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Texas Court Records

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

Yes, per Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, Galveston County criminal records are publicly accessible. In addition, Chapter 58 of the Texas Family Code, Articles 55.01 and 42A.701 of the Code of Criminal Procedures, and Chapter 411 Subchapter F of the Texas Government Code are complementary laws outlining how public members can access different criminal records in Galveston County.

Under Texas laws, Galveston arrest records, criminal trial-related documents, jail/inmate records, conviction records, probation and parole records, and records of minor traffic offenses and Class C misdemeanors are publicly accessible.

However, Texas laws exempt public disclosure of criminal records relating to juvenile offenders, active law enforcement investigations, sealed or expunged records, and victims or witnesses of crimes. Also, custodian agencies will redact information that violates privacy rights or compromises public safety.

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

Galveston County criminal records are accessible to all interested individuals. The Texas Public Information Act grants public access to criminal records. However, the type of accessible records and the volume of information depends on the requesting entity. The table below gives a summary of the requirements for accessing criminal records by various entities.

Requester Requirements Restrictions
Owner of a Galveston County criminal record Valid government-issued identification Expunged criminal records are not accessible
Members of the public Formal request to criminal record custodians The public cannot access Galveston County juvenile, sealed, or expunged criminal records. Also, information that violates privacy rights or compromises public safety is not accessible
Legal representatives Attorneys and legal teams require owners' consent to access Galveston County criminal records. They can also petition the courts to unseal sealed criminal records that are relevant to case trials Expunged criminal records are not accessible unless the courts order them under specific legal exceptions
Judicial officers and personnel Judges can access relevant criminal records without consent during case trials. The court can order the unsealing of sealed criminal records

Judicial personnel must have authorization from the courts or supervisors to access Galveston County criminal records

 Per Texas judicial laws, lower courts require explicit consent or authorization to unseal criminal records sealed by a higher court
Law enforcement Law enforcement agencies have legal authorization to access County criminal records for legitimate use Restricted criminal records must not be accessible to unauthorized individuals
Employers, landlords, and licensing agencies Must provide written consent from owners of criminal records Sealed and expunged criminal records are not accessible. Also, licensing and certification agencies can only access criminal information relevant to applications
Victims of crimes Must provide evidence of direct involvement to access criminal records relating to the crime Cannot access personal details of the owners of criminal records.

How to Request Criminal Records in Galveston County

Depending on the type of criminal records, interested individuals seeking Galveston County criminal records should submit formal requests by mail or in-person visits to the following custodian agencies:

Arrest records and incident reports
Galveston County Sheriff's Office
601 54th Street, Suite 1001,
Galveston,
TX 77551
Phone: (409) 766-2300

Criminal records for felonies and serious offenses
Galveston County District Clerk's Office
600 59th Street, Suite 4001,
Galveston,
TX 77551
Phone: (409) 766-2200

Misdemeanors, traffic and ordinance violations, and other non-violent offenses
Galveston County Clerk's Office
600 59th Street, Suite 2001,
Galveston,
TX 77551
Phone: (409) 766-2200

Alternatively, inquirers should log into the Galveston County Court Records Search Portal or visit the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Criminal History Conviction Name Search database and search for criminal records by name. Record seekers can also search for county criminal records through third-party online platforms such as Texascourtrecords.us.

Furthermore, the DPS offers a comprehensive compilation of criminal records through its Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) services. Individuals seeking Galveston County criminal records for official uses should schedule and visit the nearest IdentoGo Center for fingerprint-based access to criminal records or contact the DPS Criminal Department at:

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

It may take between 5 and 7 days to process requests for Galveston County criminal records. Requesters should note that the following information and documents are requisites for accessing a county criminal record:

  • Full name and date of birth of the subject
  • The type of criminal record
  • Case number
  • A valid government-issued photo ID
  • Authorization or release form if access requires the consent of the subject
  • Fingerprint cards from an approved provider (if the request is through the DPS).

Accessing Galveston County criminal records involves fee payments. The costs for obtaining criminal records depend on the type of criminal records, access method, and the custodian agency. The following fees apply to access Galveston County criminal records through various custodian agencies:

Galveston County District and County Clerk Offices

  • Standard and nonstandard copies - $1.00 per page
  • Certified copies - $1.00 per page and an additional $5.00 certification fee

Texas Department of Public Safety

  • Name-Based Criminal History Search - $10.00 per search
  • Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Search - $15.00 per record
  • Fingerprinting services - between $10.00 and $30.00.

What Information Is Contained in Galveston County Criminal Records?

Galveston County criminal records are official documents on criminal activities and their trials under the Galveston criminal trial system. Generally, a criminal record contains the following documents and information:

  • Personal details such as the name, aliases, date of birth, gender, race, and physical description of the subject
  • Arrest history (including date of arrests, arresting agencies, and booking details)
  • Charges against the subject
  • Class of offenses and sections of Texas Codes violated
  • Court information (for instance, case numbers, filing and hearing dates, and names of the involved parties)
  • Case outcome and final judgment
  • Conviction details
  • The duration of incarceration, parole/probation details, and name and location of prison facility.

Information seekers should note that under Texas laws, the public cannot access personally identifying information such as Social Security Numbers, home addresses, and driver's license numbers. Also, juvenile, sealed, and expunged criminal records are not publicly disclosable.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Galveston County?

Yes, there are restrictions on public access to some Galveston County criminal records. In Galveston County and other parts of Texas, sealed and expunged criminal records are not public. Also, public members cannot access juvenile criminal records or other crime-related documents under judicial restrictions. Furthermore, due to privacy and safety concerns, individuals cannot access criminal case documents relating to active law enforcement investigations, victims’ and witnesses’ information, and information protected by privacy laws and constitutional rights.

Nevertheless, restricted criminal records are accessible to their owners (unless they are expunged records) and law enforcement agencies.

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

Custodian agencies may deny individuals access to Galveston County criminal records for the following reasons:

  • The requests are for sealed, expunged, or juvenile criminal records
  • The requesters do not have authorization to access the documents
  • Public access violates privacy rights
  • The agency does not have the documents
  • Texas laws exempt public access to such criminal records.

The following steps may help resolve the issues of denial of access to criminal record:

  • Request an official explanation from the agency on the reasons for denying access
  • Verify eligibility for accessing the specific criminal record
  • If eligible, modify or narrow the request and resubmit it to the agency
  • Petition the Texas Attorney General's Office if the custodian agency still does not allow access to the criminal record. Correspondence with the Attorney General's Office should be through the Open Records Division at:

P.O. Box 12548,
Austin,
TX 78711-2548

  • Consider legal actions if the Attorney General's Office does not resolve the issue.

How to Expunge or Seal Galveston County Criminal Records

Texas laws allow nondisclosure and expunging of criminal records for any eligible felony or non-violent misdemeanor if:

  • The underlying crime does not result in a criminal conviction
  • The Texas governor pardons the convict
  • The record owner serves the sentence, pays all applicable fines, and fulfills all court-imposed conditions.
  • The owner of the criminal record completes a deferred adjudication program
  • The record owner observes the applicable waiting period for the specific offense.

The following steps outline the process for sealing or expunging Galveston County criminal records:

  • Determine eligibility for sealing or removing criminal records
  • Gather documents that will aid the petition process (these include certified copies of arrest records, disposition documents, and proof of eligibility)
  • Prepare a Petition for Expunction or Petition for an Order of Nondisclosure (this must include the name of the record owner, case number, and arrest details)
  • Depending on the Galveston County court responsible for the criminal trial, file a petition for expunction or nondisclosure at the Galveston County District or County Clerk's Office or the specific Galveston County municipal court.
  • Pay all applicable fees.
  • Notify the Texas Department of Public Safety, the arresting agency, and the prosecuting attorney.
  • Attend any hearings relating to the petition to provide answers to questions.
  •  

 

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