Ellis County Arrest Records

Ellis County arrest records are vital to the county's criminal justice system. They are created when an individual is apprehended and taken into custody by the police or other law enforcement body authorized to make arrests in the jurisdiction. Such records typically include information on the purpose of the arrest, the nature of the arrest, any charges filed, and any subsequent interactions with the law enforcement officer or agency involved.

In Ellis County, arrest records are generated by local law enforcement agencies headed by the County Sheriff and subsequently transferred to the county jail and courts. Following the Texas Freedom of Information Laws, the Sheriff’s office must grant the public access to Ellis County Court Records upon request.

Note: When an offender faces formal charges due to their arrest, the presiding court clerk develops a case file and includes arrest information among the documents produced in the trial. If a court finds the defendant guilty, it becomes part of the defendant's criminal record.

Are Arrest Records Public in Ellis County?

Yes. Arrest records in Ellis County are public. This is governed by the Texas Freedom of Information Laws, established in the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code 552) and other applicable acts.

The Texas Government Code 552 provides all citizens' rights to accurate information regarding government activities and other public entities. This act defines public information as any information created, transmitted, received by, or maintained by a public officer in their official capacity, including arrest records. As a result, any individual in Ellis County, regardless of citizenship or residence status, has the right to inspect and copy arrest records.

Exemptions apply to an individual's right to view and obtain copies of public documents (including arrest records). Documents sealed or expunged by court order and material tagged confidential are specifically protected from public access under federal or state law. The record custodian is legally permitted to decline requests for arrest information that has been sealed or expunged by court order. Government agencies may also exercise discretionary powers by redacting or withholding portions of a confidential document.

The following sections under the Texas Public Information Act specify several exceptions to the right of access to arrest information:

• Information about a minor (Section 552.148);
• Information that may interfere with criminal investigation or prosecution of crime (Section 552.108);
• Personal information: home addresses, social security numbers, telephone numbers, and family information (Section 552.117);
• Information that compromises the safety of a victim or witness (Section 552.1315);
• Confidential records are subject to nondisclosure rules (Section 552.142).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records created by Ellis County law enforcement agencies may include the following information:

• Identity of the arrested person: This includes the subject's first, last, and middle name (aliases if known), date of birth, age, and photograph.
• Physical Description: Sex, race, ethnicity, height, weight, eye color, scars or tattoos (if any).
• Arrest and Booking Data: Booking ID, arresting agency, date, time, arrest location, charges, and bond information.
• Charges filed concerning the nature or category of the offense (felony, misdemeanor, or traffic offense).
• Court-related details: Scheduled court dates and bail amount set by the court.
• Previous arrests (reason for the arrest) and outstanding warrants for their arrests.

Ellis County Crime Rate

The Texas Department of Public Safety collates and publishes an annual crime statistics report for the state's cities and counties. The annual report details Ellis County law enforcement agencies' recorded index offenses. According to the 2019 Crime Statistics Report, Ellis County recorded 445 index offenses, down by 16.1% from the previous year's total. The index crimes include one murder, 19 rape cases, four robberies, 59 incidents of assault, 85 burglaries, 238 larceny thefts, and 38 car thefts. Ellis County's crime rate decreased by 84% compared to the 2015 Crime Statistics. Larceny-theft cases declined by 87%, motor vehicle thefts and burglaries by 81%, and assaults by 57%.

Ellis County Arrest Statistics

Ellis County recorded 1,666 arrests in three years. In 2017, the arrest rate was 395.85 per 100,000 people, 46.44% lower than the national average of 739.02 per 100,000. There were 182 arrests in 2017 for violent crimes. The most common arrest in Ellis was larceny theft, with 293 cases, followed by burglary (155) and aggravated assault (150 cases).

Find Ellis County Arrest Records

Ellis County arrest records and police records are in the custody of the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department. Interested parties can request Ellis County police reports and arrest records by mail, in-person request, or fax as stipulated in the Texas Freedom of Information Act. Regardless of the request method, requesters must complete the Open Request Form, which is downloadable from the County Sheriff’s website. Residents who prefer to submit the request form physically can visit the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office at:

Ellis County Sheriff's Office
300 South Jackson Street
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Phone: (972) 825.4901
Fax: (972) 825.4941

The Sheriff's Office forwards the request form to the Ellis County District Attorney's Office, which decides what information is disclosed to the requester. The District Attorney's Office typically informs requesters that the record will be accessible in 10 business days.

Free Arrest Record Search in Ellis County

Individuals searching for Ellis County arrest records may visit the location of the law enforcement agency that performed the arrest or visit the agency's website. Requesters should identify the arresting law enforcement agency, the date and time of the arrest, and the location to make the request. The agency will give this arrest information at no cost. However, producing a copy of the record comes at a price. Furthermore, each department maintains a record retention schedule. Consequently, their availability is contingent on the agency's retention schedule.

Third-party public records databases collate public information from various government sources, including law enforcement departments. While most of these resources are free, a fee is usually charged to access a comprehensive report containing arrest information about a specific individual.

Get Ellis County Criminal Records

In Ellis County, individuals can obtain criminal records in different ways. They can submit a request in person to the county court clerk’s office or access criminal court records electronically using online alternatives, such as electronic court records.

The law enforcement agencies maintain arrest records and county jail inmate records. The sheriff’s office is the primary custodian of county arrest records, and they keep an updated register of inmates in county jail cells, which is available to the public at the sheriff’s office.

Additionally, at the state level, the Texas Department of Public Safety provides access to state residents’ criminal records through a Computerized Criminal History System (CCH). Applicants seeking to obtain criminal records must sign up or log in to the CCH by creating an account or logging into an existing one.

Search credits are used to pay for criminal records on the CCH platform. Search credits on the CCH cost $3 plus an extra charge, depending on the mode of payment. A convenience fee of $0.07 applies to search credit purchases made with a credit card. Requestors may instantly utilize search credits paid with a credit card. Search credits bought with postal checks will be available after payment is received. To receive Ellis County criminal records from the CCH, requesters must give the record subject's first and surname name, maiden or middle name (optional), and a complete birth date (if available).

Another source of criminal records is the records of correctional facilities. These institutions maintain records of each inmate and their convictions and sentences.

Ellis County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

The terms "arrest record" and "criminal record" are sometimes interchangeable. However, there is a difference between them. An arrest record only includes information on incidents in which a person was arrested by the police, regardless of the outcome. On the other hand, a criminal record is more thorough in that it maps out a person's misdemeanors and criminal interactions, making it a valuable tool for law enforcement. It tracks a person from arrest to sentencing and potential conviction. It includes information from local and state police departments, courts, district attorney offices, correctional facilities, and probation departments.

The sheriff’s office typically keeps the criminal record master file, which aggregates all this information and records an individual’s interactions with the criminal justice system.

An arrest record is kept locally at police and law enforcement offices. It details accounts of the arrest and the arrestee, the circumstances of the arrest, and the immediate outcome. Unlike a criminal record containing complete information about the criminal, arrest records are limited in scope.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Ellis County are considered part of an individual's criminal record and are kept indefinitely. However, the county restricts the records in various ways. One is "sealing," which allows a qualified person to petition the court to limit access to their criminal record for a certain period. Expungement is another form of relief that may restrict or prevent individuals from accessing arrest and other criminal records. In Ellis County, this privilege is time-sensitive.

Expunge Ellis County Arrest Records

Individuals arrested for felony or misdemeanor in Ellis County can petition the court to have their arrest records expunged if they meet the eligibility criteria under Article. 55.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures.

To seal an arrest order under Article 55.01(a), requesters must fill out and submit the criminal procedure form Expunction Petition-Arrest Records (Chapter 55). Arrestees qualified to have their records sealed under this statute must have been tried for an offense, acquitted by the trial court or court of criminal appeals, convicted, and then pardoned on the grounds of innocence.

When a person is released, the charge, if any, has not resulted in a final conviction, and there are no more court hearings. Except for Class C misdemeanors, there is no court-ordered community supervision.

Generally, an offense dismissed or classified as a class C misdemeanor cannot be sealed until the statute of limitations has elapsed. A dismissed charge for an offense with no statute of limitations is not eligible for sealing. Murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, aggravated assault, crimes against minors, absconding from the scene of a fatal accident, and human trafficking are not eligible for sealing.

Furthermore, a person is only eligible for the expunction of arrest records that have not previously been granted in the same order as the expunction of associated documents and files, and the person must submit an affidavit certifying the fact.

When a person is convicted of a later crime after their acquittal or is still being prosecuted on at least one additional charge, the court may not order the expungement of files or records connected to that arrest.

Ellis County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an official document that allows law enforcement agents to apprehend, detain, and interrogate a suspect in connection with a criminal offense. The warrant requires the accused individual to appear in court to respond to charges. Not obeying a valid arrest warrant when one is able may constitute contempt of court.

To get an arrest warrant, a police officer presents evidence of probable cause to a prosecutor. The prosecutor carefully evaluates the evidence to verify that it meets legal requirements. If the prosecutor determines probable cause, they will prepare an affidavit describing the evidence and present it to the court for approval.

The Judge next considers the evidence offered in the affidavit. An arrest warrant is issued only if the court determines that the evidence fulfills the probable cause standard. This judicial oversight checks law enforcement and prosecution to ensure that arrests follow the rule of law. When a court issues an arrest warrant, it is placed into law enforcement databases.

An arrest warrant typically includes the following information:

• The name of the court that issued the warrant.
• The name of the defendant.
• Their physical description includes height, weight, hair color, eye color, and other unique features that may help identify them.
• The criminal offense charged against the individual.
• The official issuing date of the warrant
• The signature of the judge issuing the warrant.
• The bail amount

Ellis County Arrest Warrant Search

In Ellis County, there are many ways to learn about outstanding warrants. The Texas Department of Public Safety provides online access to criminal records, including arrest information, at the state level. The Sheriff's Office curates a list of high-priority active warrants linked to specific persons. To obtain information about active warrants, individuals can visit their local police department or sheriff's office. This would potentially require the presentation of a government-issued identification. Requesters can search for arrest records using online services with the arrested person's name, booking information, or date of birth.

Additionally, the Clerk of Courts maintains records of current warrants, which can be retrieved online or by physically visiting the Clerk's office. Individuals can also search the court’s online case management system. They should search their website by name, case number, or other available search criteria.

Alternatively, interested persons can also find arrest records with third party search services. Third-party search tools are privately owned and not associated with the government. They aggregate their information from multiple sources, including government databases.

Do Ellis County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Ellis County arrest warrants don't expire. Once issued, they remain active until the individual is arrested, a judge cancels them, the charges are dropped, or the person dies.

If law enforcement agents cannot apprehend the individual, the warrant will be entered into a national database, making it easily accessible. Whenever the individual reencounters the law, they will likely be arrested on the outstanding warrant.