Are Harris County Records Public?

Yes. Documents, information, and recordings generated and maintained by Harris County government agencies are considered public records per the Texas Public Information Act (Tex. Gov't Code, Chapter 552). The Public Information Act (PIA) establishes the state government's commitment to transparency in accordance with the U.S. Constitution. Per the law, public information is all data assembled, collected, produced, or maintained by governmental bodies while executing their statutorily assigned duties. These governmental bodies are primarily state and local agencies funded by public money and listed under Tex. Gov't Code § 552.003.

However, the PIA does not govern records generated by courts in Harris County per Tex. Gov't Code § 552.003 (1)(B)(i). Instead, access to Harris County court records is regulated by Supreme Court rules, common law, and other state statutes, as explained by the state judiciary.

The PIA and Supreme Court rules establish the methods with which individuals can access publicly available documents, the fees required to access certain documents, and which records are exempt from public access.

What is Exempted Under the Texas Public Records Act?

Exemptions to public access are listed under the Texas PIA (Subchapter C), Supreme Court rules, and common law to prevent the dissemination of information that may significantly harm individuals/organizations or expose sensitive data that may compromise public safety. These exempt records are listed below:

• Sealed court records
• Materials collected or generated during active police investigations
• Juvenile court, criminal, and arrest records
• Personal information, such as social security numbers, banking details, medical records, and employment data
• Confidential business records, such as trade secrets and personal shareholder information
• Information about government agency personnel, the disclosure of which may expose them to danger
• Certain family court records, especially matters pertaining to child welfare
• Legislative documents, such as paperwork and drafts created when assessing bill proposals

Official record custodians typically reject public record requests for confidential documents or information unless the requester is legally permitted to see or obtain such data. In most cases, eligible individuals must prove their identities or right to access restricted information.

Harris County Public Record Search

Obtaining Harris County public records involves multiple steps that start with identifying the type of record one wishes to inspect or purchase. Identifying the appropriate records custodian allows the researcher to know which agency to approach, the search methods to employ, and whether a sought-after record may be protected.

Below are the custodians of Harris County public records commonly requested by members of the public:

• Property Assessment and Tax Records: Individuals interested in viewing or reproducing information about property taxes and assessments can contact the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector & Voter Registrar’s Office. One can access the office's Property Tax Search and Payments portal or submit a record request to view pertinent financial information about real estate in the county.

• Vital Records, Marriage Licenses, Court Records, and Assumed Name Certificates: The Harris County Clerk disseminates civil, mental, and probate court records, assumed name certificates, marriage licenses, and vital records through various departments.

  Members of the public can visit the appropriate county clerk's department during business hours. Additionally, the clerk's Document Search portal offers access to these records.

  District criminal and civil court records can be viewed on the Harris County District Clerk's website, and individuals can contact the office for certified physical copies of court case documents.

  People interested in cases handled by a Justice of the Peace can visit the Justice of the Peace Courts website to find contact information for various justices servicing the county. Individuals can also view case details using the courts' online Find My Case and Court tool.

• Law Enforcement Records: The Harris County Sheriff runs the county jail and maintains information about inmates held in custody. The Sheriff also keeps various law enforcement records, such as arrest incidents and active warrants. Members of the public can contact the Sheriff's office or visit its website to find instructions for obtaining these records. Local police departments, such as the Pasadena Police Department, can also be approached for their official documents.

• County Budget and Finances: The Harris County Office of Budget and Management preserves the county's budget information. One can download materials from the office's website or collect information in person. The Harris County Treasurer oversees the county's bank accounts and can be contacted for financial records.

It should be noted that individuals can also approach city government officials for local public records. These include municipal courts, parks and recreation, city controller offices, and water billing offices.

Find Public Records For Free in Harris County

Several private vendors operate websites that offer name searches for various Harris County public records. These platforms allow members of the public to find records created by different agencies from one centralized database. This means one may not have to search or visit a government agency's website to find public records.

However, one must note that third-party sites often maintain no connections to government agencies. They only purchase or pool publicly available data and host it on publicly available websites. As such, these private businesses cannot attest to or guarantee the accuracy of the documents or records that users retrieve from their systems.

Interested parties can use third-party aggregator sites to research government records and verify the information retrieved at the relevant public agency.

How to Remove Information From Public Records Free

Texas law allows members of the public to remove criminal history information from public records in specific situations through a process called expunction. An expunction deletes a person's arrest and criminal records from government databases, making them inaccessible during background searches. However, only people who meet the criteria outlined in Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 55 can seek expunction. People who may not be eligible for expunction can also check the law (Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1 of the Texas Government Code) to determine whether they can ask a court to seal their records instead.

Chapter 58 of the Texas Family Code also allows for the sealing of juvenile records and outlines the state's eligibility requirements.

Individuals who want to remove other types of information from public records in Harris County can contact the relevant agency custodian of records to inquire about removal procedures.

Who Can Access Harris County Public Records in Texas?

The PIA allows any member of the public to access public records. However, confidential or nonpublic records can only be reviewed by parties eligible under the law.

For example, only subjects of records, immediate family members, and parties with court orders can access Harris County birth and death certificates. In the same way, child support, visitation, and adoption case files are restricted to specific parties.

What Happens if I Am Refused a Public Records Request?

Tex. Gov't Code § 552.301 commands public bodies to seek the Attorney General's opinion before denying public records requests. A request for the AG's review must be made in writing, and the reasons under which the body intends to withhold the information must be stated.

Members of the public can also submit complaints to the Open Records Division of the Texas Attorney General if they believe that:

• They have a right to access the requested public record, or
• The government agency did not follow due process by notifying the Attorney General

Additionally, Subchapter H of Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code provides legal processes that members of the public can initiate to compel government agencies to hand over withheld information.