Find Criminal History Records in Smith County
Smith County criminal history records are held by the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in Tyler. You can search felony and misdemeanor case files, request certified copies of court documents, or look up arrest and jail records. This page explains where to find Smith County criminal records and how to access them through local offices and state databases.
Smith County Overview
Smith County District Clerk
The Smith County District Clerk is the official custodian of all felony criminal case records in the county. This office files and stores records for multiple district courts in Tyler. Records include grand jury indictments, judgments, sentencing orders, motions, and all documents tied to felony prosecutions in Smith County.
You can search for criminal cases at the courthouse or through the re:SearchTX portal. That free statewide tool lets you look up cases by name or cause number. You can also contact the District Clerk's office directly. The office provides certified copies of court records for a fee set by the Texas Government Code.
The District Clerk reports all felony convictions to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service, which adds them to the Texas Computerized Criminal History database. This reporting happens on a regular schedule and is required by state law.
| Office | Smith County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75702 |
| Phone | (903) 590-1660 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | smithcountytx.gov |
Smith County Clerk - Misdemeanor Cases
The Smith County Clerk maintains records for the county courts at law, which handle Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases. These are less serious than felonies but still appear in the Texas criminal history system. The office stores complaints, judgments, fines, community supervision orders, and case dispositions.
Public access to misdemeanor records is available by case number or defendant name. Certified copies cost a per-page fee. The County Clerk reports all misdemeanor convictions to DPS within required timeframes under state law. If you are looking for someone's misdemeanor history in Smith County, this is the right office to contact.
| Office | Smith County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75702 |
| Phone | (903) 590-1660 |
| Website | smithcountytx.gov |
Smith County Sheriff - Arrest and Jail Records
The Smith County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for the county outside city limits and operates the Smith County Jail. The office keeps arrest reports, incident reports, offense reports, and booking records. All arrest and booking data goes to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service for inclusion in the statewide database.
Jail records include booking photos, physical descriptions, charges, bond amounts, court dates, and classification levels. The office participates in both TCIC and NCIC for statewide and national criminal information sharing. You can request records under the Texas Public Information Act by writing to the Public Information Officer at the Sheriff's Office.
Some records may be withheld if they are part of an active investigation or fall under a specific exception in the Public Information Act. The Texas Attorney General's Office handles disputes about what must be disclosed.
| Office | Smith County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 210 S Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX 75702 |
| Phone | (903) 566-6600 |
| Website | smithcountytx.gov |
Smith County District Attorney
The Smith County District Attorney's Office prosecutes all felony criminal cases and misdemeanor cases appealed from county courts. Prosecution files include case records, witness statements, evidence documentation, plea agreements, and trial materials. The DA's office works with the Smith County Sheriff and Tyler Police Department on most cases.
The DA also runs victim services coordination for people affected by crimes in Smith County. Victim impact statements and restitution records are part of the case files maintained by this office. Public access to prosecution files is limited under state law to protect witness identities and active investigation materials.
Note: The District Attorney's prosecution files are not the same as court records. Court records at the District Clerk are more broadly accessible to the public.
| Office | Smith County District Attorney |
|---|---|
| Website | smithcountytx.gov |
Statewide Criminal History Through DPS
For a complete picture of someone's criminal history across all Texas counties, use the statewide system at the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. This database pulls together arrest and conviction data from all Texas counties, including Smith County. You can request a name-based search or a more thorough fingerprint-based search through DPS.
The public name-based search is available online through the DPS website. It costs a small fee and gives you criminal history data from the Texas Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. Fingerprint searches are used when a more accurate match is needed. Both types of searches cover statewide data, not just Smith County records.
Under Texas Government Code Chapter 411, the DPS criminal history records are confidential and only released to authorized entities. But court records at the county level are still public and accessible through the clerk's office or re:SearchTX.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Offender Search
If someone has been sentenced to state prison after a conviction in Smith County, you can look them up in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search. This tool covers current and former TDCJ inmates. It shows basic information like name, TDCJ number, offense, and sentence length.
The TDCJ offender search is separate from the county criminal court records. It only shows people who went to state prison, not those who served county jail time. For local jail records, contact the Smith County Sheriff's Office directly. For court case details, go through the District Clerk or re:SearchTX.
Texas Criminal History Record Systems
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service is the central hub for criminal history data in Texas, collecting records from Smith County and all other Texas counties for inclusion in the state database.
The Texas Attorney General's Open Government Division provides guidance on accessing public records, including criminal justice records held by Smith County agencies.
The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 66 governs how criminal history record systems are maintained statewide, including what data counties must report and how it is stored.
Texas statutes set the rules for who can access criminal history records, how records are sealed or expunged, and what information appears in public court records.
Cities in Smith County
Smith County includes the city of Tyler, which is the county seat and the largest city in East Texas. All criminal cases from the city of Tyler and other Smith County communities are heard in the Smith County District Court.
Other communities in Smith County include Whitehouse, Lindale, Bullard, and Troup. Criminal matters for all of these communities are handled through the Smith County courts in Tyler.
Nearby Counties
Smith County is surrounded by other East Texas counties. If you need records from a neighboring county, check their clerk's office or search re:SearchTX.