Arlington Criminal History Records
Arlington criminal history records come from the Arlington Police Department, Tarrant County courts, and the Texas DPS statewide criminal history system. This guide explains where Arlington criminal records are held, how to search online, and what to do if you need certified copies of court records or arrest reports.
Arlington Overview
Tarrant County Courts Handle Arlington Cases
Arlington sits in Tarrant County, so all felony and misdemeanor criminal cases from the city go through Tarrant County courts. The county has multiple district courts for felony charges and county courts at law for Class A and B misdemeanors. Both levels maintain public records.
The Tarrant County District Clerk maintains felony criminal records for Arlington cases. The office provides online case search tools where you can look up cases by name or case number. Felony records include indictments, judgments, and all court documents. The District Clerk's main office is at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, 401 W Belknap Street, Fort Worth, TX 76196, which serves all of Tarrant County including Arlington.
The Tarrant County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal records. Class A and B offenses from Arlington are filed in the county courts at law. Records include complaints, judgments, and dispositions. Certified copies of records are available for a fee from the clerk's office.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Tarrant County District Clerk | 401 W Belknap St, Fort Worth, TX 76196 | (817) 884-1574 |
| Tarrant County Clerk | 200 Taylor St, Fort Worth, TX 76196 | (817) 884-1069 |
| Arlington Police Records | 620 W Division St, Arlington, TX 76011 | (817) 459-5700 |
The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail, which houses Arlington arrestees. Booking records and inmate information are accessible through the Sheriff's online inmate search. All bookings are reported to the Texas DPS criminal history system.
How to Search Arlington Criminal Records
The statewide re:SearchTX system is a free tool that indexes cases from Tarrant County courts. Search by name or case number. Results show case status, charge type, and basic docket information. Full documents require a paid copy request from the Tarrant County clerk's offices.
The Tarrant County District Clerk's online portal allows direct searching of felony cases by name. This is the main tool for finding Arlington felony records. County court at law records, covering Class A and B misdemeanors, may require a visit to the Tarrant County Clerk's office or a formal written request.
Arlington Police Department records are available through the Texas Public Information Act. Submit a request through the Arlington Police Department website. The department also offers online crime reporting for certain incident types. Offense reports, arrest reports, and incident records are generally public unless they involve active investigations or juveniles.
For the most complete background search, use the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. The DPS CCH covers all Texas law enforcement agencies. An Arlington criminal history check through DPS will surface any records from across the state, not just Tarrant County.
The Arlington Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanors including traffic violations and city ordinance offenses. You can search citations and check warrant status through the municipal court online portal. These records are separate from the Tarrant County court system.
Types of Arlington Criminal Records
Like all Texas cities, Arlington criminal records are divided by offense level and held by different agencies.
Felony records are at the Tarrant County District Clerk. Search the District Clerk portal or re:SearchTX for felony cases involving Arlington defendants. These records include indictments, court proceedings, and final judgments.
Class A and B misdemeanor records are with the Tarrant County Clerk. These cover offenses in the county courts at law including assault, DWI, and theft. Records are available for in-person review and formal copy requests.
Class C misdemeanor records are with the Arlington Municipal Court. Traffic tickets and minor ordinance violations are handled at this level. Municipal court records do not go to the county courts, but some driving-related convictions flow to DPS for driver's license purposes.
Arrest records are generated by the Arlington Police Department. All Arlington arrests are reported to the Texas DPS CCH. Even arrests that did not result in conviction appear in the system until expunged or otherwise cleared.
The City of Arlington official website provides links to the police department, municipal court online tools, and public information request procedures for criminal records and incident reports.
Arlington criminal records flow through the Arlington Police Department and Tarrant County courts, with all arrests and convictions reported to the Texas DPS statewide criminal history database.
Texas DPS CCH for Arlington Records
The Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History system covers all state criminal records, including Arlington. It is governed by Texas Government Code Chapter 411. The DPS CCH is the authoritative statewide record that draws from every local agency.
Public users can run a name-based search through the DPS portal for a fee. You supply the name and date of birth. DPS returns all matching records from across Texas. This is useful because it catches records from any county, not just Tarrant. Arlington residents who have been arrested in other Texas cities will show up in a DPS search too.
Individuals can request their own DPS criminal history. The personal review process lets you see the full record. Errors can be challenged through DPS. Common problems include dismissed cases still showing as pending, or expunged records that were not removed.
TDCJ and State Prison Records
Arlington felony convictions that result in state prison sentences move into the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system. The TDCJ offender search is free and lets you look up current and former state inmates by name. Results show the sentence, current facility, and projected release dates. For full case details, contact the Tarrant County District Clerk.
The Arlington Police Department processes public information requests for police reports and arrest records under the Texas Public Information Act, with both online and written request options available.
APD reports all arrests to Texas DPS, so Arlington arrest records appear in the statewide CCH database accessible through the DPS Crime Records Service.
Tarrant County Criminal History Records
Arlington is in Tarrant County. All felony and misdemeanor criminal filings for Arlington go through the Tarrant County court system. The Tarrant County page has full details on the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office.