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  2. Dallas County
  3. Dallas County Criminal Records
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Are Criminal Records in Dallas County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, criminal records in Dallas County are public. Chapter 552 of the Texas Code (Texas Public Information Act) grants interested individuals the right to access Dallas criminal records and other government documents in the custody of local and state government agencies if there are no restrictions to public access. In Dallas County and other parts of Texas, the law allows public access to the following documents relating to criminal records:

  • Arrest information
  • Booking and jail records
  • Court records relating to criminal trials, outcomes, sentencing, and incarcerations
  • Sex offender registry
  • Warrant records.

However, Texas and federal laws will deny public access to Dallas County criminal records if they relate to juvenile offenders, sealed or expunged cases, ongoing law enforcement investigations, and other criminal case documents whose public access may infringe privacy or compromise public safety.

Chapter 58 of the Texas Family Code outlines the terms for accessing Dallas County juvenile criminal records. Also, Articles 55.01 and 42A.701 of the Code of Criminal Procedures give the conditions for restricting public access to some Dallas County arrest records; access to these types of Dallas criminal records requires legal clearance or judicial orders.

Who is Eligible to Access Dallas County Criminal Records

Under the Texas Public Information Act, access to Dallas County criminal records depends on the type of records or information and the requesting party.

In Dallas County, employers, victims of crimes, licensing agencies, and the general public can access non-restricted criminal information such as arrest records, booking information, conviction records, and other documents related to criminal trials. Also, the subjects of criminal records, authorized attorneys or legal representatives, courts and judicial officials, and law enforcement officials can have full access to complete criminal histories.

Requestor Requirements for accessing Dallas County criminal records Restrictions
Members of the public Submit formal public record requests to the Dallas County District Clerk, County Clerk, Police Department, or the arresting law enforcement agency Custodian agencies will redact juvenile arrest records, sealed or expunged records, and victims' personally identifying information
Law enforcement and criminal justice agencies The requests must be for official and legitimate use Law enforcement must not disclose the records or their contents to non-authorized entities
Courts and judicial officers The courts do not require consent to access criminal records; they can order the disclosure of some sealed criminal records during trials A lower court must make a formal request to access a local criminal record sealed by a higher court
Employers and licensing agencies Licensing agencies and employers can obtain criminal background information only through authorized services. Also, requesters must seek and obtain the consent of the owners of criminal records for background checks through third-party services Records relating to sealed or expunged cases and those not resulting in convictions are inaccessible. Also, licensing agencies cannot access older records that are not relevant to applications
Legal representatives and attorneys Must obtain the authorization of the owners to access criminal records and the consent of the courts to unseal criminal records for specific legal reasons Attorneys and legal representatives cannot access expunged criminal records without the consent of the courts
The owner of the criminal records Must provide valid government-issued identification documents to access their criminal records Individuals cannot access their expunged criminal records
Victims of crimes Must prove direct involvement in the case resulting in the criminal records Cannot access the personal details of the accused. In addition, victims cannot access criminal records relating to ongoing law enforcement investigations.

How to Request Criminal Records in Dallas County

There are several ways interested individuals can access Dallas County criminal records. In Dallas County, criminal records are accessible through various local and state agency services. Interested parties seeking access to criminal records have the following options:

Dallas County District Clerk's Office

The Dallas County District Clerk's Office is the custodian of felonies, indictments, and sentencing. Individuals seeking access to criminal records through the Dallas County District Clerk's Office should:

Should visit their office at:

George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building
600 Commerce Street, Suite 103,
Dallas,
TX 75202
Phone: (214) 653-7307

Dallas County Clerk's Office

The Dallas County Clerk's Office maintains Class A and B misdemeanor records. For access to Dallas County misdemeanor criminal records:

Visit the Dallas County Clerk's Office at:

The Renaissance Tower
1201 Elm Street, Suite 2100,
Dallas,
TX 75270
Phone: (214) 653-7099

Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS)

The TDPS provides state-wide access to criminal records. County criminal record seekers should:

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

The TDPS Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Check offers more accurate results that are suitable for official use. This option requires requesters to provide their fingerprints through the IdentoGO fingerprinting services.

Sourcing criminal records through the DPS involves fee payments. A Dallas County criminal records search through the DPS Crime History Conviction Name Search Portal costs $10.00. By comparison, it costs $38.00 or more (depending on the services to obtain a criminal record through the DPS Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Check portal:

  • Fingerprinting - $10.00 to $20.00
  • DPS processing fee - typically around $28.00.

After completing online requests and making the necessary payments, name-based criminal history search results are available immediately. In contrast, fingerprint-based criminal history check results may take 5 to 7 working days to be available.

What Information Is Contained in Dallas County Criminal Records?

Dallas County criminal records are a comprehensive compilation of criminal prosecutions under the Dallas County criminal justice system. These comprise Dallas County arrest records and other criminal case documents.

A criminal record typically contains the following information:

  • The name, aliases, dates of birth, and physical description of the owner of the records
  • Dates of arrests, names, and locations of arrests, and charges against the record owner
  • Case numbers, court names and locations, arraignments, and trial dates
  • Sections of the Texas Code violated
  • Outcome of trials (guilty or innocent)
  • Sentencing information such as length of imprisonment, probation and parole status, fines or restitutions, rehabilitation programs, and jail locations (if the convict is still in prison)
  • Bond and warrant information (if applicable)
  • Dates of incarceration.

Interested individuals should note that not all Dallas County criminal records are publicly accessible. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile criminal records are protected documents only accessible under certain circumstances or through judicial orders. Also, custodian agencies may redact criminal records information that infringes privacy rights.

Can I Request Criminal Records for Someone Else in Dallas County?

Yes, in Dallas County, interested individuals can request other people's criminal records if the information is publicly disclosable. However, requesters need authorization from the individuals whose records they seek to access. For instance, employers and landlords within Dallas County must obtain written consent and outline the scope of checks before requesting criminal background checks on prospective employees and tenants.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Dallas County?

Yes, there are restrictions to public access to some criminal records. Due to privacy and safety concerns, there are restrictions to public disclosure of Dallas County criminal records relating to:

  • Juvenile offenders
  • Sealed or expunged cases
  • Active law enforcement investigations
  • National security and public safety
  • Victims of abuse.

However, sealed Dallas County criminal records may be accessible to law enforcement agencies, judicial officials, and licensing authorities. Also, expunged criminal records may be accessible through court orders.

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

Custodians of Dallas County criminal records may deny access to criminal records if:

  • The criminal records are sealed or expunged by Dallas County courts
  • The requestor is not eligible to access such records or does not have proof of legitimate reasons to access the documents.
  • The requested records do not exist.
  • Requesters send their requests to the wrong agencies.

If a custodian agency denies a requester access to Dallas County criminal records, the record seekers should do the following:

  • Contact the custodian agency and ascertain the reasons for the denial of access
  • Ensure that all submitted documents are in order
  • Appeal the denial through the Texas Attorney General's Office if there are reasons to believe the decision to deny access was in error. Petitioners can contact the Texas Attorney General's Office at:

P.O. Box 12548,
Austin,
TX 78711-2548
Phone: (512) 478-6736 or Toll-Free (877) 673-6839
Fax: (512) 475-2994

How to Expunge or Seal Dallas County Criminal Records – Process and Requirements

In Dallas and other parts of Texas, individuals can petition the courts to seal or remove their criminal records. Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1 of the Texas Government Code provide a pathway for sealing and removing criminal records. Criminal records may be eligible for non-disclosure or removal if:

  • The criminal charges did not result in convictions
  • There were no criminal charges
  • The owners of the records complete pretrial diversion programs
  • The criminal records result from mistaken identities
  • The courts reverse the sentences after appeals.

Individuals seeking to seal or remove Dallas County criminal records should apply the following steps:

  • Determine if they are eligible for sealing or removing their criminal records
  • Gather supporting documents such as certified copies of the final dispositions and arrest records (these documents are obtainable from the Dallas County Clerk and District Clerk's offices and the arresting agencies)
  • Draft petitions - this must include:
    • The full names, dates of birth, and addresses of the petitioners
    • The offenses, dates of arrests, names of the arresting agencies, and case numbers
    • The outcome of the criminal cases
  • File petitions at the Dallas County District Clerk's Office
  • Pay all applicable fees (this may range around$300.00)
  • Notify the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, the arresting agencies, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
  • Attend court hearings relating to the petitions to answer questions and counter objections from interested parties.
  • If the courts approve the petitions, they will issue expunction or non-disclosure orders.
  • Verify the removal of the criminal records from the relevant agencies.

 

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