Houston Criminal Court Records
Houston criminal court records are maintained by Harris County and the City of Houston depending on the type of case. Felony cases go through the Harris County District Clerk. Misdemeanor cases are handled by the Harris County Clerk. Class C misdemeanors are processed by the Houston Municipal Courts.
Houston Overview
Harris County District Clerk - Felony Records
Felony criminal cases in Houston are filed with the Harris County District Clerk. Harris County has more than two dozen criminal district courts, making it one of the busiest felony court systems in the country. When someone is indicted on a felony charge in Houston, the case is filed at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center at 1201 Franklin Street in downtown Houston.
The Harris County District Clerk provides an online case search at harriscountytx.gov. You can search felony and civil cases by name or cause number. The free re:SearchTX portal also covers Harris County felony cases and is updated regularly. Both systems provide case status, charges, hearing dates, and filed documents.
For in-person requests, go to the Harris County District Clerk's Criminal Division at 1201 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77002. The office handles copy requests, case lookups, and post-conviction filings including expunctions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55.
The re:SearchTX portal covers all Houston felony cases in Harris County and is available at no charge with no account required.
| Office | Harris County District Clerk - Criminal Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 1201 Franklin Street Houston, TX 77002 |
| Phone | (713) 274-4600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | harriscountytx.gov/courts/district-clerk |
Houston Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Houston are handled by the Harris County Courts at Law and maintained by the Harris County Clerk. These cases cover charges such as DWI, assault, and theft below the felony threshold. The Harris County Clerk handles record requests for misdemeanor cases. You can also search misdemeanor cases through the re:SearchTX portal using the same name or cause number search.
The Harris County Clerk's office processes copy requests for misdemeanor case files. For Class C misdemeanor cases handled by the Houston Municipal Courts, those records are separate and stay with the city court system.
Houston Municipal Courts
The Houston Municipal Courts handle Class C misdemeanor offenses within Houston city limits. This category includes traffic citations, minor theft, city ordinance violations, and similar offenses. Houston has multiple municipal court locations throughout the city to serve residents across the metro area.
You can search and pay municipal court citations online through the Houston Municipal Courts website at houstontx.gov/courts. The court also offers deferred disposition for first-time offenders in some cases. Municipal court records are separate from the county district and county clerk systems and are not available through re:SearchTX.
Houston Police Department Records
Arrest records and police incident reports for Houston are maintained by the Houston Police Department Records Division. The HPD Records Division is located at 1200 Travis Street in downtown Houston. You can request incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records in person, by mail, or online through the HPD website.
Arrest records show what someone was taken into custody for and the charges at booking. They are separate from the court case files held by the District Clerk. For a broader 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 tied to a specific individual. The Texas sex offender registry lists registered offenders in the Houston area by zip code.
What Houston Criminal Records Contain
A felony criminal case file in Houston includes documents from every stage of the case. Most records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Harris County felony files typically include the indictment, arrest warrant, bond documents, pre-trial motions, plea agreement or jury trial record, final judgment, and sentence. The Harris County District Clerk holds all of these documents for Houston felony cases.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search shows current state prison inmates and recently released offenders from across Texas. For legal help in Houston, 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 available at TexasLawHelp.org.
Harris County Criminal Court Records
Houston is the county seat of Harris County. All felony and misdemeanor criminal cases filed in Houston go through the Harris County courts. For full courthouse information, district clerk contact details, and more on the Harris County court system, see the Harris County criminal court records page.