Collin County Criminal Court Records

Collin County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the courthouse in McKinney, Texas. The District Clerk handles felony criminal cases while the County Clerk manages Class A and B misdemeanor records for this fast-growing North Texas county. You can search Collin County criminal cases through the District Clerk's online portal, the statewide re:SearchTX portal, or by visiting the courthouse in person. This page explains where to find records, what they contain, and how to get copies from the right office in Collin County.

Collin County District Clerk

The Collin County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal court records for the county. This office files indictments, tracks case progress through the district courts, and stores judgments and sentences once cases resolve. Collin County has multiple district courts to handle the volume of criminal and civil cases generated by one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas. The main office is located on Bloomdale Road in McKinney.

Staff can assist with case searches by defendant name or cause number. The District Clerk also provides an online portal at collincountytx.gov where you can search felony criminal cases by name or case number without visiting the courthouse. The portal shows case status, charges, and docket entries. For post-conviction matters including expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, filings go to this same office.

How to Search Collin County Criminal Records

Collin County gives you several ways to search criminal records. The District Clerk's online portal at collincountytx.gov is the most direct option for felony cases. You can search by defendant name or case number and see the full docket without calling or visiting. The portal is free and available any time.

The statewide re:SearchTX portal also covers Collin County district court records and is useful if you want to search across multiple Texas counties at once. Both portals show case information from the district courts. For county court misdemeanor records, contact the County Clerk's office separately.

The re:SearchTX system provides public access to Collin County district court criminal case records. It shows charges, case status, and hearing dates for cases filed in the county's district courts.

For a statewide criminal history report, the DPS Criminal History Search costs $3 and pulls records from courts across Texas. This is a broader check than the Collin County portal alone. For fingerprint-based results, the FAST fingerprint program provides a more definitive criminal history. In-person searches can be done at the courthouse at 2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney.

Collin County Misdemeanor Records

Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Collin County are handled by the county courts at law and stored by the County Clerk. These cases include charges like DWI, assault, theft under certain thresholds, and similar offenses. Collin County has multiple county courts at law to handle the volume of cases from its large population.

The County Clerk's office is located at the Collin County courthouse in McKinney. You can contact them to search by name or cause number for misdemeanor records. Copies cost $1 per page, with an additional $5 certification fee for certified copies. Class C misdemeanors go through justice of the peace courts and are not held by the County Clerk. Those records must be requested from the JP court that heard the case.

Note: Copy fees for both the District Clerk and County Clerk in Collin County are $1.00 per page plus $5.00 per certified document.

Collin County Arrest Records

Arrest records for Collin County are maintained by the Collin County Sheriff's Office. Booking records are created when someone is taken into custody at the county jail. These records show the charges at the time of arrest and the booking date. They do not reflect how the case was resolved in court. Arrest records are separate from the court case files held by the District and County Clerks.

For people in state custody, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search covers current inmates and recently released individuals statewide. The Texas sex offender registry lists registered offenders by county including those living in Collin County. For current Collin County jail information, contact the sheriff's office directly in McKinney. The DPS Crime Records Service also provides information about accessing criminal history records through state channels.

What Collin County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal case files in Collin County include a range of documents that build up as a case moves through the court system. The first document is the charging instrument: a grand jury indictment for felonies or an information for misdemeanor charges. After that, documents are added as the case progresses through hearings, motions, and resolution.

Most Collin County criminal case files include:

• Indictment or criminal information
• Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
• Bond documents and conditions of release
• Motions, responses, and court orders
• Plea agreement or jury verdict
• Judgment and sentence
• Probation terms if applicable

Most documents in a criminal case file are public records under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Sealed records, juvenile case files, and certain mental health documents are not available to the public. When a court grants an expunction, the record is removed entirely from the public file. Once expunged, neither the clerk's office nor law enforcement can show the record to anyone outside of specific legal exceptions.

Fees and Record Access in Collin County

Copies of criminal court records from the Collin County District Clerk cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies require an additional $5.00 certification fee. The same fee structure applies to the County Clerk for misdemeanor records. You can request copies in person at 2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney, by mail, or by emailing districtclerk@collincountytx.gov.

Online access through the District Clerk portal and the re:SearchTX portal is free for basic case information. No account is needed for either system. The DPS name-based search is $3 per search and covers courts statewide. For more on what records are available through state systems, visit the DPS Crime Records Service page.

Legal Resources in Collin County

Several organizations offer legal help for criminal matters in Collin County. Lone Star Legal Aid serves residents across North Texas and provides free civil legal services for qualifying individuals. They may assist with expunction petitions and other record-related needs.

The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool lets you search for licensed attorneys by practice area and county. For self-help guides and free court forms, TexasLawHelp.org has detailed information on expunction, non-disclosure, and other criminal record issues. The Texas Public Information Act gives residents the right to request records from county agencies including the sheriff's office.

Cities in Collin County

Collin County is home to several large cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. All criminal cases filed in Collin County are handled through the district and county courts in McKinney, regardless of which city the offense occurred in.

Other communities in Collin County include Wylie, Sachse, Murphy, Prosper, Celina, and Anna. All criminal cases from these areas go through the Collin County courts in McKinney.

Nearby Counties

Collin County sits in North Texas as part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Neighboring counties with their own criminal court record systems include Dallas County, Denton County, Grayson County, Hunt County, Rockwall County, and Kaufman County.