Are Criminal Records in Tom Green County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, Tom Green County criminal records are publicly accessible. According to Title 5, Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code, interested entities can access Tom Green County's criminal records. Under Texas laws, the public can also access Tom Green County arrest records, criminal case files, conviction records, incarceration records, and probation and parole records.

Notwithstanding the public accessibility to Tom Green County criminal records, Texas and federal laws exempt access to sealed, expunged, and juvenile criminal records. Also, for privacy and security reasons, there are restrictions to public access to Tom Green County criminal records relating to:

• Active investigations
• Victim or witness information
• Law enforcement undercover investigations or confidential informant details
• Sex Offenses and domestic violence
• Medical or mental health history.

Who is Eligible to Access Tom Green County Criminal Records in Texas?

Tom Green County criminal records are accessible to:

• The public
• Law enforcement agencies
• Court officials
• Attorneys and legal representatives
• Authorized government agencies
• Researchers.

However, the accessibility of Tom Green County criminal records to different entities may depend on legal authorization and the consent of the subjects of the documents. For instance, law enforcement agencies and the courts have legal access to all types of Tom Green County criminal records while performing their official duties. In contrast, employers, licensing agencies, and landlords require consent from the owners of criminal records to perform background checks.

How to Request Criminal Records in Tom Green County

There are several options for requesting Tom Green County criminal records. Depending on the type of criminal record. Requesters can access Tom Green County criminal records through the following custodians:

• Tom Green County Sheriff's Office or the San Angelo Police Department - arrest and jail records
• Tom Green County District Clerk or County Clerk - misdemeanor and felony records
• Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) - background or criminal history check.

Individuals seeking Tom Green County criminal records should:

• Visit the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office Inmate Roster Page and access the inmate's arrest information
• Log into the Tom Green County Criminal Case Records Portal, enter the necessary into the search tools, and request access to criminal records
• Visit or send mail requests to the Tom Green County District Clerk's Office (for felony cases) or the Tom Green County Clerk's Office (for misdemeanors and traffic violations) at the following addresses:

Tom Green District Clerk's Office
112 W. Beauregard Avenue,
San Angelo,
TX 76903
Phone: (325) 659-6579

Tom Green County Clerk's Office
124 W. Beauregard Avenue,
San Angelo,
TX 76903
Phone: (325) 659-6553

• Log into the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Crime History Conviction Name Search Portal, or visit the nearest IdentoGo Center and make a Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) schedule to perform a Fingerprint-Based Criminal History check. Alternatively, visit the DPS or send a mail request for background checks to:

The DPS Criminal Department
5805 North Lamar Boulevard,
Austin,
TX 78752-4422
Phone: (512) 424-2474
Email: crime.records@dps.texas.gov.

Tom Green County criminal records may also be accessible through third-party websites like texascourtrecords.us and other private online platforms.

Interested individuals seeking eligibility confirmation for accessing Tom Green County criminal records should submit valid government-issued identification documents along with the specific criminal records to the custodian agency.

Requesters should note the following fees for copies of Tom Green County criminal records for the various custodian agencies.

Tom Green County District Clerk or County Clerk Office:

• Basic Search by the requester - $0.00
• Non-certified copies - $1.00 per page
• Certified copies - $1.00 plus an additional $5.00 certification fee

Tom Green County Sheriff's Office or San Angelo Police Department:

• Basic Search - $0.00 for a limited access
• Incident report $.500 to $10.00 per report
• Certified copies - $5.00 to $10.00 per report and an extra $2.00 to $5.00 certification fee

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS):

• Name-based Search - $3 per record search
• Fingerprint-based check - $25.00 to $30.00 (including fingerprinting service fees).

Depending on the request method, it may take between 1 and 3 business days to deliver Tom Green County criminal records after payments (for in-person requests) or 7 to 14 business days for standard processing.

What information is contained in Tom Green County's criminal records?

A Tom Green County criminal record contains personal information such as the name, aliases, date of birth, gender, and ethnicity of the convict. Also, criminal records information includes:

• Arrest history
• Criminal charges and case details
• Trial and sentencing information
• Active warrants, parole/probation violations, restraining orders, and expungement or sealing status (if applicable).

In addition, Tom Green County criminal records contain additional details like case numbers, court dates, and case status.

Requesters should note that publicly accessible Tom Green County criminal information excludes those relating to minors, sealed or expunged cases, and those documents on court restrictions.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Tom Green County?

Yes, there are restrictions to public access to some Tom Green County criminal records. Under Texas and federal, individuals cannot access documents and information whose public disclosure infringes privacy or compromises public safety. Hence, sealed and expunged criminal records are not public in Tom Green County. Also, unauthorized individuals cannot access Tom Green County criminal records relating to:

• Juveniles
• Active investigations
• Witness or victim information
• Domestic violence and abuse
• Mental and medical health
• Undercover law enforcement agents.

Notwithstanding the legal restrictions to some Tom Green County criminal records, these documents are accessible for official use by law enforcement agencies and the courts.

What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Tom Green County?

Custodians of Tom Green County criminal records may deny a requester's request for access for any of the following reasons:

• The specific records are sealed or expunged
• The request lacks the necessary details
• The records relate to an ongoing investigation
• The information on the record violates privacy laws
• The requestor does not have legal rights to access the documents
• The agency does not have the records.

The following steps may help requesters access Tom Green County criminal records if custodian agencies deny them access and there are reasons to believe their decisions were wrong:

• Request an explanation from the agency on the reasons for the denial
• Submit a formal appeal to the agency by mail or in-person to reconsider the decision (this should include documents supporting eligibility to access the specific criminal records)
• If the agency fails to rescind the decision after appeals, petition the Office of the Attorney General, Open Records Division at:

P.O. Box 12548,
Austin,
TX 78711-2548

• Contact an attorney and consider legal actions if other options fail.

How to Expunge or Seal Tom Green County Criminal Records

Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure grants individuals the right to petition the courts to seal or expunge criminal records if:

• The associated crime did not result in a conviction
• The convict receives a pardon from the Texas governor
• The offender completes the sentence for the crime, pays all court-imposed fines, and observes the applicable waiting period
• The owner of the criminal records completes a pretrial diversion program
• The offender accepts deferred adjudication (for Class C misdemeanors)
• The court dismisses the conviction after appeals
• The crime qualifies as a juvenile offense

Individuals seeking to seal their Tom Green County criminal records should:

• Confirm eligibility for expunction or order of nondisclosure
• Gather supporting documents. These include copies of:
  • Arrest records
  • Disposition documents
  • Dismissal or acquittal orders
  • Proof of completion of pretrial diversion
  • Copy of pardon (if applicable)
• File petition for sealing or expunction through the Tom Green County District Court (this must contain personal information, arrest and case details, and name of arresting agencies
• Notify the Tom Green County District Attorney’s Office, the arresting agency, and the Texas Department of Public Safety
• Attend the court hearing to answer questions or counter objections
• If the petition is successful, the Tom Green County District Court will order the relevant agencies to seal or expunge the criminal records.