Palo Pinto County Arrest Records

Palo Pinto County arrest records are files that contain information about arrest events. Such records typically include the arrestee's personal information, criminal charges, arrest date, time, and location.

Arrests are legal steps for bringing in persons suspected of breaking the law. Peace officers have the right to conduct arrests with or without an arrest warrant. After conducting an arrest, officers may detain suspected offenders in the county jail pending the outcome of further investigations.

In Palo Pinto County, the sheriff's department is the record custodian of arrest information. The agency generates and discloses arrest records upon requests from the public. Arrest information is also accessible through Palo Pinto County court records, inmate files, and criminal background documents.

Are Arrest Records Public in Palo Pinto County?

The Texas Public Information Act classifies most arrest records as public records. This means public members can legally request and obtain copies of the documents from designated public bodies. These bodies are required by law to release requested documents after receiving a request from the public.

For instance, interested parties can look up arrest records at the county sheriff's office during business hours at:

420 Cedar Street
Palo Pinto, TX 76484.
Phone: (940) 659-2085

Nevertheless, not all arrest records are accessible to the public. The state law allows public records to deny requests for such documents. For instance, Sec. 552.102 prevents public access to sealed or expunged arrest records. Other exempted arrest records include the following:

• Records that contain personal information of law enforcement personnel
• Documents that may interfere with an ongoing investigation or prosecution
• Records that contain recordings or pictures of a gruesome crime scene

Palo Pinto County Arrest Statistics

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Palo Pinto County's arresting agencies conducted 213 arrests in 2023. The state's Commission on Jail Standards revealed that the county jail housed 89 inmates as of August 1, 2022. Touch on arrest information-based statistics provided by local law enforcement sources or the FBI UCR arrest statistics. Please note that the focus should be on arrest and incarceration statistics, not general crime statistics like the preceding header.

Find Palo Pinto County Arrest Records

Inquirers can find Palo Pinto County arrest records by making a request in person at the county sheriff's office. Conversely, you can find some arrest information in inmate records. Inmate records contain information on arrestees in county or state-level correctional facilities. You may find the following information in inmate records:

• Arrestee's name, aliases, and physical description.
• Arrest number
• PID
• Arrest date
• Offense
• Book and release date
• Bond amount
• Bondsman.

To view inmate records in Palo Pinto County, interested parties may use online repositories that are maintained by government entities. For example, the county sheriff's department maintains an online inmate listing. Inquirers must provide the inmate's name or arrest date to view records on the platform.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice also offers online access to inmate records. To find records on the agency's platform, inquirers must provide the inmate's name, TDCJ number, SID number, gender, or race. Note that the platform will only provide information on current inmates in the state's prisons.

Conversely, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, via the Inmate Locator, provides information on inmates held in federal prisons. Inquirers must provide the inmate's name or prison number to view records on the platform.

Palo Pinto County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

Palo Pinto County arrest and criminal records are not the same. They are different in the following ways:

They contain different information.

Arrest records only contain arrest-related data. This means it includes information generated or received after an arrest event. However, criminal records are a compilation of all information regarding an individual's criminal past. The record may include court, arrest, and incarceration information.

They lead to different outcomes.

Arrest records do not reveal the outcome of an arrest charge. Therefore, the record subject may not face discrimination or restrictions. However, this is not the case for persons with a criminal record. Since the record reveals court convictions, they may affect the record subject's chances of getting employment or renting a house. In addition, state laws may place restrictions on persons convicted of a sex-related offense.

They are under the jurisdiction of different public entities

Arresting agencies are the primary custodians of arrest information. They generate and keep records of arrest events. In contrast, criminal records fall under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The agency creates criminal records by gathering information from other public entities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Palo Pinto County, arrest records will remain permanently visible in public-owned domains. However, you can seal or expunge arrest records, provided you meet the legal requirements. You must also follow a specific procedure to expunge your records. However, not all arrest records are expungeable under the law.

Palo Pinto County Arrest Warrants

Palo Pinto County arrest warrants are written court orders that authorize the arrest of defendants named in the document. Court magistrate will issue an arrest warrant upon receiving an oath from an arresting officer. This could be a written or verbal oath that an individual violated the law.

Per Art. 15.02 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, arrest warrants issued in Palo Pinto County must contain these details:

• The defendant's name, aliases, and physical-identifying features.
• Offense name and description.
• The court magistrate's official title and signature.

Do Palo Pinto County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not have an expiration date in Palo Pinto County. Note that warrants remain valid even after the statute of limitations for the crime has passed. Arrest warrants only become inactive when the defendant is arrested or the court nullifies the directive.

Expunge Palo Pinto County Arrest Records

Residents can expunge arrest records by filing a petition with the Palo Pinto County district court. Under Art. 45.0216, you must fulfill the following criteria to expunge arrest records:

• You were not convicted, and there was no court-ordered supervision;
• You were tried by the court but were acquitted, pardoned, or dismissed.
• You were convicted but later received a pardon.

How to expunge arrest records in Palo Pinto County

Petitioners must follow these steps to expunge arrest records:

1. Determine if you meet the eligibility requirements for expungement.
2. Create a petition that contains these data:
   1. The petitioner's information, including names, aliases, and address at the time of the arrest.
   2. Arrest charges and other details like the court name and case number.
   3. Names and addresses of agencies that hold a copy of the records.
3. Notarize the petition.
4. Attach a $350 filing fee.
5. Create a copy of the petition and send a copy to the court clerk.

The court will set a hearing date within 30 days of receiving the petition. It will also notify all agencies named in the petition. If the petition is granted, the court will sign an expungement order.