Find Childress County Criminal Court Records

Childress County criminal court records are filed and kept at the courthouse in the city of Childress, Texas. The District Clerk handles all felony criminal case files, while the County Clerk stores Class A and B misdemeanor records. The free re:SearchTX portal is a good starting point for online searches of district court cases. You can also contact the clerk's office directly at (940) 937-3338 or visit in person. This page covers how to find records, what they contain, and how to get copies from the right office.

Childress County District Clerk

The Childress County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal court records for the county. When the grand jury returns an indictment, the District Clerk opens a case file. That file holds every document filed during the case, from the initial charging instrument through the final judgment. If someone was convicted and sentenced in Childress County, the judgment and sentence are on file here.

The clerk's office is in the Childress County Courthouse and serves the 100th Judicial District Court. The 100th District covers several Panhandle counties on a rotating schedule, so the district judge may not be in Childress at all times. Despite this, all filings for Childress County criminal cases go through the District Clerk in the city of Childress. Expunction petitions and non-disclosure orders for Childress County cases are also filed here. Staff can search records by name or cause number and assist with copy requests in person or by mail.

How to Search Childress County Criminal Records

The re:SearchTX portal is free and covers Childress County district court criminal records. You can search by name or cause number without registering. Results show case status, the charges filed, court event dates, and many documents from the case file.

Search results show party names, case status, charges, and court dates for Childress County criminal cases filed in the district court.

The DPS Criminal History Search provides a statewide name-based criminal history for $3 per search. This pulls records from courts across all Texas counties, not just Childress. For a more definitive result, the FAST fingerprint program links records to a confirmed identity.

To search in person, visit 100 Avenue E NE in the city of Childress. Bring the name you are looking for and any case number you have. The clerk's staff can run the search at the counter and provide copies on request.

Childress County Misdemeanor Records

Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Childress County go through the county court and are stored by the County Clerk. Common misdemeanor charges include DWI, assault causing bodily injury, criminal mischief, and theft below certain amounts. The County Clerk's office is also located in the courthouse in the city of Childress.

If you need a misdemeanor case record, contact the Childress County Clerk at the same courthouse. Staff can look up cases by name or cause number. Class C misdemeanors are handled in justice of the peace courts and are not stored with the County Clerk. Those records must be requested from the JP court that handled the specific case.

Note: Class C misdemeanor records are held by individual justice of the peace courts and are not part of the District or County Clerk records system.

Childress County Arrest Records

When someone is booked into the Childress County jail, the Sheriff's Office generates an arrest record with the booking date, arrest charges, and identifying information. This record is separate from any court case that follows. An arrest does not mean a conviction. Some people who are arrested have their charges dropped or are acquitted at trial. The arrest record still stays on file regardless of what happened in court.

For current jail inmates, contact the Childress County Sheriff's Office in the city of Childress. People convicted and sent to a Texas state prison can be found through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search. The Texas sex offender registry maintained by DPS lets you search by name, city, or ZIP code for registered offenders in Childress County.

What Childress County Criminal Records Contain

Childress County criminal case files vary based on how the case progressed through the system. A case that ended in a guilty plea is usually shorter than one that went to trial. Most felony case files in Childress County include:

• Grand jury indictment
• Arrest warrant and affidavit
• Bond documents and release conditions
• Pre-trial motions
• Plea agreement or trial documentation
• Judgment and sentence
• Probation or community supervision terms if applicable

Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, most criminal court documents are public. Sealed documents, juvenile records, and some mental health materials are not publicly available. If a record was expunged under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, it will not appear in any public search. Agencies are required by law to destroy or return those records on court order.

Fees and Record Access in Childress County

Standard copies of criminal court records from the Childress County District Clerk cost $1 per page. Certified copies require an additional $5 fee. You can request copies in person or by mail. Mail requests should include the name and cause number along with a check or money order made out to the District Clerk.

Free searches are available through re:SearchTX. No account is needed for basic case data. Full documents may require a direct request. The DPS name search costs $3 for a statewide report. Court forms are at the Texas Courts website. Call (940) 937-3338 to confirm fees and procedures before mailing a request. Self-help legal information is at TexasLawHelp.org. The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool can help you find a licensed attorney in the Red River Plains area.

Cities in Childress County

The city of Childress is the county seat and the main community in Childress County. The courthouse and all county criminal court offices are located there. Every criminal case filed in Childress County is handled through the courts in the city of Childress.

Carey is another small community in the county. It does not have a separate court system. All Childress County criminal cases go through the courts in the city of Childress.

Nearby Counties

Childress County is in the Rolling Plains region of Northwest Texas. If you need to check neighboring counties for criminal records, look at Hall County, Cottle County, Hardeman County, and Collingsworth County.