Dallas Criminal History Records
Dallas criminal history records come from the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County courts, and the Texas Department of Public Safety statewide criminal history system. This guide covers where to find arrest records, felony and misdemeanor case files, and how to use online tools to search records for anyone with a Dallas criminal history.
Dallas Overview
Dallas County Court Records
Dallas is the seat of Dallas County, and almost all criminal cases originating in the city go through the Dallas 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 that you can search online or request in person.
The Dallas County District Clerk maintains felony criminal case records. You can search cases by name or case number through their online portal. Records include indictments, judgments, docket entries, and other case documents. The District Clerk's office is located at the George Allen Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202. Phone: (214) 653-7131. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The Dallas County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal records from the county courts at law. This covers Class A and B offenses. The office also serves as the records custodian for Commissioners Court proceedings. Misdemeanor case files include complaints, judgments, and dispositions. Certified copies are available for a fee.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas County District Clerk | 600 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75202 | (214) 653-7131 |
| Dallas County Clerk | 411 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75202 | (214) 653-7099 |
| Dallas County Sheriff | 133 N Riverfront Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207 | (214) 749-8641 |
The Dallas County Sheriff's Department maintains arrest records and operates the Dallas County Jail. Booking information, including photos and charge details for current inmates, is searchable through the Sheriff's online inmate lookup. The Sheriff also handles warrants for the county and coordinates with Dallas Police on investigations.
How to Search Dallas Criminal Records
Several online tools give you access to Dallas criminal records without a trip to the courthouse. The statewide re:SearchTX system indexes cases from Dallas County district and county courts. You can search by name or case number at no cost. Results show basic case details, charge information, and case status. Full documents may require a courthouse visit or paid copy request.
The Dallas County District Clerk also maintains its own online case search portal. Go to the District Clerk section of the Dallas County website to access name-based searches for criminal cases filed in the district courts. This is a good starting point for felony records. Case numbers, offense types, and court dates are usually visible in search results.
For a certified and complete Texas criminal history, contact the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. The DPS system draws from every law enforcement agency in the state, not just Dallas. You can request a name-based or fingerprint-based search through the DPS secure portal. Fees apply for official records requests. This is the most thorough option for a full background on someone with Dallas ties.
Dallas Police Department records, including offense reports and arrest reports, can be requested under the Texas Public Information Act. Submit a request to the DPD Public Information Act Coordinator through the Dallas City Hall website. Response times vary depending on the complexity and volume of the request.
The Dallas Municipal Courts handle Class C misdemeanors, which are the lowest level of criminal offense. These include traffic violations and city ordinance violations. You can search citations and check case status through the city's online court portal. Warrant information for unpaid citations is also available online.
Types of Criminal Records in Dallas
Dallas criminal records fall into three main tiers based on offense level. Understanding which type you need helps you know where to look.
Felony records are held by the Dallas County District Clerk. These cover charges like assault causing serious injury, drug trafficking, robbery, burglary, and all other felony-level crimes. Felony records include the original indictment, all court filings, the judgment, and any appeal records. You can search the District Clerk's portal or use re:SearchTX for felony cases filed in Dallas County.
Misdemeanor records at the Class A and B level are with the Dallas County Clerk. These include offenses like simple assault, theft under $2,500, DWI first offense, and similar charges. The County Clerk's records show the complaint, plea, judgment, and sentence. Both in-person and online searches are possible.
Class C misdemeanor records stay at the Dallas Municipal Court level. These are city-level offenses and traffic cases. They do not become part of the state criminal history system in the same way as higher charges, but they are public records. Warrant records for unpaid Class C fines are also maintained here.
Arrest records are generated by Dallas PD and the Dallas County Sheriff. An arrest record exists even if charges were later dropped or a case was dismissed. Arrest information flows to the Texas DPS CCH system as well. Keep in mind that an arrest without conviction shows in the DPS system as a pending or dismissed case, and may be eligible for expunction under Texas law.
The City of Dallas official website provides access to the Dallas Police Department's public information request system, the municipal courts portal, and other city services related to criminal records.
Dallas maintains criminal records through the Dallas Police Department, Dallas Municipal Courts, and Dallas County courts, all of which report to the Texas DPS statewide criminal history system.
Texas DPS Criminal History System
The Texas Department of Public Safety operates the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system, which is the central repository for all Texas criminal records. Every time someone is arrested by Dallas PD, booked into the Dallas County Jail, or convicted in a Dallas County court, that information is reported to DPS and added to the CCH. The system is governed by Texas Government Code Chapter 411.
Two types of searches are available through DPS. A name-based search returns records where the name and date of birth match the database. A fingerprint-based search is more accurate because it ties records to a specific person rather than just a name. Name-based searches are available to the public for a fee. Fingerprint-based searches are generally restricted to authorized users like law enforcement or certain licensed businesses.
You can request your own criminal history from DPS to see what the state has on file. This is called a personal review. If records are wrong or incomplete, you can challenge them through the DPS challenge process. Common errors include cases where a charge was dismissed but the record still shows as pending, or where expunged records were not removed from the system.
The DPS Crime Records Service also maintains sex offender registration data, which is a separate public database from the CCH. Sex offender registration records are freely searchable online through the DPS website and do not require a fee or formal request.
TDCJ Records for Dallas Cases
When someone convicted of a felony in Dallas County is sentenced to state prison, they enter the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system. The TDCJ offender search lets you look up current and former state inmates by name or TDCJ number. Results show the sentence length, current unit, and projected release or parole dates.
TDCJ records are free and public. They do not show the full criminal case file, just the incarceration record. For complete case details including the charge, judgment, and plea, you still need to contact the Dallas County District Clerk. If someone was sentenced to county jail rather than state prison, the Dallas County Sheriff's Office holds those records.
Parole and probation records in Texas are not generally available to the public. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles oversees parole decisions, and basic parole status information may appear in the TDCJ offender search for some individuals. Community supervision (probation) records are maintained by local probation departments and are not widely accessible online.
The Dallas County official website provides access to the District Clerk case search portal, Sheriff's inmate lookup, and other county services for accessing criminal records and court case information.
Dallas County courts and the Sheriff's Department process criminal cases for the city of Dallas, with all conviction records reported to the Texas DPS statewide criminal history database.
Expunctions and Non-Disclosure Orders
Texas law allows some Dallas criminal records to be sealed or destroyed. An expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 removes an arrest record from all systems, including DPS. You may qualify for expunction if you were arrested but not charged, if charges were dismissed, or if you were acquitted at trial.
Non-disclosure orders work differently. They don't destroy records but seal them from public view. Non-disclosure is available for some deferred adjudication cases after you complete probation and wait out any required waiting period. Records under a non-disclosure order are still available to law enforcement and certain licensed agencies but not to the general public.
If you believe a Dallas criminal record is affecting you and you want to explore expunction or non-disclosure, you need to file a petition in the court where the case was handled. The Dallas County District Clerk or County Clerk can provide forms. Legal aid organizations in Dallas may offer free help if you qualify based on income.
Dallas County Criminal History Records
Dallas is in Dallas County. All felony and misdemeanor criminal filings for the city of Dallas go through the Dallas County court system, including the District Clerk for felonies and the County Clerk for misdemeanors.