Comal County Criminal Court Records

Comal County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the courthouse in New Braunfels, Texas. The District Clerk handles felony criminal cases while the County Clerk manages Class A and B misdemeanor records for this rapidly growing county between San Antonio and Austin. You can search Comal County criminal cases through the statewide re:SearchTX portal, visit the courthouse on Seguin Avenue in person, or submit a mail request to the clerk's office. This guide explains where to find criminal records in Comal County and what those records contain.

Comal County District Clerk

The Comal County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal court records for the county. This office receives and files indictments from the grand jury, tracks cases through the district court docket, and stores all related documents including plea agreements, jury verdicts, and judgments. Comal County has seen significant population growth, which has increased the volume of criminal filings. The courthouse is at 150 N. Seguin Avenue in New Braunfels.

Staff can search by defendant name or cause number and provide copies at the standard fee. The District Clerk also processes expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, which allow qualifying individuals to have certain arrest and charge records removed from the public record. These petitions are filed in Comal County district court.

How to Search Comal County Criminal Records

The re:SearchTX portal is a free starting point for searching Comal County criminal records online. The statewide system covers district court cases across Texas including Comal County. Search by name or cause number to find case status, charges, and hearing dates without visiting the courthouse.

The Texas Office of Court Administration runs re:SearchTX as a public resource. For Comal County, the portal reflects district court criminal filings. Results are updated regularly as the clerk's office enters new case activity. Older records that predate the online system may only be available in person.

The re:SearchTX portal shown above provides free access to Comal County district court criminal case records, showing charges, case status, and court dates for filings in New Braunfels.

For a statewide criminal history, the Texas Department of Public Safety offers the DPS Criminal History Search for $3. This pulls records from courts across Texas, not just Comal County. The FAST fingerprint program gives a more definitive result based on fingerprint submission. To search in person, go to the courthouse at 150 N. Seguin Avenue in New Braunfels.

Comal County Misdemeanor Records

Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Comal County go through the county court at law and are stored by the County Clerk. These cases cover charges like DWI, assault, and theft under certain thresholds. The County Clerk's office is at the same courthouse complex as the District Clerk in New Braunfels.

You can contact the County Clerk to search misdemeanor records by name or cause number. Class C misdemeanors are handled at the justice of the peace level and are not part of the County Clerk records system. JP records must be requested from the specific court that handled the case.

Note: Call (830) 221-1350 to confirm which specific office within the courthouse handles the record type you need.

Comal County Arrest Records

The Comal County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records for people booked into the county jail. A booking record is created at the time of arrest and shows the charges listed, the arrest date, and basic personal information. These records do not tell you how the court case ended. An arrest is not a conviction, and the arrest record will not reflect a dismissal, acquittal, or expunction.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search shows current TDCJ inmates and recently released offenders from across Texas. The Texas sex offender registry maintained by DPS lists registered offenders by county including Comal County. For current Comal County jail information, contact the sheriff's office in New Braunfels directly.

What Comal County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal case files in Comal County vary in size. A case that ends with a quick plea may have only a few documents. A contested case with a full jury trial can have many more. The charging instrument is always the first document. For felonies, that is a grand jury indictment. For misdemeanors, it is an information filed by the county attorney.

Most criminal case files in Comal County include:

• Indictment or criminal information
• Arrest warrant and supporting affidavit
• Bond documents and pretrial conditions
• Defense and prosecution motions
• Plea agreement or trial verdict
• Judgment and sentence
• Community supervision terms if applicable

Most documents in a Comal County criminal file are public records under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Juvenile records, sealed filings, and mental health-related documents are not available to the public. Expunged records are removed entirely from public access. Once an expunction order is signed, neither the clerk nor law enforcement may release the record to the public.

Fees and Record Access in Comal County

Copies of criminal court records from the Comal County District Clerk cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee on top of the per-page charge. You can request copies in person at the courthouse at 150 N. Seguin Avenue or by mail with payment enclosed.

Online access through re:SearchTX is free for basic case information. No account is needed to search. The DPS name-based search costs $3 per search and covers courts statewide. More information about how Texas criminal history records are maintained is available at the DPS Crime Records Service.

Legal Resources in Comal County

Several resources are available to people who need legal help with criminal matters in Comal County. Lone Star Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income Texans and may assist with expunction filings or non-disclosure petitions in Comal County.

The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool lets you search for licensed attorneys by county and practice area. For free self-help guides and court forms, TexasLawHelp.org covers expunction eligibility, non-disclosure, and other criminal record topics. The Texas Public Information Act gives you the right to request public records from the sheriff's office and other county agencies in Comal County.

Cities in Comal County

Comal County is anchored by New Braunfels, the county seat and largest city. All criminal cases in Comal County go through the district and county courts in New Braunfels, regardless of where in the county the offense occurred.

Other communities in Comal County include Garden Ridge, Bulverde, and Spring Branch. All criminal filings from these areas are handled through the Comal County courts in New Braunfels.

Nearby Counties

Comal County sits between San Antonio and Austin in Central Texas. If you need to verify which county handled a case, check where the offense occurred or where the defendant was living at the time. Neighboring counties with their own criminal court records include Bexar County, Hays County, Guadalupe County, Blanco County, and Kendall County.