Criminal History Records in Duval County
Duval County criminal history records are on file with the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in San Diego, Texas. If you need to look up a felony or misdemeanor case, find out about an arrest, or request certified court documents, this page walks you through the county offices that keep those records and how to reach them. Most records are open under the Texas Public Information Act, and a statewide search through Texas DPS is also an option.
Duval County Overview
Duval County District Clerk and Felony Records
The District Clerk handles felony criminal records for Duval County. The 229th District Court processes felony prosecutions here. All key documents from those cases live with the District Clerk. That includes grand jury indictments, court orders, motions, plea agreements, and final judgments. If a felony case was filed in Duval County, the case file is at this office.
You can visit the District Clerk at the Duval County Courthouse in San Diego. Staff can search records by defendant name or case number. Certified copies are available for a fee. Records of felony convictions are kept on a permanent basis. The District Clerk coordinates with the Texas DPS Crime Records Service to make sure all convictions are reported to the statewide database.
The re:SearchTX portal from the Texas judicial branch may also have some Duval County case information you can search online by name or case number without a trip to the courthouse.
| Office | Duval County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Court | 229th District Court |
| Address | Duval County Courthouse, San Diego, TX 78384 |
| County Site | Duval County Official Website |
Misdemeanor Records and the County Clerk
The County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal records for Duval County. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases go through the County Court. Records kept here include complaints, court judgments, fines assessed, and community supervision orders. If someone faced a misdemeanor charge in Duval County, their file is at the County Clerk's office in San Diego.
These records are open to the public under the Texas Public Information Act. You can search by name or case number and get certified copies for a fee. The County Clerk also maintains records from the Commissioners Court, which oversees county jail operations and sets the local law enforcement budget.
| Office | Duval County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Records Held | Class A and B Misdemeanors |
| Address | Duval County Courthouse, San Diego, TX 78384 |
Duval County Sheriff Arrest and Booking Records
The Duval County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. They maintain arrest records, offense reports, jail booking records, and warrant information. If someone was arrested in the unincorporated parts of Duval County, the Sheriff has that record.
Jail booking records include photos, physical descriptions, charges, bond amounts, and release dates. All arrest and booking information is submitted to the DPS Crime Records Service for the statewide criminal history database. The office also tracks active warrants and those that have already been served in the county.
Requests for records go through the Texas Public Information Act process. Arrest logs and closed case files are generally released. Open investigations and confidential source information are withheld. The Sheriff works with local police, the Texas Rangers, and federal agencies on some cases.
Texas Statewide Criminal History System
Criminal history data from Duval County is part of the Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) database. The Texas DPS Crime Records Service manages this system statewide. All arrests and court dispositions from Duval County are reported there. A statewide search covers records from all Texas counties, not just Duval.
DPS offers name-based criminal history searches to the public. Fingerprint-based checks are more thorough and are required for some licensing purposes. Both have fees. Details on how to request either type of check are on the DPS website.
The re:SearchTX portal is another way to look up court records. It covers courts statewide and is free for basic case information. You can search by name or case number. Keep in mind that older records, especially those from before the 1990s, may not be in online systems and require a direct request to the courthouse in San Diego.
Note: A statewide DPS search may return results from other Texas counties in addition to Duval County.
Record Access Laws in Texas
Access to criminal records in Duval County follows Texas law. Texas Government Code Chapter 411 sets the framework for criminal history record information. It defines who can access it and when. The Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) covers public access to government-held documents, which includes court records and law enforcement files.
Most records at the District Clerk and County Clerk are public. Courts can seal records by order. Juvenile records are restricted under separate state laws. Expunged records are governed by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66. If a court grants an expunction, those records can be removed from public access.
Offense classification under Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 tells you which court handled a case. Felonies go to district court, misdemeanors to county court, and Class C offenses to JP courts. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division answers questions about public information rights if you get a denial or have concerns about access.
TDCJ Offender Records
Felony convictions from Duval County that resulted in state prison sentences are tracked by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. TDCJ has an online offender search tool. You can search by name to see if someone is currently in a TDCJ unit or has previously served state prison time.
County jail records are not part of TDCJ. The Duval County Jail holds people who are awaiting trial or serving short local sentences. Those records stay with the Sheriff's Office. Only state-sentenced felons are in the TDCJ system.
Open Records in Texas
The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division provides guidance on the Texas Public Information Act and how it applies to criminal records requests at all levels of government, including county offices in Duval County.
The Attorney General's office also handles complaints when agencies deny records requests and publishes open records decisions that set precedents for what must be disclosed.
Cities in Duval County
Duval County includes San Diego and other small communities. All criminal cases from the county are processed through the court system in San Diego.
Nearby Counties
Duval County is in South Texas and borders several other counties. If you need to check which county holds a particular case, verify the location where it was filed.