How to Check Someone's Criminal Record in Texas

Texas is one of the more transparent states when it comes to public records. With 254 counties and a centralized state database, there are several ways to check someone's criminal history — but each method has its trade-offs in cost, speed, and completeness.

The Texas DPS Criminal History Search

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) operates a public criminal history search called the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. Anyone can request a name-based search for a small fee, typically around $3 per query.

This is one of the better state-level databases in the country. It includes arrests and convictions reported by Texas law enforcement agencies. However, it only covers Texas state records — it will not show crimes committed in other states or at the federal level.

County-Level Court Searches

For the most detailed case information — including court documents, charges, plea bargains, and sentencing details — you will want to search individual county courts. Texas has both District Courts (which handle felonies) and County Courts (which handle misdemeanors).

Many Texas counties offer free online case searches. Harris County (Houston), Dallas County, Bexar County (San Antonio), and Travis County (Austin) all have searchable portals. Smaller rural counties may require in-person visits or written requests.

Texas Sex Offender Registry

The Texas DPS also maintains the state's sex offender registry, which is freely searchable by name, city, or zip code. This is a critical check if you are vetting someone who will have contact with children or vulnerable adults.

Federal Court Records in Texas

Texas has four federal judicial districts: Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western. Federal crimes — including drug trafficking, fraud, immigration offenses, and white-collar crime — are prosecuted in these courts. You can search federal records through the PACER system, though it charges per-page fees.

Why a Single-Source Search Falls Short

The problem with any single approach is coverage gaps. The DPS database may miss recent arrests that have not been reported yet. County searches require you to guess which county to check. PACER only covers federal cases. A person with a clean Texas state record could still have convictions in Oklahoma, Louisiana, or at the federal level.

The CROW Approach

CROW solves this by running a multi-jurisdictional search in seconds. A single report checks Texas state records, county court systems, federal databases, sex offender registries, and records from other states where the person may have lived. No subscription required — just a one-time report when you need it.

Skip the courthouse visits. A CROW report searches court records across multiple jurisdictions in one search.

Texas-Specific Considerations

• Expunction and nondisclosure — Texas allows certain records to be expunged or sealed through Orders of Nondisclosure. These records will not appear in public searches.
• Deferred adjudication — Common in Texas, where a defendant completes probation and the case is dismissed. These may or may not appear depending on the database.
• No statewide Ban the Box — Texas does not have a state-level fair-chance hiring law, though some cities like Austin have local ordinances.