Fort Worth Arrest Records

In Fort Worth, Texas, arrest records refer to all files created or received during an arrest event. Thus, the record may include an arrestee's personal data, arrest charges, the arresting agency's information, and booking details.

Peace officers in Fort Worth conduct arrests when there's evidence that an individual violated the law. Officers may book and detain arrestees in the Tarrant County Jail pending the outcome of further investigations.

Arrest records are primarily under the jurisdiction of the Fort Worth Police Department. The agency generates and keeps records of arrest events. Furthermore, it may disclose the record to interested public members. Texas court records and inmate databases also provide access to Fort Worth arrest records. These documents typically include the arrest charges, exhibits, mugshots, and bond information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Fort Worth?

Most arrest records in Fort Worth are accessible to the general public. The Texas Public Information Act allows public access to arrest records. The law requires government entities to disclose records in their custody to the public.

Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex
Fort Worth Police Department
505 West Felix
Fort Worth, TX 76115

Fort Worth Police Investigative & Support Command
1000 Calvert Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (817) 392-4160

However, not all arrest records are accessible to the public. The state law redacts portions of arrest records whose disclosure does not serve the public interest. Examples of such records include the following:

• Gruesome or sensitive crime scene footage.
• Arrest records that are sealed or expunged due to court order or statutes.
• Documents that reveal the personal information of the arresting officers.

Fort Worth Arrest Statistics

The FBI's Crime Data Explorer provides an annual statistics report concerning all arrest events in Fort Worth. According to the agency's report, the Fort Worth police department made 16,642 arrests in 2023.
The Tarrant County jail houses persons arrested in Fort Worth. According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the county jail had an average daily population of 5,015 inmates as of August 2022. The county jail is located at:

Mansfield Law Enforcement Center
1601 Heritage Parkway
Mansfield, Texas 76063

Find Fort Worth Arrest Records

In Fort Worth, you may find arrest records through resources provided by government agencies. For instance, the city's police department maintains a searchable database on all persons arrested in the last 14 days. The Tarrant County jail website also hosts an online search portal for arrestees in Fort Worth. You may view an arrestee's information on the portal by providing the inmate's name or CID number.

Inmate databases are an alternative means for finding arrest records in Fort Worth. An example is the Texas Department of Criminal Justice'sinmate database. The search platform contains information on inmates held in state-owned correctional facilities. Inquirers using the platform must provide these details:

• Inmate's name, race, and gender.
• TDCJ number
• SID number

Likewise, the Federal Bureau of Prisons offers online access to arrest information on inmates held in federal penal institutions. Inquirers must input the inmate's name or prison number to view records on the platform.

Fort Worth Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Fort Worth, arrest records differ from criminal records in terms of content, accessibility, and social implications.
Based on content, arrest records mostly cover arrest events and may include the arrestee's personal data, arrest charges, booking number, and bond amount. However, criminal records contain information about an individual's criminal past. The record typically contains information on arrests, court activities, and incarceration.

The records are accessible through different agencies. The Fort Worth Police Department is the primary custodian of arrest records. However, criminal records are accessible through the Texas Department of Public Safety. The agency creates criminal records by collecting relevant information from criminal justice agencies.

Arrest records have almost no negative implication since they do not reveal court convictions. However, criminal record holders may face discrimination as a result of court convictions. For instance, sex-crime offenders may lose their rights to live within specific areas.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Fort Worth, arrests are a permanent part of your public records. However, you may legally expunge or seal them. Note that there are set procedures for expunging arrest records. The procedure generally requires filing a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction.

Fort Worth Arrest Warrants

Fort Worth arrest warrants are official court documents that authorize the arrests of defendants. Court magistrates may issue an arrest warrant after receiving a complaint or affidavit from a law enforcement officer. The complaint must contain sufficient proof that the defendant committed a crime. Arrest warrants issued in Fort Worth must include the following data:

• The defendant's name and physical description.
• A description of the offense.
• The court magistrate's name and signature.

Do Fort Worth Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Fort Worth do not have an expiration date. The document remains active even after the statute of limitations for the crime has passed. Nevertheless, warrants become inactive when the defendant is arrested or the court nullifies them.

Expunge Fort Worth Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process for erasing certain information from publicly accessible domains. You may expunge arrest records by filing a petition with the district court. To expunge criminal records, however, you must file the petition with the court that passed the conviction.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Fort Worth?

Under Texas Statutes, an arrestee is eligible to expunge arrest records if:

• They were not convicted, and there was no court-mandated supervision.
• They were tried but later acquitted or dismissed.
• They were convicted but later received a pardon.

How to expunge Fort Worth arrest records

Fort Worth residents may expunge arrest records by following these steps:

1. Confirm if you meet the eligibility criteria.
2. Create a petition that contains the following data:
   1. Your personal information, including names, aliases, physical description, and address at the time of arrest.
   2. Criminal charges that you want to expunge.
   3. Court identifiers, including case number and court name.
   4. Contact information of all agencies that may hold the arrest record.
3. Notarize the petition.
4. Attach a payment for the filing fee. The Tarrant County district clerk's office charges $425 for filing an expunction petition.
5. Make copies of the petition and submit them to the district clerk's office at:

100 North Calhoun Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Phone: (817) 884-1574

Upon receiving the petition, the court may set a hearing date within 30 days to make a decision.