Find the Right Hays County Court Record Before You Search
A “Hays County criminal record” can mean several different things. A felony case belongs on the District Court side, a Class A or B misdemeanor is handled through the County Courts at Law, and a recent arrest may first appear in the jail database before a complete court case is visible.
The county’s current online portal makes the process easier because it offers Criminal Case Records, Court Calendar, Jail Records and Jail Bond Records from the same starting point. The key is knowing which result answers your question—and which office to contact when it does not.
DISTRICT CLERK
COUNTY CLERK
SHERIFF
DPS
CAUSE
CASE TYPE
Public criminal case name searches are free.
Start with the Hays County District Clerk.
Class A and B cases go through County Courts at Law.
The same county portal includes jail and bond searches.
Official information checked August 18, 2026.
Four searches that people often confuse
Search the Hays County criminal case database for the cause number, filing date, case type, summary, hearings and available disposition information.
Search court casesUse Jail Records for booking and custody information and Jail Bond Records for current bond information.
Check jail recordsRequest the offense or incident report from HCSO or the city police department that created it.
Request an agency recordA Hays County case search covers local court information. Use Texas DPS when you need broader statewide criminal-history information.
Check Texas historyHow to search Hays County criminal case records
Use the link supplied by Hays County rather than an old third-party court-record website.
Open Hays County Public AccessDo not choose Civil, Family & Probate when you are researching a criminal prosecution.
Hays County states that public name searches are free. Use enough information to distinguish people with similar names.
A cause number is more precise than repeatedly searching a common surname.
Make sure the filing period and level of offense match the incident you are researching.
Do not make a decision from the search-results list alone.
A case can change after the original filing through amendment, plea, dismissal, trial, sentencing or another court order.
If several charges appear, determine what happened to each one separately.
You will need it if you later call a clerk, order a certified copy or discuss the case with counsel.
Felony and misdemeanor records go through different clerks
Felony case
Hays County directs felony court-date questions to the District Clerk. District Court criminal records and certified copies are handled through that office.
Hays County District ClerkHays County Government Center
712 S. Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2211
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: 512-393-7660
Open District ClerkClass A or B misdemeanor
Hays County Courts at Law have jurisdiction over Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases. The County Clerk’s Courts Division maintains County Court records.
Hays County ClerkHays County Government Center
712 S. Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2008
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: 512-393-7330
Open County ClerkRead the search result without jumping to the wrong conclusion
Result field |
What it helps identify |
What not to assume |
Best next step |
|---|---|---|---|
Party name |
The person connected to the case. |
A same-name result is automatically the person you want. |
Compare filing date, cause number and other identifying information. |
Cause number |
The individual court case. |
One cause number covers every arrest or charge in a person’s history. |
Save it for future searches and copy requests. |
Case type |
The general kind or level of case. |
The original arrest description always matches the final prosecuted offense. |
Read the charging and disposition information. |
Filing date |
When the court case was filed. |
It is the date of arrest or alleged offense. |
Compare it with the booking and police-report timeline. |
Case summary |
Important events and current information in the case. |
One status label tells the entire legal history. |
Read the chronological entries and final orders. |
Bond company |
A bond company associated with the case when the system displays one. |
The person remains in jail because a bond company appears. |
Use Jail Records for current custody. |
Disposition date |
When an outcome was entered. |
The date itself explains whether the case was dismissed, adjudicated or otherwise resolved. |
Open the case and obtain the actual disposition when proof matters. |
Find the court date from the court—not the jail
Select Court Calendar from the Hays County Public Access portal and verify the cause number and court.
Check court calendarCall the District Clerk when you cannot verify the setting online.
Contact the County Clerk or County Courts at Law when a Class A or B misdemeanor setting is unclear.
Current County Court at Law criminal schedule
Docket type |
Current published schedule |
|---|---|
Arraignments |
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. |
Pro se dockets |
Tuesday afternoons. |
Attorney dockets |
Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings and afternoons. |
County Court at Law jail docket |
Thursday at 1:30 p.m.; inmates are transported to the Government Center. |
Criminal hearings |
Hays County currently states that criminal hearings are held in person. |
When an online name search is not enough
The free online portal is the fastest starting point, but someone may need a clerk-conducted search when they need a written search result, are researching older records, cannot confidently identify the correct case, or need a certificate for a formal purpose.
Order the actual court document when a screenshot is not enough
Service |
Published charge |
When it helps |
|---|---|---|
Online public name search |
Free |
Finding a case, cause number or disposition date. |
Staff record search |
$5 per name |
District Clerk search covering the past 10 years. |
Electronic document copy |
$1 for first 10 pages; $0.10 per page after |
Obtaining a readable case document without certification. |
Certified copy |
$1 per page |
Official proof required by another agency or proceeding. |
Embossed certification seal |
$5 |
Certification of the requested document. |
Save the cause number and identify the exact document you need.
Describe the case, cause number, document and whether you need certification.
Payment for clerk-conducted searches and copy orders is required in advance.
The District Clerk currently directs online quote payments through Certified Payments using Bureau Code 5779509.
For mailed copies, include your name and complete address.
Hays County District Clerk
Hays County Government Center
712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2211
San Marcos, TX 78666
Use Jail Records when the court case is not the immediate question
Someone who was arrested recently may appear in the jail system before you know the final cause number or court. Hays County’s current Public Access home screen provides separate Jail Records and Jail Bond Records options.
Use this when you are trying to confirm current or recent custody rather than the final court outcome.
Do not assume a court-case bond notation alone reflects the person’s current release status.
Hays County uses the term SPIN for the Sheriff’s personal identification number in several jail procedures.
1307 Uhland Road
San Marcos, TX 78666
Main: 512-393-7800
Jail Records: 512-393-7832
Bond Information: 512-393-7807 or 512-393-7690
Check the bond record before calling a bail company
Use the name and identifying information from the jail record.
Review every listed charge or case before making payment arrangements.
Use 512-393-7807 or 512-393-7690 to clarify the current bond situation.
Hays County is a Bail Bond Board county. Companies must be licensed to issue bonds for Hays County charges.
HCSO states that employees may not contact or recommend a bail bond company for you.
Hays County says bonds are processed in the order received and that many factors affect release processing.
A court record and a police report answer different questions
HCSO-created incident
Use Hays County’s Open Records system when the Sheriff’s Office created the police or incident record.
HCSO Records Division: 512-393-7800
Open Hays County public-information portalCity police incident
If San Marcos Police, Kyle Police, Buda Police, Uhland Police or another municipal agency created the report, request it from that agency rather than the county jail.
The HCSO online crime-reporting guidance specifically notes that Buda, Kyle, San Marcos and Uhland maintain their own police departments.
Schedule Hays County visitation before driving to Uhland Road
Check Jail Records again before arranging the visit.
Hays County permits appointments to be scheduled up to one month ahead.
The jail states that late visitors will not be allowed to complete the visit and must reschedule.
Visitors must present a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification card.
Phones, cameras, handbags and baby carriers are not allowed in the visitation area.
Visit item |
Published Hays County rule |
|---|---|
On-site days |
Monday, Thursday and Friday, with additional late-afternoon and evening visitation on Tuesday. |
On-site duration |
20-minute time slots. |
On-site limit |
Two on-site visits per week, one visit per day. |
Visitors at one time |
Up to three individuals, including children. |
Remote video |
Available Sunday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
Remote duration |
25 minutes. |
Remote limit |
Up to two off-site video visits per inmate per day. |
Monitoring |
Non-attorney visits are recorded and subject to electronic monitoring. |
Use the SPIN before sending anything
Personal mail
Ordinary personal mail is not delivered directly to the Law Enforcement Center. It is routed through the Securus Digital Mail Center.
C/O Securus Digital Mail Center-Hays County, TX
PO Box 21167
Tampa, FL 33622
- Write on the front side of pages only.
- Maximum 10 photos per mailing.
- Photos may not exceed 4 × 6 inches.
- Polaroid/self-developing photographs are prohibited.
- Packages and certified mail are returned.
Legal mail and money orders
Legal mail, pre-approved publications sent by an authorised seller, and inmate-trust money orders are mailed directly to the jail.
Hays County Jail, TX
1307 Uhland Road
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone calls
The jail does not deliver normal messages to inmates unless there is a verified emergency.
Hays County uses Securus Technologies for inmate telephone services, including Advance Connect and qualifying Direct Bill accounts.
Securus: 800-844-6591
Commissary deposits
Hays County uses Access Corrections for online and telephone trust-fund deposits.
Access Corrections: 866-345-1884
A lobby kiosk at 1307 Uhland Road is currently available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding county holidays.
Hays County provides separate applications by court type
Hays County publishes fillable applications in English and Spanish for County Court at Law, District Court and juvenile cases.
A felony normally requires the District Court application; a jail-punishable misdemeanor generally uses the County Court at Law application.
Use the official Indigent Defense page rather than a generic Texas form.
Hays County instructs applicants not to use dashes or “N/A.” Use an appropriate answer such as “none” when necessary.
Send the completed form as a saved file or screenshot to the Indigent Defense Coordinators using the official page instructions.
Some decisions are made by judges; many are made by the county’s Indigent Defense Coordinators.
Hays County Government Center
712 S. Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2024
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: 512-878-6740
Alternate coordinator: 512-878-6597
Get case help without repeatedly checking the jail roster
Victim Services is part of the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and assists crime victims and their families with the criminal-justice process.
712 South Stagecoach TrailSan Marcos, TX 78666
Main: 512-393-7600
Victim Services Supervisor: 512-393-7623
Open Victim ServicesHays County directs users to IVSS for jail custody and release notifications.
IVSS: 866-268-8959
The service is available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish.
A Hays County search is not the same as a Texas background check
Hays County case search
- Focuses on Hays County court cases.
- Useful for cause numbers and local dispositions.
- Online public name search is free.
- Best source for obtaining a Hays County court document.
Texas DPS criminal history
- Use when you need broader Texas criminal-history information.
- Use several identifiers to reduce same-name errors.
- A name-based possible match should not be treated as fingerprint confirmation.
- Verify important results with the originating court.
State-prison history or current TDCJ custody
Get the final disposition before deciding whether a record can be cleared
Filing |
Published base fee |
Important note |
|---|---|---|
Expunction |
$350 |
An additional $25 may apply for each agency that must receive mailed confirmation because no email address is supplied. |
Petition for nondisclosure |
$330 |
Eligibility depends on the specific Texas nondisclosure provision applicable to the case. |
Hays County criminal-record offices and phone numbers
Suite 2211
San Marcos, TX 78666
Lobby: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Phone/email office service: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Suite 2008
San Marcos, TX 78666
San Marcos, TX 78666
Non-emergency dispatch: 512-393-7896
San Marcos, TX 78666
Main: 512-393-7800
Jail Records: 512-393-7832
Appointments required for on-site visits.
San Marcos, TX 78666
Main: 512-393-7600
Supervisor: 512-393-7623
Map to the Hays County Government Center
Map to the Hays County Jail
Details that prevent the most common wrong turns
The county’s Tyler portal starts Criminal Case Records, Court Calendar, Jail Records and Jail Bond Records from one screen.
Hays County explicitly directs felony court-date questions to the District Clerk and misdemeanor questions to the County Clerk.
It makes later clerk calls, document orders and attorney conversations much easier than repeating a name search.
A District Court felony and County Court at Law misdemeanor may involve the same person but different clerks and procedures.
The Sheriff’s SPIN identifies the person for jail purposes; the court cause number identifies a particular prosecution.
A certified dismissal, judgment or other final order is much stronger evidence than a screenshot of an old booking.
Hays County criminal-record search FAQs
How do I search Hays County criminal records online?
Use the Hays County online court records portal and select Criminal Case Records. A free name search can return publicly available parties, cause numbers, case types, filing dates, case summaries and, when applicable, bond company and disposition-date information. Open the matching case and verify the name, cause number, court and filing date before relying on it.
Where do I find felony criminal cases in Hays County?
Felony criminal court records are handled through the Hays County District Clerk and District Courts. The District Clerk is located at 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2211, San Marcos, Texas 78666, and can be reached at 512-393-7660.
Where do I find misdemeanor criminal cases in Hays County?
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases are handled by the Hays County Courts at Law, with court records maintained through the County Clerk’s Courts Division. The County Clerk’s main office is at 712 South Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2008, San Marcos, Texas 78666, and the main phone number is 512-393-7330.
What information does the Hays County criminal case search show?
Hays County states that publicly available online criminal case information may include parties, cause number, case type, filing date, case summary and, when applicable, bond company and disposition date. The portal also provides separate choices for a court calendar, jail records and jail bond records.
How much does a Hays County District Clerk criminal record search cost?
Online public name searches are free. If the District Clerk performs a civil or criminal records search for you, the current published charge is $5 per name for a search covering the past 10 years. The office asks users to allow five business days for those staff-conducted searches.
How much are Hays County criminal court copies?
The District Clerk currently lists electronic copies at $1 for the first 10 pages and $0.10 per page after that. Certified copies are $1 per page plus $5 for the embossed certification seal. Payment is required in advance for staff record searches and copy orders.
How do I find a Hays County criminal court date?
Use the Hays County court records and hearing-date portal rather than calling the jail. Hays County states that the jail does not assign or track court dates. For a felony, contact the District Clerk at 512-393-7660. For a misdemeanor, contact the County Clerk at 512-393-7330.
Can I search Hays County jail and bond records online?
Yes. The county’s court-record portal includes separate Jail Records and Jail Bond Records options in addition to Criminal Case Records and the Court Calendar. For questions that the online record does not answer, Hays County Jail Records can be reached at 512-393-7832 and Bond Information at 512-393-7807 or 512-393-7690.
How do I get a court-appointed attorney in Hays County?
Hays County provides separate court-appointed-attorney applications for County Court at Law, District Court and juvenile cases. People charged with a jail-punishable misdemeanor or a felony may qualify. Hays County states that an applicant is usually financially eligible when family income does not exceed 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, although other factors can also be considered.
Can a Hays County criminal record be expunged or made nonpublic?
Some records may qualify for a Texas expunction or an order of nondisclosure, but eligibility depends on the exact arrest, charge, disposition and criminal history. Hays County currently publishes a $350 basic filing fee for an expunction and $330 for a petition for nondisclosure, subject to exceptions and additional charges. Verify eligibility and current fees before filing.