Search Midland County Criminal History

Finding criminal history records in Midland County starts with knowing which office holds the type of record you need. In Midland, the District Clerk has felony case files going back decades. The County Clerk handles Class A and B misdemeanor cases. The Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records and jail booking information. Texas law generally makes these records public. Online searches are available for recent cases, while older records may require an in-person visit.

Midland County District Court Records

For felony cases in Midland County, the District Clerk is the right office to contact. The 238th District Court handles serious criminal matters, and the District Clerk maintains all case files, judgments, and court orders. Records of felony convictions are kept permanently under state records retention rules.

Records searches at the District Clerk's office in Midland can be done in person or by written request. Staff can look up felony cases by defendant name or cause number. Certified copies of judgments, indictments, and other documents are available. Fees are set by Texas law and collected at the time of the request.

Under Texas law, the District Clerk is required to report all felony dispositions to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. This reporting links Midland County court records to the statewide criminal history system maintained by the Department of Public Safety.

Misdemeanor Criminal Records in Midland County

Misdemeanor records in Midland County are held by the County Clerk, who serves as the court clerk for the County Court. Class A misdemeanors include offenses like assault and theft. Class B misdemeanors include offenses like possession of marijuana under two ounces and first-offense DWI. All these records are kept in the County Clerk's office.

County Clerk records are public under the Texas Public Information Act. You can request a records search from the County Clerk. Class C misdemeanor cases are not held here. Those minor offenses go through Justice of the Peace courts or city municipal courts and are kept separately.

Midland County Sheriff Arrest Records

For arrest records in Midland County, contact the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff maintains arrest and booking records for incidents that occur in the county's unincorporated areas. They also operate the county jail and keep logs of all persons booked, held, and released.

The Sheriff's Office runs the Midland County Jail and keeps complete booking records for everyone taken into custody. This includes the charges, bond conditions, and disposition of the jail stay. Warrant records and civil process records are also kept by the Sheriff.

The Texas Public Information Act gives you the right to request arrest records from the Midland County Sheriff's Office. Most arrest logs and closed case incident reports are public. Some records, including those involving juveniles or active investigations, may require more time or may not be releasable.

Midland County Official Records

The Midland 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

The Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system maintained by the Texas DPS Crime Records Division includes data from Midland County along with records from every other county in the state.

You can request a name-based criminal history check through Texas DPS to get results that span all Texas counties, not just Midland County. Fingerprint-based searches are more accurate and are used when a definitive record is needed.

Texas courts provide public case searches through re:SearchTX. This free portal covers district and county court cases including those filed in Midland County. Searches by name or case number return party information, case status, and docket entries.

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

Two main laws govern criminal record access in Midland County. Texas Government Code Chapter 411 controls who can access criminal history data and under what conditions. The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) applies to all government records, including court files.

While most criminal court records in Midland County are open to the public, some are restricted. Juvenile records are not public. Records sealed by court order are not accessible. Records subject to expunction orders under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 must be destroyed or removed from public databases.

Texas classifies criminal offenses by severity under Penal Code Chapter 12. Felonies of all grades are tried in district court. Class A and B misdemeanors go to county court. Class C misdemeanors are handled at the justice of the peace or municipal court level. Each level has its own clerk and records system.

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

State prison records for felons from Midland County are kept by TDCJ. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice runs the state prison system and provides online offender searches. You can look up anyone who is currently in a TDCJ facility or has previously been incarcerated there.

County jail records in Midland County are with the Sheriff. State prison records are with TDCJ. The two systems do not overlap. If you are searching for someone in short-term county detention, contact the Sheriff's Office. If they are serving a felony sentence in a state prison, use the TDCJ offender search.

Cities in Midland County

Midland County includes Midland and several other communities. The following cities in Midland County have criminal history records pages on this site. All criminal cases from these cities are handled by the Midland County court system.

Nearby Counties

Midland 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.