Search La Salle County Criminal History Records
La Salle County criminal history records are maintained by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in Cotulla, Texas. This county sits along the Texas-Mexico border in South Texas. If you need to find a court case, check an arrest record, or get a copy of a criminal judgment, this page covers what offices hold those records and how to access them under state law.
La Salle County Overview
La Salle County District Court Records
The District Clerk manages felony criminal case files for La Salle County. The 81st District Court serves this county, hearing all felony prosecutions from state jail offenses up through first-degree felonies. All indictments, judgments, sentencing orders, and appeals are on file with the District Clerk at the courthouse in Cotulla.
You can visit the courthouse during regular business hours to search by defendant name or case number. Certified copies of felony case records are available for a fee. The District Clerk reports all felony convictions and dispositions to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service, which adds them to the Texas Computerized Criminal History system.
La Salle County's border location means the District Court also sees cases involving state and federal immigration-related charges. These are often handled in coordination with federal agencies. Federal cases go to the federal court system, not the district clerk. If you are unsure which court handled a case, calling the clerk's office first will save time.
| Office | La Salle County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Court | 81st District Court |
| Address | 101 Courthouse Square, Cotulla, TX 78014 |
| County Site | La Salle County Official Website |
Misdemeanor Records in La Salle County
Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases in La Salle County are heard by the County Court, and those records are kept by the County Clerk. These include cases involving DWI, assault, theft, and related offenses. The County Clerk in Cotulla has case files, court orders, and disposition records for all misdemeanor prosecutions.
Access to these records is available under the Texas Public Information Act. You can request a name or case number search during office hours. Certified copies are available for a fee. Class C misdemeanors such as traffic violations go through the Justice of the Peace courts, which are separate from the County Clerk's office.
| Office | La Salle County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Records Held | Class A and B Misdemeanors |
| Address | 101 Courthouse Square, Cotulla, TX 78014 |
La Salle County Sheriff Arrest Records
The La Salle County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in the county and maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail records. If someone was arrested in the unincorporated parts of La Salle County or in Cotulla, the Sheriff's Office is the primary source for that arrest record.
Booking records show the arrest date, charges, bond amount, and inmate status. The Sheriff's Office sends all arrest data to DPS for entry into the statewide criminal history database. La Salle County's proximity to the Mexico border means the Sheriff works closely with Border Patrol and other federal agencies on some cases. Joint task force operations may have records held at both the state and federal level.
To request records from the Sheriff's Office, you can submit a written request under the Texas Public Information Act. The office has 10 business days to respond. Records related to open investigations or sensitive law enforcement operations may be withheld, but booking logs and closed case files are generally available. Contact the Sheriff's Office in Cotulla for current procedures and fees.
The county jail holds pretrial detainees and people serving short sentences. Jail roster information is often available directly from the Sheriff's Office or county website. This is a quick way to check if someone is currently in custody.
Texas Statewide Criminal History Search
La Salle County criminal history data flows into the statewide Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system maintained by the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. This system covers all 254 Texas counties.
Public name-based criminal history checks are available from DPS online. You can also request a fingerprint-based check for a more thorough result. Fingerprint submissions require a live scan or ink card. Both types of requests involve a fee. For most basic searches, the name-based option is fast and easy to use.
The Texas Courts re:SearchTX portal provides free access to basic case information from district and county courts statewide, including La Salle County. You can search by name or case number. Older records may not be in the system, and in those cases you would need to contact the county clerk directly.
Texas Laws Governing Criminal Records
Criminal records access in La Salle County follows Texas state law. Texas Government Code Chapter 411 authorizes DPS to maintain the statewide criminal history database and controls who can access it. The Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) gives the public the right to request government records, including most court and law enforcement files.
Most court records are open to public inspection. Exceptions include juvenile cases, expunged records, and sealed case files. An expunction under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 removes a record from public access after a court order. Nondisclosure orders have a similar effect for certain deferred adjudications.
The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 defines offense classifications. This matters for records research because felonies go to the District Clerk, misdemeanors go to the County Clerk, and Class C offenses go to the Justice of the Peace. If you have questions about what records are public, the Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division can help.
TDCJ Offender Records
People convicted of felonies in La Salle County who were sent to state prison have records maintained by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. TDCJ's offender search is free online and lets you look up current and former inmates by name. Results show current custody status, projected release date, and conviction details.
La Salle County Jail records are separate from TDCJ. The county jail holds pretrial detainees and misdemeanor inmates serving short terms. Those records stay with the Sheriff's Office. TDCJ holds only state-sentenced felons serving time in a state prison unit.
Cities in La Salle County
La Salle County's main city is Cotulla, which serves as the county seat. All criminal cases from cities and unincorporated areas in La Salle County are handled through the county court system in Cotulla.
Nearby Counties
La Salle County is in South Texas, bordered by Webb, Dimmit, Frio, McMullen, and Webb counties. Check the county where the case or arrest took place if you are searching in this region.