Lavaca County Arrest Records

Lavaca County arrest records refer to official documentation containing details of detained offenders and their alleged offenses. Arrest records are an important part of the criminal justice system that document the initial contact, which forms the start of criminal proceedings. Arrests become necessary in Lavaca County when the offense was committed in the presence of a law enforcement officer or to execute an arrest warrant. Arrest warrants are issued when there is enough evidence against the accused for an indictment to be pursued by the prosecution. An arrest can also be executed without a warrant in Lavaca County, where the offender was caught in the act of the crime, or the circumstances meet Texas law requirements, such as public intoxication or certain domestic violence situations.

Arrests in Lavaca County are generally executed by the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office or a local police department. Offenders in lawful custody are held at the Lavaca County Jail, which is managed by the sheriff’s office. This facility holds offenders who are awaiting arraignment, trial, or serving sentences for misdemeanors.

Arrest records can also be obtained through Lavaca County Court Records, which contain details such as the arrest date, location, and alleged offense. The county’s arrest records are accessible through the sheriff’s office or a local police department. They provide up-to-date information about individuals in law enforcement custody, which can be accessed by the public. These records are curated using offender details such as fingerprints, names, addresses, occupation, age, date of birth, and more. Arrest records are restricted to details about the arrest only. This means there will not be information about court processes and judgments in these records. A more complete criminal history record can be accessed through the Texas Department of Public Safety’sCriminal Records Division.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lavaca County?

Lavaca County arrest records are generally considered public information according to the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). These records can be accessed and obtained by anyone from the sheriff’s office or local police departments, provided that they do not contain restricted or sensitive details. These sensitive or restricted details are described as exemptions in the public records law for privacy protection purposes. They include information related to pending cases, personally identifiable records such as addresses and social security numbers, and records that are expunged from the archives. While anyone can access publicly available arrest records, restricted information is available to individuals who can prove they have a right of access or provide a court order to the same effect. The public can approach the sheriff’s office at:

Lavaca County Criminal Justice Center
38 FM 318, P.O. Box 288
Hallettsville, Texas 77964
(361) 798-3945 - Phone
(361) 553-4408 - Non-Emergency Line
(361) 798-9541 - Fax

Lavaca County Arrest Statistics

Lavaca County arrest statistics can be accessed through the FBI UCR website. According to this database, in 2024, the sheriff’s office made 245 arrests. The county recorded 81 arrests for all other offenses, 34 arrests for simple assaults, 19 arrests for aggravated assaults, and six arrests for sex offenses. There were six arrests for larceny, five burglary arrests, two homicide and motor vehicle theft arrests, as well as one arrest for arson. The county recorded no arrests for robbery.

Find Lavaca County Arrest Records

Lavaca County arrest records are publicly accessible and can be found through the records of the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies. They can be obtained by submitting in-person requests or sending your request via mail. The Sheriff’s Office maintains a County Jail Inmate Search where the public can search for an inmate by name. The state’s Department of Public Safety maintains a Crime Records website where the public can search arrest records from data submitted by local criminal justice agencies. These records are also accessible through the court by requesting from the District Clerk’s office or requesting through the county’s Open Records website. The state judiciary also provides online search access to statewide court records through the re:SearchTX website.

Lavaca County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Lavaca County arrest records refer to details of county arrests and jail inmate records. This is unlike criminal records, which are individual profiles with law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system. Arrest records contain information about lawful detention by peace officers, the arresting officer, or investigating agency, and crimes alleged, while criminal records contain arrest information and other details. Thus, arrest records only provide details of detainees and why they were arrested without reference to guilt or innocence.

In contrast, criminal records usually begin with arrest records, which lead to prosecution and conviction. They contain all law enforcement records on an individual from investigation to court trial and sentencing. Conversely, criminal records usually include court documents that provide conviction and sentencing details, which are a decisive indication of guilt or innocence.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Lavaca County do not have a time limit for appearing on public records. This means that they will remain on your records indefinitely until steps are taken to remove them. The length of time an arrest record will be on your profile depends on the state law and the case outcome. There is no law allowing automatic arrest records removal. The record registrant can either seal or expunge the records through the courts.
To be eligible for this, the arrest must not lead to a conviction. In situations where the arrest results in a conviction, the offender must complete the sentence and satisfy the waiting period of between 3 and 5 years before applying for expungement. Within this period, there must be no new offenses charged against the applicant. Certain crimes are exempted from expungement or sealing, such as murder, rape, or kidnapping.

Lavaca County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants refer to legal documents a magistrate or judge issues to a peace officer to authorize the lawful arrest and detention of an individual suspected or confirmed to have committed a crime. Lavaca County Arrest warrants are usually issued based on probable cause, which means there must be enough evidence to reasonably believe the named individual in the document was involved in some specific criminal activities. They are only valid after a judge signs them and will remain active till a judge cancels them or the arrest is executed.

Arrest warrants can be bench warrants for someone who doesn't appear in court, extradition warrants for transferring an individual to another jurisdiction, and arrest warrants for arrest and detention before arraignment. They are public records maintained by the county courts and the sheriff’s office. These offices provide access to active arrests, bench warrants, and criminal court records. An arrest warrant will contain the following details:

• The time, location, and date of the arrest
• The name and physical description of the arrestee
• The charges and supporting legislation
• The arresting officer’s name and badge number

Do Lavaca County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, after an arrest warrant is issued and signed by a judge, it remains active indefinitely. They do not expire by statutory provision or the passage of time. They can be recalled by a judge if issued erroneously or canceled when the alleged offender is in law enforcement custody. Arrest records can also become inactive due to the statute of limitations. This refers to when a charge cannot be filed after a certain period of time has passed. When this happens, the arrest becomes a futile effort because the case cannot go to court.

Expunge Lavaca County Arrest Records

Lavaca County arrest records can be expunged or sealed through the District Court. Offenders can clear their arrest records in two ways: through an order of nondisclosure, which seals the records, or through expungement, which involves completely destroying the documents. Expungement best applies to arrests that do not lead to a conviction, while an order of non-disclosure usually applies to cases with a conviction or resolved through deferred adjudication. For expungement, the arrest must not lead to a conviction. This means there must have been an acquittal, dismissal, or withdrawal of the case by the prosecution. To obtain an order of nondisclosure in Lavaca County, the waiting period of between 180 days for misdemeanors and 5 years for most felonies must be satisfied. This waiting period starts counting after the completion of the sentence. The offender must also maintain a clean record within this period. There are offenses that are ineligible for sealing or expungement, such as murder, aggravated assault, offenses involving family violence, stalking, and sexual offenses.

Individuals who meet these requirements can apply by filing the Petition for Expungement or for Order of Nondisclosure at the Lavaca County Court. The court approves expungements that meet the requirement quickly, while sealing applications are reviewed and could lead to a court hearing. If the court sides with the applicant, the Order is granted and sent to the relevant agencies to be effected.