Lee County Criminal History Records

Lee County criminal history records are held by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in Giddings, Texas. Located in Central Texas between Austin and College Station, Lee County handles felony cases through the 21st District Court and misdemeanor cases through the County Court. Public records access is available under the Texas Public Information Act.

Lee County District Court Records

The District Clerk in Giddings handles all felony criminal case files for Lee County. The 21st District Court covers Lee County and hears all felony prosecutions from state jail felonies up through capital cases. Case files held by the District Clerk include indictments, guilty pleas, court orders, sentencing documents, and appeal records.

Records can be accessed at the Lee County Courthouse in Giddings during business hours. You can search by case number or defendant name. Certified copies of court records cost a per-page fee. The District Clerk reports all felony dispositions to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service for the Texas Computerized Criminal History database.

Lee County's central location along Highway 290 gives it some traffic-related criminal cases as well. If you are unsure whether a case is a state court matter or a federal matter, the District Clerk can tell you if the case is in their system.

Misdemeanor Records in Lee County

The County Clerk holds Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal records for Lee County. The County Court hears these cases, including DWI, assault, theft, and other lower-level criminal charges. The County Clerk's files include complaints, orders, fines, and probation terms.

Records are public under the Texas Public Information Act. Staff can search by name or case number. Certified copies are available for a per-page fee. Class C offenses go to the Justice of the Peace courts and are not held by the County Clerk.

Lee County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Lee County Sheriff's Office covers the unincorporated areas of the county and runs the county jail. Arrest records, booking logs, incident reports, and warrant data are all maintained here. If someone was arrested in the rural areas of Lee County, the Sheriff's Office holds those records.

Booking records include arrest date, charges, bond amounts, and booking photos. The Sheriff's Office sends all arrest data to DPS for entry into the statewide criminal history system. The Giddings Police Department handles city arrests and also reports to DPS.

To get records from the Sheriff, submit a public information request under the Texas Public Information Act. The office must respond within 10 business days. Closed case files, general arrest logs, and booking records are usually available. Active investigations and protected source data may be withheld. Call the Sheriff's Office to ask about current fees and the preferred way to submit requests.

Texas Statewide Criminal History Search

Lee County criminal history data feeds into the Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system run by the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. You can request a public name-based or fingerprint-based criminal history search from DPS. A fee applies to both.

The Texas Courts re:SearchTX portal lets you search case records from Lee County and other Texas courts for free. Basic case data is available by name or case number. Older records that have not been digitized may require an in-person visit to the courthouse.

Texas Laws Governing Criminal Records

Texas Government Code Chapter 411 authorizes DPS to collect and maintain criminal history records. The Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552) covers public access to government records. Most court records are open to the public, with exceptions for juvenile records, expunged files, and sealed cases.

Under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66, expunged records must be destroyed or sealed. The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 classifies offenses, which tells you which court has the records. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division can help with questions about what records are available.

TDCJ Offender Records

Lee County residents convicted of felonies and sent to state prison have records with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. TDCJ's free online search lets you look up current and former state inmates by name. County jail records remain with the Sheriff's Office and are a separate system from TDCJ.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County includes Giddings and other small communities like Lexington. All criminal cases in Lee County are processed through the county courts in Giddings.

Nearby Counties

Lee County is in Central Texas, bordered by Bastrop, Fayette, Washington, Burleson, and Milam counties. Use these links to search nearby county records.