Texas Criminal Records

Criminal records in Texas are legal records that show what crimes people in the state have committed. Most of the information in Texas Criminal Records comes from more than one place. It includes information about the arrests, judgments, and time spent in one of the state's nine prisons.

The Texas Department of Public Safety(TDPS) keeps track of criminal records in this state. Under the Texas Freedom of Information Act, anyone can look at these records without formal permission.

For those who successfully obtain a Texas Criminal Record, you will see the following information:

• Subject's personal information (name, date of birth, nationality, and gender)
• Any aliases
• Mugshot
• Fingerprints
• Driver license number
• Current and old addresses
• History of arrests
• Current and past warrants
• Sex offender status

In every state, criminal records have different kinds of information. If you break the law in Texas, the following offenses may show up on your criminal history:

Felonies

Texas categorizes felony records into five types, and these are:

Capital Felonies

This type of felony includes crimes such as murder. Capital felonies carry the punishment of the death penalty. If the prosecutor decides not to pursue the death sentence, this type of felony will result in life imprisonment.

First-degree Felonies

Those who commit this felony incur a $10,000 fine and a sentence of 5 to 99 years in jail or life imprisonment. This degree of felonies includes crimes such as breaking into a home, selling children, and stealing a lot of money.

Second-degree Felonies

In Texas, this type of felony carries a jail sentence of 2 to 20 years and a $10,000 fine. It includes selling marijuana, setting fire to property, and assaulting a police officer.

Third-degree Felonies

If you commit this kind of felony, you could get a $10,000 fine and 2 to 10 years in prison. Among the crimes that fall into this category are:

• Supporting prostitution
• Domestic violence
• Stalking
• Avoiding arrest in a car

State Jail felonies

Those who commit this offense will have to pay $10,000 and go to jail for 180 days to 2 years. State jail felonies include the following crimes:

• Property theft worth at least $2,500 but not more than $30,000
• Stealing guns
• Dogfighting
• Child pornography

How long does a felony remain on your record? In Texas, a felony record will stay on your record for the rest of your life unless removed. If you have a felony record in Texas, you usually have to wait three years before you can file for an expunction.

Misdemeanor

Like all other states, Texas separates misdemeanor records into three categories: Class A, B, and C. Here are the potential punishment and example offenses for each class under this type of state criminal record:

Class A Misdemeanors

Those who commit this misdemeanor face a $4,000 fine and a year in jail. Some examples of offenses that fall into this class are:

• Unlawful possession of a firearm
• Infringing on a protective order
• Theft of a car
• Housebreaking
• Perjury
• Online impersonation

Class B Misdemeanors

You could get a $2,000 fine and 180 days in jail for this misdemeanor. Misdemeanors in Class B involve the following offenses:

• Possession of two ounces of marijuana
• Indecent exposure
• Impeding traffic
• Criminal mischief

Class C Misdemeanors

Those who commit this crime will only have to pay $500 fines. It includes offenses like unruly behavior, drinking in public, and theft of less than $100.

Misdemeanors will always be on your criminal record unless the state removes them. In Texas, Class A and Class B misdemeanors are eligible for expunction one year after your arrest. Conversely, a Class C misdemeanor is eligible for expunction 180 days after the date of your arrest.

Criminal Driving Violations

Like all other states, Texas divides criminal driving violation records into felony traffic violations and traffic misdemeanors. In Texas, offenders with criminal driving records may face jail or prison. Also, these offenses may appear on the offender's Texas Criminal Records.

Here are the two types of criminal driving violation records in Texas:

Felony Traffic Violations

A traffic offense in Texas becomes a felony if it results in death, major bodily injury, or significant property damage. In Texas, some examples of felony traffic offenses are:

• Aggravated assault with a vehicle
• DUI
• Negligent criminal homicide
• Assault due to intoxication
• Manslaughter due to intoxication
• Vehicular manslaughter
• Avoiding arrest or detention with a car

Texas Traffic Misdemeanors

Texas has two types of traffic misdemeanors: Class A misdemeanors and Class B misdemeanors. A Class A misdemeanor carries a one-year prison sentence. In comparison, a Class B misdemeanor carries a punishment of up to 6 months in prison.

In Texas, some examples of traffic misdemeanors are:

• Fleeing or attempting to evade an officer
• Leaving a car accident scene
• Reckless driving
• Possession of an alcoholic beverage while driving
• Speeding
• Driving without a license

A criminal driving violation record in Texas will remain on your record forever unless you receive a court order of expunction or non-disclosure.

Sexual Offenses

There are many kinds of sexual offense records in Texas, and each has its significance. In Texas, some of the most common types of sexual offense records are:

Indecent Exposure

This sexual offense is a Class B misdemeanor that involves a $2,000 fine and 180 days in prison. It occurs when a person exposes his anus or genitals intending to stimulate or gratify sexual desire and is unconcerned about offending or alarming other people. 

Public Lewdness

This kind of sexual crime is a class A misdemeanor, which entails a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Individuals intend public lewdness once they have sexual intercourse in a public place, like a car in a parking lot or a street behind a facility.

Adult Sexual Assault

Sexually assaulting an adult is a second-degree felony with a fine of $10,000 and 2 to 20 years imprisonment.

This kind of sexual offense happens when a person knowingly or intentionally causes the offender's mouth or sexual organ to contact or penetrate the victim without consent.

Aggravated Adult Sexual Assault

This kind of sexual crime is a first-degree felony with five years to life imprisonment and $10,000 fines. It occurs when a person sexually abuses an adult and:

• Causes grievous bodily injury or tries to kill the victim or another person
• Puts the victim in dread of human trafficking, death, significant damage, or kidnapping
• Uses a deadly weapon in the attack
• Commits sexual assault on an elderly or disabled person
• Drugged the victim, making it harder to notice or resist the sexual attack

In Texas, people convicted of sexual crimes must register as sex offenders. Depending on the type of sex crime, a person must have a sex offender status for ten years or life. However, you must register for life if you are guilty of a violent sex offense.

Concerned individuals who want to discover more about a registered sex offender in Texas may visit the Texas Sex Offender Registry. Various jurisdictions and law enforcement agencies maintain this registry, comprising offenders' personal information and other significant data.

In Texas, there are two ways to remove your criminal record: expunction and non-disclosure. Expunction in this state means that your criminal history expunges entirely from public documents, including those of the police and prosecution.

Non-disclosure, on the other hand, removes all information about your offenses from the public record, making it inaccessible to any people.

Expunction and Non-disclosure Process in Texas

In Texas, the procedures to get an Order for Expunction and an Order of Non-disclosure are pretty much the same. The following steps are the things you must do to file for an expunction or non-disclosure order.

• Submit a Petition for Expunction with the district court demanding an order.
• Prepare and submit the petition.
• After finishing the petition, file it in court.
• Once receiving the petition, the court will schedule a hearing and notify the Respondents.
• With sufficient notice, the court will hold a hearing to allow Respondents to dispute the expunction. However, if the petitioner meets all standards, the court will expunge.
• After the court grants an expunction, the petitioner must provide a signed Order for Expunction.

Who Is Eligible for Expunction or Non-disclosure in Texas?

In Texas, state law sets expunction and non-disclosure eligibility standards. In this state, a petitioner is eligible for expunction or non-disclosure if the petitioner:

• Has no criminal charges or was never convicted
• Is guilty but acquitted on appeal
• Found innocent after conviction
• Obtained a plea deal
• Is a juvenile misdemeanor offender

You can read the Overview of Orders of Nondisclosure and Expunctions guide in Texas for more specific information.

Inmate records in Texas include information on those incarcerated in the state's correctional facilities.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) keeps track of information from different housing units. Interested individuals may request TDCJ or use the online inmate database to access these records.

For an online request, visit the TDCJ Inmate Information Search to find an inmate's record and request it. Enter the inmate's full name, the state identification number, or the TDCJ number to search for them. You can also input the inmate's race and gender.

The information provided on an inmate's record differs by state. A Texas Inmate Record has the following information:

• Inmate's personal information (name, date of birth, and gender)
• Any aliases
• Booking photo
• DOC ID
• Weight and height
• Offense details
• Date of arrest and possible date of release
• Past convictions and punishments
• Placed in charge
• Sentence summary
• Bail conditions

Texas Arrest Records are public documents that provide information on the apprehended person following their suspected participation in criminal activity. These records contain information about the alleged offense as well as information about the arrest.

In Texas, an arrest warrant is a court order directed to peace officers or another legally identified person, instructing them to arrest the individual accused of a crime.

Depending on the size of the jail and how busy it is at the time, the booking process in this state can be lengthy.

After being arrested, the arresting officer will quickly search the person for weapons, drugs, and other illegal items. The officer will then record information, fingerprints, and other identifications. Defendants must also give up their personal belongings on a full body search.

According to Texas state law, any interested party may look up arrest records. Arrestees request their arrest records in this state. However, individuals who want to seek the arrest records of others in Texas can do so by approaching TDPS or the courts.

People who want arrest records from the courts can ask the court clerk who issued the warrant or if the arrest leads to charges or convictions.

In Texas, arrest records include the following information:

• Arrestee's personal information (full name, birth date, gender, and nationality)
• Information about the crime
• The arrest location and date
• The arresting officer's name
• The warrant's issuer
• The holding facility's address

There are many reasons to look up a person's criminal record. In Texas, employers and landlords use these records to find out more about people who want to work for or rent from them.

Law enforcement agencies in different parts of Texas create and share criminal records, as long as they are not private.

TDPS administers a Crime Record Search Service in this state, which acts as the state's central repository for statewide criminal information. Interested parties can use this online database for public criminal record checks.

People who want to look at criminal records on this website must set up an account, give their name, address, email address, and phone number, and pay $3 for search credits. It's important to know that requesters won't get a refund if there are no records.