Temple Criminal Court Records
Temple criminal court records are maintained by Bell County, though the Bell County courthouse is in Belton, the county seat, not Temple. Felony cases from Temple go to the Bell County District Clerk in Belton. Misdemeanor cases are handled by the Bell County Clerk. Class C misdemeanors are processed by the Temple Municipal Court.
Temple Overview
Bell County District Clerk - Felony Records
Felony criminal cases from Temple are filed with the Bell County District Clerk in Belton. Bell County's courthouse is in Belton, the county seat, which is located about 10 miles south of Temple. The Bell County District Clerk's office is at 1201 Huey Drive in Belton. When someone is indicted on a felony charge in Temple, the case is filed in Belton and tracked through sentencing and post-conviction proceedings.
The Bell County District Clerk provides online case access through the county's website. You can search by name or cause number. The free re:SearchTX portal also covers Bell County felony cases and shows charges, hearing dates, and case status at no cost. No account is needed to search.
For in-person requests, go to the Bell County District Clerk at 1201 Huey Drive, Belton, TX 76513. Staff handle copy requests, certified documents, and expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55. Temple and Killeen cases both go through this same Bell County office.
The re:SearchTX portal covers all Bell County felony cases including those from Temple and is free to search with no registration required.
| Office | Bell County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1201 Huey Drive Belton, TX 76513 |
| Phone | (254) 933-5197 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Temple Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases from Temple are handled by Bell County Courts at Law and maintained by the Bell County Clerk in Belton. These cases include DWI, assault, and theft below felony thresholds. You can search through the re:SearchTX portal or contact the Bell County Clerk for copies.
Class C misdemeanor cases handled by the Temple Municipal Court are city records and are not part of the Bell County court system. Traffic tickets and city code violations go through the Temple Municipal Court, which operates independently from the county system.
Bell County has several courts at law that handle misdemeanor cases from Temple, Killeen, Harker Heights, and other cities in the county. If you need a specific case and aren't sure which court handled it, the re:SearchTX portal is a good first step.
Temple Municipal Court
The Temple Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanor offenses within Temple city limits. Traffic citations, city ordinance violations, and similar low-level matters are processed here. The Temple Municipal Court is at 2 N. Main Street in Temple.
You can pay fines and look up citations through the Temple Municipal Court's online system. The court offers deferred disposition for eligible first-time offenders. Municipal court records are city records and are separate from Bell County court records in Belton.
Temple Police Department Records
Arrest records and incident reports in Temple are maintained by the Temple Police Department. TPD handles requests for incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records through its Records Division. You can request records online through the TPD website or in person at 3 N. Main Street.
Arrest records show what charges were made at booking and are separate from court case files. Both may appear on background checks. 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 thorough result. The Texas sex offender registry lists registered offenders in Temple by zip code.
What Temple Criminal Records Contain
A felony criminal case file from Temple includes documents from every stage of the case. Most records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Bell County felony files typically include the indictment, arrest warrant, bond documents, pre-trial motions, plea agreement or trial record, final judgment, and sentence. The Bell County District Clerk in Belton holds all of these.
Some records may be sealed or restricted. Juvenile records are confidential. Cases subject to expunction orders or nondisclosure orders are not accessible through public searches. Victims' personal information in case files may be redacted before records are released to the public.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search shows current state prison inmates statewide. For legal help in Temple, 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.
Bell County Criminal Court Records
Temple is in Bell County. All felony and misdemeanor criminal cases filed in Temple go through the Bell County courts in Belton. For full courthouse information, district clerk contact details, and more on the Bell County court system, see the Bell County criminal court records page.