Tarrant County Arrest Records

The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office and local police departments create and maintain detailed records of individuals apprehended for alleged criminal activities. These records document the events leading to the arrest, including the date and time of a person's apprehension. They also contain identifying information about arrestees (their names, physical descriptions, and dates of birth), the arresting agency and officer, and the nature of the alleged offense.

Nonetheless, arrest information can also be found in files held by other public agencies. For example, details of an individual's arrest go on to form part of their criminal record maintained by the Texas Department of Safety. Arrest records are also part of Tarrant County court records, as the records are needed to prosecute offenders.

Attorneys, courts, the media, and members of the public use arrest records for research, administrative work, and information. People can use resources provided by record custodians, including law enforcement, courts, and state agencies, to find and obtain arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Tarrant County?

Yes, most Tarrant County arrest records are open to the public. The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) instructs taxpayer-funded agencies, such as police departments, the Sheriff's office, and the Texas Department of Safety, to provide these records for inspection and reproduction unless exemptions apply.

The Texas judiciary also upholds the state's policy of transparency and accountability even though it is not subject to the TPIA.

However, the following records are typically exempt from public access:

• Investigative Records: Details from ongoing criminal investigations may be withheld to protect witnesses, informants, victims, law enforcement personnel, and the integrity of the investigation.
• Juvenile Records: Arrest records of individuals under 18 are generally confidential and not accessible to the public. However, members of the public can access such records with a court order or when tied to severe offenses.
• Sealed or Expunged Records: Records sealed or expunged by court order cannot be viewed by the general public.
• Information Restricted by Law: Information restricted by state and federal laws cannot be released to the public.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records typically contain the following:

• A suspect's full name, including any known aliases
• Booking/citation number
• Mugshot (photograph taken at the time of the arrest)
• Physical descriptors, such as tattoos, hair and eye color, or scars.
• Fingerprints
• Demographic information, i.e., date of birth, gender, and nationality/ethnicity.
• Arrest details, including date, time, and location of the arrest.
• The offense(s) for which the individual was arrested
• Court information, such as the case number, court name, and judge's name
• Release information

Tarrant County Crime Rate

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety's Crime in Texas report, Tarrant County's crime rate was 3790.3 per 100,000 persons in 2023, a 0.10% drop from the previous year's rate of 3841.8. The county's top 5 crimes in the same year were:

• Larceny-Theft: 35,598 (-3.78% from 2022)
• Assault (Aggravated and Simple): 27,029 (-3.09% from 2022)
• Motor Vehicle Theft: 8,435 (+32.86% from 2022)
• Robbery: 1,128 (-4.65% from 2022)
• Rape: 1,311 (-2.67% from 2022)

Tarrant County Arrest Statistics

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety's 2022 Crime Report, law enforcement agencies made 8,419 arrests in Tarrant County in 2022. The Arlington Police Department reported the highest number of arrests (1,545), and more arrests were recorded for larceny (4,492) than any other crime.

Find Tarrant County Arrest Records

Members of the public can use different online resources and visit various public agencies to find arrest records. Those looking to find persons arrested in Tarrant but housed in state and federal prison facilities can go through the U.S. Bureau of Prisons or the Texas Department of Corrections.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons maintains an online inmate search tool that members of the public can use to look up inmates in the Bureau's custody. For example, they may be looking for someone housed in the FMC Fort Worth facility. However, the web portal does not show details of the inmate's arrest. People can use information gathered from the site to make FOIA requests to the Bureau to obtain the required records.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice

People looking for individuals apprehended in Tarrant County but held in state correctional facilities can approach the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The department operates an online inmate search tool where individuals can look up inmate information. It contains details such as the inmate TDCJ number, detainment facility, maximum sentence and projected release dates, type of offense, and date of the offense.

Searchers can also use details obtained from the site to file a Public Information Act Request with the department if they find the individual they are looking for and want more information.

The Texas Department of Public Safety

The Texas DPS allows members of the public to search for individuals whose deferred adjudications or convictions have been reported. Searchers can use the Computerized Criminal History System (CCH) to find details about people's arrests and case dispositions for mostly Class B misdemeanors and higher.

Individuals must create accounts and purchase search credits to use the system.

The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office oversees the Tarrant County Correction Center through its Detention Bureau. Individuals can use the office's inmate search tool to locate inmates and view arrest details, such as the mugshot, booking number, charge, and arresting agency.

Individuals can also send public records requests to the Sheriff's Office for more information about an inmate or arrested individual. They can send the request online through the Sheriff's Office's website or submit in-person, email, or mail requests using the following information:

Tarrant County Sheriff's Office
Records Division
200 Taylor Street
6th floor
Fort Worth, TX 76196
Email: TCSO_Records@tarrantcountytx.gov

Local Police Departments

Members of the public can also contact police departments for the arrest records they create and maintain. Some city police departments also have online inmate resources. For example, the Arlington PD's Jail Inmate List shows details of every inmate in custody, including arrest details, such as arrival date and time, arrest location, booking number, charge, case number, and bail.

Court Records

Individuals can also look up criminal case records to find arrest details of individuals charged in the district, county, and justice courts. They can approach the following offices, depending on the defendant's charges:

• Felonies - District Clerk:

The District Clerk's office runs a web portal where users can search for felony cases for a fee. Users must create accounts before using the online system.

Individuals can also request court records in person, by mail, or by telephone.

• Class A and B misdemeanors - County Clerk:

The County Clerk's office allows members of the public to search for court records by placing requests for copies by email or telephone. A copy fee applies. Additionally, people can visit the following address for background searches (costs $5):

Tim Curry Justice Center
401 West Belknap Street
Second Floor
Fort Worth, Texas
Phone: (817) 884-2820

• Class C Misdemeanors: Justice of the Peace Courts:

Interested parties can use the Class "C" Browse (primarily for traffic infractions) or Tarrant County Case Search portals to find cases handled by the justice of the peace courts. They can also visit court locations to see, inspect, and copy records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Tarrant County

The following online resources are free to use when searching for arrest records:

• The U.S Bureau of Prisons Inmate Search system
• The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Inmate Search platform
• The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Inmate Search portal
• Inmate locators and search resources provided by local police departments in Tarrant County
• The Tarrant County Court Case Search portal for county courts at law and justice of the peace court cases

Get Tarrant County Criminal Records

Criminal records are compilations of people's interactions with the justice system. They include details of arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences. People have various options for obtaining criminal records generated in Tarrant County:

The Texas Department of Public Safety

Members of the public can request criminal history information on people through the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal Record Division (CRD).

The division's Criminal History Name search database allows account owners to find people's criminal history information. The account is only available to certain entities, including:

• Private health providers, such as home health businesses and nursing homes
• Volunteer centers
• Safe houses
• Delivery companies
• In-home residential services companies
• Volunteer children's activity providers
• Private schools

Government entities, including local governments, fire departments, school districts, public transportation, and state agencies, can also create and use CRD accounts.

Certain entities, such as child-care providers, security system contractors, nursing homes, and security and armed guards contractors, can also contact the department for fingerprint-based criminal record check services.

The Tarrant County District Clerk

The Tarrant County District Clerk's office offers felony background check services. Interested parties can visit:

Tim Curry Justice Center
401 West Belknap
3rd floor
Phone: (817) 884-1342

The office only disseminates records of offenses that occurred within Tarrant County. The service costs $5, and people who wish to make copies of criminal cases must pay 50 cents for each regular page and $1 per certified page.

Local Police Departments

City police departments can also provide background checks for crimes committed within city boundaries. For example, the Arlington PD runs local criminal background checks for $5 per individual.

Tarrant County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Tarrant County arrest records detail instances where law enforcement apprehended and processed people who allegedly violated the law. These records do not imply guilt, as charges can be dropped or the suspect can be acquitted after the arrest.

A criminal record, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive account of a person's encounters with the justice system. The records carry arrests, charges, convictions, and sentencing details. They are also called criminal history reports or rap sheets.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest details generally stay on a person's record until they apply to a court to remove it. According to Chapter 55A of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, an eligible person's arrest record will be expunged (deleted) upon submission and approval of an expunction petition.

Expunge Tarrant County Arrest Records

Under Chapter 55A of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, only people with the following circumstances can successfully petition a court to expunge their arrest records:

• The charges were dismissed without any finding of guilt
• They were acquitted at trial
• They were pardoned based on actual innocence
• They were convicted but later found innocent
• The conviction was overturned on appeal and the prosecutor dismissed the case
• The case was dismissed after the person completed a pre-trial diversion program
• The defendant was never charged after a specific period

Courts that Hear Expunction Cases in Tarrant County

An expunction petition must be filed in the district or county court with jurisdiction over the criminal case in the county where the individual was arrested. However, one can also file a petition in justice of the peace or municipal courts if the offense is not eligible for jail time.

Time Limits for Filing Expunction Petitions

Generally, there is no specific time limit for filing an expunction petition under Chapter 55A. However, there are exceptions:

• A person has 30 days after the court receives notice of a pardon or relief to file the petition if they were convicted but later pardoned or found innocent.
• A petition must be filed no later than 30 days after a person's acquittal.
• A petition must be filed after a court dismisses an individual's case upon completion of a pre-trial program.

Content of the Petition

The petition for expunction must include the following:

• Petitioner's full name, date of birth, driver's license, social security number, race, and address (when the arrest occurred)
• Date and location of the arrest
• Offense charged
• Date the offense was charged
• Arresting agency
• Case number
• Outcome of the case, such as a dismissal or finding of innocence
• A statement explaining why the person is eligible for expunction under Chapter 55A
• A copy of the defendant's criminal history report
• Any other supporting document, such as court orders or dismissal notices
• Email and physical addresses of organizations and entities that may have the record

Tarrant County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants are legal documents that instruct law enforcement to arrest an individual. Judges and magistrates issue warrants after reviewing affidavits submitted by prosecutors or law enforcement. The affidavit must convince the judge that an individual has committed a crime.

A judge can also issue arrest warrants when defendants fail to appear for a court hearing or violate the terms of their probation, parole, or court-ordered restitution.

Arrest warrants generally contain suspect names and physical descriptions, the crime they are accused of committing, the issuance date, and the issuing judge's signature.

Tarrant County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals can look up arrest warrants through various law enforcement agencies, including the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office and city police departments.

The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office publishes a list of most wanted individuals online. However, people looking to confirm whether an individual has a warrant cannot directly contact the office for such requests. Instead, the office advises members of the public to employ an attorney or a licensed bondsperson to obtain those details.

Individuals can also visit local police department websites to view active warrants. For example, the Mansfield Police Department maintains a Warrants List web page that contains the names of wanted individuals, their charges, offenses, and addresses.

A person who believes they may have a warrant issued for their arrest can also turn themselves in to law enforcement.

Do Tarrant County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants generally do not expire. They remain active until law enforcement apprehends the suspect, a judge recalls or squashes the warrant, or the individuals turn themselves in to fulfill their obligations or answer for their alleged crimes.