Search Dallas County Criminal History Records
Dallas County criminal history records are held by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Department. You can search felony and misdemeanor court cases online, view booking records from the county jail, and request certified copies of criminal court documents. Dallas County operates one of the largest criminal court systems in Texas, covering over 2.6 million residents in the Dallas metropolitan area. This page shows you how to find and access criminal records held by Dallas County offices.
Dallas County Overview
Dallas County District Clerk
The Dallas County District Clerk is the official custodian of felony criminal case records for all district courts in the county. The office processes over 50,000 criminal cases each year and provides public access through online portals and in-person visits. You can search by name, case number, attorney, or date range at dallascounty.org/departments/districtclerk.
Felony records at the District Clerk include grand jury indictments, sentencing orders, judgments, motions, and every document filed in district court criminal proceedings. The office uses document imaging and specialized case management software to track cases from filing through final disposition. Certified copies are available upon request. Fees follow Texas Government Code schedules. The District Clerk also coordinates with DPS to report all felony convictions to the statewide criminal history database.
E-filing services are available for attorneys. The office also handles records on appeal for cases sent to the Texas Courts of Appeals. Permanent archival records of all felony convictions are maintained as required by state records retention law.
| Office | Dallas County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Website | dallascounty.org/departments/districtclerk |
| Background Checks | District Clerk Background Check Service |
Dallas County Clerk Misdemeanor Records
The Dallas County Clerk maintains records for the County Criminal Courts, which handle Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases. You can search misdemeanor criminal records online through the County Clerk's website at dallascounty.org/departments/county-clerk by case number, defendant name, or date of offense. Public terminals are also available at the courthouse.
Records at the County Clerk include criminal complaints, judgments, fines assessed, community supervision orders, and full case disposition information. All misdemeanor convictions are reported to DPS within required timeframes for inclusion in the statewide criminal history database. Certified copies are available with statutory fees.
The County Clerk also maintains records of Commissioners Court proceedings, which oversee the county jail, criminal justice budgets, and law enforcement policy decisions for Dallas County.
Dallas County Sheriff Department Records
The Dallas County Sheriff's Department is one of the largest sheriff's agencies in Texas. It operates the Dallas County Jail system, including the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, which holds thousands of inmates and maintains detailed records for each person booked in. Records include charges, bond amounts, classification levels, booking photos, and court dates.
The department serves over 40 law enforcement agencies across the county and transmits all arrest and booking data to DPS Crime Records Service for the Texas Computerized Criminal History database. Active and served warrant records are also kept. The department participates in both NCIC and TCIC for sharing criminal information with other agencies. Public records requests go through the Public Information Office under the Texas Public Information Act. Visit dallascounty.org/departments/sheriff for jail roster and inmate search.
Dallas County District Attorney
The Dallas County District Attorney's Office handles prosecution of all felony criminal cases and misdemeanor appeals. The office employs over 300 attorneys and staff and processes more than 40,000 cases each year. Prosecution files include case records, witness statements, evidence logs, plea agreements, and trial materials.
The DA's office works with more than 40 law enforcement agencies to screen cases and make charging decisions. Victim services staff keep records of victim notifications, victim impact statements, and restitution orders. The office maintains specialized units for family violence, child abuse, sexual assault, economic crimes, and cold cases. Grand jury records, including indictments and no-bills, are kept for all felony cases presented. Public access to prosecution files is limited under the Texas Public Information Act to protect confidential investigation details. Contact the DA's office at dallascounty.org/departments/districtattorney.
Dallas County Pretrial Services
Dallas County Pretrial Services maintains records of defendant risk assessments, pretrial supervision, and court appearance tracking. The department evaluates defendants awaiting trial and keeps records of drug testing results, check-in compliance, and bond conditions.
Pretrial services records include defendant contact information, employment verification, risk scores, and community ties assessments. The department provides reports to courts on compliance with pretrial conditions. Records of diversion programs and specialty court referrals are also maintained. Visit dallascounty.org/departments/pretrial-services for more information.
Note: Pretrial supervision records are separate from court case records and are not typically available through public criminal history searches.
Finding Dallas County Criminal Records
Dallas County has several ways to search criminal records. Online searches are the fastest and most convenient for basic case information. For certified copies or detailed file review, an in-person visit to the courthouse is the best option.
Start with the District Clerk's online portal at dallascounty.org/departments/districtclerk for felony cases. The County Clerk's site handles misdemeanor records. You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX portal to search Dallas County along with other Texas courts. For a background check including Dallas County records, the Texas DPS Crime Records Service is the official state source. The Texas Attorney General's office can help if you have a dispute about a public records request.
The District Clerk also offers a specific background check service at dallascounty.org/departments/districtclerk/backgroundChecks.php for felony record searches by name or date of birth. Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or through the online service.
Texas Criminal Record Laws
Texas law governs how criminal history records are created, maintained, and accessed. Government Code Chapter 411 sets the rules for the statewide criminal history database operated by DPS. It defines who can access records, how agencies report data, and what limitations apply to public searches versus agency use.
Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 covers the criminal history record system in detail. It requires law enforcement agencies, courts, and prosecuting offices to report criminal history information to DPS. This reporting chain is what links Dallas County arrest records to the statewide database. The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 defines offense levels, which determine whether a case is a state jail felony, first through third degree felony, or a misdemeanor. That classification tells you which court handled the case and what type of records were generated.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search covers people sentenced to state prison. County jail and court records are separate. For Dallas County offenders who went to state prison, TDCJ is where you check current and historical custody status.
Dallas County Record Sources
The Dallas County official website serves as the central access point for all county criminal justice records. The site links to the District Clerk, County Clerk, Sheriff, DA, and Public Information Office.
The Dallas County website includes online search tools for court records, a public information request portal, and direct links to all departments that handle criminal history information.
The Dallas County Sheriff's Department operates one of the largest jail systems in Texas. Their online portal provides current inmate information, booking records, and law enforcement contact details.
The Sheriff's Department updates the jail roster continuously. The online inmate search shows current bookings with charge information and bond status for Dallas County Jail.
Cities in Dallas County
Dallas County contains several major cities. All felony cases from anywhere in the county are handled by the Dallas County District Court system.
Other communities in Dallas County include Duncanville, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, DeSoto, Rowlett, Balch Springs, Hutchins, and Sunnyvale. All criminal cases from these areas go through the Dallas County court system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Dallas County. If you are unsure which county handled a case, check which county the address or incident location falls in.