Parker County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Parker County can arrest a suspect and take them into custody if they witness a crime or have probable cause to believe the suspect committed a criminal act. Those arrested in Parker County are held in the county jail arraignment or released on bail. The Parker County Sheriff’s Office or municipal police department is responsible for generating arrest records.

Arrest records contain information such as the date, time, and location of the arrest, the offender's photograph, fingerprints, personal identification information, physical features, charges, arresting officer, and agency. They begin the chain of records for accused persons and defendants in the Texas criminal justice system. Other related records include criminal records and Parker County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Parker County?

Yes. The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) establishes and protects the rights of ordinary members of the public to access and request copies of government bodies' records. Law enforcement agencies and other record custodians are required by law to provide a means for citizens to access arrest records without stating or explaining the purpose of the request. These liberties only apply to non-confidential records or records that are not subject to non-disclosure orders or laws.

Arrest records will not be public information where such content is expressly restricted from public disclosure under Subchapter C (Information excepted from required disclosure) of the Texas Public Information Act or other relevant federal or state statutes. Government agencies can also exercise discretionary power in redacting information from arrest records they deem sensitive or confidential. Custodians can and will refuse requests to access or inspect arrest information exempt from public disclosure.

Per the Texas Public Information Law, the following information are exempt from public arrest records:

• Information classified as confidential by law, constitution, statute, or order of the court (Sec 552.101)
• Law enforcement records that may interfere with investigation, detection, or prosecution (Sec 552.108)
• Addresses, telephone numbers, social security numbers, and personal family information. (Sec 552.117)
• Personal information relating to a minor (Sec 552.148)
• Criminal records are subject to an order of non-disclosure (Sec 552.142)

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Texas often include the following details:

• Arrestee’s personal information This includes the subject’s first, last, and middle name (aliases if known), date of birth, and age.
• Physical Description: Sex, race, ethnicity, height, weight, eye color, scars or tattoos (if any)
• Booking information: Booking ID, fingerprint, mugshots and holding facility
• Arrest and Booking Data: Booking ID, arresting agency, date, time, place of the arrest
• Previous arrests
• Arrest warrants
• Charge: Charges filed, the nature of the offense (felony, misdemeanor, or traffic offense), the degree of the offense, or the count charge.
• Bail Information, bond amount
• Court-related details: Scheduled court dates.

Parker County Crime Rate

Based on the Texas Crime Report for 2022 compiled by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Parker County's crime rate is 1256.0 per 100,000 people, with a population of 161,150. In 2022, the Parker County Sheriff’s Office and other municipal Police Departments reported approximately 2,024 offenses. Compared to the previous year the crime rate decreased by 11.59%. In 2021, the county had a crime rate of 1420.7 per 100,000 people against a total population of 140,843.

The most reported crimes in Parker County in 2022 were larceny (1219), burglary (338), auto theft (222), assault (188), and rape (47). From the above, it is clear that a higher percentage of offenses are crimes against persons, violent crimes, and property crimes.

Parker County Arrest Statistics

The 2022 crime report show that the clearance rate by law enforcement authorities in Parker County is 12.3%. The clearance rate signifies the total percentage of persons arrested and charged. Of the 2,024 reported offenses in Parker County, only 172 arrests were made. The majority of the arrests were for the offense of larceny (90), assault (44), and auto theft (20).

Find Parker County Arrest Records

In accordance with the provisions of the Texas Public Information Act, arrest records are public records, and government agencies are to create reasonable means for interested members of the public to view, inspect, or request copies of government records.

Parker County arrest records are in the custody of the Parker County Sheriff. To obtain public arrest records, visit the Records Division during business hours. All records requests must be in writing. Individuals may request copies of open records by mail, fax, or through the US Postal Service. Before sending a mail request, it is advisable to call the Records Division at (817) 594-8845 to confirm the cost of the service requested, formalities, and accepted methods of payment.

Parker County Sheriff’s Office
129 Hogle Street
Weatherford, Texas 76086
Phone: (817) 594-8845
Fax: (817) 594-7809

While all local arrest records are in the custody of the Parker County Sheriff, individuals can obtain incident reports, or police reports from city police departments like the Hudson Oaks Police Department or Weatherford Police Department. A police report typically contains all the details of the incident, statements from witnesses and the arrested person, evidence collected, preliminary charges, and notes of the arresting officer's observation and investigation. Requests for police reports are to be made in person at the police department.

General information on offenders arrested by State Law Enforcement Authorities and in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) can be accessed online. The TDCJ Inmate Information Search website gives the searcher access to basic information such as the inmate’s name, TDCJ number, race, gender, age, and projected release date. Likewise, information on offenders arrested by Federal authorities is available online at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator website.

Free Arrest Record Search in Parker County

While there are no central free resources or online databases for arrest records in Parker County, here are some options one can explore:

• Parker County Judicial Records: When an accused has been formally charged, a court record is created to document the judicial proceedings. Criminal case court records contain basic arrest information. Interested persons can find the arrestee's name and identity, mugshot, date and time of arrest, charges, warrants, bail and bond information, holding facility, etc.
• Parker County Jail Records: Information on arrestees booked in the Parker County Jail is available online at the Parker County Sheriff’s Office Jail Records search site.
• Third-Party Search Websites: Although third-party public records search sites are often subscription-based, some may offer limited free searches. Arrest information on these sites may be out of date, inaccurate, or incomplete as they are not official records.

Get Parker County Criminal Records

A criminal record is a comprehensive report and history of a person’s criminal convictions and contacts with the criminal justice system, including contact with the police, law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, and courts. It is a record of all arrests, charges, prosecutions, convictions, trials, court orders and judgments, dismissed or pending charges, sentences, fines, parole, and probation information.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is the central repository for criminal history records. Researchers can find information on public criminal history records online at the DPS Computerized Criminal History System (CCH). Criminal history information available on this website will only be public if it concerns arrests, prosecutions, and dispositions of cases for individuals arrested for class B misdemeanors or greater. C-class convictions may be available if the conviction is reported to the Department of Public Safety.

Parker County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records are both law enforcement records and are useful in investigations and identifying repeat offenders. Although they often appear in similar contexts, they connote and contain different things.

In Parker County, arrest records simply indicate that a person has been arrested and taken into custody by a law enforcement officer. An arrest record contains primary arrest information like the identity and description of the offender, the charges, date, time, and location of the arrest, and sometimes bail information. An arrest record is not an indication of guilt. When a person is arrested, they may or may not get charged by a state attorney, and if they are, the charges may be dropped, dismissed, or the defendant found guilty, acquitted, and discharged.

Parker County criminal records indicate that the accused or defendant admitted guilt for a crime or was convicted and found guilty by a competent court of jurisdiction or jury. Depending on local laws or state statutes, criminal records may not be public records. Arrest records are generally more accessible to the public. Criminal records index comprehensive details of the crime, court proceedings, prosecution, and sentencing. They are used for background checks, employment, and housing considerations.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Texas, arrest records remain public information indefinitely until expunged or sealed by court order. However, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission determines and issues a mandatory retention schedule for all official records of local Public Safety Agencies in Texas. Records are to remain publicly available and accessible until the expiration of the retention period assigned to them in the schedule. This rule only applies to arrest reports in the custody of local law enforcement agencies and not arrest information maintained by Texas Courts or the Texas Department of Safety.

Expunge Parker County Arrest Records

Under Article 55.01 (a) (1), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, any person who has been arrested for the commission of a felony or misdemeanor may be eligible to have all records and files relating to the arrest expunged if they have been tried for the offense and the person is:

• Acquitted by the trial court
• Convicted and subsequently pardoned
• Granted relief on the basis of actual innocence.

An arrested person may also be entitled to have their arrest records deleted or erased when the person is released, and the charge, if any, has not resulted in any conviction, the case is no longer active, and there was no court-ordered community supervision. A person may petition the court to expunge their record where no indictment or information charging the person with the commission of a felony or misdemeanor arising from the same arrest has been presented against the person at any time after the arrest and [Article 55.01 (a) (2)]:

• At least 180 days have elapsed from the day of the arrest for an offense punishable as a Class C misdemeanor.
• At least one year has elapsed from the date of the arrest for an offense punishable as a Class A or B misdemeanor.
• At least three years have elapsed from the date of the arrest for an offense punishable as a felony.

A person may only be eligible to expunge their records in the above subsections if they have not previously received an order of expunction and submit an affidavit attesting to that fact. A petitioner may apply to expunge any information contained in their arrest record or the arrest record of another that identifies the person, including the person's name, address, date of birth, driver's license number, and social security number. It is only possible to delete identity information from the arrest record of a third party where the person was arrested as a result of a clerical error and the third party falsely provided the petitioner’s information as his own without the consent of the petitioner.

Parker County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a document issued by a judge or magistrate commanding a peace officer or law enforcement official to arrest a person or people named in the warrant and bring them before the court. Arrest warrants are obtained after a complaint is filed, and an affidavit showing probable cause and reasonable belief is backed by facts that an individual or group of persons have committed an act that violates the state or local criminal laws.

Parker County arrest warrants must be issued in the name of the state of Texas. They must state the name of the person to be arrested, if known, or a definite description of the individual. The warrant must also state that the person has been accused of an offense and provide the name of the offense. An arrest warrant must be signed in the name and office of a magistrate per Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Parker County Arrest Warrant Search

People living in Parker County can find information on outstanding warrants by visiting the police department, sheriff’s office, or law enforcement office in their municipality. They may also contact the clerk of the issuing court or the court in the county where the person was previously arrested or believes there’s a warrant for their arrest.

Do Parker County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Parker County arrest warrants do not expire. The individual named in the warrant can be arrested at any time after it has been issued. However, law enforcement officers have to execute the warrant within a reasonable time to prevent undue delay.