Rockwall County Arrest Records

In Rockwall County, law enforcement officers are authorized to arrest and take a person accused of an offense into custody so they may be handled according to the law. Chapter 15 of the Texas Statutes Code of Criminal Procedure governs arrests in Rockwall County.

Suspects arrested in Rockwall will typically be held in the county detention center operated by the local sheriff’s office. After booking at the jail, the suspect will be arraigned to stand in front of a judge as soon as possible. The judge will set court dates and decide whether to release the person on bail or return them to jail.

The arresting agency typically generates and maintains arrest records. Arrest records form part of an individual’s criminal records and may be obtained from local law enforcement or the Texas Department of Safety. These records may also be available as part of Rockwall County Court Records maintained by the state and local judiciary.

Are Arrest Records Public in Rockwall County?

Arrest records in Rockwall County are classified as public records under the Texas Public Information Act. Public information concerning arrests is available for public disclosure via public record requests to the record custodians. However, there are certain types exempted from public access by law.

Examples of information exempted under the Public Information Act may include the following.

• Arrest records of juveniles or minors
• Any record that has been sealed or expunged by a court order
• Any information that would identify or endanger a victim or witness to a crime
• Any information that would interfere with ongoing criminal investigations or legal proceedings
• Information in a record revealing confidential informants, security procedures, and undercover agents

Records containing restricted information may still be accessed, but the restricted parts will be removed or redacted. Law enforcement agents and prosecutors may have access to the complete record.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records generally contain information about the suspect and particulars about the arrest. The exact information may differ slightly by jurisdiction, but an arrest record will include the following information.

• The name and physical description of the arrested suspect
• The crime committed and the specific laws they violate
• The charges brought against the suspect
• The date and location of the arrest
• The arresting agency and arresting officers
• Booking information, including booking number, date, time, mugshots, fingerprints, and bond details

Rockwall County Arrest Statistics

Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office collates arrest data and submits it to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Rockwall County crime data, including arrest statistics, may be viewed online using the FBI Crime Data Explorer. According to the data for 2023, the Sheriff’s Office reported 127 arrests for drug/narcotic offenses, 49 arrests for driving under the influence, 18 arrests for weapons violations, 10 arrests for simple assaults, five arrests for aggravated assaults, five arrests for fraud, and two arrests for larceny. One arrest each was recorded for motor vehicle theft, burglary, vandalism, and prostitution.

Find Rockwall County Arrest Records

Rockwall County arrest records and inmate information may be available from the Detention Division of the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office. The Rockwall County detention center accepts inmates from 8 law enforcement agencies within the county. Arrest records and inmate information may be obtained by contacting the Detention Division directly by calling (972) 204-7115. Inquiries about arrests and inmates may also be made by calling the Sheriff’s Office at (972) 204-7001 or the Jail Information Line at (972) 204-7100.

The Sheriff’s office also maintains online resources for arrest reports and inmate details. The Inmate Lookup database and the Jail Weekly Booking/Release Report provide quick access to arrest and inmate records for Rockwall County.

State-level arrest records and inmate information may be obtained using the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal History Name Search and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Inmate Information Search. Users should note only inmates currently serving a sentence in a state-operated facility appear during the inmate information search.

Free Arrest Record Search in Rockwall County

Online resources provide some of the best options for free arrest records and inmate information searches for Rockwall County. The Inmate Lookup database lets users check the records of inmates housed in the detention center. At the same time, the Weekly Booking/Release Report allows record seekers to see weekly intakes and releases at the jail.

Record seekers may also find free arrest record searches at third-party record websites. These privately owned websites offer convenient alternatives to looking up records online using a smartphone. Some also provide options to download copies directly to the device, removing the need to visit the custodian in person. Since these sites are not government-owned, users must crosscheck their information with official government sources.

Rockwall County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Rockwall County arrest and criminal records are both records about an individual’s interaction with the criminal justice system generated by various agencies. The main differences between these records lie in what aspects they cover and who generates them.

Rockwall County arrest records focus mainly on a person’s arrest. They are generated by arresting agencies and contain information about the arrest and information collected during the suspect’s booking at the jail. Arrest records include information such as names, physical descriptions, booking information, bonds, and so on.

Rockwall County criminal records, on the other hand, detail the subject’s entire criminal history. They are generated by several agencies, including law enforcement and the judiciary. The information on a criminal record includes everything from arrests to court case information, sentencing details, and prison or supervision terms.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest will remain permanently on a person’s record in Texas. However, individuals may petition the court to expunge the record or obtain a non-disclosure order under certain conditions. These measures will prevent arrest records from being accessed by the general public, though law enforcement may still have access to them.

Expunge Rockwall County Arrest Records

Expungement or expunction is a legal process where a person may petition a court to remove a charge, arrest, or conviction from their record. Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure governs how the expunction of records works in Texas.

In Texas, a person qualifies to have their records expunged if they meet certain criteria, including the following.

• The person was arrested but not charged with a crime, or the charges were dismissed.
• They went to trial but were acquitted
• The person was a juvenile at the time of arrest(specific crimes)
• They have completed pretrial diversion programs or are eligible for dismissal of charges by other criteria
• Their conviction was overturned on appeal, or they received a pardon
• The statutes of limitations for the crime have expired (arrests)

There may also be waiting periods required before filing for an expungement, depending on the crime and the outcome of the case. These are between 180 days and one year for class C and other misdemeanors where the applicant was not charged and three years if the person was arrested for a felony and not indicted or it was dismissed.

Below are simple guidelines for filing a petition for an expunction in Texas.

• Review your criminal record and Chapter 55 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to ensure that you are eligible.
• File the petition for expunction at the district court in the county where the arrest took place or where you were charged. Use the forms available online or from the court. In the form, you will be required to list the prosecutor, the arresting agency, and any other place that may have a record of the arrest or conviction.
• Complete the filing and pay the filing fees. Filing may cost over $300 depending on various factors, including how many agencies must be notified of the petition.
• Serve notice of the petition to the prosecutor’s office and all other agencies listed in the petition. These agencies may choose to challenge the petition.
• Attend the scheduled hearing at the court to make a case for the petition. Although it is not compulsory to have an attorney with you, it may be helpful to have one to make sure the petition and hearing follow the right procedure.
• At the end of the hearing, the judge will rule on the petition. If the judge grants the petition, they will sign the expunction order.
• Obtain certified copies of the expunction order from the court clerk and make sure that copies are sent to all the agencies listed in the petition.

Sometimes a petitioner might not be eligible for an expungement but may still request a nondisclosure order. This is an order that seals a record and prevents public agencies from releasing the petitioner’s records. Unlike expunction orders, non-disclosure orders do not destroy a record, it only restricts access to it. Law enforcement and other government agencies may still access the full record.

Rockwall County Arrest Warrants

Rockwall County arrest warrants are written orders issued by a magistrate to a peace officer or another specifically named person commanding them to take into custody someone accused of a crime to be dealt with according to the law. The issuing and execution of Rockwall County arrest warrants is governed by Article 15 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

In Rockwall County, arrest warrants may be issued by a judge or magistrate after they have provided probable cause that the person on the warrant committed a crime. Probable cause must be shown by an affidavit or a complaint made under oath before the judge or magistrate. The judge may issue a warrant of arrest or a summons if satisfied that the subject of the warrant committed the crime.

An arrest warrant in Rockwell County will be issued by a judge or magistrate of the local court and contain at least the following information.

• The full name and a reasonable physical description of the subject of the warrant
• The crime committed and what Texas laws it violates
• Instructions to law enforcement or a specifically named individual to arrest the subject
• The name, signature, and office and office of the judge/magistrate who issued it

Do Rockwall County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Rockwall County and the rest of Texas have no expiration dates. Once the warrant is signed and issued by a judge, it remains active until resolved. Warrants may be resolved if the subject of the warrant is arrested, surrenders, or pays the bond listed on the warrant. A judge may also cancel the warrant if the subject meets certain conditions.