Are Tarrant County Records Public?

Yes, Tarrant County records are public. Most records maintained by Tarrant County government agencies are public and accessible to members of the public, primarily under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), codified in Texas Government Code, Chapter 552.

The Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) guarantees public access to Tarrant County records, granting individuals the right to review or request copies of government documents. Per the PIA, requests for public records (papers, electronic data, and other materials created, received, or maintained by a government entity while conducting official business) can be made to the appropriate public offices or via their online portals.

The Texas Public Information Act applies to records created, maintained, or received by Texas governmental bodies, except the judiciary. Access to Tarrant County court records and other Texas court case records is governed by common law, statutory law, and court rules. Meanwhile, judicial administrative records are covered by Rule 12 of the Rules of Judicial Administration.

What is Exempted Under the Texas Public Records Act?

The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) presumes that government records are open to the public. However, certain documents are exempt from disclosure to safeguard individual privacy and secure sensitive information. These exemptions are classified into two types: mandatory and discretionary exemptions.

Mandatory Exemptions: These kinds of records are withheld from the public per state law. They include

• Sensitive personal information like driver's license numbers, credit card numbers, medical records, social security numbers, insurance policy numbers, license plate numbers, and peace officers' home addresses
• Grand jury proceedings records, including testimonies and evidence
• Security information regarding critical infrastructure
• Trade secrets

Discretionary Exemptions: These exemptions are imposed by governmental bodies at their discretion. A government body may release such documents if it believes no harm exists or if public interest outweighs the need for confidentiality. Discretionary exemptions include:

• Attorney work product and privilege (Texas Government Code § 552.107)
• Ongoing law enforcement investigation records (Texas Government Code § 552.108)
• Economic development negotiations (Texas Government Code § 552.131)
• Contracts and business proposals relating to competitive bidding (Texas Government Code § 552.104)

Under certain circumstances, an individual, their attorney, or some government agencies may access mandatorily exempt records.

Tarrant County Public Record Search

Finding public records in Tarrant County requires knowledge of the type of record, the appropriate custodial agency, and the agency's record retrieval methods. Individuals may search official county websites, government agencies, and third-party online databases for Tarrant County public records.

When conducting a public records search through a public agency, it is essential to note the following:

• Public bodies are not required to generate records to satisfy requests; they can only provide available records.
• Specific requests may require identification and payment of an assessed fee, and agency processing times, search fees, request channels, and payment methods vary.
• Requests must be as detailed as possible to enable a public agency to identify a sought-after record. For example, a person may need to include a case number, date or date range, or a complete record subject's name in their request to allow the prompt location and retrieval of a record.

Find Public Records For Free in Tarrant County

Free Tarrant County public records searches are available on several local government-run online databases or by visiting a public agency’s office to examine records. Still, individuals can perform these searches on third-party websites.

Third-party websites, often unaffiliated with government agencies, compile public records from various sources, including government agencies, and provide the records to the public via an online searchable database. This access allows for a more convenient alternative for individuals to conduct expanded public records searches across various agencies and jurisdictions.

However, researchers who access third-party sites are advised to verify the accuracy of information obtained by cross-checking their findings with official sources when possible.

How to Remove Information From Public Records Free

Under Texas law, there are two ways one can remove their information from public records, depending on the kind of information they wish to conceal:

• Personal Information: When the request involves removing sensitive personal information from a public record, one can apply to the agency that maintains the record. Agencies can be contacted for application forms and guidelines.
• Criminal Information: Individuals can apply for an expungement or nondisclosure order to remove their criminal records from public view.

The Texas State Law Library provides detailed information about Expunctions & Nondisclosure Orders on its official website.

Who Can Access Tarrant County Public Records in Texas?

According to the Texas Public Information Act, the general public, including private citizens, government agencies, business entities, researchers, and legal professionals, can access records maintained by state and local government agencies in Texas, including Tarrant County. State residency is not a prerequisite for accessing public records.

However, when the requested record is confidential, the requester may need to verify their identity or prove a legally recognized interest in the record.

What Happens if I Am Refused a Public Records Request?

Anyone can inspect a Tarrant County public record under the Texas Public Information Act. However, a governmental body may deny a public records request under certain circumstances, such as when:

• The sought-after record is exempt by law or court order
• The request is vague or not specific enough
• The records do not exist or are not maintained by the petitioned agency

However, the Texas PIA allows persons whose requests were denied to submit complaints to a local County or District Attorney's office. In Tarrant County, the Criminal District Attorney's office processes such complaints. Below is the relevant address information:

Open Records Complaints
Criminal District Attorney’s Office
Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center
401 West Belknap
9th Floor - Civil Division
Fort Worth, Texas 76196-0201

Complaints can also be emailed to the Tarrant County District Attorney's office at openrecords-complaint@tarrantcountytx.gov. A successful complaint may earn the individual the document or a redacted copy.

Members of the public can also seek the opinion of the Texas Attorney General's office about a public records denial. The AG's Open Records Hotline can be contacted at (512) 478-6736 or (877) 673-6839 (toll-free). One can also submit complaints about overcharges to the AG's office. Additional details can be found on the Attorney General's How to Report a Violation of the Pub­lic Information Act website.