Bastrop County Arrest Records

A Bastrop County arrest record is an electronic version of the blotter or form completed by an arresting officer when booking a suspect into the jail facility. After the booking, the arresting officer will follow the Misdemeanor or Felony Flowchart, depending on the offense committed by the defendant. The information about the process outlined in the flowchart is compiled to keep track of the arrestee's criminal history. Arrest information is available to the public during an arrest record search at the Sheriff's Office. They can also be found when Bastrop County Court Records requests are submitted to the court where the case was heard.

Are Arrest Records Public in Bastrop County?

Yes. The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) gives individuals the right to access arrest records and the record custodians. All arrest information is presumed to be available to the public, but certain exceptions may apply to disclosing the information. The following arrest records or information contained in them are deemed confidential in Bastrop County:

• Juvenile offenders' arrest records
• Law enforcement investigative records
• The medical records of an arrested person
• Arrest records relating to child abuse investigations
• Arrest information pertaining to the execution of a convict
• An arrest information that reveals the identity of a crime victim
• An arresting officer's residential address and family member information
• A peace officer's photograph whose release would negatively affect their life or physical safety.
• Arrest records whose disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, reveal the identity of a confidential source, or endanger the life or physical safety of a person.
• A law enforcement agency or prosecutor deems information in their custody relating to the detection, investigation, or prosecution of a crime confidential if:
  • The release would interfere with the crime's detection, investigation, or prosecution.
  • The investigation did not lead to conviction or deferred adjudication.
  • Such information relates to a threat against a peace or detention officer and is collected or issued under Texas Government Code § 411.048.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Bastrop County arrest records contain information about an arrested person and the charges against them. For example:

• Arrest number and type
• Arrest date and time
• Offense or charge
• The location of the arrest
• The full name of the arrested person
• Sex, age, and race
• Booking date and time
• Custody status

Bastrop County Arrest Statistics

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) publishes Crime Reports on arrest statistics submitted by all law enforcement agencies in the state on its website. The report shows that the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office and Local Police Departments made 287 arrests in 2023.

Find Bastrop County Arrest Records

Inquirers can get arrest information from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) online, by email, telephone, or in person. The Inmate Information Search tool is the best online platform for finding arrest records. A search can be conducted by name, TDCJ number, gender, SID number, or race.

Email requesters should send the inmate's full name and 7-digit TDCJ number to pia@tdcj.texas.gov. Those who do not know the inmate's TDCJ number can provide the exact date of birth or approximate age and county of conviction. The record seeker should include the inmate's name in the email's subject line. This service is free. In-person inquirers can visit any TDCJ facility during business hours to get Bastrop County arrest records. Phone requests can be made by calling the following numbers from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• (844) 512-0461 (the Board of Pardons and Paroles status line)
• (512) 406-5202 (the Parole Division status line in Austin). Provide a TDCJ or SID number or date of birth.
• (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283 (Inmate Locator/General Information Line - Huntsville)

Federal law enforcement agencies also disseminate Bastrop County arrest records to requesters. Some only make their record available to the subject of records. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) gives arrest records to record holders by mail, online, and through approved channelers. Copies of their records cost $18, payable by money order, certified check, or credit card through the Credit Card Payment Form. Online requests take 15 days to process, requiring visiting a participating U.S. Post Office location to submit fingerprints. The turnaround time for mail requests is 20 days, and it includes submitting an Applicant Information Form to:

FBI CJIS Division – Summary Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

Other federal law enforcement agencies make their arrest records available to members of the public. They even have online portals where individuals can view arrest information for free. Below are some examples of these agencies:

• The United States Capitol Police (USCP) gives the public the right to use its online portal to view arrest records for free. The search can be filtered by CFN number, crime date, crime summary, and crime type. Individuals can also mail a Request Form to the USCP to obtain copies of arrest records. The mailing address is:

United States Capitol Police
Reports Processing Section
119 D Street
Washington, DC 20510

• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has an Inmate Locator where requesters can conduct free searches. The search criteria are number (BOP register number, DCDC number, FBI number, or INS number) or name (first, middle, or last). Copies of arrest records can be obtained in person at BOP facilities across the country for a fee.
• The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issues arrest records online and in person to anyone at its local field offices and detention facilities. Electronic requests can be made using the ICE's Online Detainee Locator System. A search can be conducted using an A-Number or biographical information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Bastrop County

Individuals can inquire about inmates' arrest records by calling the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office's booking desk at (512) 549-5073. They can also get arrest records for free by submitting written requests by email at sorecords@co.bastrop.tx.us, fax at (512) 549-5195, by mail or in person. Record seekers can also use third-party portals to access arrest records without charges. However, they can only view a few information about the desired record. Third-party vendors only permit comprehensive searches for a fee.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Bastrop County arrests will stay on a person's record until expunged. However, the person can ask for an order of nondisclosure in certain circumstances. This would not erase the arrest for the person's record because law enforcement agencies can still access it, but it would not be open to public members. The Texas State Library & Archives Commission (TSLAC) specifies the retention schedule for arrest records of law enforcement agencies. Below are the retention period of some arrest records in Bastrop County:

• Bail bond records are kept for 3 years
• Activity logs or dockets are kept for 2 years
• Jail incident reports are kept for 5 years
• Offense investigation records of second- and third-degree felonies are kept for 10 years.
• Offense investigation records of first-degree and capital felonies are kept for 50 years.
• Offense investigation records of Class A and B misdemeanors and state jail felonies are kept for 2 years.
• Offense investigation records and arrest reports for class C misdemeanors and unclassified violations of local and state law punishable by a fine are kept for 6 months. Arrest reports for other offenses are retained for 75 years or until the individual's death, whichever is sooner.

Expunge Bastrop County Arrest Records

Texas law allows individuals to remove arrest information from their criminal records through expungement. The Tex. Code Crim. Proc. § 55 outlines the offenses eligible for expungement in Bastrop County. Individuals who have reviewed the statute and are eligible should file a Petition for Expunction with the Bastrop County District Court, where the case was handled, to have their records expunged. The filing fee is $350, with $15 per agency for each notice and order. After the petitioner files the form, the court will set a hearing date and notify all applicable respondents (agencies and facilities) about the hearing. The respondents have the opportunity to contest the expungement during the hearing. The court will grant the expungement if the petitioner meets all of the necessary requirements. Afterward, the petitioner must present an Order for Expunction to the court for the judge's signature. The signed order will be sent to all agencies or organizations with records relating to the expunged offense.

Bastrop County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a written order created by a magistrate commanding a police officer to arrest a person accused of an offense (Texas Code Crim. Proc. § 15.01). It is usually issued in the name of the state and carries the following information:

• The specific name of the accused or a definite description of the person if the name is unknown.
• The name of the offense committed by the accused.
• The magistrate's signature and office

Per Texas Code Criminal Procedure § 15.16, the officer executing an arrest warrant must bring the accused before the issuing magistrate without unnecessary delay. If the issuing magistrate is in another county, the officer can immediately take the accused before a magistrate in the county where the arrest occurred.

Do Bastrop County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Once a magistrate signs an arrest warrant, the executing officer can arrest the defendant on sight. The warrant has no expiration date, so it remains valid until the defendant is arrested.