Goliad County Criminal History Records
Goliad County criminal history records are kept by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in Goliad, Texas. If you need to search a felony or misdemeanor case, look up an arrest, or get a certified copy of a court document, you can do so through the county courthouse in Goliad. This page explains what records each office holds and how to request them under Texas public records law.
Goliad County Overview
Goliad County Felony Court Records
The District Clerk is the keeper of felony criminal records in Goliad County. The 24th District Court handles all felony prosecutions. Case files held by the District Clerk include grand jury indictments, trial motions, sentencing orders, and final judgments. Any person who faced a felony charge in Goliad County has a case file at this office in the Goliad County Courthouse.
Requests for records can be made in person during courthouse hours. Staff can search by cause number or defendant name. Certified copies carry a fee under state law. Felony conviction records are kept permanently. The District Clerk sends conviction data to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service, which keeps the statewide criminal history database current with Goliad County data.
| Office | Goliad County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Court | 24th District Court |
| Address | 127 N Courthouse Sq, Goliad, TX 77963 |
| County Site | Goliad County Official Website |
Misdemeanor Records in Goliad County
The County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal records for Goliad County. Class A and Class B cases go through the County Court at Law. Files include criminal complaints, judgments, community supervision orders, and fine amounts. These records are public under the Texas Public Information Act.
You can search these records by defendant name or case number at the courthouse. Certified copies are available for the fee set by the Texas Local Government Code. The County Clerk also keeps records of the Commissioners Court, which governs jail operations and law enforcement spending for Goliad County. Staff can help locate records from past years as well as more recent cases.
| Office | Goliad County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Records Held | Class A and B Misdemeanors |
| Address | 127 N Courthouse Sq, Goliad, TX 77963 |
Goliad County Sheriff Arrest Records
The Goliad County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the county and operates the jail. The Sheriff maintains arrest reports, booking records, offense reports, and active warrant information. Any arrest made by a Goliad County deputy generates a record kept at the Sheriff's Office.
Booking records include names, dates, charges, bond amounts, and release information. The Sheriff's Office transmits all arrest and booking data to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service for inclusion in the Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. Warrant records are maintained for all active and served warrants in the county. The Sheriff also participates in TCIC and NCIC for statewide and national criminal information sharing.
You can make a written request for records under the Texas Public Information Act. Closed case files, arrest logs, and booking records are generally available. Active investigation files and confidential materials may be withheld. The office cooperates with state and federal agencies on cases that span multiple jurisdictions.
Texas Statewide Records Search
Goliad County criminal records are part of the Texas DPS statewide criminal history system. The Texas Computerized Criminal History database gathers arrest and disposition data from all 254 counties. A name-based search through DPS can pull Goliad County records alongside records from any other Texas county where a person has a history.
The re:SearchTX portal from the Texas courts lets you search case information by name or cause number across district and county courts statewide. Cases from Goliad County that have been entered will appear there. Searching is free for basic information. For records that predate digital systems, contact the courthouse offices directly.
Note: Some records from older cases may only exist in paper form. The District Clerk or County Clerk can help you locate those records in person.
Access Laws for Criminal Records
Texas Government Code Chapter 411 governs criminal history access at the state level. The Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) covers all government records, including those held by Goliad County offices. These two laws together set the rules for what you can request and how the county must respond.
Juvenile records are restricted by separate statutes. Expunction orders under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 can result in records being sealed or destroyed. If a record has been expunged, it is no longer accessible through standard public records channels. Nondisclosure orders can also limit access for certain qualifying offenses.
The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 classifies offenses. This determines which court handled the case. Felonies go to the District Clerk. Misdemeanors A and B go to the County Clerk. Class C misdemeanors go to Justice of the Peace or municipal courts. The Texas Attorney General Open Government Division offers free help if your public records request is delayed or denied.
TDCJ and State Offender Records
When someone from Goliad County receives a state prison sentence following a felony conviction, records transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. TDCJ maintains an online offender search that is free and open to the public. You can look up current inmates and former offenders who served time in state facilities.
The Goliad County Jail is different from TDCJ. The Sheriff operates the local jail for pretrial detainees and people serving shorter misdemeanor sentences. Those records stay with the Sheriff's Office. TDCJ only receives records for people sentenced to state prison.
Texas Criminal History Law
The Texas Penal Code classifies all criminal offenses and sets punishment ranges. Understanding offense classification is useful when searching for records, since it tells you which court handled the case and which county clerk has the file.
Goliad County courts follow the Texas Penal Code classifications in all criminal prosecutions. Felonies are handled by the District Court, and misdemeanors are handled by the County Court system.
Cities in Goliad County
Goliad is the county seat and largest community in Goliad County. All criminal cases from communities in the county go through the Goliad County court system.
Nearby Counties
Goliad County sits in South Texas near the Coastal Bend region. If the records you need might belong to a neighboring jurisdiction, check where the incident occurred.