Starr County Arrest Records

An arrest happens when a person suspected of a crime is taken into custody by a law enforcement agency and detained. The primary law enforcement agency in Starr County is the Sheriff's Department. However, other local police departments may also conduct county arrests when necessary. The agency that carried out the arrest is responsible for creating a corresponding arrest record, which documents information pertinent to the arrest event.

Adult arrestees are detained in the county jail, while juvenile offenders are held in the Starr County Juvenile Detention Center. The Juvenile Detention Center provides a safe space for the rehabilitation of minors who committed a crime.

Offenders are typically kept in jail awaiting the trial of their cases in court. The arrest records of offenders whose cases made it to court are often included in the Starr County court records. Thus, inquisitive persons may search for a criminal case record in Starr to access related arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Starr County?

Yes. Arrest records maintained by Starr County law enforcement agencies are generally considered public under the Texas Public Information Act. This means that members of the public are permitted to view the contents of an arrest record.

However, some Starr County arrest records are exempt from public disclosure. These records include arrest records related to ongoing investigations, juvenile records, identifying information of confidential witnesses, identifying information of victims of domestic abuse, and sealed and expunged arrest records.

The court may also restrict an arrest record from the public if there are privacy concerns.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The general public has access to the following information contained in a Starr County arrest record:

• The arrestee's personal information
• The arresting agency
• The date, time, and location of the arrest
• The arrest charges
• A narration of the events surrounding the arrest
• Booking information (mugshot, number, facility)
• Court hearing dates

Starr County Arrest Statistics

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) collates the state's crime and arrest statistics. According to the DPS's latest crime report compiled from the six reporting agencies in Starr County, 735 crimes were recorded in the county in 2023, with a 1,117.4 per 100,000 crime rate. Eighty-nine successful arrests were made from the 735 reported offenses. Larceny accounted for 43 arrests, aggravated assault for 28, burglary for 9, auto theft for 4, murder and rape for 2, and robbery for 1. No arrests were made for arson, although 5 offenses were reported.

Find Starr County Arrest Records

A law enforcement agency creates and maintains an arrest record for every arrest they perform. These records are open to the public for perusal except when sealed by statute or court order. An inquirer can view an arrest record by contacting the arresting agency. For individuals detained in the Starr County jail, inquirers can visit the Sheriff's Office to view the arrest record. The Sheriff's Office is located at:

102 East 6th Street
Rio Grande City, TX 78582
Phone: (956) 487-5571

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates state-run correctional facilities, which hold persons serving longer (more than a year) sentences in Texas. Individuals can look through the arrest record of an inmate in a state correctional facility by searching for the record on the TDCJ Inmate Search portal. A search can be done using an inmate's last name, first name, TDCJ number, SID number, gender, and race. To perform a search using an inmate's name alone, a user must provide a last name and at least the initial of a first name on the portal.

Researchers can locate incarcerated individuals in federal facilities via the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. This resource provides access to federal inmate records dating from 1982 to the present. A search by name or number can be done using the tool. A name search can be carried out using a person's first, middle, and last name. Race, age, and sex are useful filters that can help streamline the search. A search by number involves using an FBI number, BOP Register number, DCDC number, or INS number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Starr County

Inquirers may access Starr County arrest record information for free through an arresting agency if they wish to view the record only. A fee is generally only required when an individual requests a copy of the arrest record or if locating the desired record significantly impairs the custodian's normal operations.

Individuals may also utilize third-party resources to search for a Starr County arrest record. These resources often divulge some arrest record information to researchers without charge. However, a full disclosure of the content of an arrest record may come at a fee. Users generally can search for an arrest record using the arrestee's name.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Texas does not stipulate a period for the uniform removal or deletion of arrest records. If an individual is arrested in Starr County, the arrest record will be maintained by respective law enforcement agencies and be public information forever.

However, certain circumstances outlined in Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure may allow for the sealing or expunction (expungement) of an arrest record. If an individual satisfies the relevant eligibility criteria, they may petition the court to have the arrest expunged from their record.

Expunge Starr County Arrest Records

Per Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a person has the right to file for the expunction of their arrest record under the following circumstances:

• They were tried by the court and found innocent of the crime unless other related pending charges exist.
• They were convicted of a crime but later received a pardon based on their innocence or other reasons.
• They were arrested but later had the charges dropped.
• They were released and have no pending charges, their case did not result in a final conviction, and there was no court-ordered supervision except for Class C misdemeanors (minor offenses) in certain circumstances.
• Their charges were dismissed after completing a diversion program, such as a veteran's treatment, mental health, or pretrial intervention program.
• The arrest was a result of mistaken identity or lacked probable cause.
• The statute of limitations for the arrest has expired, and prosecution is no longer possible.

Certain exceptions may prevent the expunction of an arrest record even if the person meets the eligibility criteria. These exceptions include:

• An arrest for which a warrant was issued under Article 42A.751 (b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure
• If a person deliberately absconds from the jurisdiction after being released under Chapter 17 of the Texas Statutes

In some cases, individuals may be denied the opportunity to file for expunction if their arrest record has previously been expunged for the same offense.

A close relative, such as a spouse, child, sibling, parent, or grandparent, may file for the expunction of a deceased person's arrest record if necessary. The expunction is only possible if the deceased would have been eligible if alive.

Eligible individuals may file a petition for expunction with the court that presided over the case. The petitioner will need to provide the court with their personal information and information about the arrest. If, for some reason, the petitioner is unable to provide all required details, a written explanation as to why the information is unavailable should be included in the petition.

If the petition is granted, the court will issue an order for expunction and communicate to all relevant authorities, including the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, of the action.

Persons who completed a veteran treatment or mental health program may have their arrest record expunged without a fee.

Starr County Arrest Warrants

Under Article 15.01 of Texas law, a warrant of arrest is an order written by a magistrate directing a law enforcement officer to detain a suspect. The warrant is issued when a person is suspected of committing a crime. The issuance process begins when a complaint about the actions of an individual is brought before the court. The complaint will state the accused's name, the offense the suspect committed or is believed to be committing, the time and place the crime was committed, and the affiant's signature. The presiding magistrate will then examine the contents of the complaint and issue an arrest warrant if they find probable cause for the arrest.

A Starr County warrant of arrest is required to have the following information contained in the warrant:

• The name of the suspect or a reasonable description of the suspect if the name is unknown
• A statement indicating that the suspect is charged with breaking the law and the alleged offense committed
• The signature and office of the issuing magistrate

A warrant of arrest issued in Starr County is valid and executable in other counties in Texas and vice versa.

A summons may be issued in place of an arrest warrant in Starr County. However, summonses are generally issued for lesser offenses. The major difference between a summons and an arrest warrant is the mode of execution. A summons requests the suspect to present themselves to the court at a particular time and date, while a warrant orders the suspect's arrest. If a suspect refuses to comply with a summons, the magistrate may proceed to issue a warrant of arrest.

Do Starr County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. An arrest warrant issued in Starr County does not expire until the reason for the warrant's issue has been fulfilled. As long as the complaint for which the arrest warrant was issued is unresolved, the suspect will be detained once apprehended, regardless of how long it takes. In certain circumstances, however, an arrest warrant may be recalled if a judicial review reveals inconsistencies or errors in the warrant. The warrant may also be quashed if the reason for which it was issued no longer exists.