Hardin County Arrest Records

A Hardin County arrest record is an official file or record containing information about a person's interaction with the Texas justice system. Typically, an arrest happens when a policing officer finds a person committing or suspects an individual has committed a crime. Following the arrest, the arrestee is taken into custody for booking, where the law enforcement agency generates the arrest record.

It is worth noting that arrest records are kept by the law enforcement bodies that create them. These records are essential for starting criminal proceedings and may provide extensive details on an individual's criminal history. They may be among the files maintained by other county and state agencies. For instance, arrest details may be accessible in Hardin County court records and criminal records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hardin County?

Yes. Hardin County arrest records are classified under public records, implying that members of the public can access these records upon request (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). State statutes require that the governing agencies provide inquirers access to arrest records. However, certain records are restricted or made inaccessible to public access. These details include the following:

• Juvenile records
• Expunged criminal records
• Records of ongoing investigations, confidential informant details, and methods implemented in law enforcement.
• Records of information on victims of crimes, especially those involving minors, victims of domestic abuse, and sexual assault.
• Records sealed from public view
• Records about mental and medical health, including psychiatric evaluations.
• Records of student education are inaccessible to the public without consent.
• Records containing information about critical infrastructure, security plans, and emergency response.
• Records containing information that could reveal the identity of confidential witnesses or informants in criminal lawsuits.
• Records containing trade secrets, sensitive business details, and proprietary data submitted to government agencies.
• Important personal information like Social Security Number (SSN) and financial details.
• Records containing communications and interactions between government entities and their attorneys (attorney-client litigation and privilege records).

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A typical arrest record in Hardin County, Texas contains the following information:

• Arrestee's personal details (including first and last name, date of birth, home address, weight, height, eye color, and hair color).
• Arrest information (including time and date of the given arrest, location of the arrest incident, and information about the arresting agency)
• Charge information (including a list of all charges against the suspect and the case number)
• Booking details (mug shot, fingerprint records)
• Details of the detention facility where the arrestee is being held.
• Scheduled court dates.
• A brief description of the circumstances of the arrest.
• Bail and bond details (including the bail amount set, if applicable, and the status of the bail).

Hardin County Arrest Statistics

According to the 2023 Crime statistics, there were 489 reported arrests in Hardin County, Texas. Of that figure, there were 236 larceny (48.26%) cases, 86 burglary (17.59%) arrests, 77 auto theft (15.75%) cases, 61 aggravated assault (12.47%) cases, 19 rape (3.89%) reports, 3 arson (0.61%), 1 human trafficking (0.21%), and 1 murder (0.21%) case.

Find Hardin County Arrest Records

Certain state and Federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), are where interested members of the public can find Hardin County arrest records.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for maintaining criminal history records across the entire state, including arrest records of counties within it. One may obtain an arrest record from this agency in person, online, or via mail.

In-person, requesters will need to visit the office at the address below, with a government-issued ID card, the necessary locating information, and the processing fees:

Texas Department of Public Safety
#5805 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78752-4431

One may also obtain a Hardin County arrest record from the DPS online via the following steps:

• Visit the Crime Records Division of the DPS official website
• Click on Access Site under "Criminal History Conviction Name Search"
• Click on the "Search Database" button
• Create an account and verify the account
• Agree to the T&C and click on Continue
• Purchase Search credits
• Provide the necessary locating details of the arrestee (full name, county of arrest, date of birth, case number)
• From the search results, click on the given record.

On a Federal level, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) maintains a record of all arrests handled by its officers within the United States of America. Requesters can obtain an arrest record directly by visiting the office in person. Inquirers must ensure to fill out an FBI Application Form with the necessary identifying details, then attach a copy of their valid ID card and $18 processing fee to the address below:

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Criminal Justice Information Services Division Attn:
Summary Check
#1000 Custer Hollow Road.,
Clarksburg, WV 26306.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hardin County

Within Hardin County, Texas, requesters can conduct a free arrest record search from the Hardin County Sheriff's Department or the local police departments.

The local police department also maintains a database of arrests conducted by its officers, and it often provides users with free access to these records. Each local police department (such as the Kountze Police Department) may have an online search database for accessing records; otherwise, researchers can obtain these records directly by visiting their offices to query the records in person.

Alternatively, the Hardin County Sheriff's Office maintains records of all arrests it has performed and offers free access to the records to members of the public for investigation and research. One may visit the office in person at the location below, providing the identification details (full name, case number, or/and arrest date) and paying the necessary processing fees for locating the documents:

Hardin County Sheriff's Office
#300 West Monroe Street,
Kountze, TX 77625.

Following that, the researcher may receive the record immediately or would need to provide a mailing address to receive the result. It is also worth noting that researchers should contact the Sheriff's Department beforehand to confirm the record's availability.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Permanently. Suppose a person is arrested in Hardin County, Texas. In that case, the arrest information remains forever in the individual's public records, enabling members of the public, employers, and institutions to access these details upon request. However, eligible parties may request that their arrest details be sealed or expunged from public access, thus making them inaccessible.

Expunge Hardin County Arrest Records

An individual may apply for arrest details on their public records to be sealed or expunged. However, these are two legal processes governing an individual's criminal history.

Sealing a record is governed by an order of Nondisclosure law (Texas Government Code § 411.071 - § 411.081), which enables eligible individuals to restrict public access to their criminal records. On the contrary, specific government agencies still have access to these records. The types of records that can be sealed in Hardin County, Texas, include:

• Records for persons who have completed deferred adjudication probation for certain felonies and misdemeanors.
• Records of some non-violent felonies, depending on the outcome of the case and the time since the sentence was completed.
• Records of juvenile offenses.
• Certain types of human trafficking and prostitution records are qualified for expungement under certain circumstances.
• Records of first-time offenses who have completed probation or their sentences.
• Certain records related to family violence.

Expungement of records (or expunction) is governed by Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which enables qualified persons to completely erase arrest records, charges, convictions, and other related information as if they never existed. The following records can be expunged in Hardin County, Texas:

• Records of cases leading to a pardon or acquittal.
• Records of cases that ended in a "no bill" or were dismissed from a grand jury.
• Some misdemeanors committed by minors (such as alcohol-related crimes or minor drug-associated crimes).
• Records of arrests for criminal offenses that were never prosecuted.
• Specific Class C misdemeanor cases can be expunged.
• Records for which the statute of limitations has expired for the crime.

To expunge a record, a case party must first review Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to verify if the case qualifies for expunction. If it does, then they can curate and file a Petition for Expunction in the Hardin County District Court, or the court where the charge occurred, including details about the arrest, charges, convictions, and case outcomes. Following that, the court will schedule a case hearing, during which the individual or attorney must provide the case and all evidence supporting qualification for expungement. Then, if the judge grants the application, the District Court will issue an Order of Expunction, which will enable all relevant agencies to wipe out the records from their database.

Hardin County Arrest Warrants

A Hardin County arrest warrant is an official or legal document issued by a magistrate or judge permitting law enforcement officers to arrest a particular individual suspected of committing a criminal offense.

An arrest warrant is issued based on probable cause and is usually used in circumstances where peace officers have substantial reason to believe that a specific individual committed a crime. Usually, when a law enforcement officer suspects that a crime has been committed, they gather evidence and may provide a warrant application to a judge. The judge then reviews the application to determine whether the suspect is likely responsible for the given crime before granting the arrest warrant. This, in turn, authorizes law enforcement officers to arrest the suspect at any time and at any location.

A typical arrest Hardin County arrest warrant comprises the following details:

• The full name of the suspect.
• The suspect's date of birth.
• The charges or offenses committed.
• The date and time of the issuance of the warrant
• The signature of the authorizing judge.

Do Hardin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Hardin County arrest warrants stay permanently active after being issued until the suspect is apprehended, surrenders, or dies. The court may recall the warrant if an eligible case party motions that the issuance is invalid or illegal.