Erath County Arrest Records

In Erath County, arrests occur when there is probable cause to believe someone has committed a crime. Law enforcement officers from Dublin, Stephenville, and Tarleton State University Police Departments, including the Sheriff's Office, carry out these arrests to preserve public safety.

Arrested persons may be detained until their arraignment in court. During the arrest and booking process, arrest records, part of the broader Erath County Court Records, are generated. They usually comprise the arrestee's physical description, booking photograph, the arresting officer, witnesses, and the circumstances of the incident. These and other public records, such as arrest warrants and criminal records, offer a glimpse into a person's interactions with the criminal justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Erath County?

Under Section 552.001 of the Texas Public Information Act, Texas residents and the general public may submit record requests for information generated and stored by government agencies while performing their official assignments. Unless the law states otherwise, anybody may request to view or get copies of arrest records, including information maintained by law enforcement agencies during office hours.

Examples of arrest records that are exempted from public disclosure by the Act include records of pending criminal investigations or containing information on unique investigative methods, confidential sources' data, records concerning victims of domestic, child, or sexual abuse, and information that may endanger someone's life or physical safety. Others include personal identifying information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, unlisted phone numbers, and driver's license numbers.

Those looking for publicly available arrest records in Erath County may contact local law enforcement agencies such as the Erath County Sheriff’s Office, Stephenville, Dublin, and Tarleton State University Police Departments. The contact address of the Erath County Sheriff’s Office is as follows:

Erath County Sheriff’s Office
1043 Glen Rose Highway
Stephenville, TX 76401
Phone: (254) 965-3338
Fax: (254) 965-3598

Erath County Arrest Statistics

According to a 5-year crime data report by the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) revealed that the Erath County Sheriff’s Office reported 343 arrests between 2019 and 2023. The arrest data's gender distribution revealed that males accounted for 78.43% (269) of all arrests during the specified time frame, while females accounted for 21.57% (74).

The racial composition of all arrests during the review period revealed that Whites were the predominant racial group arrested for various offenses, with 92.13% (316). Others include Blacks or African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and individuals whose racial identities were unknown, who accounted for 4.37% (15), 1.46% (5), and 1.17% (4) of all arrests, respectively. Asians constituted 0.87% (3).

Further analysis of the types of offenses law enforcement officers arrested suspects for between 2019 and 2023 showed that driving under the influence was the most prevalent, with 36.37% (126), followed by simple assault at 15.74% (54) and all other offenses aside from traffic violations at 11.66% (40). Individuals arrested for marijuana possession accounted for 8.16% (28) of all detained offenders.

Find Erath County Arrest Records

Information seekers may access Erath County inmates' records via the following state and federal resources:

• Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ): This online search application enables users to look up offenders currently incarcerated in a TDCJ facility. The database allows users to search by last name and at least the first letter of the first name, the TDCJ number, or the State Identification (SID) number.
• Following a name-based search, the platform returns a precise match of the last name entered. Record searchers may obtain inmate information, such as location, offenses, and expected release date, via email or phone through the TDCJ's website.
• Parole Supervision Sex Offender Absconder Search: This online database offers the public detailed information on convicted sex offenders in Texas alleged to have fled their reported residence. Some inmate information on the portal includes their state identity and Texas Department of Criminal Justice numbers, birth date, release date, warrant issued, and last known address.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator service allows information searchers to locate federal inmates who were held from 1982 to the present. On the portal, they may search by name or BOP registry number.

Erath County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Erath County arrest records comprise official data generated and stored by law enforcement agencies after taking offenders into custody for an alleged crime. An arrest record usually contains the offender's personal information, location, and date of the arrest, as well as the charges against the offender. Additionally, an arrest record may include details on the jail or prison where the offender is detained.

Interested parties may obtain arrest records from local police departments closest to the location where the offender was arrested or the Erath County Sheriff's Office, the county's primary database for arrest records. In summary, the primary objective of an arrest record is to establish the circumstances that led to an individual's arrest and to serve as the basis for possible criminal charges.

In contrast, Erath County criminal records are comprehensive legal documents that provide a comprehensive account of an individual's interaction with law enforcement and the penal system. Criminal records typically consist of the offender's personal information, booking photographs, fingerprints, charges filed against, pleas, indictments, and conviction details.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

If someone who possesses an arrest record does not petition to have such records expunged or sealed, the arrest information stays indefinitely. Pursuing an expungement is the most viable way to reduce access to arrest records.

However, to qualify for expungement of records, prospective applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants were acquitted of criminal charges against them.
• They were pardoned or granted relief after being declared not guilty.
• No fresh charges were filed after the arrest, and the statute of limitations had expired.
• The candidate successfully fulfilled a Class C misdemeanor deferred adjudication.

Erath County Arrest Warrants

An Erath County arrest warrant is a court-issued order by a judge or justice authorizing law enforcement to arrest an accused person. In Erath County, like most parts of the United States, arrest warrants are usually issued after a peace officer establishes probable cause via an affidavit showing that a crime has occurred and that the suspect is most likely responsible.

In other words, arrest warrants are often issued when there is enough evidence to believe the suspect committed a crime. This includes situations where the accused person threatens public safety, is likely to flee, or has failed to appear in court as mandatory.

Erath County arrest warrants include information such as the offender's name, the alleged offense, and any additional information to help identify and apprehend the subject of the warrant.

Do Erath County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Erath County arrest warrants do not expire or have a statute of limitation. They remain active until the individual dies, is arrested, or the court legally dismisses the warrant.

The court may revoke a warrant if procedural errors, dismissed charges, or other legal factors are involved.

In Texas, there is no statute of limitation for felony warrants such as murder. Therefore, such warrants remain active forever.