Dallam County Criminal Court Records
Dallam County criminal court records are kept by the combined District and County Clerk in Dalhart, Texas. The office at 900 Houston Street handles felony filings from the district court and misdemeanor records from county court all in one place. Dallam County sits at the far northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle. You can search records online through the re:SearchTX portal, visit the Dalhart courthouse in person, or call (806) 244-4751 to ask about a mail request.
Dallam County Overview
Dallam County District and County Clerk
Dallam County runs a combined clerk office, meaning one office is responsible for both district court and county court records. The clerk at 900 Houston Street in Dalhart is the single point of contact for all criminal court records in the county. Dallam County is part of the 69th Judicial District. The district judge handles cases across several Panhandle counties on a traveling schedule, so court sessions in Dalhart are periodic. Call ahead before visiting if you are coming in connection with an active case.
The clerk's office maintains a case index searchable by defendant name and cause number. Expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are also filed at this office. Because both district and county records are combined, one request covers both felony and misdemeanor records. The clerk can also tell you whether a record has been sealed or expunged before you put in a formal copy request.
| Office | Dallam County District/County Clerk (Combined) |
|---|---|
| Address | 900 Houston Street Dalhart, TX 79022 |
| Phone | (806) 244-4751 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Dallam County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal is the best free option for searching Dallam County criminal court records without making the trip to Dalhart. Operated by the Texas Office of Court Administration, the portal covers district court cases across Texas including Dallam County. No account is needed. Search by name or cause number and you can see charges, case status, and filing history.
The re:SearchTX portal shown below includes Dallam County as part of its statewide coverage. Searches are free and updated regularly.
For a statewide check covering multiple counties, use the Texas DPS Criminal History Search for $3 per name. The FAST fingerprint program is available when you need a result definitively tied to one person. In-person searches at the Dalhart courthouse require a valid photo ID.
Dallam County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and B misdemeanor cases in Dallam County are heard in the county court, and those records are filed with the same combined clerk as the felony records. Common Class A and B charges include first-offense DWI, assault causing bodily injury, and theft in the lower dollar ranges. Because the clerk functions are combined, you do not need to track down a separate county clerk office for misdemeanor records.
Class C misdemeanors are a different matter. Those fine-only offenses go to the justice of the peace courts in Dallam County's precincts. JP court records are not stored with the combined clerk. If you need a Class C record, contact the JP precinct that handled the case. Dalhart also has a municipal court for city-level offenses. The combined clerk can help direct you to the right court if you are not sure which one heard a particular case.
Dallam County borders New Mexico, which means some cases involving activity near the state line may have federal dimensions. Federal criminal cases are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, not by the Dallam County clerk.
Dallam County Arrest Records
The Dallam County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement and runs the county jail in Dalhart. When someone is booked into the jail, a booking record is created with the person's name, charges at booking, and date of arrest. Arrest records are separate from court records. A booking shows only that a person was taken into custody, not the outcome of any subsequent court case.
For people who ended up in state prison, the TDCJ offender search is a free online tool covering the entire Texas Department of Criminal Justice system. The Texas sex offender registry lists registered offenders by name and location statewide, including Dallam County. Both resources are public and free. For local jail inquiries, contact the Dallam County Sheriff's Office directly.
What Dallam County Criminal Records Contain
A criminal case file in Dallam County includes every document generated from the start of the case through its conclusion. Simple plea cases are shorter. Cases that went to trial or had a lot of pre-trial activity may span many pages.
Documents typically in a Dallam County criminal case file:
- Indictment or criminal information (the charges)
- Arraignment records and initial plea
- Bond orders and release conditions
- Pre-trial motions and responses
- Judge's orders and rulings
- Plea agreement if applicable
- Judgment and sentence
- Probation conditions if the sentence included supervision
- Post-conviction filings if any
Most criminal records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Sealed files, juvenile records, and expunged cases are withheld. Ask the clerk before requesting copies if you have any question about whether a specific file is restricted.
Fees and Access in Dallam County
The Dallam County combined clerk charges $1 per page for plain copies and an additional $5 for certified copies. If you need a certified copy, both charges apply. Mail requests should include a money order payable to the Dallam County Clerk. Call (806) 244-4751 to confirm the exact fee and verify the record is available before mailing anything.
The re:SearchTX portal is free and requires no login. The DPS name search costs $3. Court forms are free at txcourts.gov. For free legal help in the Texas Panhandle, Lone Star Legal Aid serves eligible low-income residents. TexasLawHelp.org has plain-language guides on expunctions, record access, and the Public Information Act. Use the Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool to find a local licensed attorney.
Cities in Dallam County
Dalhart is the county seat and by far the largest city in Dallam County. Texline is a small town near the New Mexico state line in the northwest corner of the county. Neither city is large enough to qualify for its own records page. All criminal court cases in Dallam County are processed through the Dalhart courthouse regardless of where in the county the offense occurred.
Nearby Counties
Dallam County is at the very top of the Texas Panhandle, bordering both New Mexico and Oklahoma. Neighboring Texas counties include Hartley County to the east, Sherman County to the southeast, Moore County to the south, and Oldham County to the southwest. The northwest corner of the county touches Union County, New Mexico. Each neighboring Texas county has its own court clerk and records system.