Dallas County Arrest Records

Dallas County arrest records refer to official documents created by law enforcement agencies when an individual is apprehended and taken into custody. Under the Texas Public Information Act (Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code), these records ensure citizens stay informed about government activities, promoting transparency and accountability in the criminal justice system. On the other hand, the Texas Government Code § 411.083 restricts the dissemination of criminal history record information (CHRI) to certain authorized parties.

In addition to supporting public oversight, Dallas County arrest records serve the community's interest by:

• Helping individuals locate persons who have been arrested
• Enabling interested parties to conduct criminal background checks
• Providing valuable data for statistics, research, and public education about local crime trends
• Assisting law enforcement agencies in tracking offender history
• Supporting offenders and arrestees in pursuing legal remedies such as record sealing or expungement

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Texas?

Yes. Arrest records are available to the public under the Texas Public Information Act (PIA), which permits government bodies to disseminate most records to requesters. Per the PIA, government bodies must avoid unnecessary delays in responding to record requests. They must notify requesters of delays if it takes more than 10 business days to produce the requested information.

However, record custodians also keep certain information confidential when required by law. As a result, government agencies may redact or deny public access to such information and release it only to authorized parties, such as the individuals involved in the case and their attorneys. Examples of information that will not be included in a public arrest record include:

• Records of an ongoing criminal investigation
• Criminal history record information
• Information protected by court order
• Crime victim or claimant information
• Sealed or expunged records
• Juvenile arrest records
• Sensitive information such as social security numbers
• Information that may compromise a person's safety
• Information subject to nondisclosure under an applicable law or statute

The Texas Public Information Handbook contains all a requester needs to know about obtaining public arrest information in the state.

Dallas County Arrest Search

Arresting agencies in Dallas County, such as the Dallas County Sheriff Department, Carrollton Police Department, and Garland Police Department, respond to public arrest record requests made under the PIA. While arrest information is generally obtainable in person through each agency's records department, police departments may also provide specific procedures for requesting online public records highlighted on their websites.

For example, public record requests to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department can be made through the agency's Open Records Portal. New users must create an account, while old users must log in with the correct credentials to access the portal and submit a request. On the other hand, the Carrollton Police Department honors in-person requests for basic arrest information through its police records department. However, requesters are directed to obtain complete copies of arrest information with a narrative from the city's dedicated Open Records Request portal.

On the other hand, state-level criminal history information is obtainable through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The DPS crime records include arrest information from local criminal justice agencies in various counties, including Dallas County. However, RAP (record of arrests and prosecutions) sheets compiled by the department are confidential documents that can only be released to the subjects of the record and legislatively authorized private or government entities. Authorized parties can utilize the department's Criminal History Name Search platform to conduct an online criminal history check.

Finally, criminal court case information, which may contain limited arrest information, is available through the Dallas County District Clerk. For online access to these records, requesters should proceed to the Dallas County Felony and Misdemeanors Courts Documents page to conduct a search by case number. Current criminal records are available at the county's Smart Search portal. Requesters should be aware that case information from the Dallas County District Clerk's Office that is subject to a non-disclosure order will not be available to the public.

Note: Detailed information on obtaining Dallas County Court records is available on the district clerk's Records Information Office page.

Dallas County Inmate Locator

The Dallas County Sheriff's Office operates the Lew Sterrett Justice Center and other jail facilities within the county. The department also manages the Dallas County Jail Inmate Information System, disseminating public inmate information to requesters.

Interested parties may call (214) 761-9025 or (214) 761-9026 to obtain inmate information by phone. Alternatively, they can use the Dallas County Jail Lookup System, which allows searches by inmate information (name, date of birth, sex, and race), booking number, or case number. If the person of interest is no longer in jail, the requester can send an email to sheriffmedia@dallascounty.org with important information about the sought record (arrestee's name, date of birth, charges, etc) to narrow their search requests.

Active Warrant Search in Dallas County

A Dallas County arrest warrant is a written order issued by a judicial officer directing a law enforcement officer to apprehend a suspect and bring them before a magistrate. Such warrants are typically based on a complaint and supporting evidence establishing probable cause that the suspect likely committed a crime.

Dallas County arrest warrants typically include the following information:

• The suspect's name (if unknown, an accurate description of the suspect will suffice)
• The alleged offence
• A commandment to arrest the record subject
• The magistrate's signature and office

Interested parties can access active warrant information by querying the Dallas County Sheriff's Office in person or by telephone at (214) 761-9026. The Sheriff's Office also maintains an online Dallas Most Wanted search page for individuals who have arrest warrants issued against them for owing traffic, criminal, or civil fines.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Dallas County

Government databases for arrest records (covered above) provide free online search and viewing services. In-person requests to inspect records from official custodians are also available to the public free of charge, by virtue of § 552.271 of the Texas Government Code. However, requesters are generally liable to cover fees associated with obtaining copies of sought documents and certifications in accordance with the Public Information Act Cost Rules.

Dallas County Arrest Report

In Dallas County, both an arrest record and an arrest report document aspects of a person's entry into jail custody. However, they differ in the type of information they contain and in the purposes they serve.

An arrest report tells the detailed story behind a person's apprehension, including the events, the officer's actions, and the legal basis for the arrest. An arrest record, on the other hand, is a summary entry that logs basic arrest information for administrative and tracking purposes. In other words, while arrest reports are written in a narrative style, arrest records take a straightforward approach, stating just necessary facts.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Dallas County

Subjects of a record can get their arrest information expunged (permanently removed from their criminal history record) by completing a Petition for Expunction and filing it at the Dallas County District Clerk's cashier window at:

Petitions must be submitted during regular business hours. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult an attorney, both to ensure proper filing and to avoid mistakes that could complicate the process. This is especially important because the district clerk cannot provide guidance on preparing petitions for expunction or advise applicants on the steps to take after filing. An attorney can also review a client's case to confirm whether the arrest information qualifies for expunction. For example, arrests relating to a probation violation warrant cannot be expunged in Dallas County.

Applicants can also opt to file their expunction petition electronically. Information on this is available on the district clerk's electronic filing page. Furthermore, application fees must be paid at the time of filing; however, eligible petitioners who cannot afford the cost may apply for a fee waiver.

After filing the petition with the necessary supporting documents and information (such as the arrest record in question and records of probation completion or diversion programs) and paying the required fees, a court hearing date will be set. Applicants are encouraged to liaise with the court clerks for timely information on their filing status and hearing date.

In most cases, applicants who have legal representation do not need to attend the court hearing. However, self-represented petitioners may be required to present their case in court on the hearing date.

Petitioners should be aware that the Dallas County District Attorney may challenge their eligibility for expunction. To avoid unexpected objections at the hearing, applicants are encouraged to contact the Assistant District Attorney assigned to their court to confirm whether the petition will be contested.

If the hearing ends in the petitioner's favor, the judge will sign an Order Granting Expunction, which will be forwarded to the various respondents in the case, including the Dallas County District Attorney, the arresting agency, the court where the case was prosecuted, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Office of Court Administration for necessary action.

Resources for learning more about expunctions in Texas are available on the Texas State Law Library website.

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

Law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and other respondents listed in the expunction petition, are legally required to destroy or return arrest information covered by an expunction order to the court upon receipt. This ensures that the records are removed from their databases without any further action required by the petitioner. The TDPS must also notify private entities that have purchased the expunged criminal history information, requesting them to destroy any such information.

Despite these steps, certain third-party aggregator websites may retain the expunged records on their websites. In such cases, the subjects of the record are advised to send a copy of the expunction order to the private data banks and request their removal.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public Dallas County arrest records may contain the following information:

• Suspect's personal information (full name, date of birth, physical descriptors such as race and sex)
• Incident number
• Mugshot
• Arrest details (arrest date, time, and location)
• Type of offense charged
• Court information
• Release information
• Arresting agency