arrest, bond or appearance activity.

The warrant may have been recalled An older cached or third-party result can remain online after the official court status changes.

If your own name appears

Verify the warrant before deciding where to go

Do not use this page to avoid law enforcement. The safest practical use of a warrant search is to identify the correct court, confirm the current status and make lawful arrangements to address the case.

Save the exact warrant and cause information Write down the court, warrant number, cause number, alleged offense and bond information shown.

Confirm the result through the issuing court Ask whether the warrant remains active and whether a newer judge’s order affects it.

Ask what type of appearance is required Some matters may have a court-resolution route; others require surrender or another court-directed process.

Ask about bond before arriving Knowing whether a bond is already set can help a family member or lawyer prepare.

Use the Travis County Self Surrender desk when directed Austin Police directs people with warrants outside its MC/CC categories to the Travis County Self Surrender desk at 512-854-7860.

Consider speaking with a criminal-defense lawyer first A lawyer can review the case, court, bond and surrender options and may be able to communicate with the court.

Warrant-verification call script

I am calling to verify the current status of a warrant for [full legal name], date of birth [date]. I have cause number [number] and warrant number [number, if known]. Can you confirm whether the warrant is currently active, which court controls it, whether bond has been set and what lawful process the court requires to address it?

Travis County Self Surrender: 512-854-7860

Failure to appear

If the warrant followed a missed Travis County court date

A missed appearance can create more than one problem. The criminal court may issue a warrant, and a bond can also be forfeited. Do not assume that paying an unrelated balance automatically fixes both.

First: find the cause

Use the warrant result or Clerk portal to identify every affected cause number.

Second: read the docket

Look for failure-to-appear, warrant and bond-forfeiture activity.

Third: contact the right office

The court, assigned attorney or appropriate county office can explain the current procedural status.

The Travis County Attorney’s Bond Forfeitures Team states that an unrepresented person who missed court can contact the office to determine where the matter is in the process. The office also warns that its interests are adverse to the defendant and strongly recommends obtaining legal representation.

Travis County Attorney – Bond Forfeitures Team: 512-854-9157

Bond and release planning

A bond amount does not guarantee immediate release

Verify every active warrant and cause

Check whether bond has actually been set

Ask about additional county or out-of-county holds

Confirm the correct payment or bonding location

Use a Travis County-approved bonding company when choosing a surety bond

Keep the bond receipt and all written agreements

Review TCSO bond information Open Travis County Bail Bond Board

Child-support capias is a separate situation

A child-support capias should not be treated like an ordinary traffic or misdemeanor warrant. Travis County Domestic Relations publishes separate payment and release instructions, and Texas Attorney General cases may require coordination with the Attorney General rather than Domestic Relations.

Travis County Domestic Relations case

Follow the current Domestic Relations release instructions for the exact case.

Read child-support release instructions

Texas Attorney General case

Travis County directs users to the Texas Attorney General for instructions involving an OAG child-support case.

OAG child support: 800-252-8014

If the warrant has already been served

Check custody instead of repeatedly searching the warrant list

Open the TCSO inmate search Search current Travis County inmates

Verify the full name and date of birth Save the booking or jail identification information.

Check the related court cause The warrant may have been served while the criminal case remains pending.

Confirm bond and holds Another case or jurisdiction can prevent release even when one warrant has a bond.

Use the release paperwork for the next court date TCSO states that a person receives court-date paperwork upon release; the attorney can also confirm the setting.

Jail / custody assistance: 512-854-9889
General jail information: 512-854-4180

Travis County Jail / Central Booking

500 W. 10th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Travis County Correctional Complex

3614 Bill Price Road
Del Valle, TX 78617

Warrants that need a different route

Not every “active warrant” belongs in the same search

Special situations readers often confuse with an ordinary county arrest warrant
Situation	Why it is different	Best starting point
Austin Municipal warrant	City Class C or traffic jurisdiction.	Austin Municipal Court / 512-974-4800.
Community Court warrant	Austin Community Court handles its own cases and resolution procedures.	512-974-4879.
Juvenile warrant	Juvenile records and procedure are handled separately.	Gardner-Betts Juvenile Justice Center, 512-854-7090.
JP traffic warrant	The case belongs to one of Travis County’s five Justice Courts.	JP Judicial Records and the applicable precinct.
Child-support capias	Release payment and agency routing differ from an ordinary criminal bond.	Domestic Relations or Texas Attorney General.
Felony search warrant	A search warrant authorizes a search; it is not automatically an arrest warrant.	District Clerk criminal records when publicly available.
Federal warrant	Federal cases are not maintained by Travis County clerks.	Appropriate federal court or federal agency.
Other Texas county warrant	Travis County portals do not constitute a statewide warrant database.	Issuing county Sheriff and court.

Justice of the Peace routing

Travis County constables execute many JP warrants

Travis County’s five constable offices have county-wide law-enforcement authority and process traffic, hot-check and other warrants issued through Justice of the Peace courts. If you know the JP precinct, the corresponding constable can be a useful verification point.

Current Travis County constable warrant contacts
Precinct	Warrant contact	Office
Precinct 1	512-854-7510	4717 Heflin Lane, Austin, TX 78721
Precinct 2	512-854-4515	10409 Burnet Road, Suite 150, Austin, TX 78758
Precinct 3	512-854-2107	8656 B West Highway 71, Austin, TX 78735
Precinct 4	512-854-9488	4011 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin, TX 78744
Precinct 5	512-854-9582	1003 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78701

Do not mail a warrant payment without checking the current court instructions. A person may remain subject to arrest until a payment is received, posted and the warrant is formally recalled.

Legal help

How to find help when the warrant is yours

Existing appointed lawyer

Search the court case first. County Clerk records can display the attorney connected to a misdemeanor cause.

Criminal Court Administration: 512-854-9244

Private criminal lawyer

Use the State Bar of Texas directory or referral service to verify licence status and find a lawyer by practice area and location.

Find a Texas lawyer

Self-help research

Travis County Law Library staff can help locate forms, court procedures and legal resources, although they cannot tell you what legal strategy to choose.

512-854-8677

Travis County Law Library & Self-Help Center
1700 Guadalupe Street, 2nd Floor
Austin, TX 78701
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Open Law Library

Important scam warning

A caller who knows a real warrant number can still be a scammer

TCSO warns that scammers impersonate real deputies, judges and government employees and may even use genuine-looking case or citation numbers.

TCSO says it will not demand payment over the phone

Do not pay through Apple Pay to resolve an alleged Sheriff warrant

Do not send cryptocurrency or use a crypto ATM

Do not pay with gift cards or MoneyPak

Do not wire money because a caller threatens immediate arrest

Do not call back the number shown on caller ID

Verify independently: Hang up, open the official TCSO or court website yourself and call the published number. TCSO lists 512-854-9770 for verification and general assistance.

Scam-verification script

I received a call claiming there is a warrant or missed-jury matter under my name. I am not calling the number that contacted me. Can you verify whether your office actually has an active matter for [full legal name] and whether any payment or appearance is legitimately required?

Before driving downtown

Prepare for the Travis County criminal courthouse area

Confirm the building

Several county justice offices sit near W. 10th and W. 11th Streets. Ask for the exact room number before leaving.

Plan for courthouse screening

Travis County advises visitors to allow extra time for security screening and prohibits weapons and other restricted items.

Parking is not guaranteed

Criminal Courts information lists metered street parking around the courthouse area. Check current signs and rates when you arrive.

Never walk into a law-enforcement building simply because a third-party website says a warrant exists. Confirm the current warrant, court and requested process first.

Local numbers worth saving

Travis County warrant, court and jail contacts

Travis County Sheriff’s Office

General: 512-854-9770

24/7 non-emergency dispatch: 512-974-0845, option 3

Travis County Self Surrender

512-854-7860

Call for current surrender instructions when directed by the warrant or court route.

TCSO Jail / Custody

Custody: 512-854-9889

Jail information: 512-854-4180

District Clerk Criminal Division

501 W. 11th Street, Room 2.300
Austin, TX 78701

512-854-9420

County Clerk Misdemeanor Division

5501 Airport Boulevard
Austin, TX 78751

512-854-9188

Criminal Court Administration

509 W. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701

512-854-9244

Austin Municipal Court

6800 Burleson Road
Building 310, Suite 175
Austin, TX 78744

512-974-4800

Austin Community Court

505 Barton Springs Road, 1st Floor
Austin, TX 78704

512-974-4879

APD Warrant Office

512-974-5299

Published hours: 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Gardner-Betts Juvenile Justice Center

2515 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704

512-854-7090

Downtown criminal justice area

Travis County Jail / Central Booking

60-second warrant checklist

Before you close the search page, save these details

Exact legal name shown

Date of birth or other matching identifier

Warrant number

Cause or citation number

Issuing court

Offense description

Issue date

Bond amount or bond status

Current court docket status

Name and number of the office you verified with

Best sequence: Search → verify identity → identify the court → open the underlying case → confirm whether the warrant is still active → ask about bond or appearance → contact counsel or the correct court before taking the next action.

10 Travis County questions

Active warrant questions answered

How do I search for an active warrant in Travis County?

Start with the official Travis County Sheriff Warrant Search. Verify the person with the full name and date of birth, save the warrant and cause information, then check the court that issued the warrant. Use the District Clerk for felony cases, County Clerk for Class A and B misdemeanors, the appropriate Justice of the Peace for many Class C cases, or Austin Municipal Court for City of Austin cases.

Does the Austin Police warrant search show every Travis County warrant?

No. The City of Austin specifically states that its active-warrant list contains APD warrants only. Use the Travis County Sheriff search and the appropriate county or justice court when you need a broader Travis County check.

How do I know whether a Travis County warrant is felony or misdemeanor?

Look at the issuing court and cause number. Travis County felony causes commonly begin with D-1-DC and are maintained by the District Clerk. Class A and B misdemeanor causes commonly begin with C and are maintained through the County Clerk. Class C Justice Court causes use the JP system.

What should I do if my own name appears in the Travis County warrant search?

Save the warrant number, cause number, court, alleged offense and bond information, then verify that the warrant remains active with the issuing court. Ask what process is required to address the matter. Austin Police directs people with warrants outside its MC and CC categories to the Travis County Self Surrender desk at 512-854-7860.

What is the Travis County Self Surrender phone number?

The City of Austin Court Services guidance currently directs people to the Travis County Self Surrender desk at 512-854-7860 for warrants that are not being handled as Austin Municipal Court or Austin Community Court matters. Call before travelling so you can confirm the current procedure.

Why can I not find a warrant that I was told exists?

The warrant may be newly issued, indexed under a different name, from Austin Municipal Court, a Justice of the Peace, another county, a juvenile matter or another jurisdiction. It may also have been served or recalled. Check the underlying court case and contact the issuing court rather than treating one empty search as proof that no warrant exists.

Can I pay a Travis County warrant online?

Some Justice of the Peace and court cases are eligible for online payment, but not every warrant can be resolved that way. Travis County warns that paying certain JP warrants can constitute a no-contest plea and result in a conviction. Read the plea terms and contact the court first if you want to contest the charge or request another option.

How can I tell whether someone was already arrested on a Travis County warrant?

Use the Travis County Sheriff inmate search and verify the full name, date of birth and booking information. You can also call custody information at 512-854-9889. Then check the underlying court case because the criminal case can remain active after the warrant has been served.

Is a felony search warrant the same as an arrest warrant?

No. An arrest warrant authorizes the arrest of a person. A search warrant authorizes law enforcement to search the person, place or property described in the order. The Travis County District Clerk maintains felony criminal records including felony search-warrant records, but the existence of a search-warrant record does not automatically mean the person has an active arrest warrant.

How can I tell whether a warrant call from Travis County is real?

Do not rely on caller ID or a case number supplied by the caller. TCSO warns that scammers impersonate real officers and judges. The Sheriff says it will not demand payment through Apple Pay, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, gift cards or MoneyPak. Hang up and verify the matter using a phone number published on the official TCSO or court website.

Official sources used

Primary Travis County and Austin resources

Travis County Sheriff

Travis County courts

City of Austin

Accuracy and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource and is not the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department, Travis County District Clerk, Travis County Clerk, Justice of the Peace Courts, Austin Municipal Court, Austin Community Court or a law firm.

Warrant information can change after a court recalls a warrant, an arrest occurs, bond is posted or another agency updates its records. Always verify current status directly with the issuing court or official law-enforcement source.

A warrant or criminal charge is not proof of guilt. This page explains public search and court-routing procedures and does not provide legal advice or instructions for avoiding lawful arrest.

Last official-source review: August 8, 2026. High-risk details checked included the TCSO warrant route, APD warrant limitations, Self Surrender number, court prefixes, felony and misdemeanor clerk contacts, Justice Court payment warnings, jail contacts, child-support capias routing and TCSO warrant-scam guidance.

Travis County Criminal Records Search | History and Cases