San Jacinto County Arrest Records

Arrest records in San Jacinto County are legal documents providing information about an individual arrested for a crime. These records usually include the alleged crime and arrest details. Although they show the suspect was arrested for a crime, they are insufficient to prove the individual committed it. Arrest records may also form part of San Jacinto County Court records.

Some of the information contained in arrest records may include:

• Details about the alleged crime
• The full name of the arrestee, their gender, and ethnicity
• The arrest location and date
• The issuing judge

Are Arrest Records Public in San Jacinto County?

Yes, Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), arrest records and other criminal records maintained by government agencies are considered public. Arrest records often appear on standard criminal background checks. The police department or law enforcement agency that made the arrest usually keeps these records.

Interested parties in San Jacinto County, Texas, may search for arrest records online through the county sheriff's office and other collaborating agencies. The Texas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) mandates that government agencies provide arrest records and other official documents to the public, unless there is a specific reason to keep them private.

San Jacinto County Arrest Statistics

According to a 2022 report from the San Jacinto Sheriff's Office, the county's population was 27,402 as of that year. The jail capacity was 144, and the average daily population in the county jail was 94. The incarceration rate was 3.43.

Find San Jacinto County Arrest Records

Under the Texas Public Information Act (section 552), the public has unrestricted access to government records. There are some exceptions to confidential documents. Otherwise, all government records are presumed to be available for public access. Individuals seeking access to arrest records should begin their search at the county Sheriff's office. The San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office has a department dedicated to processing requests to view records and for background checks. Requesters may contact the county Sheriff's office by mail or email to get an arrest record.

In-person visits may be made at:

75 W. Cedar Avenue,
Coldspring, Texas 77331
(936) 653-4367

Additionally, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Crime Records Division is the custodian for criminal records in Texas. Requesters can fill out the DPS's Public Information Request Form. Requesters typically need to include their contact details and information about the records they seek, such as the type of record, date, and location of the arrest.

San Jacinto County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record is a log or record that law enforcement agents keep about an individual's arrest history. On the other hand, a criminal record is a list of an individual's contact with the criminal justice system. It can include their personal information, known aliases, photographs, incarceration information, and eligibility for parole. An arrest record shows that law enforcement agents took an individual into custody. Still, it does not determine guilt, while a criminal record documents the individual's conviction history after being found guilty in court.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Once created, an arrest record stays permanently on an individual's criminal history record regardless of the crime that necessitated the arrest or the circumstances surrounding the arrest. It will surface whenever a background check is conducted on the individual. They can only be removed by sealing or expungement.

San Jacinto County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in San Jacinto County is a legal document that empowers law enforcement agents to apprehend the individual named on the warrant legally. Without a warrant, such an action would violate the individual's rights under the Fourth Amendment.

The judge issues a warrant when they have established probable cause, as presented in an affidavit, that the individual committed the crime. Arrest warrants are vital instruments in the criminal justice system. Sometimes, after an arrest warrant has been approved, the court may inform the suspect or their attorneys about the purpose of the arrest. Otherwise, the arrest warrant is a notice in itself.

Residents can confirm whether they have an active arrest warrant by contacting the County Sheriff's office.

Some details included in a typical warrant include:

• The wanted person's full name and physical descriptors, such as eye color and tattoos.
• The name of the issuing judge
• Date of issue
• Bail conditions, if applicable

A warrantless arrest is also lawful in specific circumstances, such as when a law enforcement officer witnesses a crime in progress or when the wanted person is implicated in a felony.

Do San Jacinto County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Once issued, arrest warrants remain enforceable. They do not automatically disappear with time. Anytime law enforcement officers spot the arrestee, they immediately arrest them. The issuing judge may cancel the warrant, but this would be at the suspect's or their attorney's request. If the subject becomes deceased, law enforcement can no longer arrest them.

Expunge San Jacinto County Arrest Records

In San Jacinto County, an individual can have their arrest record expunged or removed from their criminal record if they were acquitted of the offence. Expungement implies that the public will not be able to view information about such arrest records when they are searched. To initiate the expungement process, the arrestee must file a petition.

To be eligible for expungement, the arrest must not have resulted in a conviction or community supervision, and the waiting period must have elapsed. For Class C misdemeanors, the waiting period is 180 days; for Class A or B misdemeanors, it is 1 year. For felonies, it is 3 years.

To request expungement of records related to a criminal conviction, the arrestee must have completed their sentence and paid any fines due to the conviction. They must also prove that there are no other pending charges against them and that expungement is in the best interest of justice. They will also be required to prove they were not involved in any other crime during the waiting period.