Search Abilene Criminal History Records
Abilene criminal history records are maintained by the Abilene Police Department, Taylor County courts, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. If you need arrest records, court case history, or a criminal background check for someone in Abilene, this page explains where those records come from and how to get them. Abilene is the county seat of Taylor County, so all felony and higher misdemeanor cases go through the Taylor County court system. Class C offenses are handled by Abilene Municipal Court. The Texas DPS Crime Records Service maintains the statewide database that consolidates records from all these sources.
Abilene Overview
Taylor County Court Records for Abilene
Abilene is the county seat of Taylor County. All felony cases and Class A and B misdemeanor cases arising in Abilene go to the Taylor County courts. The Taylor County District Clerk holds felony records. The County Clerk maintains misdemeanor case files. Both offices are at the Taylor County Courthouse in downtown Abilene and provide public access to court records.
The Taylor County District Clerk's online portal allows name and case number searches. Results show the defendant, charges, court dates, and case status. For full case documents or certified copies, you can visit the clerk's office or submit a written request. Fees apply for certified copies.
| Office | Details |
|---|---|
| Taylor County District Clerk | 300 Oak St., Abilene, TX 79602 | (325) 674-1316 |
| Taylor County Clerk | 300 Oak St., Abilene, TX 79602 | (325) 674-1202 |
| Taylor County Sheriff | 456 Butternut St., Abilene, TX 79602 | (325) 674-1330 |
| Abilene Police Department | 4565 S. 1st St., Abilene, TX 79605 | (325) 673-8331 |
| Abilene Municipal Court | 555 Walnut St., Abilene, TX 79601 | (325) 676-6354 |
Full county records information is on the Taylor County criminal history records page.
Searching Abilene Criminal Records Online
The statewide re:SearchTX portal indexes criminal case records from Taylor County and other Texas courts. A name-based search will return case status, charge information, and basic docket entries for most filed cases. This is a free tool and a good first step for most searches.
The Taylor County District Clerk maintains its own public access portal through the county website at taylorcountytexas.org. Searching there directly may return records not yet reflected in re:SearchTX. For Class C misdemeanor cases in Abilene Municipal Court, contact that court directly since municipal records are separate from the county system.
For a complete and certified Texas criminal history, the Texas DPS Crime Records Service offers name-based public searches and fingerprint-based searches for official purposes. Fees apply. The DPS search covers all Texas law enforcement agencies, not just Taylor County, so it returns the most thorough result for anyone with a Texas criminal record.
Types of Criminal Records in Abilene
Abilene criminal records come from several different offices depending on the offense class.
Felony records are held by the Taylor County District Clerk. Felony cases range from state jail felonies to first-degree felonies. They are filed in the Taylor County District Courts and are public record unless a court order seals them. You can search these online through the county portal or re:SearchTX.
Class A and B misdemeanor records are filed with the Taylor County Clerk and handled in the county courts at law. These include offenses like DWI (first offense), assault, and theft in certain dollar ranges. Both the arrest record and the court case file are public.
Class C misdemeanor records are the lowest level of offense in Texas and are handled by Abilene Municipal Court. These are limited to fines and cover minor traffic violations and petty offenses. Municipal court records are separate from the county court system and must be searched through the municipal court directly.
Arrest records are created by the Abilene Police Department when someone is booked into custody. Arrests that do not lead to charges, or cases that are later dismissed, still exist in police and DPS records until an expunction order removes them. The Taylor County Sheriff also generates arrest records for cases handled in unincorporated areas of the county.
Texas DPS and the CCH System
The Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system is the central repository for all Texas criminal records. When Abilene Police or the Taylor County Sheriff makes an arrest, they report it to DPS. When a Taylor County court enters a disposition, such as a conviction, acquittal, or dismissal, that result is also reported. The CCH record ties the arrest to the court outcome in one place.
Public name-based searches through DPS return criminal history based on name and date of birth. Because they rely on name matching rather than fingerprints, there is a chance of false matches or missed records. Fingerprint-based searches, which require a set of fingerprints submitted to DPS or through an authorized agency, confirm identity and return a more complete record. These are used for official background checks in occupational licensing and similar contexts.
Anyone can request their own criminal history from DPS. This self-request shows what is on file under your name and prints the full history. If anything is wrong, you can dispute it through the DPS correction process. For more information, visit the DPS Crime Records Service page.
TDCJ Offender Records
When someone convicted of a felony in Abilene receives a state prison sentence, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice holds the incarceration record. The TDCJ offender search lets you look up current and former state inmates by name. It shows sentence information, housing location, release dates, and parole status.
TDCJ records do not contain the full criminal case history. They cover only the institutional side of the record. To get the full case details, including the charges and court judgment, you need the Taylor County District Clerk's records. TDCJ search is free and does not require any registration.
The City of Abilene's official website provides access to municipal court services, police department records requests, and public information resources for residents searching criminal history records in the Abilene area.
Abilene Police Department reports all arrests to DPS, ensuring those records appear in the statewide CCH system alongside Taylor County court dispositions.
Texas Laws on Criminal Record Access
Texas law gives the public broad access to criminal records. The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) requires government agencies to release records unless a specific exemption applies. Police reports and court records are generally public under this law.
The Texas Government Code Chapter 411 governs the DPS criminal history system. It defines what information is public, what is restricted, and who can access what. The Texas Attorney General's Office oversees the Public Information Act and handles disputes when agencies refuse to release records. If you believe a records request was improperly denied, you can file a complaint with the AG's Open Government division.
Some Abilene records may be subject to expunction or nondisclosure. Texas law allows expunction of arrests that did not result in conviction in most cases, and nondisclosure orders can limit public access to certain deferred adjudication outcomes. A Texas attorney can advise you on whether a specific record qualifies for relief.
The Taylor County official website provides access to the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office records systems, which together hold the bulk of criminal history records for the Abilene area.
Taylor County District Clerk records cover all felony cases in Abilene and are publicly accessible online or in person at the courthouse.
Taylor County Criminal History Records
Abilene is the county seat of Taylor County. Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases from Abilene are processed through the Taylor County court system.