Texas Criminal Court Records Search

Texas Criminal Court Records Search

Texas, the Lone Star State, is home to a vast judicial system that handles a multitude of court proceedings, from civil disputes to criminal cases. When it comes to criminal charges, District Courts handle most of these cases. These are the state's main trial courts for both felonies and misdemeanors.

A Texas criminal court records search can be performed by anyone, since these are deemed public records. The state offer online search tools, as well as most county court websites. There are also third-party resources that can be used to access these records by name or TX court case number.

The Role of Texas District Courts

District courts are one of the most important components of the state's judiciary system. As mentioned, they serve as the main trial courts for criminal court cases, handling both felonies and misdemeanors. With more than 450 District Courthouses in the state, they are among the most prolific in the state.

Felonies court cases are the most serious crimes that can result in prison time, significant fines, or even the death penalty in capital cases. Misdemeanors, on the other hand, are far less severe criminal offenses that carry much lighter penalties. Many misdemeanor cases do not result in prison time, where most felony cases involve at least some prison or jail time. Knowing the difference between felonies and misdemeanors can be helpful when researching a person's court case history.

District courts carry jurisdiction over all initial felony and misdemeanor cases. All of these cases go to trial, where judges preside over trials. They will assess available evidence, and render verdicts. Many of the more serious cases, those dealing with felonies, will also have a jury. With such a wide range of cases, TX District Courts maintain a comprehensive database of records that are searchable online.

Top 10 Criminal Charges in Trial Courts

The following are the top 10 criminal charges that the TX District Courts frequently hear:

1. Possession of Controlled Substances: With strict drug laws, possession charges are the most common cases heard.
2. DWIs and DUIs: Driving while intoxicated, or under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
3. Battery and Assault: This convers a range of offenses, from simple assault to aggravated assault with a weapon.
4. Theft: These charges can range from a minor shoplifting charge to felony grand theft.
5. Burglary and Breaking and Entry: Breaking into a building with the intent to steal or commit a crime.
6. Robbery: Stealing, or taking property from someone, or an establishment.
7. Murder: The unlawful killing of someone, from manslaughter to capital murder. These are all felonies.
8. Sexual Assault: Including offenses such as rape and sexual assault.
9. Fraud: Intent to steal, embezzle or defrauding an individual or business.
10. Illegal Weapons Possession: Unlawful possession and/or use of firearms or other illegal weapons.

These charges are the most common in the state's criminal justice system, that lead to both misdemeanors and felonies. The most serious felony criminal cases can lead to capital punishment.

How to Run a Texas Criminal Court Records Search

Accessing Texas criminal court records can be important for a multitude of reasons. These might be used for TX background checks, legal research, or personal inquiries. With an online search, it's possible to look up someone's court case history, convictions, arrests, incarcerations, active warrants, inmate records, traffic citations, and background records. There are a few options on how to access these criminal court records online.

1). First, you can run a statewide criminal court case search by using the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). They offer an online searchable platform for court cases, dockets, and filings. You must first register to use this resource, and then pay for any copies of records or documents.

2). Second, you can run a Texas crime records search using the Department of Public Safety (DPS) website. The state's Crime Records Division offers public access to criminal history reports. For a fee, you can request these reports but there are some requirements. Since these are considered official records, you must have permission to run a report.

3). A third option, is to visit the county courthouse website. Most larger counties in the state have an online portal where the public can sign up and make inquiries for case records. An example of this is if you want to access Denton County Texas Criminal Court Records, you can visit the Denton County Judicial website. You can make request to obtain copies of specific records, or request a background search on someone.

4). A fourth option, is to use a third party public records site. This type of resource is typically used for reference and online viewing of records only. Most of these sites are not FCRA certified, which means you cannot use them for official purposes such as employee background checks. That said, these are convenience online resources for quickly referencing someone's criminal past, court case history, and all things public records. These sites typically charge a fee, but you can obtain access to records almost instantly.

What is the Highest Criminal Court in Texas for Criminal Cases?

The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest courthouse that hears TX criminal court cases. This is the last stop for a criminal case that is being appealed. If someone is still found guilty here then they will not be able to do anything else with their case. This courthouse is usually last attempt for a defendant to appeal their case before it is finalized. The TX Court of Appeals is often used for people that receive the death penalty as it is their last hope of not receiving capital punishment.

Navigating Privacy and Accessibility

Criminal court case records are generally public records, but there are a few exceptions. Privacy laws and state and federal regulations can restrict access to certain types of information. These may include records involving juveniles or sensitive personal data. While there are a multitude of online resources to perform your research, some of these offer more detailed results than others. It is important to make sure that you verify any information you receive as there are sometimes errors in reporting.