Dallas, Texas Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Where to Find Dallas Criminal Records: Six Official Search Routes

Dallas criminal records are not stored in one universal database. Choose the system that matches the type of information you need.

How to Search Dallas Texas Criminal Records by Name or Case Number

The Dallas County Courts Portal is the preferred public starting point for county felony and misdemeanor case research. The county also maintains an older criminal case-history search useful for checking indexed case information.

1. 1

   Open Dallas County Smart Search

   Visit the official Dallas County Courts Portal. If it does not load, use the county’s Online Record Search page instead.

2. 2

   Choose the name or record-number field

   Search using a case number, or enter the person’s name in the portal’s Last, First Middle format. The interface also provides separate last-name and first-name fields.

3. 3

   Use Advanced Filtering Options

   Expand advanced filters to narrow by case type, court location, case status, filing date or judicial officer where applicable.

4. 4

   Try wildcard search when needed

   The portal’s instructions allow an asterisk for supported searches. For name wildcard searches, at least three characters of the last name and one character of the first name are required. A case-number wildcard search requires at least four characters.

5. 5

   Select the relevant criminal result

   Check the case number, court type and available defendant information. Similar names can refer to different individuals.

6. 6

   Examine the case details

   Read the listed charges, filing history, scheduled hearings, court events, orders and case status. Not every entry or document is available for public download.

7. 7

   Identify the final disposition

   Determine whether a charge led to conviction, dismissal, acquittal, deferred adjudication or another outcome. Review subsequent orders that may affect the original disposition.

8. 8

   Request certified documentation if necessary

   For felony documents, contact the District Clerk. For county misdemeanor records, contact the County Clerk. A case-search result is not a certified court record.

Dallas County’s Older Criminal Background Search

The county’s separate Criminal Background Search Service permits searches by name and case number and offers fields such as name type, sex, date of birth, number type and pending-case status.

Although Dallas County calls this a criminal background search, it is a county criminal court case-information tool. It is not an FBI fingerprint report or a complete Texas DPS criminal-history record.

Dallas County Felony Criminal Records: District Clerk Search and Copies

The Dallas County District Clerk maintains records for the county’s felony criminal district courts and the Magistrate Court in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.

Dallas County’s official felony records page says that criminal case information is available online dating back to 1975. For most felony cases filed after 2009, public document images are also available online.

What Felony Case Records Can Show

• Felony case number and filing date
• Defendant and case parties
• Indictment and charges, where public
• Assigned district criminal court
• Hearings and procedural events
• Plea, trial and judgment information
• Sentence or community supervision orders
• Available publicly accessible case documents

Sealed records and documents containing protected information may not be displayed online. The District Clerk specifically notes that certain files involving children or sexual-assault victims are withheld from online document access, even if some public records can be requested at the counter.

District Clerk Felony Records Desk

How to Order a Certified Felony Disposition

1. Find the case number using Dallas County Smart Search.
2. Identify the exact document: judgment, dismissal order, sentencing order or another court record.
3. Contact the District Clerk’s Felony Records Desk for a fee quote.
4. Complete the Criminal Records Request Form linked on the official records page.
5. Submit the form in person or email it to the District Clerk’s criminal records address.
6. Pay the exact amount quoted by the District Clerk using its accepted payment procedure.
7. Retain the court-issued document and verify its certification.

Dallas County Misdemeanor Criminal Records: County Clerk

The Dallas County Clerk’s Criminal Courts Division maintains records for cases heard by the county criminal courts, including Class A and Class B misdemeanor prosecutions.

Public county misdemeanor case information is available through the Dallas County Courts Portal. The County Clerk says that ordinary misdemeanor document images from 2011 onward can generally be viewed online at no cost.

County Clerk Criminal Courts Division

How to Search Older Dallas Misdemeanor Cases

The online case index may contain older information, but complete images are not uniformly available for pre-2011 misdemeanor files.

The County Clerk explains that older records may have been transferred to offsite storage, where retrieving a file can take up to 72 hours. Some files require an archival search or in-person inspection.

This temporary County Clerk restriction should not be confused with the District Clerk’s separate felony records email procedure.

County Misdemeanor Background Search

The County Clerk lists a $5 staff-performed misdemeanor record search. For a mail request, its Criminal Courts Division FAQ asks for the person’s full name, date of birth, the applicable fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

However, because the Central Records Division has posted temporary service limitations, confirm that your chosen request method is currently being processed before mailing payment.

Official County Clerk Misdemeanor Record Search FAQ →

Dallas Municipal Court Criminal and Traffic Citation Search

Not every criminal or traffic citation in Dallas is filed in the county felony or Class A/B misdemeanor court system.

The City of Dallas Municipal Court handles city citations and eligible fine-only Class C misdemeanor matters within its jurisdiction.

How to Search a Dallas Municipal Court Citation

1. 1

   Open the official citation search

   Visit the Dallas Municipal Court Citation & Docket Search page.

2. 2

   Choose the search identifier

   The municipal service supports citation number, name with date of birth, docket number and Dallas Police case number searches where the corresponding fields are available.

3. 3

   Enter the citation number correctly

   The court’s example uses a number such as C12123456, without a dash. If searching by name, use the legal name and date of birth.

4. 4

   Open the citation details

   Review the charge, status, docket information and balance shown by the court’s system.

5. 5

   Check for an outstanding warrant

   The court explains that warrant information can appear in red in the citation search. Verify an important warrant concern directly with the court.

6. 6

   Confirm the deadline and available options

   Read the actual citation and court notices before taking action. Some cases may be eligible for special procedures, while others require contact with a court clerk.

Why a New Dallas Citation May Not Appear

The City of Dallas states that a citation may take up to 10 business days to appear in its online system. If it does not show immediately, use the court’s official assistance channels rather than assuming it was dismissed.

What About Justice of the Peace Criminal Cases?

Dallas County Justice Courts handle certain Class C misdemeanors and traffic matters. The county lists 10 justice courts and provides court-specific case and docket access.

If your citation identifies a Dallas County Justice of the Peace rather than Dallas Municipal Court, use the relevant JP court’s public case search.

Dallas County Justice of the Peace Courts Directory →

Dallas County Jail Lookup: Arrests, Bookings and Inmate Records

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office operates the county jail system, including the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.

Its jail lookup provides available custody information and is different from the criminal case history maintained by the District or County Clerk.

How to Check Dallas County Jail Information

1. Open the county’s jail lookup website.
2. Use the available search fields and accepted identifying details.
3. Review any matching booking or inmate entry.
4. Note the booking identifier, listed charge and court assignment where shown.
5. Determine whether the person is currently in county custody.
6. Use the county criminal case portal to verify any prosecution and final disposition.

Can You See Older Arrests in the Jail Search?

A custody search is not a complete historic arrest database. People released, transferred, booked into another county or no longer shown in the system may not appear as expected.

For a historical arrest or incident report, identify the arresting police agency. For a later prosecution, use the appropriate Dallas County criminal court case.

How to Request Dallas Police Arrest and Incident Reports

The Dallas Police Department maintains its own offense and incident reports. These are not the same as a District Clerk felony judgment or County Clerk misdemeanor disposition.

The Department’s Records Section handles public information under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552, together with other disclosure and confidentiality laws.

Dallas Police Public Records Request Steps

1. Identify the type of report: offense, incident, arrest-related or another agency record.
2. Find the Dallas Police case number if known.
3. Collect the incident date and location, together with other relevant public information.
4. Submit a written request through the City of Dallas Open Records process, by email, mail or in person.
5. Wait for the agency’s response and any applicable cost estimate.
6. Review whether the report is complete or has legally required redactions.

Dallas Police states that requests may take approximately 5–10 business days to process, depending on the request and records involved. Legal review, redaction or other requirements can affect the response.

Police reports may omit protected details about victims, juveniles, witnesses, active investigations and other confidential subjects.

What If the Incident Was in Irving, Garland or Mesquite?

Contact the actual investigating police department. Dallas Police does not maintain every arrest report generated by other municipal agencies in Dallas County.

If the event was investigated by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office rather than a city police department, direct the report request to the Sheriff’s records process.

How to Get Certified Dallas Criminal Court Records

Certified records are commonly requested for court proceedings, professional licensing, immigration applications, legal case research or other formal purposes.

First determine whether the record is from a felony case, county misdemeanor case, or Dallas Municipal Court.

What to Include in Your Request

• Defendant’s full name
• Complete case number if available
• Felony, misdemeanor or municipal court designation
• Document requested, such as judgment or dismissal order
• Whether certification or exemplification is needed
• Your preferred delivery method
• Contact details for the Clerk’s response

Dallas Texas Criminal Records Search Fees in 2026

Dallas County offers free public case searching, but formal staff searches, copies, certifications and statewide criminal-history checks can involve fees.

Fee schedules and office processing rules can change. Do not submit payment without reviewing the agency’s current official instructions.

Dallas County Clerk Official Copy Fees and Payment Information →

Texas DPS Criminal History Search for Dallas Residents

Dallas County court searches cover prosecutions maintained in Dallas County courts. If you need criminal-history information spanning multiple Texas counties, use the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division.

The state’s public system provides legally releasable conviction and qualifying deferred-adjudication information. Other criminal justice data is available only under appropriate authorization.

How to Run a Public Texas Criminal-History Name Search

1. 1

   Open Texas DPS Criminal History

   Visit the official DPS Criminal History Name Search.

2. 2

   Create a public account

   Follow the public site registration process. Do not attempt to use the separate restricted criminal-justice Secure Website unless legally authorized.

3. 3

   Purchase search credits

   Search credits are listed at $1 each, with additional transaction costs for card purchases.

4. 4

   Enter the person’s name

   DPS requires first and last names and allows further identifying information such as middle name, previous surname or date of birth.

5. 5

   Review possible matches

   DPS can return similar-sounding name variations. Check the available identifiers before concluding that a result belongs to a particular person.

6. 6

   Save the result

   Retain the official response if permitted by the website’s terms. A result should be interpreted in the context of what the public Texas repository is authorized to disclose.

How to Request Your Own Texas Criminal-History Record

Texas DPS offers a fingerprint-based personal-review process for individuals seeking access to their own record or wanting to challenge incorrect information.

Begin with the DPS Crime Records Division, and follow its current personal-review fingerprint instructions.

DPS Crime Records information: (512) 424-2474, with the relevant service option.

Dallas County Search vs. Texas DPS Search

Other Dallas Criminal Records: State Prisons, Federal Cases and Registries

Can Dallas Texas Criminal Records Be Expunged or Sealed?

Texas provides distinct forms of criminal-record relief, most importantly expunction and orders of nondisclosure.

Eligibility depends on the offense, arrest and prosecution outcome, waiting periods, prior criminal history and specific legal provisions.

Texas Expunction

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A governs expunction. Certain arrests, acquittals, dismissed proceedings and other specified situations can qualify, but eligibility must be determined under the particular statutory section.

Expunction is different from simply closing or dismissing a criminal case. A dismissed charge does not automatically mean all arrest information has been removed from every database.

Texas Orders of Nondisclosure

Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1 allows qualifying criminal-history information to be restricted from general public disclosure. Authorized government agencies and certain entities may still access nondisclosed information as permitted by law.

How to Begin a Dallas Expunction Request

1. Find the original Dallas criminal case and court disposition.
2. Determine whether the record meets Chapter 55A eligibility requirements.
3. Identify which agencies maintain records related to the arrest or prosecution.
4. Prepare the appropriate petition and proposed order.
5. File with the proper court using its accepted procedure.
6. Pay the applicable filing fees or request a waiver where permitted.
7. Respond to objections and attend a hearing if required.
8. Confirm implementation and retain the signed order.

The District Clerk also publishes expunction agency contact information for preparing required notices and identifying the correct government record custodians.

For immigration consequences, professional licenses, multiple arrests or disputed eligibility, obtain individualized legal advice before filing.

Why Dallas Criminal Records May Not Appear Online

Why a Dallas Arrest Might Have Multiple Case Numbers

An individual may initially have a jail booking or magistrate record, followed by a felony indictment or county criminal court case. Those events may use different identifiers.

Start with the known arrest or booking information, determine which court ultimately received the filed charges and then use that court’s case number to confirm the final outcome.

How to Interpret Dallas Public Criminal Records Correctly

A public criminal record is not automatically proof that a person committed the listed offense. Record researchers should distinguish arrest, formal charges, conviction and final case outcome.

• Arrest: The person was taken into custody; this does not establish guilt.
• Criminal charge: A formal accusation, not a conviction.
• Indictment: Grand jury accusation of a felony offense, not a guilty finding.
• Deferred adjudication: A Texas legal disposition with its own conditions and potential reporting consequences.
• Dismissal: The court or prosecution ended a charge without an ordinary conviction on that charge.
• Conviction: The case produced a legally recognized conviction, subject to later orders or relief.
• Expunction or nondisclosure: Separate legal remedies affecting eligible records and public access.

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Dallas Texas Criminal Records Search FAQs

Official Dallas Texas Criminal Records Sources

Use the following court, law-enforcement and state government resources to verify record availability, access procedures and the current fees.

Dallas County Criminal Courts

• Dallas County — Online Record Search and Court Portal
• Dallas County Courts Portal — Smart Search
• Dallas County Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Background Search
• Dallas County District Clerk — Felony Records and Certified Copies
• District Clerk Criminal Section
• Dallas County Clerk — Criminal Courts Division
• County Clerk — Misdemeanor Record Searches and Copies
• County Clerk — April 2026 Central Records Service Notice
• County Clerk — Certified Records Fees
• Dallas County Justice Courts and Class C Cases

City of Dallas Courts and Police

• Dallas Municipal Court — Citation and Docket Search
• City of Dallas — Official Municipal Citation Lookup
• Dallas Municipal Court — Records Requests and Forms
• Dallas Police Department — Public Police Records Requests

Jail, Statewide Background Checks and Record Relief

• Dallas County Sheriff’s Jail Lookup
• Dallas County Sheriff’s Office — Jail Contact Information
• Texas DPS — Criminal History Name Search
• Texas DPS — Criminal-History Search Pricing and Limitations
• Texas DPS — Fingerprint and Crime Records Services
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice — Offender Search
• Dallas County District Clerk — Expunction and Nondisclosure
• Texas Courts — Official Nondisclosure Forms
• PACER — Federal Criminal Court Records