Deaf Smith County Criminal Court Records
Deaf Smith County criminal court records are filed and maintained by the District Clerk in Hereford, Texas. The office at 235 E. 3rd Street handles felony case files from the district court, while the County Clerk manages misdemeanor records in the same courthouse. You can search records for free online through the re:SearchTX portal, visit the Hereford courthouse in person, or call (806) 364-3901 to ask about submitting a mail request. The clerk can locate cases by defendant name or cause number.
Deaf Smith County Overview
Deaf Smith County District Clerk
The Deaf Smith County District Clerk at 235 E. 3rd Street in Hereford is the main office for felony criminal records. Felony cases in Deaf Smith County are heard in the 222nd Judicial District Court, which covers the county. The District Clerk files all felony documents from indictment through final judgment. Post-conviction matters such as expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are also filed at this office.
The District Clerk maintains the case index and can search by defendant name or cause number. Records go back many years. For misdemeanor records, contact the Deaf Smith County Clerk, which operates separately in the same building. Both offices follow regular business hours and can take in-person or mail requests. If you are not sure which office has the record you need, start by calling the District Clerk at (806) 364-3901.
| Office | Deaf Smith County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 235 E. 3rd Street Hereford, TX 79045 |
| Phone | (806) 364-3901 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Deaf Smith County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal is the best free tool for searching Deaf Smith County criminal records without visiting Hereford. The Texas Office of Court Administration runs this statewide database. It is free, requires no account, and covers Deaf Smith County district court filings along with courts across Texas. You can search by name or cause number and see charge information, case status, and documents on file.
The re:SearchTX portal shown here provides access to Deaf Smith County cases. It is updated regularly and is the most practical starting point for most searches.
For a broader statewide criminal history check, the Texas DPS Criminal History Search is available for $3 per name and covers courts across all 254 Texas counties. For a definitive result tied to one specific individual, the FAST fingerprint program is the most reliable method. In-person searches at the Hereford courthouse require a valid photo ID.
Deaf Smith County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and B misdemeanor cases in Deaf Smith County are processed through the County Court, and those records are held by the County Clerk. The County Clerk's office is in the same courthouse as the District Clerk in Hereford. Common Class A and B charges include first-offense DWI, simple assault, and theft cases below the felony amount. To get a misdemeanor record, you need the County Clerk, not the District Clerk.
Class C misdemeanors are the lowest level of offense in Texas and are handled by the justice of the peace courts in Deaf Smith County's precincts and by the Hereford Municipal Court for city-level cases. JP and municipal court records are not stored with the county or district clerk. If you need a Class C record, contact the specific court that handled the case. The District Clerk can point you toward the correct JP precinct if you need help narrowing it down.
Deaf Smith County is home to a number of meatpacking and agricultural operations, and related workplace incidents sometimes generate criminal cases. All such county court and district court filings in Deaf Smith County go through the Hereford courthouse.
Deaf Smith County Arrest Records
The Deaf Smith County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement and maintains the county jail in Hereford. Booking records are created when someone is arrested and processed. They show the name, charges at booking, and date of arrest. Booking records are separate from court records. An arrest record does not show whether charges were filed, whether the person was convicted, or what the final outcome was.
For state prison records, the TDCJ offender search is a free online tool covering all TDCJ facilities and supervision statewide. The Texas sex offender registry lists registered offenders by name and location across all Texas counties. Both are publicly available and free. For current information on someone in the local jail, contact the Deaf Smith County Sheriff's Office directly.
What Deaf Smith County Criminal Records Contain
A criminal case file in Deaf Smith County documents everything from the initial charge through the final court order. The scope of the file varies by case type and how contested the matter was.
Documents typically found in a Deaf Smith County criminal case file:
- Indictment or criminal information listing the charges
- Arraignment records and plea entries
- Bond setting orders and conditions
- Pre-trial motions filed by prosecution and defense
- Court orders and rulings on filed motions
- Plea agreement if the case resolved without trial
- Verdict or judgment
- Sentencing document and probation conditions
- Any post-conviction filings
Most of these records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Sealed records, juvenile files, and expunged cases are withheld. Ask the clerk if you have any question about whether a specific file is restricted before making a copy request.
Fees and Access in Deaf Smith County
Standard copy fees at the Deaf Smith County District Clerk are $1 per page for plain copies. Certified copies carry an added $5 certification fee. Mail requests should include a money order made payable to the Deaf Smith County District Clerk and a written description of which records you need. Calling (806) 364-3901 before mailing is advisable to confirm the exact fee and that the record is available.
The re:SearchTX portal is free to use. No account needed. The DPS name search is $3. Court forms are free at txcourts.gov. For free legal assistance, Lone Star Legal Aid serves Texas Panhandle residents with low income and can help with expunctions. TexasLawHelp.org has free guides on criminal records and the Public Information Act. Use the Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer directory to find a licensed attorney in the Hereford area.
Cities in Deaf Smith County
Hereford is the county seat and by far the largest city in Deaf Smith County. It sits in the southwestern Texas Panhandle and is known as the "Beef Capital of the World." Smaller communities in the county include Dawn and Rhea. Neither of those meets the population threshold for its own records page. All criminal court cases filed in Deaf Smith County, wherever in the county the offense occurred, are handled through the Hereford courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Deaf Smith County is in the southwestern Texas Panhandle. Neighboring counties include Randall County to the east, Castro County to the north, Parmer County to the northwest, Bailey County to the west, Lamb County to the south, and Swisher County to the northeast. Each county operates its own independent court clerk and records system.