Atascosa County Criminal Court Records
Atascosa County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the courthouse in Jourdanton, Texas. The District Clerk's office handles felony case files while the County Clerk maintains misdemeanor records. You can search Atascosa County criminal records online through the re:SearchTX portal, visit the courthouse at 1 Courthouse Circle in person, or request records by mail. This page explains which office to contact for different types of criminal records in Atascosa County.
Atascosa County Overview
Atascosa County District Clerk
The Atascosa County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal court records for the county. The 218th Judicial District Court handles felony cases for Atascosa County, and all related documents are filed and stored with the District Clerk at 1 Courthouse Circle in Jourdanton. This includes indictments, plea records, trial documents, and judgments.
Staff at the clerk's office can search records by defendant name or cause number. Requests can be made in person or by mail. The office also handles expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 for cases filed in Atascosa County. Call (830) 769-3011 before visiting to confirm hours and what you need to bring.
| Office | Atascosa County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Courthouse Circle Jourdanton, TX 78026 |
| Phone | (830) 769-3011 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Atascosa County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal provides free public access to Atascosa County criminal case records from the Texas court system. The portal shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and documents filed in district court. It is the fastest way to check if a case exists without visiting the courthouse.
Re:SearchTX covers courts across Texas and is updated regularly. You can search by last name or cause number. Results include the court, charges, filing date, and current status. For a statewide background check, the DPS Criminal History name-based search costs $3. You can also check the Texas DPS Crime Records Service for information on what statewide criminal history data is available.
In-person searches can be done at the Atascosa County courthouse in Jourdanton. Bring valid ID and the name of the person you are searching. Mail requests should include the full name, approximate case year, and payment for copies. Contact the clerk at (830) 769-3011 for instructions on submitting a mail request.
Atascosa County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and B misdemeanor cases in Atascosa County are handled by the county court at law and stored by the County Clerk. These include offenses like first-offense DWI, misdemeanor theft, and assault causing bodily injury without serious harm. The County Clerk's office is at the same courthouse location in Jourdanton.
To request misdemeanor records in Atascosa County, contact the County Clerk. They can search by name or cause number and let you know what documents are on file. Class C misdemeanor cases are handled by justice of the peace courts and are not stored with the County Clerk. Those records stay with the individual JP court that handled them.
Note: Contact the Atascosa County courthouse at (830) 769-3011 to be directed to the correct clerk's office based on the type of record you need.
Atascosa County Arrest Records
Arrest records in Atascosa County are maintained by the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office. Booking records are created when someone is taken into custody and include the name, charges, date of arrest, and bond information. Arrest records are public but separate from court case files. An arrest is not a conviction and the court record shows what happened after the arrest.
The TDCJ offender search is a free online tool for finding people currently incarcerated in Texas state prisons. The Texas sex offender registry shows registered offenders by name and location across the state including Atascosa County. Both are available through the state's DPS website at no charge.
What Atascosa County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal case files in Atascosa County contain documents from every step of the case. The District Clerk holds felony records and the County Clerk holds misdemeanor records. Each file starts with the charging document and may grow considerably if the case goes to trial.
Typical documents in an Atascosa County criminal file include:
- Grand jury indictment or criminal information
- Arrest warrant and affidavit
- Bond documents and release conditions
- Pretrial motions and court orders
- Plea agreement or jury trial records
- Judgment and sentence
- Probation or supervision conditions if applicable
Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, criminal court records are generally public. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed files, and expunged cases. When a record is expunged under Chapter 55 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, it is removed from public access and must be destroyed by all agencies involved.
Fees and Record Access in Atascosa County
Plain copies of criminal records in Atascosa County cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee. Requests can be made in person or by mail with payment enclosed. Online access through re:SearchTX is free and requires no registration.
The DPS name-based criminal history search costs $3 per search. Standard court forms including expunction petitions are available free at txcourts.gov. Call the District Clerk at (830) 769-3011 to confirm fees and payment methods before submitting a mail request.
Legal Resources in Atascosa County
Lone Star Legal Aid serves South Texas counties including Atascosa. They provide free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents and can help with expunction petitions and other record-related issues. Visit their website for eligibility information and current service areas.
The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool helps you locate licensed attorneys near Jourdanton and Atascosa County. Free guides on criminal records and expunctions are available at TexasLawHelp.org. The Texas Public Information Act gives you the right to request records from the sheriff and other government offices in Atascosa County.
Cities in Atascosa County
Jourdanton is the county seat of Atascosa County and the location of all criminal court proceedings for the county. Cases from anywhere in the county are handled through the Jourdanton courthouse.
Other communities in Atascosa County include Pleasanton, Poteet, Charlotte, Lytle, and Christine. All criminal cases from these areas go through the Atascosa County courts in Jourdanton.
Nearby Counties
Atascosa County is located south of San Antonio. Neighboring counties with their own court systems include Bexar County, Wilson County, McMullen County, La Salle County, and Medina County.