Are Criminal Records in Williamson County Publicly Accessible?

Yes, Williamson County criminal records are public. The Texas Public Information Act provides legal backing to public access to Williamson County criminal records and other official documents in the possession of government agencies. Also, Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Sections 411.081 to 411.135 of the Texas Government Code, and Section 10, Article 1 of the Texas Constitution are other laws that relate to public access to Williamson County criminal records.

Under Texas laws, interested entities may access Williamson County arrest records and documents relating to criminal case trials within the various Williamson County courts. However, there are exemptions to sealed/expunged criminal records and other crime-related documents and information whose public access infringes privacy or compromises public safety.

Who is Eligible to Access Williamson County Criminal Records in Texas?

Any interested entity may access Williamson County criminal records. Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code grants the following entities the right to view or copy criminal records:

• The public
• Law enforcement agencies
• Court officials
• Authorized government agencies
• Researchers
• Media professionals
• Legal representatives.

However, access to such records requires legal authorization, judicial authorization, or the consent of the owners of the records. For instance, although law enforcement agencies and the courts may access sealed Williamson County criminal records, other entities may need authorization or consent.

How to Request Criminal Records in Williamson County

Requesters may access Williamson County criminal records online, in person, or through mail. Individuals seeking such records should:

• Log into the Williamson County District Clerk's Office Criminal Case Record Inquiry Portal and request access to criminal records by names or case numbers
• Download Williamson County District Clerk's Records Request Forms:
• Complete the request forms with the information
• Make payments by cash (for in-person requests), checks/money orders, or credit cards
• Mail the request forms to the Williamson County District Clerk's Office (for felonies) or the Williamson County Clerk's Office (for misdemeanors) at the following addresses:

Williamson County District Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 24
Georgetown
TX 78627
E-mail: dcrequest@wilco.org
Fax: (512) 943-1222

Williamson County Clerk
P.O. Box 647,
Georgetown,
TX 78627
Email: piarequest@wilco.org.

Alternatively, visit the Williamson County District Clerk's Office or the Williamson County Clerk's Office at:

405 Martin Luther King Street,
Georgetown,
TX 78626

• Search for county criminal records on the Texas Department of Public Safety's (TDPS) Crime History Conviction Name Search Portal (this portal may provide information about arrests, prosecutions, and disposition of Williamson County Class B misdemeanors or more severe criminal cases). Alternatively, visit or mail requests to the DPS Crime Records Division at:

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

Applicants may also request a Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Check for criminal records. This option provides more accurate details for official use and requires requesters to visit the nearest IdentoGO fingerprinting services location and provide their fingerprints.

• Log into the Williamson County Jail or Bonds Record Portals and access jail and bond information by name, booking number, or bond company.

In addition, Williamson County criminal records may also be accessible through texascourtrecords.us and other third-party online databases.

For confirmation of eligibility to access criminal records, requesters may need to send copies of valid government-issued IDs (for instance, driver's license, passport, military ID, or any valid government-approved identification) to the Williamson County District or County Clerk's Office or the TDPS). Alternatively, call (512) 943-1212 (District Clerk's Office) or (512) 943-1515 (County Clerk's Office).

Requesters should note the following fees for copies of Williamson County criminal records:

Williamson County District and County Clerk's Offices

• Paper copies - $1.00 per page and an additional $5.00 for certified copies
• Electronic copies - $0.10 per page (a minimum copy fee of $1.00 per document)

Texas Department of Public Safety

• Criminal records search through the DPS Crime History Conviction Name Search Portal - $10.00 per search
• Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Check:
• Fingerprinting - $10.00 to $20.00
• DPS processing fee - typically around $28.00.

What Information Is Contained in Williamson County Criminal Records?

Williamson County criminal records are files on criminal activities and their trials under the Williamson County criminal justice system. A typical Williamson County arrest record contains the following information:

• Name, aliases, date of birth, gender, and ethnicity of the convict
• Date and location of arrest, name of the arresting agency, and mugshots
• Charges against the owner of the record, Sections of Texas Code violated, case numbers, arraignments, court names and locations, and trial dates.
• Outcome or trials
• Sentencing information
• Bond/bond details
• Date and length of incarcerations.

Also, active warrants, parole, and probation details may be available.

Although Texas laws permit individuals to access criminal records, the permission does not extend to sealed, expunged, or juvenile criminal records.

Are There Restrictions on Accessing Criminal Records in Williamson County?

Yes, there are restrictions to accessing some Williamson County criminal records. Accessing Williamson County criminal records depends on the document type and the requester. Texas and federal laws do not permit public disclosure of information that violates privacy laws or compromises public safety. Hence, there are restrictions to criminal records if they are:

• Sealed or expunged
• Juvenile records
• Under judicial restrictions.

Also, the Williamson County District Clerk's Office and other custodian agencies will deny access to criminal records relating to ongoing investigations, domestic violence and abuse, medical histories, or psychological evaluations.

Under Texas laws, unless criminal records are expunged (whereby they become inaccessible), only the courts, law enforcement agencies, authorized entities, and the owners may access sealed/exempted criminal records.

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

The Williamson County District and County Clerk Offices and the Texas may deny a requester access to a criminal record for any of the following reasons:

• The document does not exist
• The applicant is ineligible to access the documents
• The documents are sealed, expunged, or they relate to a juvenile
• The request is to the wrong agency
• The necessary information is incomplete.

The following tips may be helpful if a custodian agency denies a request to access local county criminal records:

• Confirm eligibility to access the specific criminal records
• If eligible to access the documents, request written clarification from the agency on the reasons for the denial
• File a written appeal with the Williamson County Attorney’s Office at:

405 M.L.K.
Suite 229,
Georgetown,
TX 78626
Phone: (512) 943-1111
Fax: (512) 943-1120

• If the Williamson County Attorney's Office denies the appeal, file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s Office at:

P.O. Box 12548,
Austin,
TX 78711-2548
Phone: (512) 478-6736 or Toll-Free (877) 673-6839
Fax: (512) 475-2994

• Seek legal advice if other options fail.

How to Expunge or Seal Williamson County Criminal Records

Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and Chapter 411, Subchapter E of the Texas Government Code grants individuals the right to petition for expungement and orders of nondisclosure of criminal records if:

• There were no convictions
• There were no criminal charges
• The convict completes the sentence for the crime
• The criminal records result from mistaken identity
• The owners of the records complete pretrial diversion programs
• The courts reverse the criminal convictions after appeals
• The applicants received a pardon from the Texas governor
• The petitioners observe all applicable waiting periods and pay all court-imposed fines.

The following steps outline the procedure for expunging and sealing criminal records in Williamson County:

• Confirm eligibility to seal or expunge criminal records
• Gather documents that will aid the petition. These should include:
  • Name, date of birth, and address
  • Arrests records
  • Proof of acquittal or dismissal
  • The outcome of the criminal cases
• Obtain an expunction or order of nondisclosure form from the Williamson County District Clerk's Office or write a petition, include the supporting documents, and mail them to the Williamson County District Court.
• Pay all applicable filing fees.
• Send notice of the petition to the Williamson County Attorney’s Office, the arresting agency, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
• Attend a court hearing on the petition (if the court schedules one)
• Wait for the court to review the application.

If the petition is successful, the court will order the relevant agencies to update their databases.