Jones County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Jones County are authorized to make arrests within the county. An arrest becomes necessary when an officer witnesses a crime in progress or when they have a warrant for the individual's arrest.

Jones County arrest records are law enforcement documents that detail the apprehension and incarceration of suspects in the county. The County sheriff's office and other arresting agencies generate arrest records when they arrest and detain individuals for arrestable offenses. The Jones County jail is the primary detention Center where arrestees are held pending further investigation or arraignment.

Moreover, Jones County arrest records may form part of Jones County Court Records when the arrestee is prosecuted. The court records document the progress and outcome of the case.

Are Arrest Records Public in Jones County?

Yes. Jones County arrest records are regarded as public records. Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code grants the public access to arrest records that are not confidential or restricted by law. The statute grants the public the right to access complete information about government affairs and the official activities of public officeholders, except where specifically exempted by law.

However, there are exemptions to the blanket access granted by the Texas Public Information Act. The following information is exempt from public disclosure:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Sealed or expunged records
• Records detailing law enforcement techniques or procedures
• Active law enforcement investigations
• Information that may undermine public security
• Personal identifying information such as Social Security Number, credit card numbers, bank account numbers
• Medical information
• Information about victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence, or child abuse.

Access to restricted arrest records is granted only to the record subjects, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, other criminal justice agencies, and individuals with a court order or subpoena.

Jones County Arrest Statistics

According to data published by the Texas Department of Public Safety as part of the Texas Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Jones County reported 50 arrests in 2024. Of these, 19 were for violent crimes, and 31 were for property crimes. Violent crime arrests included one murder, three rape incidents, three robberies, and 12 assaults. The property crime arrests consisted of 10 burglaries, 16 larcenies, and five auto thefts.

Find Jones County Arrest Records

Interested parties seeking Jones County arrest records should visit the County Sheriff's Office website to find information about arrestees serving time in the county jail. They can find information about recent arrests, current inmates, and booking information. They may also visit the District Clerk's office in person to request access to criminal records. Oftentimes, these records contain arrest information when the case is tried.

Additionally, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) offers a search tool that enables users to locate offenders currently serving time in a TDCJ facility. Interested parties may search this database using the last name, first name, TDCJ number, or State Identification (SID) Number. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) also offers an inmate locator service, allowing record seekers to search for federal inmates. They may search using the name or BOP registry number.

Jones County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Although Jones County arrest and criminal records are used during criminal investigations, they are distinct records. They differ in their mode of creation, content and legal consequences.

Arrest records are law enforcement documents that detail the apprehension of individuals. They are generated when law enforcement officers conduct an arrest. On the other hand, Jones County criminal records detail criminal activities within the County and their prosecutions through the criminal justice system. The courts generate these records during criminal trials.

Jones County arrest records contain information about the arrest incident, such as the personal details of the arrestees, the reasons for the arrest, and the conditions for their release. Conversely, Jones County criminal records are details of criminal prosecutions, convictions, and incarcerations within the jurisdiction.

In and of themselves, arrest records do not confirm the guilt or innocence of their owners. Other records need to be checked to ascertain this. On the other hand, criminal records show that the record owner has been found guilty of the crime.

Jones County Arrest records may not necessarily impact the societal status and economic well-being of the owner. On the other hand, criminal records may have lifelong negative consequences for their owners.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The length of time an arrest remains on a person's record depends on the outcome of the arrest, specifically whether the individual was acquitted, the charges were dismissed, or the individual was convicted of the charges. In general, arrest records are permanent throughout the lifetime of the bearer. Under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, eligible citizens can have record relief through expungement.

Expungement or sealing (through a non-disclosure order) is an option when the case resulted in a non-conviction, conviction for eligible non-violent misdemeanors, or a deferred adjudication.

Jones County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate authorizing law enforcement to apprehend an individual. To obtain a warrant, the officer must establish probable cause by presenting an affidavit that demonstrates a crime has occurred and the suspect is likely responsible. Typically, warrants are issued when there is reliable evidence to prove that the suspect committed the crime. It also covers cases where the individual poses a threat to public safety or presents a high flight risk.

The following information must be contained in a Jones County arrest warrant:

• The name and description of the offender
• The charges against the individual and the statute violated
• Recommendations to law enforcement on how to execute the warrant
• Name and signature of the issuing judge
• Bail or bond conditions

Do Jones County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Jones County arrest warrants do not expire. They remain active until law enforcement agents arrest the suspect. However, circumstances may render the warrant inactive, such as the death of the suspect. Also, the court may recall the warrant if there was a mistaken identity or further investigation proved the suspect to be innocent.

Warrants are logged into a national database. Therefore, the best line of action for an individual with an active warrant is to resolve it. Even if the suspect eludes law enforcement for a while, they will eventually be brought to justice.

Expunge Jones County Arrest Records

Expungement is the legal mechanism that removes a record from public access. Not all arrest records are eligible for expungement in Jones County. As outlined in Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the eligibility conditions include:

• Cases that were acquitted or dismissed
• Individuals who received a pardon
• Specific misdemeanor cases

To initiate the expungement process, eligible individuals must obtain their arrest and criminal records from the courts and law enforcement agencies. Next, the prospective petitioner must complete the petition form and submit it to the court of conviction, including the requisite filing fees. The offender must also notify the prosecutor.

Subsequently, the court will review the request. If the prosecutor does not object and the judge agrees that the individual's right to expungement outweighs the need to retain the records, the judge approves the expungement. The court will notify all the relevant agencies to destroy the documents in their custody, and the individual can legally fail to acknowledge the arrest when asked.