Are Criminal Records in Comal County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, Comal County criminal records are publicly accessible. According to Chapter 552 of the Texas Code, it is the right of the public to access information about the affairs of government and the official acts of its employees unless the law states otherwise. The public can access and copy arrest records and other documents relating to the prosecution, conviction, sentencing, and incarceration of criminal offenders within Comal County.

However, there is exemption to public access to criminal records in Comal County. Due to privacy and safety reasons, sealed, expunged, and juvenile criminal records are not available for public inspection.

Who is Eligible to Access Comal County Criminal Records in Texas?

The Texas Public Information Act grants everyone the right to Comal County criminal records. Under Texas laws, criminal records are accessible to:

• Public members
• The courts
• Authorized entities
• Law enforcement agencies
• Researchers
• Authorized agencies
• Journalists
• Employers.

Access to some Comal County criminal records depends on document types and the requester. For instance, only the courts, law enforcement agencies, and authorized entities can access juvenile and sealed criminal records in Comal County.

How to Request Criminal Records in Comal County

Comal County criminal records are accessible online and through several offline options. Individuals seeking access or copies of Comal County criminal records should:

• Log into the Comal County Criminal Case Records Portal and search for criminal records by name or case numbers
• Visit or send record requests to any of the following agencies:

Felony case records
The Comal County District Court Records
150 N. Seguin Avenue, Suite 3009
New Braunfels,
Texas 78130
Phone: (830) 221-1250
Fax: (830) 608-2006
Email: DistrictClerksOffice@co.comal.tx.us

Misdemeanor criminal records
The Comal County Court at Law Records Management Clerk
199 Main Plaza, 1st Floor
New Braunfels, Texas 78130
Phone: (830) 221-1240
Fax: (830) 608-2021
Email: ccalrecords@co.comal.tx.us.

Alternatively, fill out and submit the County Court at Law Online Records Request Form.

Arrest records and jail information
The Comal County Sheriff's Office Criminal/Jail Records Division
3000 IH 35 South,
New Braunfels, Texas 78130
Phone: (830) 620-3412
Fax: (830) 608-0147
Email: JailRecords@co.comal.tx.us

• Log into the Texas Department of Public Safety's (TDPS) Crime History Conviction Name Search Portal and access Comal County criminal records through a name search. Alternatively:
  • Schedule a digital fingerprinting visit to the IdentoGo location (this requires a Service Code from the DPS and online appointment scheduling on the IdentoGo website)
  • Obtain the Universal Enrollment Identification Code (UEID)
  • Create an account on the Texas DPS SecureSite and use the UEID from the IdentoGo receipt to login
  • Make applicable payments and download Comal County criminal history

The DPS may also accept mail and in-person requests through their Crimes Records Division at:

5805 North Lamar Boulevard,
Austin,
TX 78752-4422
Phone: (512) 424-2474
Email: crime.records@dps.texas.gov.

Mail address
P.O. Box 4143
Austin,
TX 78765-4143.

In addition, inquirers can search for Comal County criminal records through texascourtrecords.us and other private online databases.

Interested individuals should note that it costs $1.00 per page of a plain copy Comal County criminal record and an additional $5.00 for a certified copy. Requests through the DPS cost $10.00 per name-based search and $38.00 or more for Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Check.

The wait time for delivery of Comal County criminal records after requests and payments depends on several factors. These include the request method, the complexity of the documents, the availability of staff to process the requests, and the delivery strategy. Non-certified online copies may be downloadable immediately if the records are available and digitized. However, it generally takes between 1 and several business days to process and deliver copies of Comal County criminal records.

What Information Is Contained in Comal County Criminal Records?

Comal County criminal records contain information about crimes and their prosecutions within Comal County, TX. Generally, Comal County criminal records and those of other Texas counties contain the following information:

• Full names, known aliases, dates of birth, genders, and ethnicities of the record owners
• Booking numbers, mugshots, names of the arresting agencies, time and locations of arrests, and bail/bond details (if applicable)
• Case numbers, charges and sections of Texas Codes violated, arraignment information, court names, and trial dates
• Outcome of trials
• Names of prosecuting and defending attorneys
• Date and duration of sentences
• Names of jail facilities.

Requesters should not that Texas and federal laws exempt access to criminal case documents and information protected by privacy laws or who public access may compromise public safety. For these reasons, there are restrictions on documents relating to:

• Sealed cases
• Juvenile convictions
• Ongoing investigation
• Domestic violence and abuse
• Undercover law enforcement details
• Victim and witness confidential information.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Comal County?

Yes, there are restrictions on accessing Comal County criminal. Due to safety and privacy concerns, there are limitations on public access to Comal County criminal records if the documents are sealed, expunged, or related to juvenile convictions, ongoing investigations, or domestic abuse. Under Texas laws, only the courts, law enforcement, and authorized entities have legal authority to access exempted Comal County criminal records.

What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Comal County?

There are several reasons custodian agencies can deny requests for Comal County criminal records; these include:

• Ineligibility of the requester to access the records
• Unavailability of the documents
• Incorrect or incomplete information
• Restrictions to public access to the records.

The following may help requesters navigate the process of accessing Comal County criminal records if custodian agencies refuse access:

• Confirm eligibility to access the documents and request a written explanation for the denial if eligible
• Appeal to the agency to reconsider its decision
• If the agency still refuses to rescind its decision 10 days after the appeal, send a written petition to the Texas Office of the Attorney General – Open Records Division at:

P.O. Box 12548,
Austin,
TX 78711-2548
Phone: (512) 478-6736

• Seek professional advice and consider legal action as the last resort if all other options fail.

How to Expunge or Seal Comal County Criminal Records

The following steps outline the procedure for sealing and expunging Comal County criminal records:

• Determine eligibility to seal or expunge criminal records
• Assemble support documents that will aid the petition
• Submit a written petition (this should include the support documents) to the Comal County District Clerk's Office
• Pay the applicable filing fee
• Send notice of the petition to the Comal County Criminal District Attorney's Office and the arresting agency.
• Attend any court hearing on the petition.
• The court will decide on the petition, and if it is successful, it will seal or expunge the records and order the relevant authorities to update their databases.

Applicants should note that a criminal record may qualify for sealing or expunction in Comal County if:

• The associated crime did not result in a criminal conviction
• The owner of the record receives a pardon from Texas Governor
• The convict serves the sentence for the crime
• The owner of the record completes a deferred adjudication program
• The criminal record results from a mistaken identity
• The record is for an eligible crime
• The applicant pays all the court-imposed dues and makes restitution (if applicable)
• The record owner observes the applicable waiting period.