Gillespie County Arrest Records

Local law enforcement departments typically perform arrests in Gillespie County on the following grounds:

• They have probable cause to make an arrest
• Someone has an active arrest warrant in their name
• A person is caught at a crime scene

Once arrested, individuals are generally booked and temporarily held at the Gillespie County Jail while awaiting their court appearance. The jail is managed by the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office, which is the primary law enforcement agency in the county.

After each arrest, an arrest record is created to document pertinent details about the incident. Arrest records, in conjunction with Gillespie County court records, help track an arrestee’s progress through the criminal justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Gillespie County?

Yes, Arrest records in Gillespie County are considered public under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). This law obligates law enforcement agencies in the county to disclose arrest records when an individual makes a request. However, not all arrest records may be disclosed to the public. The following documents are confidential in Texas and can only be disclosed to certain government personnel and persons with a court order:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Arrest records relating to active criminal investigations
• Medical and mental health records
• Information that might jeopardize personal or public safety
• Information revealing the identities of victims or witnesses, particularly those of sexual or domestic violence crimes

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Publicly available information in Gillespie County arrest records includes:

• Personal information of the arrestee, such as their name, date of birth, gender, and photograph (mugshot)
• Date of the arrest
• Arresting agency
• Description of the arrest charges
• Booking information
• Bond or bail conditions

Gillespie County Arrest Statistics

Law enforcement departments in Texas submit arrest statistics to the Texas Department of Public Safety through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. The information obtained from these reports is used in law enforcement administration and operations.

Texas law enforcement arrest statistics are accessible on the Crime in Texas (CIT) portal. The portal provides information on both crimes and arrests in the state. Per the arrest distribution report, law enforcement agencies in Gillespie County made 358 arrests in 2024. Of that number, 320 were on-view arrests, 30 were summoned/cited arrests, and eight were "taken into custody" arrests. The most common arrests were for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenses, with 145 arrests, followed by Drug/Narcotic violations, with 91 arrests.

Find Gillespie County Arrest Records

Gillespie residents can find and obtain an arrest record at the local law enforcement department that made the arrest. For jail records, the Sheriff’s Office is the appropriate point of contact. Requesters will be asked at the arresting agency’s office to provide a name or other details about the arrest so the record can be identified. If the individual requests a copy of the record, they may be asked to pay a fee.

Individuals may also find the records of inmates in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prison facility using the Inmate Information Search portal. Search criteria include an inmate’s first and last name, TDCJ number, or SID number, with optional filters for gender and race.

To access the record of a person incarcerated/imprisoned in a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility, individuals may utilize the Federal Inmate Locator. Searches can be performed using an inmate’s name or identification number (BOP, FBI, INS, or DCDC number).

Free Arrest Record Search in Gillespie County

Individuals can search for Gillespie County arrest records on various third-party websites. These searches are typically conducted using the name of the person whose record is being sought. Users may be granted free access to basic information, such as an individual's name, arrest date, and offense committed. However, access to more detailed or comprehensive records often requires payment of a fee.

While third-party services offer convenience when retrieving records, they have certain limitations. Only non-confidential information is accessible on a third-party site, and the data provided may be incomplete, outdated, or contain errors.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely, In Texas, arrests remain on a person’s record indefinitely unless expunged or sealed through a nondisclosure order. Unlike some states, Texas does not automatically remove arrest records over time, even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction. To clear a record, the holder must meet specific legal requirements and file a petition with the court for expunction or sealing.

Expunge Gillespie County Arrest Records

Individuals with a history of arrest in Gillespie may have their record expunged or sealed under Texas law (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. ch 55, Tex. Gov’t Code §§ 411.071–411.0775). An expungement erases an arrest from a person’s record, while sealing restricts the record from public access. General eligibility criteria for the expunction or the sealing of an arrest record in the state include:

• The arrest did not result in a charge, or the charges were never filed, or were dismissed.
• The defendant was found innocent or granted a pardon.
• The statute of limitations has expired for the offense without charges being filed.
• The defendant was mistakenly arrested due to identity theft.
• The defendant completed deferred adjudication, and the court dismissed the case.
• The defendant completed a sentence (in some cases) for certain non-violent misdemeanors.
• The defendant has not committed another offense during the applicable waiting period.
• The offense is not ineligible by law (e.g., family violence, sex offenses, and certain DWI cases may not be eligible).

Eligible persons may file a petition in the presiding court to have their arrest expunged or sealed. For arrests where the charges were dismissed or never filed, the respective waiting period must have passed before a petition is filed:

• 180 days for Class C misdemeanors
• 1 year for Class A or B misdemeanors
• 3 years for felonies

Individuals are advised to file their petition with the help of an attorney. After a petition is filed, the court generally schedules a hearing to review the case. If the court is satisfied with the petition, an expungement or nondisclosure order will be issued.

Gillespie County Arrest Warrants

Per Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15, an arrest warrant is a written order (or writ) issued by a magistrate to a peace officer, directing the arrest and detention of a named individual.

In Gillespie County, a warrant is typically issued after a person makes a sworn complaint before a magistrate, stating that another individual has committed a crime, and the magistrate finds probable cause based on the complaint. To be accepted, the sworn complaint must include the name of the accused, the time and location of the alleged offense, and supporting evidence for the claim. For minor violations, the magistrate may issue a summons instead of a warrant. However, if the defendant fails to appear in court as directed by the summons, a warrant may then be issued.

A valid arrest warrant in Gillespie County contains:

• The name of the person to be arrested, if known, or a reasonable description if the person's name is unknown
• A statement that the person is accused of an offense against the laws of Texas
• The name of the specific offense(s)
• The signature, office, and title of the magistrate issuing the warrant
• The heading "The State of Texas"

Residents can find individuals with active felony warrants in Gillespie County on the Sheriff’s Warrants Page.

Do Gillespie County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Arrest warrants in Gillespie, as in the rest of Texas, do not have an expiration date. Certain circumstances may derail the execution of an arrest warrant by months or years, particularly for less serious offenses. However, such delays do not affect the validity of a warrant.

A warrant can only become invalid by court order. A court may issue an order invalidating a warrant if it determines the grounds for arrest no longer exist.