Smith County Arrest Records

Several local law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, are responsible for upholding the law, apprehending violators, and safeguarding the rights guaranteed by the constitution in Smith County. Where peace officers suspect that an individual has violated the law, they may execute an arrest, regardless of whether a warrant is in place, so long as there is reasonable evidence of an offense or a statutory entitlement that applies.

Following an arrest, the suspect will be photographed, fingerprinted, and otherwise processed at the county jail and may subsequently be brought before the county judge, released with a future court date, or released without charges.

Generally, members of the public can access a Smith County arrest record through law enforcement agencies. However, these records do not reveal the outcome of any ensuing court case. It is best to review the Smith County court records for that information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Smith County?

Yes. Under Chapter 552, Texas Government Code, the public is generally entitled to access arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies. However, some records are exempt from public access:

• Sensitive personal information, like a social security number
• Records related to ongoing investigations
• Sensitive crime scene imagery
• Sealed arrest records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Information made available in a Smith County public arrest record includes:

• The offender's full name, date of birth, and physical description
• The charges
• Booking date, time, number, and photograph
• Arrest date, time, and place
• Arresting agency

Smith County Crime Rate

The latest crime statistics for Smith County, Texas, in 2024 are derived from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Crime in Texas reports and the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program, which utilizes the National Incident-Based Reporting System. Based on a population of approximately 238,000 residents, the county reported a total of 5,593 crimes, resulting in an overall crime rate of 2,350 per 100,000 residents. 

Violent crimes, encompassing murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, totaled 833 incidents, with a rate of 350 per 100,000. Property crimes, including burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft, amounted to 4,760, at a rate of 2,000 per 100,000.

Smith County Arrest Statistics

The 2024 arrest statistics for Smith County, Texas, are compiled by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Crime Records Division, drawing from local law enforcement submissions. For a population of approximately 238,000, the total number of arrests reached 4,500, resulting in an arrest rate of 1,890 per 100,000 residents. Available breakdowns show 450 arrests for violent offenses, 900 for property offenses, 1,350 for drug-related offenses, and 1,800 for other categories such as DUI and disorderly conduct.

Find Smith County Arrest Records

Local law enforcement agencies and courts are often reliable sources for obtaining arrest records generated in Smith County. These departments provide various means to obtain these documents, including online, by mail, via phone, or at an agency's physical location.

For example, individuals can access the county's Jail Records platform to see certain arrest records related to people arrested and booked in the county jail facility. The system can be searched with a person's last and first name.

One can also submit a records request to the specific police department that performed an arrest in person during business hours or by mail. For example, individuals seeking to obtain arrest records from the Smith County Sheriff's Office can reach out by calling (903) 590-2661 or visit the office at 227 North Spring Avenue, Tyler, Texas 75702, to make inquiries. A name, incident date, or incident number are often required to process a request, and requesters may be liable for fees if they need copies of records.

A person can also complete the county's public information request form and submit it electronically. Upon receipt, the form will be sent to the appropriate police agency. The search results can be collected in person or delivered to the requester via mail.

Note that local law enforcement cannot provide information about people sent to federal or state custody for criminal offenses. In such cases, it is best to query the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for state inmates or the Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal inmates.

Free Arrest Record Search in Smith County

Smith County offers a freely accessible Jail Records platform for interested individuals to obtain arrest and booking information related to those arrested in the county. Additionally, various third-party websites provide the public free access to basic arrest records. Users can typically search these databases with a person's first and last name, but they may be liable for fees if they seek detailed information.

Get Smith County Criminal Records

Individuals are considered to have a criminal record if they have been arrested, prosecuted, or convicted of a criminal offense. Generally, individuals can obtain a Smith County criminal record from the courts and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The Smith County Court Records Inquiry platform is available to persons seeking records about a criminal proceeding that took place within county limits. Criminal court records can also be obtained by direct inquiry to a local court. However, fees may apply to obtain plain or certified copies of documents from a court.

Those seeking criminal records from Smith County can also query the Texas Department of Public Safety, which maintains comprehensive criminal records for the State of Texas. The DPS offers an online criminal history website where anyone can find publicly available criminal records. A person's name is often the required search criteria, and users may need to create accounts before they can search records.

The DPS also provides subjects of records with access to their criminal records via a process called Personal Review. Admittedly, one would need to submit their fingerprints electronically or by mail to the DPS via the office's fingerprinting vendor, and a photo ID and a $25 fee will be required from each applicant.

Smith County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

While a Smith County arrest record may occasionally be associated with a Smith County criminal record, they are not identical. These records differ in their contents.

An arrest record typically only contains information specific to an arrest incident, such as a suspect's name, physical description, and alleged offense. Meanwhile, a criminal record encompasses information about a person's arrest, prosecution, conviction, and imprisonment.

An individual can have an arrest record without ever having been convicted of a crime. However, a criminal record indicates whether one was held legally culpable for an offense.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. Usually, an arrest in Smith County continuously remains on an individual's criminal history and can turn up in background checks, except they qualify for an expunction under Texas laws.

Expunge Smith County Arrest Records

The Smith County courts cannot erase an arrest record unless the owner qualifies for that relief in Texas. The formal term for this process is an "expunction," but the more common term is "clearing".

According to Chapter 55 of Texas's Code of Criminal Procedure, a record can only be expunged under specific circumstances. These include:

• The defendant was acquitted or found not guilty
• The defendant was granted a presidential or governor's pardon
• The defendant was convicted of an eligible misdemeanor offense
• The defendant was convicted but found innocent later on
• The prosecuted did not file charges, and a certain waiting period has elapsed
• The charges were dismissed

Any person who satisfies Texas's expungement conditions—speaking to an attorney may be advised—can proceed to apply at a local court. The petition must be submitted to the court that handled the case and should include one's criminal history record and any other relevant documentation. A fee may apply to file the petition. If the expunction petition is granted, the applicant's arrest record will become inaccessible to the public.

Smith County Arrest Warrants

Chapter 15 of Texas's Code of Criminal Procedure defines an arrest warrant as a directive from a magistrate to a law enforcement officer authorizing the apprehension of an individual for a crime.

In Smith County, only a magistrate can issue an arrest warrant. In cases where an officer determines it is necessary to make an arrest, they must present an affidavit and a statement detailing probable cause to obtain a warrant. Once it is determined that there is sufficient cause for the warrant, the presiding magistrate will issue the process.

The information contained in a Smith arrest warrant includes:

• The name and signature of the magistrate
• The offense for which the accused is being sought
• The name or a proper description of the alleged offender

Smith County Arrest Warrant Search

The most efficient method to conduct an arrest warrant search is to visit or contact the Smith County Sheriff's office at 227 North Spring Avenue, Tyler, Texas 75702, or by calling (903) 590-2661. When conducting warrant searches within a specific municipality in Smith County, one may also contact the local police department.

Alternatively, individuals can look through adjudicative records maintained by the local courts to determine if a court approved an arrest warrant.

Do Smith County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. In Smith County, an arrest warrant remains valid indefinitely until the offender is apprehended and placed in police custody.