Search Austin Criminal History Records
Austin criminal history records are held by the Austin Police Department, Travis County courts, and the Texas DPS statewide criminal history database. This page explains how to find arrest records, felony and misdemeanor case files, and how to use the main online tools for searching Austin criminal history.
Austin Overview
Travis County Court Records for Austin
Austin is the county seat of Travis County. Criminal cases from the city go through the Travis County court system. The county operates multiple district courts for felony cases and county courts at law for Class A and B misdemeanors. Both levels maintain public records searchable online and in person.
The Travis County District Clerk maintains felony criminal records. The office provides an online case search portal where you can look up cases by name or case number. Results include indictments, judgments, court dockets, and basic case information. The District Clerk's office is at the Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78701.
The Travis County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal records from the county courts at law. Class A and B offenses such as assault, theft, and first-offense DWI are filed here. Records include the original complaint, plea, judgment, and sentence. Certified copies are available for a per-page fee.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Travis County District Clerk | 1000 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701 | (512) 854-9457 |
| Travis County Clerk | 5501 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751 | (512) 854-9188 |
| Travis County Sheriff | 5555 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751 | (512) 854-9770 |
The Travis County Sheriff's Office operates the Travis County Jail and maintains arrest and booking records. An online inmate search is available on the Sheriff's website. Booking information for current inmates includes the name, charges, and bond status. All arrests are reported to the Texas DPS CCH system.
How to Search Austin Criminal Records Online
For Austin area criminal records, start with the statewide re:SearchTX system. This free tool indexes cases from Travis County district and county courts. You can search by name or case number. Results show the case number, defendant name, offense type, and case status. Full documents may require a paid copy request from the clerk.
The Travis County District Clerk also has its own online portal for felony case searches. Go to the District Clerk section of the Travis County website to access this tool. It works well for searching Austin felony cases by name. County court at law records may require a separate search or an in-person visit to the clerk's office.
Austin Police Department records, including offense reports and arrest reports, are public under the Texas Public Information Act. Submit requests through the Austin Police Department website or by mail. Standard offense reports are typically processed within a few business days. Complex or sensitive requests take longer.
The Austin Municipal Courts handle Class C misdemeanors. Their online system lets you check citation status, case history, warrant information, and payment options. This covers traffic violations and city ordinance offenses handled at the municipal court level, which are separate from the Travis County court system.
For the most complete Austin criminal background, use the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. DPS holds the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) for the entire state and draws from all local law enforcement agencies including APD and the Travis County Sheriff. Fees apply for name-based searches through DPS.
Types of Criminal Records in Austin
Austin criminal records are divided by offense level, and each level sits with a different agency.
Felony records are at the Travis County District Clerk. This covers charges like aggravated assault, drug possession above threshold amounts, burglary of a habitation, and other state jail or higher felonies. Search the District Clerk portal or re:SearchTX for felony case history.
Class A and B misdemeanor records are with the Travis County Clerk. These are offenses handled in the county courts at law. Assault, DWI, and theft are common examples. Court records include the filing, plea, and final disposition.
Class C misdemeanor records sit with Austin Municipal Courts. These are the lowest-level offenses, mostly traffic and city ordinance violations. Municipal court records do not flow into the county court system, though some traffic convictions are reported to DPS for driver's license purposes.
Arrest records come from Austin PD and the Travis County Sheriff. Arrest data is sent to DPS regardless of how the case resolves. An arrest that did not lead to a conviction still appears in the CCH as a pending or dismissed case until expunged or cleared. Some records may be eligible for expunction or non-disclosure under Texas law.
The City of Austin official website provides access to Austin Police Department records requests, Austin Municipal Court online services, and other city resources for criminal history information.
Austin criminal records are generated by APD and processed through Travis County courts, with all conviction data reported to the Texas DPS statewide criminal history database.
Texas DPS Criminal History Database
The Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History system is the central source for criminal records across the state. It is governed by Texas Government Code Chapter 411. Every arrest by Austin Police and every conviction in Travis County courts is reported to DPS and added to the CCH.
Public users can request a name-based search through the DPS website for a fee. You submit the person's name and date of birth, and DPS returns matching records from the CCH. This is broader than a county-specific search because it covers arrests and convictions from anywhere in Texas, not just Austin or Travis County. If someone has criminal history in multiple Texas counties, it all shows up in one DPS result.
Individuals can request their own criminal history from DPS. The personal review option lets you see what the state has on file. If records are inaccurate or incomplete, DPS has a challenge procedure. Common issues include cases showing as pending when they were dismissed, or expunged records still appearing in the system.
The Austin Police Department also participates in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). This means Austin arrest records and active warrants can show up in law enforcement database checks conducted outside of Texas. For a truly comprehensive background check that goes beyond Texas, a national search through NCIC or a licensed background screening provider may be needed.
TDCJ Records for Austin Cases
People convicted of felonies in Travis County who receive state prison sentences enter the TDCJ system. The TDCJ offender search is free and public. Search by name or TDCJ number to find current and former state inmates.
TDCJ search results show the sentence, current facility, and projected release or parole dates. This is not the full case record. For complete case history from an Austin felony conviction, contact the Travis County District Clerk. If someone received county jail time rather than a state sentence, the Travis County Sheriff's Office holds that detention record.
The Austin Police Department processes public information requests for incident reports, arrest reports, and other law enforcement records under the Texas Public Information Act, with online and mail submission options available.
APD reports all arrests to Texas DPS, ensuring Austin arrest records appear in the statewide CCH system accessible through the DPS Crime Records Service.
Travis County Criminal History Records
Austin is in Travis County. All felony and misdemeanor criminal filings for the city of Austin go through the Travis County court system, including the District Clerk for felonies and the County Clerk for misdemeanors.