Wood County Arrest Records

Wood County arrest records are official documents containing information about individuals arrested by law enforcement authorities. Under Chapter 15 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP), law officers in Wood County may arrest individuals they observe or suspect of engaging in criminal activities. These acts comprise felonies, misdemeanors, or violations, each bearing unique legal consequences. The Wood County Sheriff's Office is required to provide access to Wood County Court Records upon request.

Are Arrest Records Public in Wood County?

Yes. Per Section 552.001 of the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), the general public may access public documents, including arrest records, generated and maintained by custodial government agencies while carrying out their official duties. Unless the law states otherwise, individuals may request to view or get copies of arrest information, including records generated and stored by law enforcement agencies.

Under the Act, arrest records exempted from public disclosure include information that may endanger someone's life or physical safety, hinder the detection, investigation, or prosecution of a crime, or disclose the personal details of an anonymous informant. Other restricted arrest information comprises home addresses, social security numbers, phone numbers, family details, juvenile records, and information on the precise location of a crime or the details of a victim.

Requesters seeking publicly available arrest records in Wood County may contact the Sheriff’s Office at the following address:

Wood County Sheriff's Office
402 S. Stephens St.
Quitman, Texas 75783
Phone: (903) 763-2201
Fax: (903) 763-5464
P.O. Box 307
Quitman, TX 75783-0307

Wood County Arrest Statistics

A 5-year crime statistics report by the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) revealed that the Wood County Sheriff’s Office reported 1,145 arrests between 2019 and 2023. The gender distribution of the arrest data indicated that males constituted 74.81% (857) of all arrests within the period, while females accounted for 25.19% (288).

The racial composition of all arrests in the period under review showed that Whites were the predominant racial group arrested for various offenses, with 90.39% (1,035). Others include Blacks or African Americans, American Indian or Alaska Natives, and Asians, who accounted for 9.08% (104), 0,26% (3), and 0.17% (2) of all arrests, respectively. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders constituted 0.09% (1).

Further analysis of the type of offenses law enforcement officers arrested suspects for between 2019 and 2023 showed that simple assaults were the commonest crimes, with 25.76% (295), followed by all other offenses aside from traffic violations at 24.02% (275) and possession of other dangerous nonnarcotic drugs at 10.22% (117). Others include unspecified drug abuse violations and driving under the influence, with 5.85% (67) and 5.50% (63), respectively.

Find Wood County Arrest Records

Individuals seeking inmate records in Wood County may utilize the following resources:

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ): The TDCJ offers the public an inmate search engine to locate offenders incarcerated in prisons throughout the state. Users may search the database with an inmate's last name and at least the first letter of the first name, the TDCJ number, or the State Identification (SID) number.

When a user conducts a name-based search, the portal returns an exact match of the last name entered. Besides the online search tool, record searchers may also obtain inmate details (such as location, offenses, and expected release date) via email or phone.

Interested parties may also use the Parole Supervision Sex Offender Absconder Search tool to obtain specific information about convicted sex offenders in Texas who were reported to have fled their known residence. Information typically available on the portal includes the offenders' state identity and Texas Department of Criminal Justice numbers, birth date, release date, warrant issued, and last known address.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator service allows information seekers to discover federal inmates held between 1982 to the present. On the portal, they may browse by name or BOP registry number.

Wood County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records are documents that detail incidents in which an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement. Typically, these documents contain personal information about individuals, such as:

• When and where the arrest occurred.
• The charges or circumstances behind the arrest.
• The arresting agency and officer's information.

Arrest records may not always indicate that the individual was charged or convicted of a crime. They only record that an arrest occurred.

Criminal records, on the other hand, offer a more complete picture of a person's dealings with the criminal justice system. These records include:

• Charges brought against the individual.
• Court processes and outcomes.
• Convictions and sentences.
• Probation or parole status.

Criminal records cover the full legal process, from arrest to final disposition, and include any convictions or acquittals. They provide a complete history of a person's criminal activities and are frequently used in background checks by employers, landlords, and other agencies.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Wood County, just like other Texas counties, an arrest record typically stays on a person's record indefinitely unless they are expunged or sealed.

Under Chapter 55 of the Texas Criminal Procedure Code, an applicant may file to have their Wood County arrest records expunged if they meet the following eligibility requirements:

• The court acquitted the applicant of the charges.
• The applicant was pardoned or granted relief based on actual innocence.
• No charges were filed after the arrest, and the statute of limitations has expired.
• After the arrest, no charges were brought, and the statute of limitations had expired.
• The candidate successfully completed a Class C misdemeanor deferred adjudication.

Wood County Arrest Warrants

In Wood County, an arrest warrant is a legal instrument that empowers law enforcement to arrest someone suspected of committing a crime. To get an arrest warrant, a police officer must establish probable cause through an affidavit, showing that a crime has occurred and that the suspect is most likely responsible.

Arrest warrants are often issued when there is enough evidence to believe the suspect committed a crime. This covers cases in which the accused person threatens public safety, is likely to flee, or does not comply with a directive to appear in court.

Wood County arrest warrants include information such as the offender's name, the alleged offense, and any additional information to help identify and apprehend the subject of the warrant. Once issued, the warrant grants peace agents the power to arrest the suspect anywhere within the county's boundaries.

Do Wood County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Wood County arrest warrants generally do not expire. Once issued, they remain active until the suspect is captured or the warrant is revoked by a judge. Arrest warrants are not subject to the statute of limitations, meaning they may be enforced at any point in time.

Still, a judge may overturn a warrant if law enforcement fails to make a significant effort to execute it. The status of an arrest warrant may be influenced by factors such as the seriousness of the crime and the efforts made by law enforcement to locate the suspect.