Sherman County Criminal History Records
Sherman County criminal history records are kept by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in Stratford. You can search for criminal cases, arrest records, and court dispositions through local offices or the statewide Texas DPS system. This page covers how to find and access Sherman County criminal records through the right channels, whether you need a basic case lookup or a certified copy of a court document.
Sherman County Overview
Sherman County District Clerk
The Sherman County District Clerk is the official keeper of felony criminal case records in the county. All felony cases filed in the 69th Judicial District Court go through this office. Records include indictments, judgments, sentencing orders, and all related court documents. You can request copies in person at the courthouse in Stratford.
Sherman County is a rural county in the Texas Panhandle. The court system handles a smaller caseload than urban counties, but all records are kept the same way under state law. The District Clerk reports all felony convictions to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service for inclusion in the statewide criminal history database. You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX portal to look up court cases.
| Office | Sherman County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 701 N 3rd Street, Stratford, TX 79084 |
| Phone | (806) 366-2371 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Sherman County Clerk and Misdemeanor Records
The Sherman County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal records for cases heard in the county court. Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases are filed and stored here. The office also maintains records of the Commissioners Court and other county government functions.
Misdemeanor records include complaints, judgments, fines, and community supervision orders. Public access is available by case number or defendant name. The County Clerk reports misdemeanor convictions to the Texas DPS so those records also appear in the state criminal history system. Call the office to confirm hours before making a trip to Stratford, as rural counties sometimes have limited staffing.
| Office | Sherman County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 701 N 3rd Street, Stratford, TX 79084 |
| Phone | (806) 366-2371 |
Sherman County Sheriff's Office Records
The Sherman County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It keeps arrest records, incident reports, offense reports, and jail booking information. The Sheriff's Office sends all arrest and booking data to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service, which adds it to the Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) database.
If you need a copy of an arrest record or incident report from the Sheriff's Office, you can request it under the Texas Public Information Act. Requests can be made in person or in writing. Some records may be withheld if they involve active investigations. The office also participates in TCIC and NCIC for statewide and national criminal information sharing.
Jail records maintained by the Sheriff's Office include booking photos, physical descriptions, charges, bond amounts, and court dates. These records are generally public unless they fall under a specific legal exception.
Texas DPS Criminal History Search
Texas keeps a central criminal history database at the state level. The Texas DPS Crime Records Service collects arrest and disposition data from all counties, including Sherman County. You can request a criminal history search through DPS online or by mail.
There are two types of DPS criminal history searches. A name-based search is available to the public and costs a small fee. A fingerprint-based search gives a more complete and accurate result. Employers and agencies that need certified results typically use the fingerprint method. For most personal or informal lookups, the name-based search works fine.
Under Texas Government Code Chapter 411, criminal history records compiled by DPS are generally confidential and only available to authorized entities. However, court records at the county level are public records and can be accessed directly from the clerk's office or through re:SearchTX.
Note: DPS name-based searches may not catch every record if a person has used multiple names or identifiers. Use a fingerprint search for the most complete result.
Sherman County Court Criminal Records
Court records in Sherman County are public under Texas law. You can look up criminal case information through the re:SearchTX portal, which covers district and county courts statewide. This free tool lets you search by party name or cause number and shows case status, docket entries, and court events.
The 69th Judicial District serves Sherman County along with several other Panhandle counties. The judge holds court in Stratford. For older cases or certified copies, contact the District Clerk's office directly. Cases not yet in re:SearchTX may still be available from the clerk in person.
The Texas Judicial Branch website also provides general information on how Texas courts work, how to find your court, and what types of records are public.
What Sherman County Criminal Records Show
Criminal records in Sherman County can come from several sources. Court records show the official legal history of a case: charges filed, plea entered, verdict, and sentence. Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office show when and why a person was taken into custody. These are not the same thing. An arrest does not mean a conviction.
A complete criminal history for someone in Sherman County may include:
- Arrest date, charges, and arresting agency
- Grand jury indictment or complaint
- Court case number and assigned judge
- Plea entered and final disposition
- Sentence imposed, including fines or confinement
- Community supervision or probation terms
- Appeal information if applicable
Records that involve juveniles are sealed under Texas law. Expunged or nondisclosed records are also removed from public access. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 governs how criminal history records are compiled and maintained in the state.
Texas Criminal Records Law
Texas criminal history records are governed by several state laws. Government Code Chapter 411 covers the DPS criminal history system and who can access it. The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) gives the public the right to request government records, including criminal justice records held by county offices.
Court records at the county clerk and district clerk level are open to the public under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and state court rules. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division handles disputes over records access and issues opinions on what must be disclosed.
For information on criminal penalties and offense classifications in Texas, see the Texas Penal Code Chapter 12. Understanding offense levels helps you interpret what a criminal record entry means in terms of severity.
Texas Criminal History Resources
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service manages the central criminal history database for the state, receiving data from all Texas counties including Sherman County.
The Texas Association of Counties provides resources on county government functions, including how county clerks and sheriffs handle criminal records across the state.
The Texas Judicial Branch oversees all state courts and provides public access tools for searching court records.
The Texas Judicial Branch website includes links to re:SearchTX and court locators to help you find the right court for Sherman County cases.
Cities in Sherman County
Stratford is the county seat of Sherman County. All criminal cases in the county are handled through the Sherman County District Court in Stratford.
Nearby Counties
Sherman County borders several other Panhandle counties. Each has its own clerk and court system for criminal records.