Dallas County Criminal Records Search | History and Cases

Dallas County, Texas · Felony, misdemeanor, disposition and court-document lookup

Search Dallas County Felony and Misdemeanor Case History

Start with the Dallas County Courts Portal when you need to know whether a criminal case exists, which court has it, what charge was filed or how the case ended. Search by the case number whenever possible; it is safer and faster than sorting through people with the same name.

Dallas County divides custody of criminal records between two offices. The District Clerk handles felony records, while the County Clerk handles Class A and Class B misdemeanor records. This guide shows how to search both, read the result, obtain certified copies and move to jail, warrant, police-report or Texas-wide records only when necessary.

Full legal name Date of birth Case or warrant number Approximate filing year Felony or misdemeanor
DALLAS CASE-LINE EXCHANGE ROUTING RECORD
DISTRICT CLERK · FELONY LINE
CASE NUMBER + COURT + DISPOSITION
COUNTY CLERK · MISDEMEANOR LINE
NAME + DOB + FILING YEAR
CASE HISTORY VERIFIED
F
M
RIGHT CLERK + RIGHT CASE
A criminal case search is not proof of guilt. A filed charge is an accusation. Read the disposition for every count before describing the outcome, and verify the person with more than a name.
Felony custodian

Dallas County District Clerk.

Misdemeanor custodian

Dallas County Clerk.

Online case history

County states information dates back to 1975.

Jail information

Call 214-761-9025 when custody is unclear.

Official review

Local procedures checked August 5, 2026.

Choose the right route

What answer are you trying to get?

DOES A CASE EXIST? Search the Dallas Courts Portal

Use the person’s name and birth date or the exact case number. Confirm the court, filing date and charge.

Follow the portal steps
WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME? Read every count and disposition

Look for dismissal, plea, deferred adjudication, conviction, acquittal or another final action.

Understand the case history
NEED OFFICIAL PROOF? Request a certified disposition

Send a felony request to the District Clerk or a misdemeanor request to the County Clerk.

Order the correct copy
IS THE PERSON IN JAIL? Use the Sheriff’s Jail Lookup

Check the book-in number, location, charges, warrants and displayed bond amounts.

Check custody and bond
NEED THE POLICE REPORT? Contact the arresting agency

The court file and police narrative are different records. Request the report from the agency that created it.

Request the report
NEED A FULLER HISTORY? Use Texas DPS separately

A Dallas County search does not cover every Texas county, federal court, municipal court or JP court.

Compare county and statewide searches

Go directly to the Dallas County task

The record-search sections come first. Jail and family-support information appears only where it helps complete the criminal-case question.

Primary court-case portal

Search Dallas County felony and misdemeanor cases online

Dallas County’s public portal includes felony and misdemeanor case information and documents. Registration is not required for ordinary public access.
Open the Dallas County and District Court Case Portal Use the official Odyssey-based Dallas County court search. Open the Dallas Courts Portal
Choose Smart Search or the criminal case area The portal includes several court types. Make sure you are searching felony and misdemeanor criminal records rather than civil, family or probate cases.
Use the exact case number when available Copy the number from a court notice, jail result, bond record, warrant record or certified document.
Search by the defendant’s name when the number is unknown Begin with the legal surname and first name. Add a middle name or birth date when several people appear.
Try name variations Search a former name, maiden name, suffix, hyphenated name, alias or alternate spelling when the expected case does not appear.
Narrow by filing year or court type Use the approximate arrest or filing year to avoid mixing unrelated cases from decades apart.
Open the case summary Confirm the defendant, case number, filing date, court, offense and status before opening documents.
Read the register of actions or event history Work from the earliest filing toward the newest order rather than reading one isolated entry.
Open available documents Look for the charging instrument, bond order, motions, plea papers, judgment, dismissal or sentence.
Save the case number and final disposition These are the most useful details when requesting a certified copy or disputing an inaccurate background report.
Best search sequence: Exact case number → full name and birth date → last name with filing-year filter → jail or warrant number → assistance from the appropriate clerk.
Two different online tools

Know which Dallas County search you are opening

Dallas Courts Portal

Best for: case summaries, court events and available documents.

  • Includes felony and misdemeanor cases.
  • Does not require public registration.
  • Can show available case documents.
  • Supports case-number and party searches.
  • Use this tool when you need the docket and disposition.
Open the court portal

Criminal Background Search

Best for: a quick felony and misdemeanor name or case-number search.

  • Last name is required for a name search.
  • Optional fields include first name, middle name, race, sex and birth date.
  • The tool can search by case number.
  • It links to disposition, court and filing-agency codes.
  • Use the court portal or clerk for official documents.
Open the criminal background search
Important use restriction: Dallas County’s criminal background search states that its information is not for official use, is not independently verified and may not be used commercially. Obtain certified records when an official decision or proof is required.

How to search a common Dallas name

Start broad enough

Use the legal last and first name without guessing a middle name.

Add the birth date

Use month, day and year to separate people with the same name.

Confirm the case

Match the filing date, charge, court and case number to the known event.

Record-custodian split

Send the request to the correct Dallas County clerk

District Clerk: felony records

The District Clerk is the custodian of Dallas County felony criminal court records and the Magistrate Court in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.

  • Felony charges and indictments
  • Felony court dockets and judgments
  • Felony certified dispositions
  • Magistrate-court records
  • Felony background searches

Felony Records Desk: 214-653-5950

County Clerk: misdemeanor records

The County Clerk supports Dallas County Criminal Courts handling Class A and Class B misdemeanors.

  • Misdemeanor case information
  • Misdemeanor documents
  • Misdemeanor background searches
  • Certified misdemeanor copies
  • County criminal collections

Criminal Courts Division: 214-653-7099

Useful courthouse layout: The felony and misdemeanor records counters are both on the second floor of the Frank Crowley Courts Building. The official felony-record page describes the County Clerk misdemeanor office as being across from the District Clerk records office.
Records that require a different system
Record type
Use this office or portal
Why it is separate
City of Dallas Class C citation
Dallas Municipal Court
Fine-only city cases are not handled as County Clerk Class A or B misdemeanors.
Justice of the Peace criminal matter
The assigned Dallas County Justice Court
JP records are maintained outside the felony and county-criminal clerk search path.
Federal criminal case
PACER or the appropriate federal clerk
Dallas County does not maintain federal court files.
Another Texas county
The clerk in the filing county
Dallas County searches do not cover every county in Texas.
Police offense or arrest report
The arresting law-enforcement agency
A police narrative is not the same as a criminal court file.
Case-result decoder

Read the Dallas County criminal case without guessing

What common case fields mean and what to verify next
Field
What it tells you
What it does not prove
Next action
Case number
Identifies one filed Dallas County court matter.
That another case with the same person has the same outcome.
Use it for copies, court calls and document searches.
Filing date
When the case was entered by the clerk.
The exact date of arrest or alleged offense.
Compare it with the booking and police report.
Filing agency
The agency associated with submitting the case information.
That the clerk owns the police narrative.
Request the report from that law-enforcement agency.
Offense
The criminal allegation shown in the court case.
Guilt or conviction.
Read the charging document and disposition.
Court
Which Dallas County court has or had the case.
That an old hearing date remains active.
Read the newest docket entry or contact the coordinator.
Case status
Whether the system currently describes the case as active, pending, disposed or another status.
The exact result of every count.
Find the judgment, dismissal or disposition entry.
Disposition
The court outcome entered for a charge or count.
That every other count ended the same way.
Review all counts and the disposition date.
Bond
A release condition or amount associated with a case.
That paying it clears every warrant or case.
Check the Sheriff’s jail and bond information.
Attorney
The lawyer currently listed in the court system.
That representation remains active.
Confirm through the attorney or court.
Document image
An electronic document is publicly viewable.
That every public document is online.
Request the missing or certified document from the clerk.
Do not rely only on “disposed” or “closed.” Those labels tell you that court activity reached a closing status, but the disposition entry or judgment tells you whether the case was dismissed, resolved by plea, tried, deferred or closed another way.
Identity check

Make sure the case belongs to the right person

Full legal name matches
Middle name, suffix or alias is consistent
Date of birth matches
Case number matches another document
Filing date fits the known event
Court type matches felony or misdemeanor
Charge matches the known allegation
Jail or warrant number connects to the same case
Minimum identity rule: Match at least two independent identifiers before publishing an allegation, contacting an employer, paying a bond or treating the result as belonging to a particular person.
A person can have several Dallas County cases from different years. Do not combine separate arrests, charges or dispositions into one event merely because they share a name.
Missing-case troubleshooting

Why a Dallas County case or document may not appear

The case was filed recently Clerk processing and document imaging may occur after an arrest or first court appearance.
The name is entered differently Try a maiden name, former name, alias, suffix, hyphenated name or alternate spelling.
You are searching the wrong court type A municipal Class C citation, JP case or federal case will not follow the normal Dallas County felony or misdemeanor route.
The record is older than the online document range Case information may exist while the underlying document image remains at the records counter or archive.
The file is sealed or expunged Public access is restricted when a valid court order removes or limits the record.
The document is confidential Records identifying children, sexual-assault victims or legally protected information may not appear online.
The case is in another county Search the county where prosecutors actually filed the charge.
The event never became a filed county case An arrest, investigation or citation does not always result in a Dallas County felony or Class A/B misdemeanor filing.
Missing-case call script
I am trying to locate a Dallas County criminal case for [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest or filing may have occurred around [date]. I have [book-in number, warrant number, police report number or partial case number]. Can you confirm whether this is a felony or misdemeanor record, whether it is available online and what identifying information is needed to request the file?
Felony Records Inquiry: 214-653-5950
Felony email: DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org
County Clerk Criminal Courts: 214-653-7099
District portal issues: DC-Inquiry@dallascounty.org
County portal issues: CC-Inquiry@dallascounty.org
From arrest to final disposition

Follow the Dallas County criminal case in the right order

Arrest, citation or warrant execution A law-enforcement record may exist before the court case is filed.
Booking and magistrate review A jailed person receives a book-in number, charge entries, bond decisions and a magistrate record.
Prosecutor review The prosecutor may accept, reject, reduce, modify or add allegations before formal filing.
Information or indictment A misdemeanor complaint or information, or a felony indictment, identifies the formal filed charge.
Pretrial court activity The docket can include bond orders, attorney appointments, discovery activity, settings, motions and plea negotiations.
Disposition The case or individual count may be dismissed, pleaded, deferred, tried, acquitted, convicted or otherwise resolved.
Sentence or supervision A judgment may include jail, prison, probation, deferred adjudication, fines, costs or other conditions.
Appeal, revocation or later order An appeal, probation action, nondisclosure or expunction can create later entries after the original disposition.

Disposition language in plain English

Read the exact court order; these descriptions are general
Possible result
General meaning
What to obtain
Dismissed
The filed charge was ended without a conviction on that count.
Dismissal order or certified disposition.
No-bill
A grand jury did not return an indictment on the presented felony allegation.
Grand-jury or clerk documentation that can legally be released.
Deferred adjudication
The court deferred a finding of guilt while the person completed court-ordered supervision.
Plea papers, supervision order and discharge order.
Guilty plea or conviction
The case resulted in a judgment of guilt.
Certified judgment and sentence.
Not guilty
The court or jury acquitted the defendant on that count.
Certified judgment or verdict documentation.
Probation revoked
The court later revoked community supervision and imposed another sentence or condition.
Revocation motion, order and amended judgment.
A person may have a dismissal on one count and a conviction on another. Read every count separately before summarizing the case.
Plain and certified court records

Order the document from the clerk that owns the case

Felony copy request

  1. Find the case number in the court portal.
  2. Identify the exact document: indictment, dismissal, judgment, sentence or complete disposition.
  3. Download the District Clerk Criminal Record Request form.
  4. Email the form to DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org or visit the felony counter.
  5. Wait for the office to calculate the exact cost.
  6. Pay only the amount the District Clerk instructs you to pay.

Misdemeanor copy request

  1. Use the court portal for plain documents from 2011 to the present.
  2. Identify the case number and pages needed.
  3. For certification, follow the County Clerk’s current in-person procedure.
  4. Bring or request the exact payment amount.
  5. Call before travelling for an older or archived record.
Current County Clerk service change: A temporary notice effective April 6, 2026 states that email requests and telephone follow-up for Central Records are unavailable during the office move. Criminal records from 2011 to the present remain online, while certified copies must currently be obtained in person at Frank Crowley or George Allen. Check the live notice before using an older instruction.
County Clerk misdemeanor copy and search charges currently published
Service
Published charge
Practical note
Misdemeanor record search
$5
Provide the full name and date of birth.
Plain copy
$1 per page
Online plain documents may be available without a counter request.
Certified copy
$1 per page plus $5 certification per case
The current temporary notice directs certified-copy users to an in-person office.
Exemplified copy
$1 per page plus $5 exemplification per packet
Confirm whether the requesting agency actually requires exemplification.
Archive-file order
$2 per file requested
Availability can be affected by the current records move.
Felony Records Desk
Frank Crowley Courts Building, second floor
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: 214-653-5950
Email: DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Copy-ready certified-disposition request
I request a certified copy of the final disposition for Dallas County criminal case [case number], styled State of Texas v. [defendant name], date of birth [date]. Please include the disposition or judgment for every count and advise me of the exact copy, certification, search, archive and mailing charges before I submit payment.
Local background search

Use the Dallas County background letter for the right purpose

Misdemeanor background search

The County Clerk lists a $5 record-search fee.

A mailed request ordinarily requires:

  • Full legal name
  • Date of birth
  • Cashier’s check or money order
  • Self-addressed stamped envelope

Check the current temporary Central Records notice before mailing or travelling.

Felony background search

Contact the District Clerk Records Department for a Dallas County felony search or certified record.

Records inquiry: 214-653-5950

Provide the full legal name, date of birth and any known felony case number.

A Dallas County background search is local. It does not include federal courts, another Texas county, Justice of the Peace cases or every municipal Class C case.
For employment, licensing, immigration or another high-stakes use, ask the receiving organisation exactly which document it requires. A portal screenshot, clerk background letter and certified disposition are not interchangeable.
County case versus Texas history

Know when Dallas County is not enough

Dallas County court search

Use it to answer:

  • Was a felony or Class A/B misdemeanor filed in Dallas County?
  • Which court handled the case?
  • What documents are publicly available?
  • What disposition appears for each count?

It does not search every jurisdiction.

Texas DPS criminal-history search

Use it when you need a broader Texas public criminal-history search.

  • Create a DPS account.
  • Purchase search credits.
  • Use as many identifiers as possible.
  • Review the reporting agency and disposition.
  • Do not treat a possible name match as fingerprint confirmation.
Open Texas DPS Criminal History Search
State-prison search: Use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice only after a person enters state custody or when you need a TDCJ number, state facility, offense or projected release information. Open TDCJ Inmate Information
Current custody and booking

Use the Sheriff’s lookup when the court search shows a recent case

The Dallas County Jail Lookup can show the person’s name, date of birth, jail location, tank location, book-in number, book-in date, charges, warrant numbers, magistrate and displayed bond amounts.
Open Dallas County Jail Lookup Search the official jail database
Search the booked name Use the date of birth to separate people with the same or similar name.
Save the book-in number It is required for deposits, mail and many jail questions.
Record every warrant number Dallas County’s jail result instructs users to use listed warrant numbers for the related criminal court search.
Read each charge and bond separately One zero-dollar or insufficient-bond entry can prevent release even when another charge has a payable amount.
Confirm the jail location Recheck it before visiting, mailing or trying to collect property.
Call when release is unclear Jail staff handle current custody, bond-posting, release, wellness and housing questions—not the court-record clerks.
Dallas County Jail/Inmate Information: 214-761-9025
Dallas County Warrant Information: 214-761-9026
A book-in charge is not always the final filed charge. Use the warrant or case number to connect the jail entry to the Dallas Courts Portal.
Bond and pretrial release

Confirm all Dallas County holds before posting bond

Verify the correct person and book-in number Match the name and date of birth before discussing payment.
List every charge and warrant number Do not rely only on the displayed total.
Ask about insufficient bond and no-bond entries A judge may need to address the condition before release is possible.
Check outside warrants or holds Another jurisdiction can prevent release after a Dallas County bond is posted.
Use an approved payment method The Sheriff accepts cash, cashier’s check or money order for an eligible cash bond and does not accept credit or debit cards for cash bonds.
Use a licensed company for a surety bond Check the Dallas County Bail Bond Board’s current licensed-company list.
Keep the receipt and written agreement Preserve the book-in number, warrant numbers, amount, premium, collateral terms and company information.
Dallas County Bond Desk: Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 W. Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202. The Sheriff lists the desk as open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Bond scam warning: The Sheriff specifically warns against paying through Cash App or another unverified method. Post an eligible bond at the county desk or use a company listed by the Dallas County Bail Bond Board.

Dallas County Pretrial Release

Eligible people arrested on Class A or Class B misdemeanors and some felonies may be considered for Dallas County Pretrial Release. The county describes the personal-bond cost as $20 or 3% of the bond amount, whichever is greater. Eligibility requires an interview and background verification; it is not automatic.
When someone is still in jail

Visits, video calls, mail, money and property

In-person visitation

  • Last names A–L: Monday and Thursday, 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
  • Last names M–Z: Tuesday and Friday, 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
  • All inmates: Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
  • Visitors are not processed after 8:30 p.m. on weekdays or 1:30 p.m. on weekends.
  • Each local visit is 20 minutes.
  • Each inmate may generally receive two visits per week.
Read current visitation rules

Video visitation

  • Register through SmartInmate.
  • Schedule at least 72 hours in advance.
  • Visitor must be at least 17 for registration.
  • Visits last 20 minutes.
  • On-site video visits are limited to two per week.
  • No video visitation is offered on Wednesday.
  • Video visits are recorded and monitored.
Read video-visit instructions

Mail and communications

  • Use the inmate’s name and book-in number.
  • Ordinary mail is routed through the Smart Communications processing centre.
  • Mail is not forwarded after release.
  • Legal mail uses a separate Dallas mailing route.
  • SmartInmate provides electronic communication services.
Open the current mail page

Trust-fund deposits

  • Use the inmate’s name and book-in number.
  • Cash kiosks are available at each jail.
  • CashPayToday walk-in fee is currently listed as $5.
  • Access Corrections internet fees are listed from $2.95.
  • Telephone deposits through 866-345-1884 are listed from $3.95.
  • Personal checks and money orders are not accepted for trust deposits.
Open inmate-money instructions
Cellphones are prohibited at in-person visitation. The Sheriff warns that this can affect visitors using an electric vehicle or a parking system requiring a phone. Plan before entering the jail.

Property release

Where to start

Request the property-release form at the proper jail facility and obtain the inmate’s signature.

Return the signed form to the control centre in the Lew Sterrett front lobby.

Current published hours

Property releases are processed Sunday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Bring an approved government-issued photo ID.

Ordinary jail calls, electronic messages and social visits are not confidential attorney-client communications. Avoid discussing witnesses, evidence, passwords, alibis or legal strategy.
Police and arrest reports

Request the narrative from the agency that created it

A Dallas County court record tells you what was filed and what happened in court. A police report describes information gathered by the arresting or investigating agency. One office cannot automatically provide the other office’s record.

Dallas County Sheriff report

  1. Open the Dallas County Public Records Center.
  2. Submit a request to the Sheriff’s Office.
  3. Identify the record: offense report, incident report, arrest-related material or another document.
  4. Provide the name, birth date, incident date, location and report number.
  5. Ask for a cost estimate when appropriate.
Open the Dallas County records portal

Dallas Police report

  1. Use the Dallas Police Records or City Open Records route.
  2. For an arrest report, provide the arrested person’s name, DOB, sex, race and arrest date.
  3. Use the police service number when available.
  4. For specialised records, submit a written Public Information Act request.
  5. Do not expect arrest-report details by telephone.
Open Dallas Police Records
Dallas Police Open Records Unit
1400 Botham Jean Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215
Phone: 214-671-3148
Email: openrecords@dallas.gov
Copy-ready police-record request
Under the Texas Public Information Act, I request the releasable arrest record, public portion of the offense or incident report and identified supplements concerning [full legal name] for the incident on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers include Dallas County case number [number], book-in number [number], warrant number [number] and police service or report number [number]. Please advise me of any cost before processing if charges will exceed $[amount].
County and municipal warrants

Search the system that issued the warrant

Dallas County wanted search

Use the county wanted search for Dallas County warrant and outstanding-fine information.

Confirm the name, birth date, charge, warrant number and court before taking action.

Open Dallas County Wanted Search

City of Dallas citation or warrant

Use Dallas Municipal Court for City of Dallas Class C citations, balances and municipal warrant status.

The city search accepts a citation number, name and DOB, docket number or police case number.

Open Dallas Municipal Court search
Do not confront or attempt to detain anyone. Online warrant results can involve similar names, delayed updates or warrants that were later served or recalled. Call the issuing court or Sheriff for current verification.
Dallas County Warrant Information: 214-761-9026
Dallas Municipal Court: 214-670-0109
Errors and record clearing

Correct the record before filing to restrict it

Identify the inaccurate system Compare the court portal, certified disposition, jail entry, police report and Texas DPS history.
Save the exact problem Record the URL, date viewed, case number, book-in number and incorrect field.
Obtain controlling proof Use a certified judgment, dismissal, amended order or agency correction.
Contact the record owner The District Clerk cannot rewrite a Dallas Police report, and the Sheriff cannot independently change a court judgment.
Check linked systems A corrected county record may not immediately update DPS or private background companies.
Dispute private reports separately Send the reporting company the certified document and identify the exact inaccurate item.

Expunction

An eligible expunction can require covered agencies to destroy or remove specified arrest records. Eligibility is limited and depends on the arrest, charge and disposition.

Open Dallas County criminal forms

Order of nondisclosure

An eligible nondisclosure order restricts public disclosure but does not erase every record or prevent every authorised agency from accessing it.

Open Texas court forms
Dallas County publishes an expunction-agency contact list for electronic service. Include only agencies that actually hold records connected to the case; do not add unrelated agencies merely because they appear on the list.
Correction is not expunction. Correction fixes inaccurate data. Expunction or nondisclosure concerns an accurate record that may qualify for legal restriction.
Offices, parking and maps

Dallas County criminal-record contacts

District Clerk Felony Records Desk
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Dallas, TX 75207

214-653-5950

DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org

County Clerk Criminal Courts
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, Room A-1
Dallas, TX 75207

214-653-7099

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

County Clerk Central Records
George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building
600 Commerce Street, B-1
Dallas, TX 75202

214-653-7099

Current temporary hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Dallas County Jail Information

214-761-9025

Custody, release, bond-posting and wellness questions.

Dallas County Warrant Information

214-761-9026

Dallas County Bond Desk
Lew Sterrett Justice Center
111 W. Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75202

Open 24 hours according to the Sheriff.

Dallas County Public Defender
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, 9th Floor
Dallas, TX 75207

214-653-3550

Dallas County DA Victim Services
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, LB 19
Dallas, TX 75207

214-653-3600

Parking near Frank Crowley and Lew Sterrett

Dallas County states that public parking is first come, first served and is not free
Parking facility
Location
Published hours
Practical note
Frank Crowley C Garage
199 N. Riverfront Drive
7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Verify the current public rate before parking.
Frank Crowley D Garage
Across from the courthouse
7:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Allow extra time for traffic and security screening.
Frank Crowley Lot F
199 N. Riverfront Drive
24 hours
Availability is first come, first served.
George Allen Garage
601 Commerce Street
7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Useful for the George Allen Central Records office.
The $3 reduced parking rate published by Jury Services is for jurors only. Ordinary records customers should not assume they qualify for juror validation.

Map to Frank Crowley Courts Building

Map to George Allen Courts Building

Confirm before travelling: Check the live County Clerk service notice, record availability, exact payment amount, office hours, identification requirements and parking availability.
Dallas-specific mistakes

Details that prevent wasted searches and courthouse trips

Do not send every request to the District Clerk

Felonies go to the District Clerk; Class A and B misdemeanors go to the County Clerk.

Search the warrant number from jail lookup

The jail result may provide the best link between a booking charge and the related court case.

Do not use the quick search commercially

Dallas County expressly restricts commercial use of its criminal background search information.

Call before requesting old misdemeanor files

The County Clerk’s 2026 move has temporarily changed Central Records access and request methods.

Ask for the exact document

“Complete file” can be slower and more expensive than requesting the dismissal, judgment or disposition you actually need.

Do not confuse a City ticket with a county misdemeanor

City of Dallas Class C citations and municipal warrants belong in the Dallas Municipal Court search.

10 Dallas County questions

Dallas County criminal-record questions answered

How do I search Dallas County criminal records online?

Open the official Dallas County and District Court Case Information portal. Select the criminal case area, then search by case number when available or by the person’s name and other identifying information. The portal includes felony and misdemeanor case information. Compare the name, date of birth, filing date, court, case number and charge before relying on a result.

Who keeps felony and misdemeanor records in Dallas County?

The Dallas County District Clerk is the custodian for felony criminal court records and magistrate-court records. The Dallas County Clerk maintains Class A and Class B misdemeanor court records. Both offices are located on the second floor of the Frank Crowley Courts Building, but requests must be sent to the correct clerk.

How far back do Dallas County criminal court records go online?

Dallas County states that online criminal case information is available for cases dating back to 1975. Documents for most felony cases are available for cases filed after 2009. Plain misdemeanor documents are generally available online for cases from 2011 to the present. Older, sealed, confidential or restricted records may require help from the appropriate clerk.

Can I search Dallas County criminal cases by a person’s name?

Yes. Dallas County provides name-based searches, but common names can produce several possible matches. Add the first and middle name, date of birth, race, sex or case number when the search permits it. Verify at least two independent identifiers before treating the record as belonging to a particular person.

Does the Dallas County court portal show whether someone is currently in jail?

The court portal may show case and bond activity, but the Sheriff’s Jail Lookup is the better source for current Dallas County custody, book-in number, jail location, charges and displayed bond amounts. Call jail information at 214-761-9025 when the online status is unclear.

How do I obtain a certified Dallas County felony disposition?

Contact the District Clerk Felony Records Desk at 214-653-5950 or DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org. Provide the defendant’s name, date of birth and case number, identify the document you need, and request a cost quote before paying. The desk is on the second floor of the Frank Crowley Courts Building and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How much do Dallas County misdemeanor criminal copies cost?

The Dallas County Clerk currently lists plain misdemeanor copies at 1 dollar per page. Certification generally adds 5 dollars per case, and a misdemeanor record search is listed at 5 dollars. Archive retrieval or exemplification may add other charges. Confirm the total and current temporary service rules before paying.

Why is a Dallas County criminal case or document missing online?

The filing may be new, the search information may be incomplete, the case may be older than the online document range, or the record may be sealed, expunged, confidential or restricted because it identifies a child or sexual-assault victim. Search by case number, broaden the name search, check the correct clerk and request counter assistance when necessary.

Is a Dallas County criminal search a complete Texas background check?

No. Dallas County searches cover records maintained by Dallas County courts. They do not provide a complete search of other Texas counties, federal courts, every municipal court or every Justice of the Peace court. Use the Texas Department of Public Safety criminal-history search for a broader Texas public-record check.

Can a Dallas County criminal record be expunged or sealed?

Some records may qualify for expunction, while others may qualify for an order of nondisclosure. Eligibility depends on the charge, disposition, waiting period, prior history, probation, deferred adjudication and other cases connected to the arrest. Obtain certified dispositions first and use current Texas court forms or qualified legal advice before filing.

Official resources reviewed

Primary Dallas County and Texas sources

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