Falls County Criminal History Records
Falls County criminal history records are maintained by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in Marlin, Texas. This page explains how to find felony and misdemeanor case files, arrest records, and court documents through the county court system and state databases. Most records are open to the public under the Texas Public Information Act.
Falls County Overview
Falls County District Court Records
The Falls County District Clerk is the main office for felony criminal records in the county. This office serves the 82nd District Court and keeps all felony case files, including indictments, judgments, sentencing orders, and motions filed during felony prosecutions. If someone faced a felony charge in Falls County, the case file is with the District Clerk.
You can visit the District Clerk's office at the Falls County Courthouse in Marlin during regular business hours. Staff can look up records by case number or defendant name. Certified copies of court documents are available for a fee set by Texas Government Code. Felony conviction records are kept permanently under state records retention rules.
The District Clerk also reports all felony convictions to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service, which keeps the statewide Texas Computerized Criminal History database. This process ensures Falls County data appears in statewide searches conducted through DPS.
| Office | Falls County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Court | 82nd District Court |
| County Site | co.falls.tx.us |
Misdemeanor Records in Falls County
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Falls County are handled by the County Court, and the County Clerk keeps those files. Records include criminal complaints, judgments, fines, and community supervision orders. If someone was charged with a misdemeanor in Falls County, the County Clerk has that case file.
Access to these records is available under the Texas Public Information Act. You can request records by case number or defendant name. Certified copies are available for a fee. The County Clerk also sends misdemeanor conviction data to DPS for inclusion in the statewide database.
| Office | Falls County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Records Held | Class A and B Misdemeanors |
| County Site | co.falls.tx.us |
Falls County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Falls County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. The Sheriff maintains arrest records, incident reports, jail booking records, and warrant files. If someone was arrested in the unincorporated areas of Falls County, the Sheriff's Office has those records.
The Sheriff operates the Falls County Jail. Records kept there include booking photos, physical descriptions, bond amounts, charges, and release dates. All arrest and booking data is sent to DPS Crime Records Service for the statewide database. The office also maintains records on active and served warrants. You can submit a written public information request to the Sheriff under the Texas Public Information Act.
The Sheriff's Office works with local police, the Texas Rangers, and federal agencies on multi-jurisdictional cases. They share data through TCIC and NCIC for statewide and interstate records sharing. Closed case files and general arrest logs are usually available on request. Some active investigation records and informant information may be withheld under lawful exceptions.
For general arrest information, you can contact the Sheriff's Office directly. The jail roster may show current inmates with charges listed. This is a common first step when trying to find out about a recent arrest in Falls County.
Texas Statewide Criminal History Search
Falls County criminal history data flows into the statewide Texas Computerized Criminal History system maintained by the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. This database includes arrests and dispositions reported by every county in the state, so a DPS search can show Falls County records along with any from other Texas counties.
Name-based criminal history searches are available to the public through DPS. A fingerprint-based search gives more complete and accurate results because it matches by biometric data instead of name spelling. DPS explains the process and fees on their website. This type of search is useful when you need a comprehensive record check rather than just county-level records.
The Texas Courts re:SearchTX portal allows you to look up case information from district and county courts across the state. This includes Falls County cases that have been entered into the system. Basic case information is available at no cost. You can search by party name or case number.
Older records from before the 1990s may not be in online systems. For older case files, in-person requests at the county courthouse in Marlin are the best option.
Texas Laws on Criminal Record Access
Criminal history access in Falls County is governed by state law. Texas Government Code Chapter 411 sets the rules for who can access criminal history data and under what conditions. The Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) covers public access to government records broadly, including court documents and law enforcement files.
Court records at the District Clerk and County Clerk are generally open to the public. Some records may be sealed by court order. Juvenile records have stricter rules. Records subject to expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 may be destroyed or removed from public access once the court orders it.
The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 classifies criminal offenses. Knowing the offense class tells you which court handled the case and which clerk keeps the records. Felonies go to the District Clerk, misdemeanors to the County Clerk, and Class C offenses to a Justice of the Peace or municipal court.
The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division can help if you have questions about what records are available or how to get them.
TDCJ Offender Records
Falls County residents convicted of felonies and sentenced to state prison have records with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. TDCJ maintains offender information online and you can search by name to find current inmates or those who have served time in the state prison system. County jail records are separate from TDCJ records. The Falls County Jail holds pretrial detainees and those serving short misdemeanor sentences, and those records stay with the Sheriff's Office.
Cities in Falls County
Falls County includes Marlin and several smaller communities. All criminal cases from cities and unincorporated areas in Falls County are handled by the county court system in Marlin.
Nearby Counties
Falls County borders several Central Texas counties. Check the location where the incident or case occurred if you are unsure which county has the records you need.