Travis County, Texas Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
Travis County Texas Criminal Records Search: Felonies, Misdemeanors and Court Cases
To search Travis County Texas criminal records, open the official Travis County Odyssey Portal and select Smart Search. The system provides access to publicly available felony and misdemeanor case information from Travis County courts, including cases filed in Austin.
For felony criminal records, the responsible office is the Travis County District Clerk. For Class A and Class B misdemeanors, contact the Travis County Clerk. If you want upcoming court dates, use the separate Criminal Docket Search. To check current jail custody, use the Travis County Sheriff’s Office inmate search.
Official Travis County, Austin and Texas government sources reviewed October 19, 2026.
Where to Search Travis County Criminal Records Online
Travis County has several criminal records systems because felony cases, county misdemeanors, Class C citations, jail custody and statewide criminal-history records are maintained by different offices.
| Record you need | Official search or office | What you can find |
|---|---|---|
| Felony case or judgment | Travis County District Clerk | Public adult felony case summaries, registers of actions and available record-request services. |
| Class A/B misdemeanor | Travis County Clerk | Misdemeanor case data, eligible redacted documents and certified-copy options. |
| General online criminal case search | Odyssey Portal | Smart Search for public cases from participating court record categories. |
| Upcoming court dates | Criminal Docket Search | Felony and misdemeanor settings, courts, dates, times and appearance information. |
| Class C misdemeanor or traffic matter | Justice of the Peace or Austin Municipal Court | Qualifying municipal citations, fine-only offenses and JP court cases. |
| Current Travis County jail custody | Travis County Sheriff’s Office | Available information concerning people currently held in Travis County custody. |
| Statewide Texas criminal history | Texas DPS Criminal History | Paid public name-based search of eligible Texas criminal-history information. |
| Federal criminal case in Austin | Federal PACER | Federal dockets and eligible documents, separate from Texas state court records. |
How to Use the Travis County Odyssey Portal
The official Odyssey Portal is the principal online case-information search for Travis County’s District Clerk, County Clerk and probate-related court records.
Its entry page states that members of the public do not need to create an account to search. More extensive document access may have separate registration or authorization requirements.
Step-by-step Travis County criminal case search
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Open the Odyssey Portal.
Use the official Travis County court address at odysseyweb.traviscountytx.gov. Read the portal notices before continuing.
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Select Smart Search.
The welcome screen identifies Smart Search as the starting point for searching publicly available court records.
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Enter a name or case number.
Use the exact cause number when available. If searching by name, enter the party information in the format required by the application.
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Open Advanced Filtering Options.
Choose the appropriate records category or court. For a misdemeanor cause-number lookup, the County Clerk’s instructions specifically say to check the County Clerk box.
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Review possible matches.
Check the cause number, court, filing date and available party information. Multiple people may have similar names.
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Open the case details.
Review the public register of actions or other information available for the case, including relevant filings and court events.
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Find the disposition.
Look for the final outcome of each charge, such as conviction, dismissal, acquittal or another court ruling.
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Request an official document if needed.
If an underlying judgment or disposition is not available online, identify the appropriate clerk and follow its copy-request process.
Important public search settings
- Registration: Not required for ordinary public Smart Search.
- County Clerk filter: Important when searching misdemeanor cause numbers.
- Browser compatibility: JavaScript and cookies must be enabled.
- Document availability: Depends on the court category and applicable access restrictions.
- Case dates: Use the separate docket service to confirm upcoming settings.
Travis County Felony Criminal Records Search
The Travis County District Clerk’s Criminal Division maintains adult felony criminal case records, including felony search warrant records and eligible felony nondisclosure matters. It also handles expunction filings involving both felony and misdemeanor records.
Its public Odyssey case search allows users to review the register of actions—a summary of filed documents and court events—for eligible felony proceedings.
Understanding Travis County felony cause numbers
The Travis County District Attorney explains that felony criminal cases assigned to its office generally carry a cause number starting with:
D-1-DC-23-XXXXXX
The D-1-DC portion identifies the felony case category, while 23 indicates the filing year 2023. The remaining digits distinguish the particular proceeding.
This is an illustrative format, not a real person’s case number.
Which Travis County district courts handle felonies?
The District Clerk identifies nine district criminal courtrooms, along with a Magistrate Court supported by its criminal division.
- 147th District Court
- 167th District Court
- 299th District Court
- 331st District Court
- 390th District Court
- 403rd District Court
- 427th District Court
- 450th District Court
- 460th District Court
Each criminal case is assigned a cause number and courtroom. Use the court identified in the case information rather than assuming all felony cases are heard by the same judge.
What if your felony case is old?
The District Clerk’s current general records guidance identifies digital criminal case coverage from 2008 to the present. Its criminal-history guidance also warns that felony cases before 2004 may be archived and unavailable through the portal.
If an older case is missing, contact the criminal records division and ask how to search archived files. Do not treat the portal’s electronic date range as the entire history of Travis County felony prosecutions.
Certified positive or negative felony search letters
The District Clerk offers certified Positive Search Letters and Negative Search Letters for qualifying felony criminal-history searches.
These certificates cover Travis County felony records only. They are not an FBI or statewide Texas criminal-history report and do not independently establish that someone has no criminal case in another jurisdiction.
Travis County District Clerk – Criminal Division
Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Gault Annex
501 W. 11th Street, Room 2.300
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512-854-9420, option 3
Public office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
How to Search Travis County Misdemeanor Criminal Records
The Travis County Clerk is responsible for records of County Courts at Law handling Class A and Class B misdemeanor offenses.
These cases can include qualifying DWI, theft, assault and other misdemeanor prosecutions. Travis County’s misdemeanor criminal courts include County Courts at Law Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
The County Clerk also maintains information concerning certain Class C misdemeanor appeals from municipal and Justice of the Peace courts.
How to find misdemeanor case data
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Open the County Clerk Misdemeanor Search page.
Use the official misdemeanor search and copies section.
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Follow the Court Data link.
This leads to the county’s authorized Odyssey search system.
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Select Smart Search and the County Clerk category.
The County Clerk advises that cause-number searches require checking the County Clerk box.
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Enter the party name or misdemeanor cause number.
A number beginning with C generally indicates a County Clerk case.
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Read the case information.
Review the court, charges, hearing history and dispositions where available.
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Check eligible document images.
Some misdemeanor documents are available online, while historical or restricted records may require the clerk.
How far back do Travis County misdemeanor records go?
The County Clerk states that its online case data is available from approximately June 1986 to the present, while its misdemeanor-specific records table identifies misdemeanor indexes beginning in January 1981.
Some redacted electronic images are available, but not every misdemeanor document is online. For newer electronic filings, the clerk says case data is generally updated every 24 hours, while newly filed document images can take approximately 72 hours to appear.
Contact the misdemeanor clerk
Travis County Clerk – Misdemeanor Records Division
1000 Guadalupe Street, Suite 222
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512-854-9188
Postal mail:
Travis County Clerk
P.O. Box 149325
Austin, TX 78714
How to Find Travis County Criminal Court Dates
Travis County operates a separate Criminal Docket Search for felony and misdemeanor court settings. This is the correct place to check an upcoming criminal hearing instead of relying solely on an old docket entry or case summary.
Available docket search methods
According to the county, public docket searches can use:
- Defendant or arrested person’s name.
- Attorney’s name.
- Attorney’s State Bar number.
- Judge or court number.
- Criminal cause number.
The resulting schedule includes available information such as defendant, cause number, court, hearing date and time, floor, hearing type and whether courthouse appearance is required.
Step-by-step docket search
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Open the Criminal Docket Search application.
Use publiccourts.traviscountytx.gov/dsa.
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Search by cause number or defendant.
An exact cause number is the most reliable way to identify a particular hearing.
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Review the court assignment.
Check whether the setting belongs to a District Criminal Court or County Criminal Court.
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Check the hearing information.
Review the date, time, floor, court and reported appearance requirement.
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Check again the day before court.
The docket application’s official warning instructs visitors to check the site the day before going to the courthouse.
Can you view docket reports instead?
Travis County also publishes upcoming criminal docket reports sorted by attorney or defendant name and criminal court schedules showing jury and non-jury weeks.
These resources are linked through the county’s Criminal Courts directory.
What is the difference between a docket and case history?
A docket search focused on future settings tells you when a case is scheduled. The Odyssey register of actions is used to understand the case’s historical filings and court events.
If you need to know whether a charge resulted in conviction or dismissal, use the case history and official disposition rather than treating an upcoming-hearing list as the complete criminal record.
How to Request Certified Travis County Criminal Records
Court records visible online may answer an informal research question, but a licensing authority, attorney, government agency or other institution may require an officially certified disposition or judgment.
The request process differs for felony and misdemeanor records.
District Clerk Records Request
The District Clerk requires a records request for felony criminal document copies. Requests can be initiated online, by mail or in person.
For in-person felony records, visit the Gault Annex, Room 2.300, at 501 W. 11th Street, Austin.
District Clerk request instructions →County Clerk Records Request
Misdemeanor ordinary or certified copies can be requested through the County Clerk by its published phone, email or in-person procedures.
Eligible online redacted documents can sometimes be printed without charge, but such copies are unofficial.
County Clerk copies and fees →What information should you provide?
- The defendant’s name as it appears in the court record.
- The cause number, if available.
- Whether it is a felony or misdemeanor case.
- The assigned court.
- The approximate filing or judgment date.
- The exact document requested.
- Whether you need an ordinary or certified copy.
- Contact and delivery details required by the clerk.
Travis County District Clerk copy fees
| District Clerk service | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Records search, per cause, name or item | $5 |
| Paper copy | $1 per page |
| Non-certified electronic document | Published electronic-copy schedule applies |
| Certified copy | $5 per document, plus applicable copy charges |
| Affidavit of no record | $5 |
| Credit card convenience charge | 3%, minimum $3 |
These amounts are from the District Clerk’s published 2026 miscellaneous-fee schedule. The applicable total depends on the type of copy and how it is supplied.
See Travis County District Clerk official fees.
Travis County Clerk misdemeanor copy fees
| County Clerk service | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Basic electronic records search | Free, plus copies if requested |
| Print an eligible online document yourself | Free; unofficial copy watermark may apply |
| Self-service photocopier | $0.20 per page |
| Self-service microfilm or computer printer | $0.25 per page |
| Copies prepared by clerk | $1 per page |
| Certified copy | $5 per document + $1 per page |
| Misdemeanor name search before 1981 | $10 for a standard search; additional terms may cost more |
| Credit card fee | $3 under $100, or 3% at $100 or more |
How to request an old or archived court file
If the case is not indexed online, contact the responsible clerk. Give the approximate year, defendant name, charge or case number and ask whether the original file is stored in an archive.
A public portal’s date cutoff does not mean older criminal cases never existed or that the records have necessarily been destroyed.
Where to Find Austin Class C Misdemeanor and Traffic Records
Not every criminal citation issued in Austin belongs to a Travis County felony or Class A/B misdemeanor case.
Fine-only Class C misdemeanors, qualifying traffic offenses and municipal ordinance cases may belong to Austin Municipal Court or one of Travis County’s five Justice of the Peace courts.
Austin Municipal Court
The City of Austin provides a separate Public Court Portal for qualifying municipal cases.
The city’s instructions explain that citation searches can use a defendant’s last name with date of birth, or a driver’s license number, as the portal permits.
Main court:
6800 Burleson Road
Building 310, Suite 175
Austin, TX 78744
Phone: 512-974-4800
Search Austin Municipal Cases →Justices of the Peace
Travis County has five Justice of the Peace precincts handling qualifying Class C criminal cases, traffic matters and other proceedings.
The county provides an official JP public access route for criminal case information and hearing dates. Precinct-specific portals handle online criminal case payments separately.
Check the ticket or notice to identify the correct JP precinct.
Open Travis County JP Records & Payments →Important Austin Municipal Court schedule change
Effective October 5, 2026, Austin Municipal Court states that all attorney appearance dockets and jury trials will be held on Tuesdays.
This does not mean every other municipal court service or appearance occurs only on Tuesday. Confirm your particular setting through the case portal or court office.
Official schedule and location information: City of Austin Municipal Court.
Travis County Jail Records and Inmate Search
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office provides a public inmate lookup for people currently held in Travis County custody.
This service helps with jail-related questions, but it does not provide a complete record of every prior Travis County arrest, criminal charge or conviction.
How to look up someone in Travis County custody
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Open the Sheriff’s Find an Inmate page.
Use the official tcsheriff.org website.
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Follow the inmate search.
Enter the required name information using the search fields available on the current interface.
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Review the result carefully.
Compare the public identifying details, where available, before assuming a custody entry belongs to a particular person.
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Check the reported custody status.
Remember that release, transfer or other changes may occur after information is published.
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Search the criminal court case separately.
To determine whether an arrest resulted in prosecution or conviction, use Odyssey and the court’s final disposition.
The District Clerk identifies 512-854-9889 as a jail contact for questions about whether someone is in custody.
How to obtain an arrest or incident report
Identify the agency that created the report. It may be the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department, University of Texas Police Department or another law-enforcement agency with jurisdiction.
A case being prosecuted in Travis County does not mean the Sheriff’s Office necessarily holds the original incident report.
Use the Travis County Sheriff’s Office website to locate its records request service, or contact the police department that handled the incident.
Police records may contain information withheld or redacted under applicable Texas law.
Texas DPS Criminal History vs. Travis County Court Records
The Travis County Odyssey Portal focuses on cases maintained by Travis County clerks. It is not a comprehensive search for all Texas arrests or prosecutions.
For public statewide criminal-history information, the Texas Department of Public Safety operates a separate Criminal History Name Search.
How DPS searches work
DPS requires a user account and purchased search credits. Its published base search cost is $1 per credit, with additional payment-processing charges for credit card purchases.
The public system performs name-based searches and can return possible matches using different combinations of a person’s name and additional supplied identifying information.
DPS specifically explains that fingerprint review is needed to resolve disputed name-based criminal-history matches accurately.
Comparison: Which search should you use?
| Purpose | Travis County Odyssey | Texas DPS |
|---|---|---|
| Find an Austin felony case | Appropriate starting point | Not a substitute for the original court docket |
| Review a county misdemeanor disposition | County Clerk case search | State repository may provide separately reportable history |
| Search reportable history across Texas | Limited to participating Travis County records | Statewide public-history search subject to DPS rules |
| Obtain a certified judgment | Use the proper court clerk | Does not replace court certification |
| Confirm a person’s identity through fingerprints | Name and court case information | Use the designated fingerprint-based review procedure |
How to Tell If a Travis County Criminal Case Ended in Conviction
Finding a criminal case does not establish guilt. The charges originally filed may be amended, dismissed, resolved through a plea or decided at trial.
When reviewing a case in Odyssey, look for the final disposition and check what happened to each individual count.
| Court record entry | What it generally means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint or indictment | A criminal charge has been formally alleged. | Later proceedings; an allegation is not conviction. |
| Arraignment | An initial criminal court proceeding concerning the charge and plea process. | Later docket entries and disposition. |
| Pending | The identified proceeding has not been fully resolved. | Current court setting and later actions. |
| Dismissed | The identified charge or case was dismissed. | Whether other charges remain. |
| Guilty plea | A plea was entered on an applicable charge. | Final judgment and sentence. |
| Convicted | A conviction was entered for the applicable offense. | Exact count, judgment, sentencing and subsequent court action. |
| Deferred adjudication | A specific Texas supervision and disposition procedure may apply. | Terms, completion and legal outcome. |
| Expunction or nondisclosure | A legal record-relief process may restrict disclosure or remove qualifying information. | Access only through lawful channels. |
Suppose a Travis County criminal case initially lists two charges. One charge is later dismissed, while the defendant enters a plea on the second charge and a judgment is entered.
A summary stating that the person was convicted on both original charges would be incorrect.
The final judgment and count-by-count disposition determine the outcome. A booking entry or initial charging document does not provide that complete picture.
Why a Travis County Criminal Records Search Returns No Results
An empty search result can reflect an incorrect court, unavailable historical data, mistaken spelling, a technical problem or a legally restricted record.
| Problem | Likely explanation | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor case not found by number | The County Clerk category may not be selected. | Open Smart Search advanced filters and check County Clerk. |
| Old felony case missing | The District Clerk’s public electronic criminal coverage is limited; older files may be archived. | Contact District Clerk Criminal Records at 512-854-9420, option 3. |
| Recent misdemeanor document missing | The County Clerk reports that electronic images can take about 72 hours to appear. | Recheck or request the document directly from the clerk. |
| Austin traffic citation not visible | It may belong to Austin Municipal Court or a Justice of the Peace. | Use the court named on the citation. |
| Court hearing date conflicts | Schedules may change after being published. | Check the official docket the day before court and follow court or attorney instructions. |
| Jail search returns nothing | The person may not be in current Travis County custody. | Check the court case separately or contact the Sheriff’s Office. |
| Odyssey will not load | JavaScript, cookies or browser compatibility problems. | Use an updated browser and enable required features. |
| Case is sealed or expunged | Applicable law may restrict public disclosure. | Respect the restriction and seek authorized court guidance. |
| Federal charge not found | Federal proceedings use a different court system. | Search PACER or the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. |
What if you need a certified record showing no felony history?
The District Clerk’s criminal-history service describes a certified negative or positive search letter. Contact its Criminal Division and ask what case-identification details are required.
The resulting letter concerns Travis County felony records—not every Texas misdemeanor, juvenile, federal or out-of-state matter.
What if a public court record contains an error?
Identify the incorrect case or docket entry and contact the court clerk that maintains it. If the problem appears in a DPS criminal-history report rather than in Odyssey, DPS has a separate fingerprint-based personal review and error-resolution process.
Travis County Expunctions, Federal Cases and Criminal Records Assistance
Expunctions and orders of nondisclosure
Texas law provides different forms of relief for qualifying criminal records. Expunction and nondisclosure are not identical.
The Travis County District Clerk’s Criminal Division handles expunction filings involving misdemeanor and felony matters, while eligibility and nondisclosure filing procedures depend on the applicable case and statute.
The District Clerk’s published 2026 schedule lists a base $350 expunction petition fee and $350 nondisclosure petition fee, with other fees potentially applying.
The county also operates an Expunction Expo program offering eligibility information and assistance for certain Travis County criminal cases.
Federal criminal cases in Austin
Federal criminal cases involving Travis County are handled separately through the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division.
To search publicly available federal criminal dockets, use PACER. Federal searches and document access may involve usage-based charges.
A federal criminal case generally will not appear simply because you search Travis County’s state Odyssey portal.
Victims and witnesses seeking case updates
For felony matters prosecuted by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, the agency offers Victim Services assistance.
Victim Services phone: 512-854-9449
The District Attorney also publishes an official criminal case information guide explaining felony cause numbers, court assignments and public lookup methods.
Can Travis County Criminal Records Be Used for Background Checks?
Travis County public court searches can help identify criminal proceedings, docket information and dispositions. But they are not necessarily complete, identity-verified criminal-history checks.
A person may have cases filed outside Travis County, and public court data may omit legally restricted records.
The County Clerk specifically warns that its misdemeanor data depends on information entered into the county’s centralized system and can contain errors if information was incorrectly supplied or entered.
For employment, housing or other regulated decisions, applicable federal and state laws may impose separate requirements. The Fair Credit Reporting Act governs covered consumer-reporting agency background checks, while other screening restrictions may also apply.
For employment background-check obligations, consult the Federal Trade Commission’s official guidance.
Travis County Texas Criminal Records FAQs
1. How do I search Travis County Texas criminal records online?
Open the official Travis County Odyssey Portal, select Smart Search and enter a name or criminal cause number. Use advanced filters to choose the correct court category. The general public can search without registration.
2. Are Travis County criminal case records free?
The Odyssey public case-information search is available without a registration fee. Some eligible County Clerk misdemeanor documents can be printed online at no charge. Clerk-performed record searches, certified copies and other services may involve fees.
3. Which office handles Travis County felony criminal records?
The Travis County District Clerk Criminal Division handles adult felony criminal records. It is located at 501 W. 11th Street, Room 2.300, Austin, TX 78701. Criminal records assistance is available at 512-854-9420, option 3.
4. Which office handles Travis County misdemeanor criminal records?
The Travis County Clerk handles Class A and Class B misdemeanor records from the County Courts at Law. Its Misdemeanor Records Division can be contacted at 512-854-9188. Class C cases are generally maintained by municipal or Justice of the Peace courts, except for applicable appealed cases.
5. What does D-1-DC mean in a Travis County case number?
A cause number beginning D-1-DC generally identifies a Travis County felony criminal case. The filing year appears in the number. County misdemeanor numbers generally begin with C.
6. How do I find my Travis County criminal court date?
Use the county’s Criminal Docket Search at publiccourts.traviscountytx.gov/dsa. Search by cause number, defendant name, attorney or court. Check the docket the day before a required appearance, and follow any instructions from the court or your attorney.
7. How far back do Travis County online criminal records go?
The District Clerk’s general digital records guidance identifies criminal coverage beginning in 2008, and its criminal-history guidance warns that pre-2004 felony cases may be archived. The County Clerk identifies misdemeanor records beginning in 1981 in its records table, with online case-data and document coverage varying by date.
8. How do I get a certified Travis County criminal record?
For a felony judgment or disposition, use the District Clerk’s records-request process. For a Class A or B misdemeanor, contact the County Clerk. Both offices publish copy and certification fees, and the correct clerk depends on the case.
9. Where can I search Travis County jail or arrest records?
Use the Travis County Sheriff’s Office Find an Inmate page for current custody information. For arrest or police incident reports, contact the law-enforcement agency that created the records. Jail booking information does not establish a conviction.
10. Why can’t I find an Austin criminal case in Odyssey?
The case may belong to Austin Municipal Court, a Justice of the Peace, another county or a federal court. Older cases may be archived, some recent filings may not yet be indexed, and confidential or expunged records may not be publicly available.
Travis County Texas Criminal Records: Official Search Links
These government and court resources provide the primary search methods, court records procedures, office contacts and fees described in this guide.
- Travis County Odyssey Portal – Public Smart Search
- Travis County District Clerk – Criminal Division
- District Clerk – Online Case Search and Records Requests
- District Clerk – Felony Criminal History and Certified Search Letters
- District Clerk – 2026 Fees and Copy Charges
- Travis County Clerk – Misdemeanor Division
- County Clerk – Misdemeanor Search, Coverage and Copies
- County Clerk – Odyssey Search Guide
- County Clerk – Misdemeanor Fees
- Travis County Clerk – Office Locations and Contacts
- Travis County Criminal Docket Search
- Travis County Criminal Courts and Dockets
- Travis County District Attorney – Criminal Case Lookup
- Travis County Tax Office – Court Case Number Prefixes
- Travis County Justice of the Peace – Case Information
- City of Austin Municipal Court – Search My Case
- Austin Municipal Court – Locations and 2026 Docket Information
- Travis County Sheriff’s Office – Inmate Search
- Texas DPS – Criminal History Name Search
- Texas DPS – Criminal History Search Instructions and Fees
- Travis County – Expunction Expo
- Travis County Law Library – Court Records Guide
- Federal PACER – Criminal Court Records