Matagorda County Arrest Records

Peace officers in Matagorda County can execute arrests when a warrant exists for the individual's arrest, an officer has a reason to believe that someone has committed a crime, or an officer witnesses a crime.

Upon an arrest, the arrestee is detained in police custody, typically at the Matagorda County Jail, which the Matagorda County Sheriff's Office oversees. Before admittance into jail, the arrestee undergoes a booking process that requires them to reveal identifying information and be photographed and fingerprinted. These data are collated into an arrest record that forms the basis for background checks in the county.

Beyond background checks, Matagorda County arrest records serve other legal purposes, including:

• Providing investigative resources for law enforcement officers
• Supplying statistical information about arrest patterns in a region
• Aiding policy formulation
• Facilitating criminal prosecution

Usually, when a defendant is charged in court, relevant arrest information will be included in the Matagorda County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Matagorda County?

Yes. The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) confers a public status on most Matagorda County arrest records. Codified in the Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, the Act gives individuals the right to inspect or copy arrest information from their official custodians, provided the requested information is not exempt.

Exceptions to the Texas Public Information Act (information deemed closed to the public) include:

• Information about ongoing criminal investigations
• Juvenile arrest records
• Information sealed/expunged by operation of law or court order

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public information in a Matagorda County arrest record includes:

• The arrestee's identifying information, including name, aliases, and physical descriptions, such as hair and eye colors
• The subject's mugshot
• Booking number
• Arrest date and location
• Charge(s)
• Court information, including the presiding court and next court date

Matagorda County Arrest Statistics

The 2023 Texas Crime Report puts the total number of arrests executed by law enforcement agencies in Matagorda County at 141. Of those arrests, 61 were for aggravated assault, while 58 arrests were made for larceny. Other categories of arrests are highlighted below:

• Burglary: 9
• Auto Theft: 5
• Arson: 4
• Rape: 3
• Robbery: 1
• Murder: 0
• Human Trafficking: 0

Find Matagorda County Arrest Records

A person can look up information on Matagorda County detainees using local, state, and federal resources. To find persons arrested and detained locally, members of the public can contact the Matagorda County Sheriff's Office at the address below:

2308 Avenue F
Bay City, Texas 77414
Phone: (979) 245-5526

Requesters should note that they will need to provide some information about the sought-after records, such as a person's name or booking number. Parties can also query a specific municipal arresting agency for arrest information. For example, one can send a public records request for arrest information to the Palacios Police Department in person, by mail, or by email.

On the other hand, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is the primary state repository for information about Matagorda County arrestees in state detention facilities. Requesters can send a public records request to the Department electronically by completing a request form or leverage the Texas Inmate Search platform to find inmate information using specific parameters (name, TDCJ number, SID number, gender, or race).

Lastly, information about federal inmates is available to the public through the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Individuals can access the BOP's Find an Inmate tool to locate federal arrestees from Matagorda County. Alternatively, requesters can contact the specific federal arresting agency directly for information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Matagorda County

Subject to a few exceptions, individuals may be able to access Matagorda County arrest records at no charge at official record custodians' offices or through available online platforms (Texas Government Code § 552.271). However, parties requiring copies of documents must pay a sum for reproduction (Texas Government Code § 552.261).

One can also explore third-party websites for free arrest record search services. However, searchers should note that information from private websites cannot be relied upon for official purposes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. An individual's arrest record remains on file in Matagorda County unless they take appropriate steps to have them expunged. Expunged records are permanently removed from an individual's criminal history, allowing the affected party to deny that the arrest ever occurred.

Expunge Matagorda County Arrest Records

The process for expunging Matagorda County arrest records is as follows:

Confirm Eligibility

Chapter 55, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, outlines the arrests that may qualify for expunction. They include:

• Arrests for charges that were never filed
• Dismissed charges
• A few qualifying misdemeanor juvenile offenses
• A minor's conviction for certain alcohol offenses
• A conviction for failure to attend school
• Arrests of victims of identity theft for crimes committed by an arrested, charged, or convicted perpetrator
• Convictions for crimes that were later acquitted or pardoned

After verifying eligibility, the next step is to file a Petition for Expunction in a court of jurisdiction in Matagorda County (typically the court where the charge was filed). The petition should include adequate identifying information about the petitioner, details of the arrest and offense, the name of the arresting agency, and all the agencies that may have a record of the event.

If charges were filed, the petition should include the cause number, the name of the court, and how the case was resolved. Duly drafted petitions must be signed and notarized and should contain a blank "Notice of Hearing" to enable the court to set a hearing date.

Attend the Hearing

After receiving a petition for expunction, the court will schedule a hearing. Notice of the hearing will be transmitted to all applicable agencies, who will have an opportunity to contest it. After hearing both sides, the court will review the case on its merits and decide on the matter.

Expunction Order

If the court grants the petition, it will sign an Order for Expunction, and copies of the order will be submitted to all organizations with records of the arrest.

Note: The expungement process in Matagorda County can be complex. For this reason, individuals are advised to hire an attorney from as early as the eligibility check stage to reduce the chances of errors and for an overall smoother experience.

Matagorda County Arrest Warrants

A Matagorda County arrest warrant, which is provided for under Section 15 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, can be issued by a magistrate when:

• A person fails to make a court appearance on a scheduled date or disobeys some other court directive, or
• Evidence or facts exist to implicate a person in a crime

Arrest warrants order a peace officer to arrest an accused person and deliver them to court to be dealt with according to the law. A typical Matagorda County arrest warrant will be issued in the name of the State of Texas and contain the following information:

• The subject's name or other identifying information
• The alleged offense
• The magistrate's signature

Matagorda County arrest warrants are public documents that can be obtained by contacting local police departments in the issuing court's jurisdiction.

Do Matagorda County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Matagorda County arrest warrants remain enforceable until the subject surrenders or is arrested. A court can also recall an arrest warrant, which effectively invalidates it.