Find Criminal Court Records in Bastrop County

Bastrop County criminal court records are held at the courthouse in Bastrop, Texas. The District Clerk is responsible for felony case files, while the County Clerk maintains records for Class A and B misdemeanor cases. You can search Bastrop County criminal records online through the free re:SearchTX system, in person at the courthouse, or by mailing a written request to the clerk's office. This guide walks through the main options and tells you what to expect from each.

Bastrop County District Clerk

The Bastrop County District Clerk's office files and stores all felony criminal court records for the county. When a grand jury issues an indictment in Bastrop County, the case is assigned a cause number and assigned to a district court. From that point, every motion, order, hearing, and final judgment in the case becomes part of the District Clerk's records. These are public records under Texas law, meaning anyone can request access.

Bastrop County is served by the 21st Judicial District Court. The District Clerk's office is located on Pecan Street in the city of Bastrop. Staff can look up cases by defendant name or cause number. If you know the year the case was filed, that helps narrow things down quickly. For large or older files, the clerk may need a little extra time to retrieve the documents.

Expunction petitions for Bastrop County cases are also filed through the District Clerk. If you have a case that was dismissed or resulted in an acquittal and you want it removed from your record, that process starts here. The Texas expunction statute sets out who qualifies and what steps are required.

How to Look Up Bastrop County Criminal Cases

The re:SearchTX portal is a free online tool that gives public access to Texas court records including Bastrop County criminal cases. The portal covers both district and county court cases. You can search by the defendant's name, cause number, or the name of the attorney involved. Results show charge information, case events, and the current status of the case.

The re:SearchTX portal, managed by the Texas Office of Court Administration, makes Bastrop County criminal case records available online at no charge.

The state-level portal is a good starting point. From there, if you need actual documents or certified copies, you contact the District Clerk directly. For a full criminal history that spans multiple counties or includes arrest records, the Texas DPS Criminal History database is more comprehensive. That database is name-based for public users, or fingerprint-based for certified results.

Bastrop County Misdemeanor Court Records

Class A and B misdemeanor cases in Bastrop County are filed in the County Court at Law and maintained by the Bastrop County Clerk. If someone was charged with a misdemeanor DWI, assault, or similar offense in Bastrop County, the County Clerk holds that record. The County Clerk's office is also at the courthouse in Bastrop and is open to the public during business hours.

Misdemeanor records follow the same public access rules as felony records. You can search them on the re:SearchTX portal or request copies in person. The County Clerk's staff can look up cases by name or cause number just like the District Clerk's office. If you are not sure whether a charge was a felony or misdemeanor, start your search on re:SearchTX and check both court types.

Class C misdemeanors, the lowest offense level in Texas, are handled by Justice of the Peace courts and municipal courts. Those records are held by the JP court or city court involved, not by the County Clerk. If you need a Class C record, contact the specific court that handled the case.

Arrest Records and Criminal History in Bastrop County

Arrest records in Bastrop County come from two main sources: the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office and the Bastrop Police Department (for arrests within city limits). These records show when someone was taken into custody, the charge at the time of arrest, and the booking information. An arrest record is different from a court record. Not all arrests result in charges, and not all charges result in convictions.

For a complete criminal history that includes convictions, the Texas DPS Criminal History portal is the best source. Subjects of a record can search their own history for free. Others must pay and search by name. Certified results for employment or licensing use the FAST fingerprint program.

The Texas Sex Offender Registry lists registered sex offenders in Bastrop County and across the state. Anyone can search by name, county, or ZIP code. The registry is updated when offenders move or register new addresses.

If a Bastrop County conviction led to a prison sentence, the TDCJ offender search shows current incarceration status, the offense, and projected release dates for those in the state prison system.

Documents Inside a Criminal Case File

A criminal case file in Bastrop County can be thin or thick depending on the charge and how it resolved. A case that ended in a quick guilty plea might have a charging document, a plea agreement, and a judgment. A case that went all the way to a jury trial could include hundreds of pages. Here is what you typically find:

• Indictment or information (the formal charge)
• Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
• Bond documents and bail conditions
• Motions, responses, and court orders
• Plea agreements and judicial acceptance
• Sentencing documents and probation terms
• Final judgment and sentence
• Appellate records if the case was appealed

Sealed records, expunged files, and juvenile cases are not available through public channels. If you believe a record exists but cannot find it, ask the clerk whether it may be under a different name, a sealed docket, or a different cause number.

Fees for Copies and Certified Records

Standard copies from the Bastrop County District Clerk cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost more due to the certification stamp and clerk's signature. You can get plain copies for research purposes and request certified versions when they are legally required, such as for court filings or immigration documents.

Mail requests should include the full name, cause number or approximate date range, and a check for the estimated copy cost. If the fee you sent does not cover the full amount, the office will contact you. Allow several business days for mail requests to process. Urgent requests are better handled in person at the counter.

For legal help with your own criminal record in Bastrop County, TexasLawHelp.org and Lone Star Legal Aid offer free resources. The Texas Bar referral service can connect you with a licensed attorney if you need representation.

Cities in Bastrop County

Bastrop County is located east of Austin and includes the city of Bastrop as its county seat, along with communities like Smithville, Elgin, and Cedar Creek. The city of Bastrop has a population of around 10,000, which does not meet the threshold for a dedicated city records page. All criminal court filings for addresses in Bastrop County are handled by the courthouse in the city of Bastrop.

Nearby Counties

Bastrop County borders several other Central Texas counties. Criminal court records for neighboring areas can be found at: Travis County, Lee County, Fayette County, Gonzales County, and Caldwell County.