El Paso County Criminal Records Search | History and Cases

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El Paso County, Texas · Felony, misdemeanor, jail, bond and criminal-history lookup

Find the Case First—Then Follow the Correct El Paso County Record Trail

If you are checking someone’s criminal record in El Paso County, the fastest route is usually the county’s public Criminal Cases search. Search the person’s name or cause number, open the matching case and save the court, charge, filing date and disposition.

One detail matters here: adult misdemeanors and felonies are maintained by different clerk offices. The County Clerk handles adult misdemeanor files, while the District Clerk maintains felony criminal cases. Jail custody, bonds, Sheriff reports and statewide Texas history are separate records, so this guide shows exactly when to switch systems.

Search criminal cases Check current jail custody Search not working?
Full legal name Date of birth Cause number if known Approximate arrest date Felony or misdemeanor
EL PASO CASE TRAIL ROUTING RECORD
CAUSE NUMBER FOUND
COUNTY CLERK ADULT MISDEMEANOR RECORD
DISTRICT CLERK FELONY CRIMINAL RECORD
CASE
CORRECT RECORD HOLDER FOUND
Criminal record does not automatically mean conviction. A person may have an arrest, pending case, dismissal, acquittal, deferred adjudication or another disposition. Read the final court entry before describing the outcome.
Adult misdemeanor

County Clerk Criminal Division.

Felony case

District Clerk Criminal Division.

Current jail custody

Use the separate Jail Records search.

Jail bond

Use the dedicated Jail Bond Records search.

Texas-wide history

Use Texas DPS when county records are not enough.

Start with the question you have

Which El Paso County record actually answers it?

COURT HISTORY Was a criminal case filed?

Use the Criminal Cases search and look for the cause number, charge, court, filing date and disposition.

Run the case search
FELONY RECORD Need the official felony file?

Contact the District Clerk for filed felony records, background checks, copies and expunction-related court files.

Use the District Clerk
MISDEMEANOR RECORD Need an adult misdemeanor record?

The County Clerk Criminal Division manages adult misdemeanors and accepts copy and background-letter requests.

Use the County Clerk
RECENT ARREST Is the person in jail now?

Use Jail Records for current jailings, then use Jail Bond Records if release or bond information is needed.

Check custody
POLICE REPORT What did the arresting agency report?

Request the incident report from the agency that created it—Sheriff, El Paso Police or another department.

Find the report holder
BACKGROUND HISTORY Need more than one county case?

Use Texas DPS for a broader Texas criminal-history search and fingerprint review when identity accuracy matters.

Search Texas history

Go directly to the task

Court result decoder

Do not mistake a case entry for the final answer

What common criminal-record fields tell you
Record field
What it helps identify
What it does not prove
Best next check
Cause number
One court case.
That another arrest or charge is part of the same cause.
Use it when ordering the actual court file.
Filing date
When the criminal case entered the court system.
The arrest or alleged offense occurred that day.
Compare arrest, offense and booking dates.
Charge
The offense filed or displayed in that case.
Conviction or guilt.
Read the final disposition.
Court
The court handling the case.
That every future hearing remains in the same setting.
Check the newest court entry.
Pending
A case that has not yet reached a final disposition in the public record.
The defendant will be convicted.
Review the next setting and newest filing.
Dismissed
A charge or case that was dismissed.
That every record of the arrest disappears automatically.
Obtain the certified dismissal before seeking record relief.
Deferred adjudication
A disposition that may avoid a final conviction if successfully completed.
The arrest and case become invisible.
Review nondisclosure eligibility separately.
Conviction
A judgment of guilt or qualifying final disposition.
The sentence remains active today.
Read the judgment, sentence and later orders.
Bond
A release condition associated with a criminal matter.
That paying one bond clears all cases or holds.
Use Jail Bond Records and call Bonding.
Minimum identity check: Match more than the name. Whenever possible compare date of birth, cause number, arrest date, court and another independent identifier.
The most important El Paso split

Misdemeanor record? County Clerk. Felony record? District Clerk.

COUNTY CLERK Adult misdemeanors

The Criminal Division maintains adult misdemeanor records and serves County Courts at Law and County Criminal Courts at Law.

DISTRICT CLERK Felony criminal cases

The District Clerk Criminal Division stores felony files, works with district courts and the Jail Magistrate, and issues warrant numbers.

SHERIFF RECORDS Arrest and incident records

Use the Sheriff’s Crime Records Section for reports and local arrest records generated by EPCSO.

TEXAS DPS Texas criminal history

Use DPS when the question goes beyond El Paso County Sheriff arrests or one local court case.

County Clerk — adult misdemeanor records

What the office handles
  • Adult misdemeanor records
  • Copies of misdemeanor records
  • Background-check letters
  • County criminal court files
Electronic copy request

Complete the County Clerk criminal-record request form and email it to:

clkcrimmail@epcounty.com

El Paso County Clerk
500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105
El Paso, TX 79901
Phone: 915-273-3532
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

District Clerk — felony criminal records

What the office handles
  • Felony criminal case files
  • Pending felony cases
  • Criminal background checks on request
  • Record-copy requests
  • Appeals and post-conviction writ records
  • Expunction court filings
When to contact the District Clerk

Use the office when the public portal is incomplete, you need a certified felony document, a background letter, a file location or an older court record.

El Paso County District Clerk
500 E. San Antonio, Suite 103
El Paso, TX 79901
Phone: 915-273-3534
Fax: 915-273-3859
Do not send the same request to both offices “just in case.” First identify whether the case is an adult misdemeanor or felony. The correct clerk can usually process a precise cause-number request much faster than a broad name-only request.
Search troubleshooting

What to do when the El Paso County criminal search is slow or empty

El Paso County currently warns that its criminal, civil and jail search functions can respond slowly because of high volume and that network services may experience intermittent disruptions.
CAPTCHA will not complete Reload the official Records Search page, disable aggressive content blockers temporarily or try another browser.
The search keeps loading Do not keep opening multiple tabs. Save your search information and try the portal again before assuming there is no case.
Name search gives nothing Remove the middle name, try another spelling or search by cause number when available.
Only a jail result appears The court case may be newer than the public court index or still in pre-filing review.
Only an old court case appears Verify that the new event actually resulted in an El Paso County filing rather than a citation, federal case or case in another county.
Portal is inaccessible Call the District Clerk at 915-273-3534 for felony records or County Clerk at 915-273-3532 for adult misdemeanors.
Use the official Records Search hub
Police and Sheriff reports

A court case and an arrest report are not the same document

The easiest way to avoid a rejected request is to identify the arresting or investigating agency first.
El Paso County Sheriff case

Use EPCSO Crime Records when Sheriff deputies created the criminal or incident report.

  • Crime Records address: 3850 Justice St., El Paso, TX 79938
  • Office: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
  • Phone: 915-273-3807
  • Open-record email: DG-SO-Records@epcountytx.gov
Open Sheriff report instructions
El Paso Police Department case

If EPPD created the report, request it from the City of El Paso rather than the county Sheriff.

  • EPPD Headquarters: 911 N. Raynor St.
  • Main phone: 915-212-4000
  • Non-emergency: 915-832-4400
  • Online Open Records Request available
Open EPPD records request

Sheriff report fees currently published

Criminal report

$0.10 per page.

Crash report

$6.

Sheriff background check

$13.

Copy-ready criminal report request
I am requesting the releasable criminal or incident report concerning [full legal name] for an event on or about [date] at [location]. The known case, report, booking or cause number is [number]. Please provide the releasable report electronically if available and advise me of any required fee before processing.
Sheriff report fees apply to records generated by the Sheriff’s Office. Do not assume the same fee or request method applies to El Paso Police, Socorro Police, Horizon City Police, DPS or another agency.
Local background checks

Choose the background check that matches the question

Three very different “background check” routes
Search
Coverage
Best use
Important limitation
EPCSO background check
Arrest records generated by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff-local clearance or employment request.
Not a complete Texas criminal history.
County / District Clerk case history
El Paso County adult misdemeanor and felony court records.
Filed cases, court activity and dispositions.
Does not automatically include other Texas counties.
Texas DPS
Publicly available Texas criminal-history information.
Broader Texas search.
Name searches are not fingerprint confirmation.

EPCSO clearance letter requirements

Current published fee: $13
In-person requests accepted
Mail requests require money order
The person being checked must authorize the request
Second-party requests require notarized authorization
Coverage is limited to EPCSO-generated arrest records
Sheriff Crime Records Section
3850 Justice St.
El Paso, TX 79938
Phone: 915-273-3807
Read Sheriff background-check instructions
Current custody

Use Jail Records only for the current jail question

El Paso County describes the Jail Records search as a search of current jailings only. It is not a substitute for the criminal court history.
Open Jail Records Search current El Paso County jailings
Search the person Use the available identifying information and open each reasonable match.
Confirm the correct person Compare the name and available identifiers before calling, depositing money or travelling.
Identify the facility El Paso County operates the Downtown Detention Facility and the Jail Annex.
Use the separate bond search when needed Do not assume the jail result contains every current bond detail.
Move to the court case A current jail entry tells you custody; the criminal case tells you the filed charge and eventual outcome.
Downtown Detention inmate information: 915-273-3770
Bond and warrants

El Paso County separates jail, bond and warrant searches

Current jail

Use Jail Records to determine whether the person is currently in the county jail system.

Search Jail Records
Current jail bond

Use the dedicated Jail Bond Records search rather than relying on a case summary.

Search Jail Bond Records
Sheriff warrant search

Use the county’s separate warrant database for warrants issued through the Sheriff’s system.

Search Warrants
Before paying a bond: confirm every cause number, every charge, the exact bond status and whether another warrant, hold or case prevents release.
Downtown Detention Facility
Bonding: 915-273-3767
Releasing: 915-273-3768
Bond verification call
I am calling about [full legal name]. The cause or booking information I have is [number]. Please confirm the current bond for every active case, whether there are any additional holds or warrants, and whether any other condition must be cleared before release.

Using a private bail bond company

If you decide to use a surety bond company, verify that the company is properly licensed through the El Paso County Bail Bond Board before signing an agreement or providing collateral.

El Paso County Bail Bond Board
601 E. Overland Ave., Detention Facility
El Paso, TX 79901
Administrator phone: 915-273-3743 ext. 5216
Open Bail Bond Board
Detention locations

El Paso County operates two main detention facilities

Downtown Detention Facility
601 E. Overland Ave.
El Paso, TX 79901

Inmate Information: 915-273-3770

Administration: 915-273-3763

Releasing: 915-273-3768

Bonding: 915-273-3767

The facility houses Jail Magistrate courts, Sheriff warrants operations and the Bond and Inmate Trust Section.

Jail Annex
12501 E. Montana Ave.
El Paso, TX 79938

Administration: 915-273-3790

The Annex uses pod-style housing and has a different visitation schedule based on odd and even pod numbers.

Recheck the current jail record before visiting. A person’s housing assignment can change after intake, classification, court transportation or operational movement.
Visit someone in custody

Floor or pod number determines the weekend visit time

Downtown Detention Facility
  • Odd floors 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11: Saturday 6:00–9:00 p.m.
  • Odd floors: Sunday 8:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Even floors 4, 6, 8 and 10: Saturday 8:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Even floors: Sunday 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Check Downtown visitation
Jail Annex
  • Odd pods: Saturday 6:00–9:00 p.m.
  • Odd pods: Sunday 8:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Even pods: Saturday 8:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Even pods: Sunday 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Check Annex visitation
Visitor must generally be age 17 or older
Last visit approval is 30 minutes before closing
Each visiting group receives one 20-minute visit
Children 16 and under use special child-visitation dates
Child visitors must be accompanied by an adult age 17+
Special child visitation is offered on designated holidays
Children are normally permitted during the morning on the first Saturday and first Sunday of the month and on designated holiday visitation dates. Check the current facility page before travelling.
Mail, phone and inmate support

Use the current provider instead of an old jail-directory listing

Calls, messaging and video

El Paso County currently directs families to ViaPath Technologies for inmate telephone services, messaging, video visitation and tablet content.

Open inmate communication services
Commissary gifts

The Sheriff’s current services page links to iCare for approved commissary gift packages.

Open iCare
Special meals and gifts

The county also identifies The Outside Inside Connection as an inmate meal and gift-basket option.

Open Outside Inside

Current scanned-mail process

Personal physical mail is sent to a designated scanning center. The mail is scanned into a PDF, reviewed by jail staff and then made available electronically to the inmate through the facility’s tablet messaging application.

Personal mail scanning address
El Paso County, Texas
[Inmate Full Name] #[Inmate Identifier]
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Include the facility name and state
Include the inmate’s full name
Include the inmate identifier
No more than five photos
No Polaroid photographs
No tape, stickers or foreign substances
Hardcover books are prohibited
Publisher/bookstore materials must follow jail rules
Do not discuss defense strategy on normal jail calls or messages. Ordinary inmate communications may not be confidential. Sensitive case discussions should go through the person’s lawyer.
Court-appointed and private counsel

How someone applies for an appointed lawyer in El Paso County

The Public Defender does not decide who qualifies. The accused person must apply, and the court determines indigency and appoints either the Public Defender or an approved private attorney.
If the person is in jail El Paso County states that a Pretrial Services representative will contact the person and help with the appointed-lawyer application.
If the person is out on bond The person can apply through Pretrial Services on the lower level of the County Courthouse and should bring proof of income and expenses.
If already in court Tell the judge or court staff that appointed counsel is needed and ask where to submit the application.
The court reviews eligibility If the person qualifies as indigent, the court may appoint the Public Defender’s Office or an attorney from the private bar.
El Paso County Public Defender
500 E. San Antonio
Suite 501
El Paso, TX 79901

Phone: 915-273-3536

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Open Public Defender
El Paso Bar Association referral
500 E. San Antonio
Suite LL115
El Paso, TX 79901

Attorney Referral Service: 915-532-7052

Victim and survivor help

Case-status help is available without trying to decode every docket entry alone

District Attorney Victim Assistance

Victims can receive help understanding court proceedings, cancellations, rescheduling and other case-related rights.

Phone: 915-273-3553

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Sheriff Victim Services

For Sheriff-connected victim assistance:

915-273-3806

If a defendant is already represented by an attorney, District Attorney personnel generally cannot communicate directly with that represented defendant about the criminal case. Case questions should go through counsel.
Open El Paso County Victim Services
Texas criminal history

Use Texas DPS when one El Paso County case is not enough

Texas DPS states that public criminal-history searches are name-based and that fingerprint identification is the only reliable way to positively link a person to a criminal record.
Create a DPS public account Use the Texas DPS public criminal-history website rather than the restricted Secure Site intended for authorized entities.
Purchase a search credit DPS currently lists search credits at $1 each, with additional card transaction fees when applicable.
Enter the complete name First and last name are required. Add middle or maiden name and full date of birth when available.
Review possible matches carefully DPS can return similar-sounding names. Do not assume the first match belongs to the person you are researching.
Save the result when documentation matters DPS recommends saving or printing search responses that you may need later.
Use fingerprint review for a serious identity dispute A fingerprint-based personal review is the stronger route when name-based records appear inaccurate or belong to someone else.
Open Texas DPS public criminal-history search Open DPS Error Resolution
Errors, expunction and nondisclosure

Fix an inaccurate record differently from an accurate record you want restricted

Find the exact disputed record Determine whether the problem appears in a Sheriff arrest record, County Clerk misdemeanor case, District Clerk felony case or DPS history.
Save the identifiers Record the cause number, arrest date, report number, court and exact field that is wrong.
Obtain certified proof A certified dismissal, judgment, corrected order or agency document is more useful than a screenshot when asking another system to fix its data.
Contact the record owner A Clerk cannot rewrite a Sheriff incident report, and the Sheriff cannot change a court judgment.
Check Texas DPS afterward If the local record is corrected but the statewide history remains wrong, use DPS Error Resolution with certified supporting documents.
Expunction

Texas expunction can remove qualifying arrest and court records, but eligibility is narrow and depends on the exact case history.

Texas law now places expunction provisions in Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A.

Order of nondisclosure

A nondisclosure order can restrict public access to qualifying criminal-history information but does not erase every government record or prevent every authorized agency from accessing it.

A dismissal does not automatically erase the record. Get the final disposition first, then determine whether correction, expunction or nondisclosure is the appropriate process.
El Paso District Clerk expunction resources Texas nondisclosure forms DPS record-clearing guidance
Paying an existing court case

Do not confuse a case lookup with paying fines or court costs

El Paso County’s Financial Recovery Division handles online, telephone and in-person payments for qualifying misdemeanor and felony court cases.

Phone payment

915-273-3531, option 2.

Downtown office

500 E. San Antonio, Suite 106.

Always include

The correct cause number when paying by mail or asking about a balance.

Do not pay simply because a name matches. Confirm the defendant identity, cause number, court and current balance first.
Open El Paso County E-Pay
Verified local contacts

El Paso County criminal records offices and jail contacts

County Clerk — Misdemeanors
500 E. San Antonio, Suite 105
El Paso, TX 79901

915-273-3532

clkcrimmail@epcounty.com

District Clerk — Felonies
500 E. San Antonio, Suite 103
El Paso, TX 79901

915-273-3534

Sheriff Crime Records
3850 Justice St.
El Paso, TX 79938

915-273-3807

Mon–Fri, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Downtown Detention Facility
601 E. Overland Ave.
El Paso, TX 79901

Inmate info: 915-273-3770

Downtown Releasing

915-273-3768

Downtown Bonding

915-273-3767

Jail Annex
12501 E. Montana Ave.
El Paso, TX 79938

915-273-3790

Public Defender
500 E. San Antonio, Suite 501
El Paso, TX 79901

915-273-3536

District Attorney
500 E. San Antonio, 2nd Floor
El Paso, TX 79901

915-273-3542

Victim Assistance

915-273-3553

Downtown parking tip: El Paso County states that a multi-level parking garage is directly behind the County Courthouse, with the entrance on 500 E. Overland Avenue. The currently published maximum daily garage rate is $5. Metered downtown parking is also available.

County Courthouse and Clerk offices

Downtown Detention Facility

Jail Annex

Local shortcuts

El Paso details that can save a second trip

Know the case level first

It immediately tells you whether to ask the County Clerk or District Clerk for the official record.

Save the cause number

It is the most useful identifier when requesting a court copy or discussing a case with clerk staff.

Jail search ≠ history search

The county explicitly describes Jail Records as current jailings only.

Sheriff background ≠ statewide check

The $13 EPCSO check covers Sheriff-generated arrest records, not every Texas case.

Use the courthouse garage

For downtown clerk or DA business, the garage entrance is on E. Overland behind the courthouse.

Check the portal before driving

County systems can be slow or temporarily disrupted; a cause number may let you resolve the request by phone or email.

10 El Paso County questions

Criminal records search questions answered

How do I search El Paso County Texas criminal records?

Use El Paso County’s official Criminal Cases search to look for county and district criminal court records. Search with the person’s name or cause number when known. Adult misdemeanor records are maintained by the County Clerk, while felony criminal files are maintained by the District Clerk. Verify the name, case number, filing date, court, charge and disposition before relying on a result.

Which El Paso County office handles felony criminal records?

Felony criminal case files are maintained by the El Paso County District Clerk. The District Clerk’s Criminal Division stores criminal case files, works with the Jail Magistrate and district courts, provides background checks upon request and handles record-copy requests.

Which El Paso County office handles misdemeanor criminal records?

Adult misdemeanor records are maintained by the El Paso County Clerk’s Criminal Division. The division serves the County Courts at Law and County Criminal Courts at Law and accepts requests for misdemeanor record copies and background-check letters.

Can I search El Paso County criminal cases by name or cause number?

Yes. El Paso County’s public case resources identify name and cause number as primary ways to locate criminal cases. A cause number is usually the better option when you already have it because it reduces same-name matches.

Does the El Paso County jail search show a complete criminal history?

No. The county Jail Records search is described as a search of current jailings. It can help establish current custody, but it is not a complete record of prior El Paso County cases or statewide criminal history. Use the Criminal Cases search for court history and Texas DPS when a broader Texas criminal-history search is needed.

How do I request an El Paso County Sheriff’s criminal report?

The Sheriff’s Crime Records Section provides reports generated by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Requests may be made in person, by mail or by emailing the completed incident-report request to DG-SO-Records@epcountytx.gov. The Sheriff’s current page lists criminal reports at 10 cents per page.

How much is an El Paso County Sheriff’s background check?

The El Paso County Sheriff’s current Background Record Checks and Clearance Letters page lists a fee of $13. The check covers arrest records generated by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office only. A second-party request requires notarized authorization from the person being checked.

How do I check whether someone is currently in El Paso County Jail?

Use the official El Paso County Jail Records search, which is for current jailings. The county also provides a separate Jail Bond Records search. If the online system is slow or unavailable, Downtown Detention Facility inmate information can be reached at 915-273-3770.

How can I correct an incorrect Texas criminal-history record?

First determine whether the error is in a local Sheriff record, County Clerk misdemeanor record, District Clerk felony record or Texas DPS criminal history. Obtain certified documentation showing the correct disposition or identifying information. Texas DPS directs criminal-history errors to its Error Resolution process and may require supporting certified records.

Can an El Paso County criminal record be expunged or sealed?

Some Texas records may qualify for expunction or an order of nondisclosure, but eligibility depends on the arrest, charge, disposition, criminal episode, waiting periods and other facts. El Paso County’s District Clerk provides expunction and nondisclosure resources. Obtain the full disposition before deciding which legal process may apply.

Official sources

Primary records and procedures used for this guide

El Paso County case records
Sheriff and detention
Texas history and relief
Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource. It is not El Paso County, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, County Clerk, District Clerk, District Attorney, Public Defender, City of El Paso, Texas DPS or a law firm.

Court status, jail housing, bond conditions, warrants, office hours, fees, visitation rules and service providers can change. Verify important information through the linked official source before travelling, paying, publishing an allegation or making an employment, housing, financial or legal decision.

A criminal accusation or arrest does not establish guilt. This page explains public-record procedures and does not provide legal advice.

Last official-source review: August 12, 2026.

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