Find Criminal Records in El Paso County
El Paso County criminal history records are maintained by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in El Paso. If you need to look up an arrest, find a court case, or get a certified copy of a criminal judgment, each office handles a different type of record. The District Clerk holds felony case files. The County Clerk keeps misdemeanor records. The Sheriff maintains arrest and booking data. Most records are open to the public under Texas law. This page covers which offices to contact and how to search.
El Paso County Overview
El Paso County District Court Records
The District Clerk's office in El Paso serves the 34th District Court and keeps all felony criminal case files for El Paso County. Any felony arrest, charge, or conviction from this county is documented in the District Clerk's records. The office also handles appeals records and court-ordered documents.
Visit the El Paso County Courthouse in El Paso to search records in person. The District Clerk's staff can look up cases by defendant name, cause number, or date range. Plain copies and certified copies are both available. Certified copies cost more but are required for legal purposes such as proving a conviction or dismissal.
The District Clerk sends felony conviction data to the Texas DPS Crime Records Division as required by state law. This keeps the statewide Texas Computerized Criminal History database current with El Paso County case outcomes.
| Office | El Paso County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Court | 34th District Court |
| County Site | El Paso County Official Website |
Misdemeanor Criminal Records in El Paso County
Class A and B misdemeanor cases in El Paso County are handled by the County Court, and the County Clerk keeps all those records. Misdemeanor case files include the complaint, any motions filed, the judgment, and any community supervision or fine records. These records are separate from felony cases held by the District Clerk.
Under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552), County Clerk records are generally accessible to the public. Search requests can be submitted by name or case number. Class C misdemeanors are filed in Justice of the Peace or municipal courts and are maintained by those courts separately.
| Office | El Paso County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Records Held | Class A and B Misdemeanors |
| County Site | El Paso County Official Website |
El Paso County Sheriff Arrest Records
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the unincorporated areas of the county and operates the county jail. If someone was arrested by the Sheriff's deputies, the arrest record, booking information, and any incident reports are kept at the Sheriff's Office.
When someone is booked into the El Paso County Jail, the Sheriff's Office creates a record that includes the charges, booking date, and bond information. The Sheriff also maintains records of warrants issued by the county courts. All arrest data is reported to the Texas DPS as required by state law.
To request arrest records from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, submit a written request under the Texas Public Information Act. Booking records and arrest logs from closed cases are typically available. Active investigation files may be withheld until the case is closed.
El Paso County Official Records
The El Paso County official website provides access to criminal history records portal.
The county website provides contact information and links for the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office.
Texas Statewide Criminal History Search
El Paso County criminal history data also flows into the statewide Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. The Texas DPS Crime Records Service maintains this database, which includes arrests and dispositions reported by all counties across Texas.
For a statewide criminal history check that goes beyond just El Paso County, you can submit a name-based or fingerprint-based request to DPS. Name-based searches are available to the public. Fingerprint-based searches provide a more complete and reliable result. The DPS site explains both options and the fees involved.
The Texas Courts online search portal (re:SearchTX) lets you look up case information from district and county courts statewide. This includes El Paso County cases that have been entered into the system. You can search by name or case number at no cost for basic case information.
Note: Not all older records are in the online system. For records before the 1990s, in-person requests to the county clerk or district clerk may be needed.
Texas Laws Governing Criminal Records
Access to criminal history records in El Paso County follows state law. Texas Government Code Chapter 411 sets the rules for who can access criminal history information and how. The Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) governs public access to government records more broadly, including court files and law enforcement records.
Court records at the District Clerk and County Clerk offices are generally open to the public. Some records can be sealed by court order. Juvenile records have stricter access rules under state law. Records subject to expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 may be destroyed or sealed once a court orders it.
The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 outlines how offenses are classified. Knowing the offense class tells you which court handled the case and which clerk has the records. Felonies go to the District Clerk, Class A and B misdemeanors go to the County Clerk, and Class C misdemeanors go to Justice of the Peace or municipal courts.
If you need guidance on what records are available or how to request them, the Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division provides free information on public records rights under the Texas Public Information Act.
Offender Records and TDCJ
For El Paso County residents who were convicted of felonies and sentenced to state prison, records are also kept by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. TDCJ runs the state prison system and maintains offender information online. You can search by name to find out if someone is currently incarcerated in a TDCJ facility or has served time there.
County jail records are separate. The El Paso County Jail holds pretrial detainees and people serving shorter misdemeanor sentences. Those records stay with the Sheriff's Office. TDCJ holds state-sentenced felons who are serving longer terms in state prison.
Cities in El Paso County
El Paso County includes El Paso and several other communities. The following cities in El Paso County have criminal history records pages on this site. All criminal cases from these cities are handled by the El Paso County court system.
Nearby Counties
El Paso County borders several other Texas counties. If you are unsure which county has the records you need, check the location where the incident or case occurred.