Arlington Criminal Court Records
Arlington criminal court records are maintained by Tarrant County and the City of Arlington depending on the type of case. Felony cases go through the Tarrant County District Clerk in Fort Worth. Misdemeanor cases are maintained by the Tarrant County Clerk. Class C misdemeanors are handled by the Arlington Municipal Court. This page explains each court and where to find records for Arlington cases.
Arlington Overview
Tarrant County District Clerk - Felony Records
Felony criminal cases in Arlington are filed with the Tarrant County District Clerk. Although Arlington is the largest city in the United States without its own public transit system, felony cases from Arlington go through the Tarrant County court system in Fort Worth. The Tarrant County District Clerk maintains all felony files at 100 N. Calhoun Street in Fort Worth. There is also a Tarrant County Southeast Subcourthouse at 700 E. Abram Street in Arlington for certain county services.
The Tarrant County District Clerk provides online case access at tarrantcountytx.gov. You can search by name, cause number, or date. The free re:SearchTX portal also covers all Tarrant County felony cases including those filed for offenses committed in Arlington.
For in-person record requests, go to 100 N. Calhoun Street in Fort Worth or visit the Southeast Subcourthouse at 700 E. Abram Street in Arlington for limited services. The District Clerk handles copy requests and expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55.
The re:SearchTX portal covers all Tarrant County felony cases including Arlington and is free to use with no account needed.
| Office | Tarrant County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
| Subcourthouse | 700 E. Abram Street Arlington, TX 76010 |
| Phone | (817) 884-1574 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | tarrantcountytx.gov/en/district-clerk |
Arlington Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases arising in Arlington are handled by Tarrant County Courts at Law and maintained by the Tarrant County Clerk. These include charges like DWI, assault, and theft below the felony level. You can search misdemeanor cases through the re:SearchTX portal or contact the Tarrant County Clerk for copies of case files.
Class C misdemeanor cases processed by the Arlington Municipal Court are separate from county records. Those are city-level records and are not part of the re:SearchTX system.
Arlington Municipal Court
The Arlington Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanor offenses within Arlington city limits. This includes traffic citations, city code violations, minor theft, and similar offenses. The Arlington Municipal Court is located at 101 W. Abram Street in Arlington. The court processes a high volume of cases given Arlington's population.
You can search and pay citations online through the Arlington city court website. The court offers deferred disposition for eligible cases and driving safety course options. Municipal court records are city records and are separate from the Tarrant County court system.
Arlington Police Department Records
Arrest records and incident reports in Arlington are maintained by the Arlington Police Department Records Unit. APD handles requests for incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records. You can request records online through the APD website or in person at Arlington police headquarters.
Arrest records document what someone was charged with at booking and are separate from the court case files held by the District Clerk. For a statewide criminal history, the Texas Department of Public Safety offers a name-based search for $3. The FAST fingerprint program provides a more precise result. The Texas sex offender registry lists registered offenders in Arlington by zip code.
What Arlington Criminal Records Contain
A felony criminal case file for Arlington offenses includes documents from every stage of the case. Most records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Tarrant County felony files typically include the indictment, arrest warrant, bond documents, pre-trial motions, plea agreement or trial record, final judgment, and sentence. All of these are held by the Tarrant County District Clerk.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search shows current state prison inmates statewide. For legal help in Arlington, Lone Star Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income residents. The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool helps locate attorneys. Self-help guides are at TexasLawHelp.org.
Tarrant County Criminal Court Records
Arlington is in Tarrant County. All felony and misdemeanor criminal cases filed in Arlington go through the Tarrant County courts. For full courthouse information, district clerk contact details, and more on the Tarrant County court system, see the Tarrant County criminal court records page.