DPS Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
DPS criminal history • Public records and court cases
DPS Criminal Records Search: How to Find Convictions, Court Cases and Background Checks
Looking for DPS criminal records? The Texas Department of Public Safety operates an official public criminal-history database where you can search reported Texas convictions and deferred adjudications.
The Texas DPS Criminal History Conviction Name Search requires a public website account and search credits. The published public price is $3 per credit, plus applicable payment-processing charges.
For an actual felony or misdemeanor court case, a county District Clerk or County Clerk may offer a separate public records search. DPS criminal history and court case records are not identical.
Open the Texas DPS Public Criminal History Conviction Name Search. Create a public account, purchase search credits, enter the person’s first and last name, and add a date of birth when available. Review possible matches carefully. Texas DPS currently lists $3 per public search credit, plus payment fees. Searches with no matching records also use a credit.
Understanding the government agency
What Is DPS Criminal Records Search?
DPS commonly stands for Department of Public Safety. Several U.S. states use this name for agencies that maintain criminal-history information, fingerprint identification records, law-enforcement data or other public safety services.
The best-known public DPS criminal-history name search is operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS).
Texas DPS maintains the state’s Computerized Criminal History System (CCH), a repository containing criminal-history information submitted by criminal justice agencies throughout Texas.
Its Crime Records Division maintains public and restricted access systems serving different users.
Texas DPS Public Site
The Public Criminal History Conviction Name Search allows account holders to search information that is legally classified as public.
Public information includes qualifying reported convictions and deferred adjudications.
Published public price: $3 per search credit.
Official Texas DPS Public Website →Texas DPS Secure Site
The Secure Site is intended for legislatively authorized government agencies, criminal justice organizations and qualifying private entities.
Users may access functions not offered to ordinary public-account holders, according to their statutory authorization.
Published Secure Site search price: $1 per credit for applicable users.
Official DPS Secure Site Information →Someone searching ordinary public conviction information should use publicsite.dps.texas.gov. The restricted Secure Site has different eligibility and payment rules and is not available merely because someone wants a cheaper criminal-history search.
Official Texas public records database
Texas DPS Criminal History Conviction Name Search
The official Texas DPS Conviction Database contains public record information extracted from the DPS Computerized Criminal History System.
Texas DPS explains that a criminal-history entry becomes available through the public conviction database when a conviction or deferred adjudication has been reported to the department for an offense.
The public criminal-history response may contain related arrest, prosecution and disposition information for qualifying entries in that person’s reported record.
What types of offenses are included?
Texas criminal-history reporting generally covers offenses involving Class B misdemeanors or greater, including qualifying felony offenses.
Some Class C misdemeanor convictions may appear if they were reported to the department, although not every Class C case is included.
DPS can also receive limited supervision information from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
| Record category | Public DPS search availability | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Texas felony conviction | Generally searchable when qualifying information was reported | Depends on agency reporting, identity and public-access rules |
| Class A or B misdemeanor conviction | Generally included when qualifying information was reported | Not necessarily every municipal or justice court offense |
| Deferred adjudication | Generally public when reported, unless legally restricted | Deferred adjudication is not automatically an ordinary conviction |
| Class C misdemeanor | May appear if reported to DPS | Not every Class C case is included |
| Arrest without a reported conviction or deferred adjudication | Not generally available through the public conviction search | Some underlying agency or court records may separately be public |
| Sealed or nondisclosed information | Restricted according to Texas law | Authorized criminal justice access may remain |
| Conviction from another state | Not part of the ordinary Texas-only public CCH search | Search the other state or use an appropriate authorized process |
| Federal criminal court case | Not a substitute for federal court searching | Use PACER for qualifying federal court records |
DPS receives criminal-history reporting from agencies across Texas’s 254 counties. That makes CCH a statewide source, but its completeness depends on participating agencies properly reporting the relevant arrests, prosecutions and dispositions.
Practical public search instructions
How to Search Texas DPS Criminal Records by Name
Texas DPS requires a public website account and purchased search credits before using its Criminal History Conviction Name Search.
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Open the official DPS public website
Visit publicsite.dps.texas.gov and select Criminal History Conviction Name Search.
If you reach a page asking for authorization as a government or qualified private organization, you may have entered the restricted Secure Site rather than the ordinary public website.
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Create a Public Website account
Select Create Account or New User Sign Up.
Enter the account information requested by the official website and complete the registration process.
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Sign in to your account
Use your registered account credentials to access the search interface and credit-purchase options.
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Purchase search credits
Choose the Purchase Credits option.
The public website lists $3 per credit, with applicable credit-card processing charges. Check payments follow the system’s separate instructions.
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Open Search Database
Return to the Criminal History Conviction Name Search section and select the database search option.
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Enter the last and first name
The person’s last name and first name are required.
Use the correct legal name rather than a nickname. The system also supports middle or maiden names.
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Add a date of birth if known
Date of birth is optional, but entering the complete date can improve the quality of the results.
The system can also use partial birth-date information.
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Submit the name search
Review the entered information before selecting Search.
A search credit is charged even when the system reports No Matching Records.
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Examine possible matches
DPS uses name matching that can include similar-sounding names. Review the type of match and any available identifying details.
Do not assume every returned entry belongs to the intended person.
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Open the appropriate criminal-history record
Review the relevant public rap sheet or record. The current public instructions state that viewing additional matching individuals’ records can use additional credits.
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Save the response
Save or print records needed for legitimate reference. If the result is incomplete or legally important, contact DPS or the responsible court for further verification.
The Texas DPS Public Criminal History website recommends switching a mobile browser to desktop mode for the best experience. If its registration, account or search pages do not display correctly on a phone, try desktop mode or a computer browser.
What information should you enter?
| Search field | Required? | Official DPS guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Last name | Yes | Use the complete legal last name |
| First name | Yes | Avoid nicknames or initials |
| Middle name | No | Include when known |
| Maiden name or other name | Optional | Can improve identification of historical records |
| Complete date of birth | No | Can narrow possible matches |
| Partial birth date | No | May be entered when complete DOB is unavailable |
Actual public search pricing
Texas DPS Criminal Records Search Fees in 2026
The official Texas DPS Public Criminal History Conviction Name Search lists a price of $3 per public search credit.
The fee is different from the $1 credits published for the restricted DPS Secure Site.
| DPS service | Published price | Who can use it? |
|---|---|---|
| Public Conviction Name Search credit | $3 each | Ordinary public website account holders |
| Public credit-card processing | 2.25% of the order plus $0.25 per purchase | Public users paying by credit card |
| Public credits purchased by check | $3 each | Available after mailed payment is received and processed |
| A search returning No Matching Records | One public credit used | No refund merely because no record was found |
| Opening additional public matching records | May use additional credits | Follow the public website’s credit rules |
| DPS Secure Site criminal-history search | $1 per applicable credit | Legislatively authorized organizations only |
| Texas Public Sex Offender Registry | Free | Public search |
| Texas DPS Violent Offender Database | Free | Public search for qualifying listed offenders |
Why do some DPS websites show $1 instead of $3?
Texas DPS operates two different criminal-history interfaces.
The ordinary public website explicitly lists $3 search credits, while the restricted Secure Site publishes $1 credits for its eligible users.
The Secure Site also describes updated charging rules under which one search credit covers its expanded matching results.
Public users should follow the public site’s own price and usage instructions—not the Secure Site documentation.
Some older tutorials and search-engine snippets display the $1 Secure Site fee without explaining eligibility. If you are a member of the general public, confirm the price directly at the public DPS search instructions before purchasing credits.
Can you get a refund if the search finds nothing?
Generally no. DPS explains that a No Matching Records response is a completed search and uses a credit.
Refunds may be requested for unused credits under the department’s procedures.
Do not repeatedly submit the same name expecting a no-results refund.
Understand access restrictions
Texas DPS Public Site vs Secure Site: What’s the Difference?
The Texas Department of Public Safety makes a distinction between information classified as public and criminal-history information accessible only to legally authorized entities.
Public Conviction Database
Available to ordinary users who create the required public account.
- Searches legally public reported conviction information.
- Includes qualifying public deferred adjudications.
- Requires purchased public search credits.
- Does not provide unrestricted access to confidential arrests or juvenile history.
- Uses name-based matching rather than fingerprint verification.
Crime Records Division Secure Website
Designed for entities specifically authorized under Texas law.
Examples of categories identified by DPS include certain government employers, school districts, criminal justice agencies, authorized private schools, eligible care providers and other qualifying organizations.
The organization must establish its eligibility and follow the required application and user agreement procedures.
Secure Site Eligibility Rules →What is the FACT Clearinghouse?
DPS also maintains the Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) system and F.A.C.T. Clearinghouse for authorized fingerprint-based background-check programs.
The Clearinghouse is not a public website that anyone can use to retrieve another person’s private criminal-history information.
Access depends on a legally authorized organization and the appropriate fingerprint-based screening process.
A public account does not give permission to obtain private criminal-history information. Use the ordinary public search, request your own record through Personal Review, or follow a legally authorized screening process.
How to interpret DPS search results
What Does a Texas DPS Criminal Record Show?
Texas DPS Criminal History Records may contain information about reported arrests, charges, prosecutorial activity and final dispositions associated with a qualifying public criminal-history entry.
However, a result is not the same as a full certified court file.
Possible information in a public DPS result
- Reported identity and name information.
- Relevant arrest information connected to a public entry.
- Reported criminal charges.
- Offense classification.
- Prosecution and court information where reported.
- Conviction or deferred adjudication information.
- Reported sentencing or disposition details.
- Limited supervision information where available.
What is deferred adjudication?
Deferred adjudication is a Texas criminal procedure in which the court delays an ordinary adjudication of guilt while the defendant completes applicable community-supervision conditions.
If the person successfully completes deferred adjudication, the case may be discharged and dismissed under the relevant procedure.
However, the record may still be public unless the person obtains an applicable order of nondisclosure or another legal restriction.
Texas DPS can publicly report both convictions and deferred adjudications. Do not describe every DPS record as a final conviction. Read the reported court outcome and obtain the original disposition when precision matters.
What if a record lists an arrest but no final outcome?
The final court disposition may not have been reported correctly, may be delayed or may be unavailable through the public search.
DPS explains that the court clerk responsible for the case must submit the disposition information to the department.
When a missing disposition affects employment, licensing or another important matter, obtain the certified outcome from the original court.
Finding the actual criminal case
How to Search Texas Criminal Court Cases Instead of DPS History
The DPS Criminal History database is a statewide repository. It does not replace each county’s official criminal court docket or certified court documents.
In Texas, District Clerks generally maintain felony court records, while County Clerks generally maintain misdemeanor records for the courts under their jurisdiction.
Some counties offer searchable public electronic court records, while others require registration or a direct request.
Official local court searches in major Texas counties
Harris County District Clerk
The District Clerk provides an online public case-information search covering qualifying district court records.
The official website requires a registered login to search. Public case information remains available without a case-information viewing fee after login.
Useful for: Harris County felony case and docket information.
Search Harris County District Court Records →Dallas County Criminal Court Records
The Dallas County District Clerk states that its online criminal case information includes cases dating back to 1975.
Record documents for many felony cases filed after 2009 are also available online.
The District Clerk handles felony matters, while the County Clerk maintains misdemeanor case records.
Dallas County Criminal Records Portal →Bexar County Justice Information Portal
Bexar County’s Justice Portal combines County Clerk and District Clerk public court information.
The county explains that registration is not required for public data. Registration is reserved for authorized users requesting elevated access.
Some document images remain unavailable through the portal.
Bexar County Justice Portal →Travis County District Clerk
Travis County provides free public court-record viewing for qualifying cases.
Its District Clerk lists online criminal case coverage from 2008 onward.
Certified or authenticated physical documents require a separate request.
Travis County Court Records →How to get a certified Texas criminal court disposition
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Identify the Texas county
Use the county where the criminal case was filed rather than assuming the person was prosecuted where they currently live.
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Determine the court type
For a felony, contact the appropriate District Clerk. For a misdemeanor, the County Clerk or responsible criminal court clerk may maintain the record.
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Find the case or cause number
Use the county’s public portal or available legal paperwork to identify the exact case.
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Request the final disposition
Ask for the judgment, sentencing order, dismissal order or other document that establishes the outcome.
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Confirm certification requirements
Explain whether the document must be certified, and ask about copy fees and delivery arrangements.
If a DPS entry shows an outdated or incorrect disposition, the original county court can often supply the certified judgment needed to correct the state’s criminal-history record.
Requesting your own complete history
How to Get Your Own Texas DPS Criminal History Using Fingerprints
If you need your own criminal-history record rather than only the publicly searchable conviction entries, Texas DPS provides a Personal Review procedure.
This is especially useful for investigating identity errors, old arrest entries, incomplete dispositions or information that is not publicly available.
The official procedure is described in DPS Form CR-63, Procedure for Review of Personal Criminal History Record Information.
Step-by-step personal record review
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Read the official Personal Review instructions
Open the DPS Fingerprinting Services page and locate the Texas Review of Personal Criminal History procedure.
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Schedule fingerprinting
Texas DPS uses Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST), operated through IdentoGO.
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Use the correct service code
The published CR-63 procedure identifies service code 11FT12 for Texas personal criminal-history review. Confirm that the service code remains current before booking.
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Bring accepted identification
Follow the fingerprinting provider’s identification requirements and appointment instructions.
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Pay the applicable fingerprint and record-review charges
The published CR-63 form lists a $15 DPS criminal-history fee plus a $10 FAST service fee. Verify the current total at the appointment scheduler because provider charges can change.
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Receive the DPS personal history response
Follow the DPS procedure for delivery. An authorized employment screening conducted for a third party is not the same as ordering your own Personal Review.
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Check the accuracy of every entry
Review reported identities, arrest information, charges, dispositions and record restrictions. Obtain certified court documents for any error requiring correction.
Texas DPS fingerprint appointment information
Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas
Scheduling telephone: 888-467-2080
Online scheduling: Use the IdentoGO scheduling link supplied by the official DPS website.
DPS Personal Review inquiries: 512-424-2474, option 2.
Important: People fingerprinted for an employer or licensing agency do not automatically receive a copy of that agency’s background-check response directly from DPS.
Texas DPS FAST Program InformationTexas DPS states that name searches may match the wrong person or miss a record. Fingerprint identification is the reliable method for determining whether a criminal-history entry belongs to a particular individual.
DPS means different agencies in different states
DPS Criminal Records in Arizona, Mississippi and New Mexico
Although Texas operates the widely used public DPS Conviction Name Search, several other states have Departments of Public Safety responsible for criminal-history records.
Their access rules are not the same as Texas.
Arizona Criminal History Records
The Arizona Department of Public Safety maintains the Central State Repository for criminal-history information under Arizona law.
Arizona generally does not provide unrestricted criminal-history searches to private citizens or private employers through its repository.
Individuals can review and challenge their own criminal records using the department’s Record Review process.
The official process includes a fingerprint-based Record Review Packet or the available online review route.
Official Arizona DPS Criminal History Records →Mississippi Criminal Information Center
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety maintains the Criminal Information Center (CIC).
The CIC serves as Mississippi’s state criminal-history repository and supports law enforcement, authorized background checks and fingerprint identification services.
It also processes court disposition and expunction information submitted through the state’s criminal justice systems.
Do not assume that Mississippi offers the same open public name-search service as Texas.
Mississippi DPS Criminal Information Center →New Mexico Criminal History Records
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety operates a Law Enforcement Records Bureau and State Central Repository.
Its criminal-history repository includes reported New Mexico felony, qualifying misdemeanor and DWI arrest information.
A person seeking their own record follows an authorized release process, including the department’s required notarized authorization form.
Public records requests and personal criminal-history authorizations are separate procedures.
New Mexico DPS Law Enforcement Records Bureau →States Without a DPS Public Search
Not every state calls its criminal-history agency a Department of Public Safety.
Some states use a State Police department, Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice or Bureau of Criminal Identification.
If you need a criminal history outside Texas, locate the correct state agency before submitting identifying information or payment.
FBI State Identification Bureau Directory →A Texas DPS public CCH search contains information reported to Texas. Someone convicted only in Arizona, Mississippi, New Mexico or another state may not appear in the Texas public conviction database.
Free government alternatives
Can You Search DPS Criminal Records for Free?
Texas DPS’s ordinary public Conviction Name Search is paid. However, some related official searches are free.
These alternatives are useful for particular questions, but they are not complete substitutes for the statewide DPS conviction-history search.
Texas Sex Offender Registry
Texas DPS operates an official public sex offender registry.
The website allows public searches of qualifying registered offenders and provides additional registry information and notification services.
Not every criminal conviction is a registrable sex offense, and not every registrant’s information is publicly displayed.
Search Texas Public Sex Offender Registry →Texas Violent Offender Database
DPS also operates a public database concerning certain family violence and stalking offenders under Texas Government Code § 411.1355.
The database covers qualifying individuals convicted on two or more occasions of specified offenses under the statute.
Published search fee: Free.
It is not a complete database of every domestic-violence arrest or conviction.
Search Texas Violent Offender Database →Texas District and County Clerks
Some Texas counties provide public criminal case information through free court portals.
For example, Harris County’s District Clerk provides public case information after account login, while Bexar County’s Justice Portal does not require registration for ordinary public data.
Official court documents and certified copies may have additional fees.
Example: Bexar County Criminal Records →PACER Federal Criminal Court Search
Federal criminal cases are separate from Texas state court convictions.
PACER provides access to public federal court records with federal judiciary usage fees and applicable quarterly waiver rules.
Use it when the prosecution occurred in federal court.
Official PACER Federal Case Search →A sex offender registry or specialized violent offender database only covers the statutory categories it was designed to report. An empty search result does not prove that a person has never been arrested or convicted.
Texas criminal record restrictions
Expunged and Nondisclosed Texas DPS Criminal Records
A criminal-history entry may be excluded from the public DPS search because it is protected by an expunction order, an order of nondisclosure or another legal restriction.
Texas distinguishes between expunction and nondisclosure.
Expunction
Texas expunction procedures can require agencies to remove qualifying criminal-history records according to the applicable court order and statutory requirements.
Eligibility depends on circumstances such as the charge, disposition, statutory waiting periods and other conditions.
An arrest that ended without conviction does not always qualify immediately or automatically.
Order of nondisclosure
An order of nondisclosure restricts public access to qualifying criminal-history information.
It does not necessarily erase all records, and some criminal justice agencies and legally authorized organizations may retain access.
Texas law includes several nondisclosure procedures for eligible deferred-adjudication and conviction histories, subject to offense exclusions and specific conditions.
An order of nondisclosure restricts ordinary public access but does not necessarily prevent every legally authorized governmental or licensing agency from receiving the information.
How to investigate whether a record should be restricted
- Obtain the original court case number and final disposition.
- Review the applicable Texas expunction or nondisclosure statute.
- Check whether a signed order has already been entered.
- If eligible, consult a qualified Texas attorney or appropriate legal aid resource.
- Verify implementation with the relevant government record custodian when authorized.
Correcting a criminal-history record
How to Fix Incorrect Texas DPS Criminal Records
Texas DPS operates an Error Resolution Unit responsible for reviewing and updating criminal-history information.
If your record includes an incorrect conviction, missing disposition, duplicate entry or identity problem, the appropriate correction process depends on the type of error.
How to correct a missing court disposition
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Identify the DPS entry
Review your own authorized criminal-history report and note the arrest, charge or case showing the incorrect information.
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Contact the original Texas court
Ask the responsible County Clerk or District Clerk for a certified copy of the final disposition.
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Compare the court record with DPS
Determine which reported details are missing or inconsistent.
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Use the DPS Error Resolution process
Follow the official agency instructions and provide certified supporting documents.
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Retain copies of the correction request
Keep the certified disposition, submission information and any agency response.
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Check the updated history
After processing, verify that the corrected information is reflected in the appropriate record.
Texas DPS Error Resolution Unit
Telephone: 512-424-7256
Email: error.resolution@dps.texas.gov
The agency explains that certified court records are generally needed to support missing or incorrect dispositions.
Official DPS Criminal History Error ResolutionWhat if someone used your name during an arrest?
Identity misuse requires a different investigation from a simple clerical disposition error.
If an arrested individual falsely supplied your name or identifying information, contact DPS and follow its identity-misuse review process.
Fingerprint comparison may be needed to distinguish your identity from the person associated with the arrest.
A new public name search does not itself fix an incorrect criminal-history entry. When the underlying record is wrong, use the agency’s official correction procedure and obtain the supporting court documents.
Common DPS website problems
Why Your DPS Criminal Records Search Shows No Results or an Error
| Problem | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Matching Records | No public matching entry, wrong name, missing data or restricted history | Review spelling and public-record limitations; do not interpret this as nationwide clearance |
| Multiple possible matches | DPS uses name variations and Soundex matching | Compare available identifiers and avoid attributing records without reliable verification |
| Search results include someone with a similar name | Name-based matching cannot conclusively establish identity | Use fingerprints for positive identification through an authorized procedure |
| Website charges $3 when another page says $1 | Public Site and authorized Secure Site have different fees | Use the correct portal and follow its own pricing instructions |
| Result says Search Added to Queue | Multi-Entry mode may be enabled | Use View/Submit or Search History to finish or retrieve queued searches |
| An entry requires Offline processing | The record requires manual handling because it is not fully computerized | Check the DPS account Message Center for completion information |
| Credit-card payment declined | Payment processor or bank rejection | Check transaction information and contact the DPS website support service |
| Record shows arrest but not dismissal | Court disposition not reported or not correctly processed | Obtain the certified court disposition and follow DPS Error Resolution procedures |
| Recent court case absent from DPS public history | No qualifying public conviction or deferred adjudication reported yet | Search the original county court instead |
| Website does not work well on phone | Public site recommends desktop browser mode | Switch mobile browser to desktop mode or use a computer |
How to contact Texas DPS search support
The current public Conviction Name Search instructions list:
Public website support: 855-481-7070
Criminal History Inquiry Unit: 512-424-2474
Incorrect or missing criminal-history data: 512-424-7256
Use the official website’s support interface for account or payment-related inquiries.
Texas DPS Public Search and SupportEmployment and official screening
Can Texas DPS Criminal Records Be Used for Employment Background Checks?
Texas DPS public criminal-history information can be accessed for lawful purposes, but that does not mean a public name search fulfills every employer’s legal screening requirements.
Some positions require an authorized fingerprint-based background check, especially in regulated professions or occupations involving vulnerable individuals.
For example, Texas DPS lists fingerprint-based checks for eligible childcare workers, teachers, security-related occupations and other authorized employment or licensing categories.
Employers using consumer reporting agencies must also consider applicable Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements, including disclosures, authorization and adverse-action procedures.
Important considerations for employers
- Use the legally required background-check level for the position.
- Do not confuse a deferred adjudication with an ordinary final conviction.
- Verify identity rather than relying on name similarity.
- Review the final disposition of the specific criminal case.
- Follow statutory restrictions on nondisclosed or expunged records.
- Comply with applicable federal, state and local employment-screening laws.
The Texas Public Conviction Database is limited to information available under its Texas public-access rules. An organization needing a fingerprint-based national check must use a legally authorized procedure.
Frequently asked questions
DPS Criminal Records Search FAQs
1. What is DPS criminal records search?
DPS criminal records search commonly refers to the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal History Conviction Name Search. It allows public users to search qualifying reported convictions and deferred adjudications from the Texas Computerized Criminal History System.
2. How do I search Texas DPS criminal records online?
Visit publicsite.dps.texas.gov/ConvictionNameSearch, create a public account, purchase search credits, enter the person’s first and last name, and review possible matching criminal-history records. A date of birth can help narrow results.
3. Is the Texas DPS criminal records search free?
No. The Texas DPS Public Criminal History Conviction Name Search currently lists $3 per search credit, plus applicable processing fees. Some county court records and specialized DPS public registries are available without a search fee.
4. Why do some Texas DPS websites list $1 per search?
The restricted DPS Secure Site lists $1 search credits for eligible authorized organizations. The ordinary DPS Public Conviction Name Search has a separate published price of $3 per search credit. These services have different eligibility and credit rules.
5. Can I search someone else’s criminal record through DPS?
Texas DPS permits ordinary public users to search qualifying public conviction and deferred-adjudication information through the Public Conviction Name Search. Confidential criminal-history information remains subject to legal access restrictions.
6. Does Texas DPS show every arrest?
No. The public conviction database does not provide every arrest in Texas. Its public access depends on qualifying reported conviction or deferred-adjudication information. Other arrest or court records may be available from the original agency or court.
7. What does No Matching Records mean on DPS?
It means the search did not identify a matching public record using the submitted criteria. It does not prove that the person has no criminal history. Incorrect names, incomplete reporting, restricted records or arrests without public dispositions can affect results. The completed search still uses a credit.
8. How can I request my own complete Texas DPS criminal history?
Use the Texas DPS Personal Review procedure, described in Form CR-63. The process generally uses fingerprinting through FAST/IdentoGO and identity verification rather than the ordinary public name-search database.
9. How do I correct inaccurate DPS criminal records?
Obtain certified supporting documents from the original criminal court and use the Texas DPS Criminal History Error Resolution process. The Error Resolution Unit can be contacted at 512-424-7256 or error.resolution@dps.texas.gov.
10. Does DPS show felony and misdemeanor cases?
Texas DPS public criminal history can contain qualifying reported felony and misdemeanor convictions or deferred adjudications. To search an actual court docket, contact the county District Clerk or County Clerk responsible for the case.
11. Are DPS criminal records the same in every state?
No. Texas, Arizona, Mississippi and New Mexico have different DPS criminal-history services and access rules. For example, Arizona generally restricts access to its state criminal-history repository and provides a personal Record Review procedure rather than an unrestricted public Texas-style name search.
12. Can I search sealed or expunged DPS criminal records?
Records subject to expunction, nondisclosure or other legal restrictions are generally not available through ordinary public searches. Authorized agencies or the record subject may have lawful access under specific statutory procedures.
Primary government resources
Official DPS Criminal Records Websites and Search Links
Use these government websites to reach the original criminal-history databases, court records, fingerprint services and record-correction procedures.
Texas Department of Public Safety
- Texas DPS — Official Public Crime Records Website
- Texas DPS — Public Criminal History Conviction Name Search
- Texas DPS — Public Search Requirements, $3 Credits and Usage Rules
- Texas DPS — Restricted Secure Site for Authorized Entities
- Texas DPS — Crime Records Division
- Texas DPS — Criminal History Records FAQs
- Texas DPS — Fingerprinting and Personal Record Review
- Texas DPS — Crime Records Forms Including CR-63
- Texas DPS — Criminal History Error Resolution
- Texas DPS — Expunctions and Nondisclosure
- Texas DPS — Public Sex Offender Registry
- Texas DPS — Free Violent Offender Database
- Texas DPS — Criminal History Reporting and CCH Information
Texas Criminal Court Records
- Harris County District Clerk — Public Criminal Case Records
- Dallas County — Felony Criminal Court Records
- Bexar County — Justice Information Portal
- Travis County — District Clerk Case Information and Records
- U.S. Courts — Federal Criminal Case Search