Travis County Criminal Records
What Is Travis County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Travis County encompass official documentation of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the county's jurisdiction. These records are maintained pursuant to Texas Government Code § 411.082, which defines criminal history record information as information collected about a person by a criminal justice agency that consists of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, and other formal criminal charges.
Travis County criminal records include several distinct categories:
- Arrest Records: Documentation of when an individual is taken into custody by law enforcement, which may not necessarily result in charges or conviction
- Conviction Records: Official records of guilty verdicts or pleas in criminal cases
- Felony Records: Documentation of more serious crimes punishable by imprisonment of more than one year
- Misdemeanor Records: Records of less serious offenses typically punishable by fines or imprisonment of less than one year
- Active Warrants: Current orders issued by courts authorizing law enforcement to arrest individuals
- Historical Records: Past criminal justice interactions, including dismissed cases and acquittals
Juvenile records (individuals under 17) are generally sealed and subject to stricter confidentiality requirements under Texas Family Code § 58.003.
Multiple agencies maintain different components of Travis County criminal records:
Travis County Sheriff's Office
5555 Airport Boulevard
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 854-9770
Travis County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail records for the county.
Travis County District Clerk
1000 Guadalupe Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 854-9457
Travis County District Clerk
The District Clerk maintains felony and misdemeanor criminal court records including charges, arraignments, pleas, trial proceedings, verdicts, and sentencing information.
Texas Department of Public Safety
5805 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 424-2000
Texas Department of Public Safety
The DPS Crime Records Division maintains the statewide criminal history database that includes Travis County records.
Are Criminal Records Public In Travis County
Criminal records in Travis County are generally considered public information under the Texas Public Information Act, codified in Texas Government Code Chapter 552. This statute establishes the presumption that government records, including most criminal records, are available to the public unless specifically exempted by law.
According to § 552.021 of the Texas Government Code: "Public information is available to the public at a minimum during the normal business hours of the governmental body." This provision ensures public access to most criminal records maintained by Travis County agencies.
However, important exceptions and restrictions apply to certain types of criminal records:
- Active Investigations: Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations may be temporarily withheld under § 552.108
- Juvenile Records: Records involving minors are generally confidential under Texas Family Code § 58.007
- Sealed or Expunged Records: Records that have been legally sealed or expunged are not publicly accessible
- Deferred Adjudication: In some cases, records of successfully completed deferred adjudication may have restricted access
- Certain Victim Information: Information identifying victims of certain crimes may be redacted
Adult conviction records, court proceedings, and basic arrest information are typically available to the public through various Travis County agencies. The Travis County District Clerk's office provides access to court records, while the Sheriff's Office maintains publicly accessible jail and arrest records.
It is important to note that while these records are legally public, the methods of access and associated fees may vary depending on the specific record type and requesting method.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Travis County in 2026
Members of the public seeking Travis County criminal records may utilize several official channels to obtain this information. The following procedures are currently in effect for accessing criminal records:
Online Search Methods:
-
Travis County Criminal Court Records
- Visit the Travis County Criminal Docket Search portal
- Enter the defendant's name or case number
- Review case information including charges, court dates, and disposition
- Note that this system primarily shows court scheduling information
-
Inmate and Jail Records
- Access the Travis County Inmate Search system
- Enter the individual's name or booking number
- View current incarceration status, charges, and bond information
- This system only displays currently incarcerated individuals
-
Active Warrant Search
- Utilize the Travis County Warrant Search tool
- Enter the individual's name
- View any active warrants issued within Travis County jurisdiction
-
Criminal History Checks
- Request a criminal history check through the Travis County District Clerk
- Complete the required forms and submit payment
- Receive comprehensive criminal history information for Travis County cases
In-Person Record Requests:
For more comprehensive criminal record searches or certified copies, individuals may visit:
Travis County District Clerk's Office
1000 Guadalupe Street, 5th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 854-9457
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Travis County District Clerk
Required information for record searches includes:
- Full legal name of the subject (including aliases)
- Date of birth
- Case number (if known)
- Valid government-issued photo identification
For statewide criminal history information that includes Travis County records, individuals may also request records through the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal History Search.
How To Find Criminal Records in Travis County Online?
Travis County provides several online portals for accessing different types of criminal records. Each system contains specific information and has unique search capabilities:
-
Travis County Criminal Docket Search
- Portal: https://publiccourts.traviscountytx.gov/
- Contains: Court dates, case status, charge information, attorney details
- Search by: Defendant name, case number, or attorney name
- No registration required
- Updated daily with current court scheduling information
- Does not include complete case files or documents
-
Travis County Inmate Information System
- Portal: Travis County Inmate Search
- Contains: Current jail population, booking information, charges, bond amounts
- Search by: Inmate name or booking number
- No registration required
- Updated in real-time as individuals are booked or released
- Limited to currently incarcerated individuals
-
Travis County Warrant Search
- Portal: Travis County Warrant Search
- Contains: Active warrants issued by Travis County courts
- Search by: Individual's name
- No registration required
- Updated regularly as warrants are issued or cleared
- Does not include historical warrant information
-
District Clerk Records Search
- Portal: Travis County District Clerk Case Information
- Contains: Case filings, dispositions, court documents (limited)
- Search by: Case number, party name, filing date
- Registration may be required for certain functions
- Includes both pending and closed cases
- Some documents may only be available for in-person viewing
-
Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal History
- Portal: DPS Criminal History Search
- Contains: Statewide criminal history including Travis County records
- Search by: Name and identifying information
- Registration and fees required
- Provides comprehensive criminal history across Texas jurisdictions
- Official record source for employment and licensing purposes
Records not available online that require in-person requests include sealed records, juvenile records, expunged cases, and certain court exhibits. Additionally, certified copies of criminal records must be requested in person or by mail from the Travis County District Clerk's Office.
Can You Search Travis County Criminal Records for Free?
Travis County provides several free options for accessing criminal records, in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act. Under this law, public inspection of records is available at no cost, though fees may apply for copies or certified documents.
Free In-Person Record Inspection:
Members of the public may inspect criminal records at no cost at the following locations:
Travis County District Clerk's Office
1000 Guadalupe Street, 5th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 854-9457
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Travis County District Clerk
Travis County Sheriff's Office
5555 Airport Boulevard
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 854-9770
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Travis County Sheriff's Office
Free Online Resources:
Travis County maintains several free online portals for criminal record searches:
-
Travis County Criminal Docket Search
- Free access to court schedules, case status, and basic case information
- No registration or fees required
- Limited to basic case information without documents
-
- Free access to current jail population information
- Includes booking information, charges, and bond amounts
- Updated in real-time
-
- Free access to active warrant information
- Search by name to determine if warrants exist
- No registration or fees required
While these resources are free, they have limitations in scope and detail. More comprehensive searches, certified copies, or statewide criminal history checks typically involve fees. For example:
- Criminal history checks through the Travis County District Clerk currently cost $20.00 per name searched
- Certified copies of court documents cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee
- Statewide criminal history searches through the Texas Department of Public Safety cost $3.00-$25.00 depending on the search type
What's Included in a Travis County Criminal Record?
Travis County criminal records contain comprehensive information about an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. The content varies based on the record type and maintaining agency, but typically includes:
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye/hair color)
- Mugshot or booking photograph
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID)
- FBI number (if applicable)
- Fingerprint classification
Arrest Information:
- Date and time of arrest
- Arresting agency
- Booking number
- Charges filed at arrest
- Bail or bond amount
- Detention facility location
- Arresting officer information (may be redacted)
Court Case Information:
- Case number and filing date
- Court of jurisdiction (district or county court)
- Assigned judge
- Formal charges filed by prosecutor
- Statute citations and offense classification (felony/misdemeanor)
- Plea information
- Attorney of record
- Court appearances and hearing dates
- Motions filed and rulings
Disposition and Sentencing:
- Final verdict or case outcome
- Conviction date (if applicable)
- Sentencing details including:
- Incarceration length
- Probation terms
- Fines and court costs
- Restitution orders
- Special conditions (treatment programs, community service)
- Appeal information
- Probation/parole status and violations
Additional Information:
- Active warrants
- Protective orders
- Sex offender registration requirements
- DUI/DWI offenses
- Traffic violations connected to criminal cases
- Pending charges in other jurisdictions
- Prior criminal history references
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, criminal records may also include information about an individual's incarceration history, parole eligibility, and release dates for state prison sentences.
It is important to note that pursuant to Texas Government Code § 411.135, certain sensitive information may be redacted from publicly available criminal records, including personal identifying information of crime victims, certain witness information, and medical or mental health details.
How Long Does Travis County Keep Criminal Records?
Travis County maintains criminal records according to retention schedules established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the Local Government Records Act. These schedules mandate minimum retention periods, though records may be kept longer at the discretion of the maintaining agency.
Key retention periods for Travis County criminal records include:
Misdemeanor Case Records:
- Case files: 5 years after case closure or final judgment
- Docket books: 20 years
- Indexes: Permanent retention
- Exhibits: 30 days after final judgment and exhaustion of appeals
Felony Case Records:
- Case files: 50 years after final judgment for cases resulting in conviction
- Capital cases resulting in execution: Permanent retention
- Docket books: Permanent retention
- Indexes: Permanent retention
- Exhibits: 30 days after final judgment and exhaustion of appeals
Arrest and Booking Records:
- Arrest reports: 5 years
- Booking information: 5 years
- Fingerprint cards: 75 years
- Photographs/mugshots: 75 years
Warrant Records:
- Executed warrants: 5 years after execution
- Unexecuted warrants: Until expiration of statute of limitations
- Search warrants: 5 years after execution
Jail Records:
- Inmate confinement records: 5 years after release
- Visitor logs: 3 years
- Jail incident reports: 5 years
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division, criminal history information is maintained in the statewide repository for 75 years from the date of the last arrest.
It is important to note that expunged records are destroyed pursuant to court order under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 55.02, and sealed records under orders of non-disclosure have restricted access according to Texas Government Code § 411.076.
Lookup Criminal Records in Travis County
Travis County Criminal Docket Search
Crime Records | Department of Public Safety
Criminal History Name Search | TxDPS Crime Records Division
Crime Records Services | Department of Public Safety