Search Bexar County Criminal History

Bexar County criminal history records are maintained by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in San Antonio, Texas. This page covers how to find felony and misdemeanor case files, look up arrest records, and access certified court documents from the offices that handle criminal records in one of Texas's largest counties.

Bexar County District Court Records

The District Clerk is the main office for felony criminal records in Bexar County. The office serves many district courts, including the 37th, 57th, 73rd, 131st, 144th, 175th, 186th, 187th, 226th, 227th, 290th, 379th, 399th, and 437th. All felony case files are kept here. Those records include grand jury indictments, judgments, sentencing orders, motions, and all other documents from felony prosecutions in the county.

You can visit the District Clerk's office at the Bexar County Courthouse in San Antonio. Staff can search by case number, defendant name, or attorney. Online access to criminal court records is also available through the District Clerk's website. Certified copies of records cost a fee set by Texas Government Code Section 51.319. Felony conviction records are kept permanently under state retention rules. The office also provides e-filing for attorneys and manages records for criminal appeals.

All felony conviction data from Bexar County is reported to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service for inclusion in the statewide Texas Computerized Criminal History database. The county processes thousands of criminal cases each year, making it one of the busiest court systems in the state.

Misdemeanor Criminal Records in Bexar County

Misdemeanor cases in Bexar County go through the County Courts at Law. The County Clerk holds Class A and Class B misdemeanor records. These include complaints, judgments, fines, and community supervision orders. The office provides online access to county court records through searchable databases.

Public access is governed by the Texas Public Information Act. You can search by case number or defendant name. Certified copies are available for a fee set by state law. The County Clerk also maintains Commissioners Court records and reports misdemeanor conviction data to DPS for the statewide criminal history database. Public terminals are available at the courthouse for self-service searches.

Bexar County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is one of the largest sheriff's departments in Texas, serving the San Antonio metropolitan area. They maintain arrest records, incident reports, offense reports, and jail booking records for the unincorporated parts of the county.

The Sheriff operates the Bexar County Jail complex, which holds more than 4,000 inmates. Jail records include booking photos, physical descriptions, charges, bond amounts, court dates, and release information. All arrest and booking data is sent to DPS Crime Records Service for the statewide database. Online access to jail roster information and an inmate search tool are available through the Bexar County website.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office works with over 30 law enforcement agencies in the area. The office participates in NCIC and TCIC for interstate and statewide information sharing. Public information requests are processed through the Public Information Office under the Texas Public Information Act.

Some records may be withheld if they relate to active investigations. Closed case files and general arrest logs are typically available. The county also operates a Central Magistrate system that provides 24-hour access to warrant and booking records, including probable cause affidavits.

Bexar County Official Records Portal

The Bexar County official website provides links to all county offices handling criminal records, including the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office.

The county site also links to online record search portals and in-person request information for the San Antonio courthouse complex.

Sheriff's Office Records Access

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office page provides information on submitting public information requests, searching the jail roster, and contacting the office about arrest and incident records.

The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for unincorporated Bexar County and also provides countywide services including the jail, warrants division, and civil process.

Texas Statewide Criminal History Search

Bexar County criminal history data is part of the statewide Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system run by Texas DPS Crime Records Service. This database includes arrests and dispositions from all Texas counties.

For a statewide search, you can submit a name-based or fingerprint-based request to DPS. Name searches are open to the public. Fingerprint searches give a more complete result. The re:SearchTX portal lets you search court cases statewide by name or case number. Basic information is free. Older records from before the 1990s may require an in-person visit.

Texas Laws Governing Criminal Records

Criminal record access in Bexar County follows Texas law. The Texas Government Code Chapter 411 sets rules for criminal history access. The Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) governs access to government records broadly. Court records are public in most cases. Some can be sealed. Juvenile records have strict limits. Expunction orders under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 can remove records from public access.

The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 covers offense classifications. Felonies go to the District Clerk. Misdemeanors go to the County Clerk. Class C offenses are at the Justice of the Peace court level. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division provides guidance on public information rights.

Offender Records and TDCJ

For Bexar County residents convicted of felonies and sentenced to state prison, records are also held by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. TDCJ has an online offender search by name. County jail records are separate. The Bexar County Jail complex holds pretrial detainees and people serving short misdemeanor sentences. TDCJ covers state-sentenced felons in state prison facilities across Texas.

Cities in Bexar County

Bexar County includes the following qualifying city with a dedicated page on this site:

• San Antonio - county seat and largest city in Bexar County

Other communities in Bexar County include Converse, Universal City, Leon Valley, and Live Oak. Criminal cases from all areas in the county are handled through the county court system in San Antonio.

Nearby Counties

Bexar County is in south-central Texas. Check where the incident occurred if you need records from a neighboring county.