Hockley County Arrest Records

In Hockley County, Texas, deputies from the Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement officers are typically not required to make arrests unless the legal circumstances requiring them to do so arise. These circumstances include the commission of an offense in the presence of a law enforcement officer or when an individual's overt actions disclose an intention to commit a crime. Also, law enforcement officers are obligated to arrest individuals if there's an active warrant.

When the offense is a felony or gross misdemeanor, the arrestee is typically arraigned in court for the judge to decide on bail. Defendants who are denied bail are held in the Hockley County Jail pending trial. The bail application and trial proceedings are typically documented in the Hockley County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hockley County?

Per the State Public Information Act (Texas Government Code 552), arrest records in Hockley County are public property. Consequently, members of the public have the right of access and may choose whether to inspect the record requested, receive copies, or both.

However, the public's right of access is subject to certain limitations. Information considered confidential by law or judicial decision may be legally withheld from public disclosure. While confidentiality is generally based on the Texas Attorney General's opinion, the following records are typically considered confidential:

• Juvenile Records
• Expunged or sealed records
• Confidential Informant Identities & Statements
• Attorney Records & Strategic Legal Plans
• Law-Enforcement Techniques & Internal Memos
• Mugshots in Ongoing Investigations
• Records of Investigations Not Leading to Conviction

For additional inquiries, contact the Sheriff's Office at:

Hockley County Sheriff's Office
1310 Avenue H, Levelland,
TX 79336.
Phone: (806) 894-3126

Hockley County Arrest Statistics.

According to the FBI UCR Crime Reporting Data, in the most recent reporting year, Hockley County recorded 7 violent crimes. These included zero murders or nonnegligent manslaughters, two rapes, one robbery, and four aggravated assaults. Property crimes were significantly higher, totaling 97 incidents, including 46 burglaries, 45 larceny-thefts, and six motor vehicle thefts. 1 arson

Find Hockley County Arrest Records

Depending on when the arrest occured, the most convenient way to obtain arrest or inmate information in Hockley County, Texas may be to call the Hockley County Sheriff's Office. The office representative may provide useful information to individuals making direct record inquiries.

Individuals may also visit the Sheriff's Office during regular business hours to make an open records request. Open record requests are made by completing and submitting the Open/Public Records Request Form over the counter at the Sheriff's Office.

Hockley County Clerk's Office
802 Houston Street, Suite 213
Levelland, TX 79336
Phone: (806) 894-3185 or (806) 894-4404
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 To 5:00

In addition, the Hockley County Sheriff's website has an Hockley County Jail Roster page. Users may filter the jail roster by inmate first and last name or their arrest date.

Defendants convicted in Hockley County are sometimes transferred to the State correctional facility, especially for long-term imprisonment. State inmate information search may be conducted on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) offender search page. To access inmate information:

• Visit the TDCJ Offender Search
• Enter either the offender's full name, TDCJ number, or SID.
• Click search to query the database.
• The search result will provide the inmate's location and status within the state correctional system.

Individuals may also use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Offender Search tool to locate an inmate held in federal custody.

Hockley County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Hockley County, Texas, arrest and criminal records are two types of public records. Arrest records are official documents law enforcement agencies generate when an individual is taken into custody. They do not necessarily indicate that the person was convicted.

Criminal records are more detailed and include the complete history of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. Criminal records show that legal charges were brought and help to provide information about the case's outcome. They serve as a long-term record of someone's criminal background.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Hockley County, Texas, arrest records remain on a public record until legal steps or procedures are taken to remove or seal them by a process known as expungement. The process involves the legal removal of an individual's arrest or conviction records from their criminal background profile, making it inaccessible in most public and private background checks. Eligibility criteria for expunging arrest records in Hockley County vary depending on the case's nature.

Eligible persons may qualify for automatic expungement if they were acquitted (found not guilty) or if their case was unfairly dismissed. In these instances, the record will generally be expunged automatically 30 days after the verdict or dismissal. The expungement order will be sent to the relevant parties. Within 60 days of receiving this order, the court may be requested to notify additional agencies if necessary.

If the charge was dismissed without prejudice, the expungement time frame depends on the charge. For misdemeanors, an expungement may be filed one year after the dismissal, while felony charges require a three-year wait.

Additionally, if charged with a felony in district court but not yet been indicted, there is eligibility to apply for expungement after six months. If the offender's charges were dismissed without prejudice or they have non-indicted felonies, they typically submit a Petition for Expungement. The filing timelines are as follows:

• Misdemeanors: A Petition may be filed after one year.
• Felonies: A three-year waiting period is required before a petition may be filed.
• Non-Indicted Felonies: Offenders may file a petition after six months, as stipulated by the expunction laws.

Generally, the steps to file a petition for expungement include:

• Obtain the Petition Form: The Petition for the Expungement form may be obtained from the court clerk's office or website.
• Complete the Form: Proceed to fill in all necessary details about your case. Texas statutes outline the requirements of the Petition.
• Submit the Petition: You may now file your completed form in the court where your case was dismissed.
• Notification Process: The court will inform relevant agencies about your expungement request.

Hockley County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court-issued document directing law enforcement to apprehend or detain a person suspected of committing a crime. It is typically issued in the name of "The State of Texas" and directed to a specific peace officer. Arrest warrants in Hockley County are issued after deputies from the Sheriff's Office or other law enforcement officers have tendered evidence before a judge, establishing probable cause to warrant the inference that the named suspect indeed committed the crime.

A typical arrest warrant in Hockley County includes:

• The full name and any known aliases of the person to be arrested.
• Physical description or identifying details to ensure that the correct individual is apprehended.
• A clear statement of the offense the person is accused of committing, including the relevant Texas Penal Code violations.
• The date of issuance and the name and signature of the magistrate who authorized the warrant.
• Instructions to law enforcement officers to apprehend the person and bring them before the court.

Do Hockley County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Under Texas law, once a judge or magistrate issues an arrest warrant, it stays active indefinitely unless the person is arrested or the court officially recalls the warrant. This means law enforcement agencies may enforce an outstanding warrant at any time, regardless of how much time has passed. This is supported by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which places no time limit on the validity of an arrest warrant.