Montague County Arrest Records

In Montague County, Texas, law enforcement personnel are authorized to make arrests when an individual is caught committing a crime or when there is probable cause to believe they are guilty of an offense. Texas law provides for the apprehension of alleged criminal offenders with or without a warrant, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Following an apprehension in the county, the arresting agency creates Montague County arrest records; this may be the Montague County Sheriff's Office or the police departments of cities within the county. These records are eventually relevant in initiating criminal proceedings as they often provide insight into an individual's criminal history. They usually become part of broader public records held by other government entities. Thus, details from an arrest record might appear in Montague County court records if charges are filed, in the Texas Department of Public Safety's statewide criminal history database, or in the records of the Montague County District or County Attorney's offices that handle criminal prosecutions.

Are Arrest Records Public in Montague County?

Yes. Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), Montague County residents are authorized to request records from government agencies, including law enforcement. This law primarily aims to ensure government transparency regarding the "people's business," which includes police activities and arrests. However, the PIA also outlines several exceptions that restrict selected information from being released to the public to protect privacy and the integrity of ongoing investigations. Per these limitations, the following details may be exempt from public disclosure:

• Ongoing Investigations: Information that would, if released, interfere with the detection or prosecution of a crime can be withheld.
• Information Sensitive to Safety or Privacy: The law exempts any information that could endanger an individual's life or safety, such as the identity of a confidential informant or a witness's home address.
• Investigative Techniques and Internal Notes: Records that would divulge law enforcement investigative methods or officer tactical plans can be withheld. In addition, Texas law (Gov't Code §552.108(b)) allows police to keep internal records and conclusions confidential in closed cases that did not lead to a conviction.
• Juvenile Records: Arrests involving juveniles (generally under 17 years old in Texas) are confidential.

Despite these exemptions, certain parties may retain the right to access these records despite the limitations. For example, the arrestee (or their attorney) can usually obtain a copy of their own arrest record, even if it's not public to others. 

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Under Texas law, when you request an arrest record, you are entitled to the basic information related to that arrest. Typically, a Montague County arrest record released to the public will include:

• Personal Details of the Arrestee: The person's full name and aliases, age (often instead of exact date of birth), and general physical description (such as gender, race, height, weight, and other distinguishing features).
• Arrest Details: The date and time of the arrest, as well as the location where the arrest took place. The record will also note which agency or department made the arrest.
• Charges and Offenses: A description of the offense(s) for which the individual was arrested, including the specific statutes or charges
• Narrative of the Arrest: A brief summary of the factual circumstances surrounding the arrest – essentially, a synopsis of why the person was arrested.
• Booking Information: If the person was booked into jail, the record will usually show the date and time of booking and the location of the jail. It may also note bond information—including any bail amount set and whether the person bonded out.
• Additional Relevant Details: Basic information may also include the names of the arresting or reporting officers and the initial complainant or victim.

Montague County Arrest Statistics

According to data collected by the Texas Department of Public Safety and other reporting agencies, Montague County's arrest figures are a few hundred per year. The Montague County Sheriff's Office reported 1,411 arrests over the ten-year period from 2013 to 2023. Similarly, the Bowie Police Department (the police department of one of the larger cities in the county) recorded 1,555 arrests from 2013 through 2023. These numbers suggest an average of roughly 140–155 arrests per year for each agency.

Within these arrest totals, the majority were for lower-level offenses. Both the Sheriff's Office and the Bowie PD report that around 60–65% of all arrests are for "low-level, non-violent offenses." These often include offenses like simple drug possession, DUI, minor assaults, theft, and other misdemeanor charges. In contrast, serious violent crimes (like homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) make up a small fraction of the arrests. For instance, data from Bowie PD indicates that violent crimes accounted for only about 4% of that agency's arrests and drug possession offenses about 18%. The Nocona Police Department (another local agency in Montague County) showed a similar pattern: only about 3% of its arrests were for violent crimes, roughly 19% were for drug possession, and the rest were other non-violent offenses.

Find Montague County Arrest Records

There is no single centralized county repository on which individuals can search for all arrest records in Montague County; instead, record seekers may query the specific law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest.

1. Identify the Arresting Agency: Montague County has several law enforcement agencies operating within its judicial district. They include:
   • The Montague County Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction countywide (especially in unincorporated areas and smaller towns).
   • Municipal police departments, such as the Bowie Police Department, Nocona Police Department, and Saint Jo Police Department, police their respective cities.
   • In some cases, the Texas Department of Public Safety (Highway Patrol) or other state/federal agencies might make arrests in the county (e.g., DPS troopers making a DWI arrest).
2. Submit a Records Request: Upon verifying the appropriate agency, record seekers may request the arrest record from that agency's records department (often called the Records Unit or Records Division). 

Most agencies accept written requests under the Public Information Act. Some departments might have a specific form for records requests. The Montague County Sheriff's Office typically directs requesters to fill out a form on its website's Open Records Requests section.

Notwithstanding, depending on the agency's policies, the request can be made by mail, email, fax, or in person. Mail requests to the Montague County Sheriff's Office may be addressed thus:

111 S Grand Street, 
PO Box 127, 
Montague TX 76251
Phone: (940) 894-2871
Fax: (940) 894-2004

It should clearly describe the records being sought. For an arrest record, requesters will be expected to provide the following:

• The full name of the person who was arrested (and any known aliases).
• The date of the arrest (or at least a time frame) and the location or jurisdiction.
• The type of incident or charges, if known
• The requester's contact information, and if the request is being made on behalf of the arrestee as their attorney or representative

1. Provide Identification if Necessary: Since Montague County arrest records are public, requesters may not be required to provide their identity before obtaining basic information. However, to access non-public or confidential details, the requester may be required to prove their eligibility. For example, if an attorney requests their client's arrest report that includes some confidential information, the agency may ask for proof of representation.
2. Inquire with the Jail (for Recent Arrests): To find information about someone who was just arrested and is possibly still in custody, consider querying the local jail or detention facility. Montague County operates a jail at the Sheriff's Office, and jail administration may confirm if an individual is currently in custody, the charges, and the bond amount. The Sheriff's Office also provides an Inmate Roster or inmate information service via a third-party partner.

If a city police department arrested the person and they are being held before seeing a judge, they might be in that city's holding facility or in the county jail. Typically, Montague County's smaller city police will use the county jail to detain arrestees, especially if they need to be held for more than a few hours.

Free Arrest Record Search in Montague County

In Montague County, arrest record requests, as well as other public record inquiries, typically require the payment of a fee to cover the cost of research and reproduction of the copies (where these are requested). Record seekers can expect to pay $0.10 per page for standard copies, between $1 and $11 for non-standard copies, and a minimum of $7.80 for certified mail.

However, for a free or cheaper arrest record search in Montague County, inquirers may consider any of the following options:

• In-Person Inspection: Record seekers may request to inspect the arrest record at the law enforcement agency's office. If the record is readily available and not confidential, the record seeker may be allowed to review it onsite at no cost.
• Basic Information by Phone: While full records are not usually given out over the phone, inquirers may get basic arrest information verbally without any formal request.
• Online Resources: Use Montague County Sheriff or any of the local police department's online lookup tools.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Texas, including Montague County, arrest records do not automatically disappear over time. Once an arrest is on your record, it will remain on your criminal history indefinitely unless you take legal action to remove it. The arrest record still exists if an individual is arrested but not convicted.

Expunge Montague County Arrest Records

Texas law does allow individuals who meet the state's eligibility requirements to remove or seal arrest records. Expungement is a court-ordered deletion of the records, which erases the arrest from public records entirely. However, record sealing restricts the record from public view, though it may still exist for law enforcement and specific governmental purposes. The process for either option varies in Montague County and other Texas jurisdictions.

Montague County Arrest Record Expunction

In Montague County, as in the rest of Texas, expunctions are governed by Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. To get an arrest expunged, arrestee or their arrest records should fall under the following categories:

• No Charges Filed or Charges Dismissed
• Acquittal or Pardon
• Certain Juvenile Offenses and Minor Alcohol Offenses
• Class C Misdemeanor Deferred Adjudication

However, persons who were convicted or received probation (community supervision) for the offense cannot typically get an expunction. The big exception is the Class C scenario noted above. For any higher offense (Class A/B misdemeanor or any felony), a conviction or even a plea of guilty/no contest that resulted in probation disqualifies you from expunction. (Deferred adjudication for higher offenses doesn't count as a conviction, but those cases aren't expugnable either – they might be sealable)

To obtain an expunction in Montague County, eligible persons may Petition for Expunction in the appropriate district court. Typically, it's filed in the district court for the county where the arrest occurred, e.g., Montague County District Court. If the judge grants the expunction, each agency is legally required to destroy its records or return them to the court and remove references to the arrest from its databases. 

Montague County Order of Nondisclosure or Sealing 

If ineligible for an expunction (which is often the case if you had a disposition other than outright dismissal or acquittal), the next possibility is an order of nondisclosure. This is commonly applicable when someone successfully completes a deferred adjudication for a charge. Deferred adjudication is a type of plea deal where you plead guilty or no contest, but the judge defers a finding of guilt and places you on community supervision (probation). Like expungement, the process requires petitioning for an order of nondisclosure to seal the records of that case. 

Montague County Arrest Warrant Search

A Montague County arrest warrant is a legal order issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes the arrest of a specific individual. According to Texas law, a warrant must be 

• Issued In The Name Of "The State Of Texas"
• Identify The Person To Be Arrested, Either By Name Or A Detailed Description If The Name Is Unknown
• State The Criminal Offense The Person Is Accused Of
• Signed By A Magistrate (Judge) With The Office Noted. 

To find out if there is an active arrest warrant for yourself or someone else in Montague County:

• Make In-Person Inquiries at Law Enforcement: Visit the Montague County Sheriff's Office or a city police department in the county and inquire about active warrants. This generally requires providing the subject's full name (and preferably date of birth).
• Check with the County's Courts: Contact the Montague County District Clerk or County Clerk. If a warrant was issued as part of a court case (for example, a bench warrant for failing to appear in court or an indictment that led to a warrant), the court clerk's records should reflect that.
• Perform Online Warrant Searches: Montague County itself doesn't appear to have an online warrant search portal (many small counties don't). Texas does not have a statewide public warrant database accessible to citizens. However, county sheriff websites occasionally list active warrants, especially for things like unpaid traffic tickets or child support enforcement. Third-party websites also claim to have warrant information, but their accuracy is dubious and often charge fees. It's safest to get information directly from official sources.

Given Montague County's size, any warrant issued will usually be entered into the Texas statewide law enforcement databases (like TCIC/NCIC). That means even if you leave the county, the warrant can still be discovered by police elsewhere, leading to your arrest.

Do Montague County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants in Montague County do not expire on their own. Once a judge issues a warrant, it remains in effect indefinitely until it is served (the person is arrested) or until a judge withdraws or quashes the warrant. There is no statute of limitations on an issued warrant—the concept of a statute of limitations applies to how long after the offense charges can be initially brought, not to how long a warrant remains active once it's been issued.