Find Criminal Court Records in Donley County
Donley County criminal court records are held at the courthouse in Clarendon, Texas. The District and County Clerk office manages both felony and misdemeanor criminal records for the county. You can search Donley County criminal cases through the statewide re:SearchTX portal, visit the courthouse in Clarendon, or contact the clerk's office by phone or mail. This page covers what you need to know about searching and getting copies of criminal court records in Donley County.
Donley County Overview
Donley County District and County Clerk
The Donley County District and County Clerk office is the place to go for criminal court records in this Panhandle county. Because Donley County is a small, rural county, both the district and county court clerk functions are handled through a single office. Felony records from the district court and Class A and B misdemeanor records from the county court are both maintained here.
Staff can search case files by defendant name or cause number. The 100th Judicial District Court covers Donley County. If you need to file an expunction petition to clear a criminal record under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, this is the office where that process starts. Contact the clerk's office ahead of time to confirm what you need to bring.
| Office | Donley County District/County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 S. Main Street Clarendon, TX 79226 |
| Phone | (806) 874-3436 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Donley County Criminal Records
The free re:SearchTX portal is the first place to check when looking for Donley County criminal court records online. The Texas Office of Court Administration operates this statewide system, which covers district court cases. Search by name, cause number, or attorney to find charges, case status, and court events.
The re:SearchTX portal includes Donley County district court records as part of its statewide database. The search is free and does not require you to create an account. It is the easiest online option for checking whether a criminal case exists in Donley County.
The re:SearchTX portal allows you to search for Donley County criminal cases along with records from courts across the state. This is the best free online tool for looking up Panhandle area court records.
For a statewide background check by name, the DPS Criminal History Search costs $3 and searches beyond Donley County alone. For more thorough results, the FAST fingerprint program is the most accurate option. You can also search in person at 300 S. Main Street in Clarendon. Bring the name and cause number if you have it, and staff can assist you at the counter.
Donley County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Donley County go through the county court and are stored by the combined clerk's office in Clarendon. Common misdemeanor charges at this level include DWI, simple assault, and theft under the state threshold. Because this is a combined office, you contact the same number for misdemeanor records as for felony records.
Call (806) 874-3436 to ask about a specific misdemeanor case. Staff can search by name or cause number and let you know what records are available. Class C misdemeanors are handled by justice of the peace courts in the county and those records are not part of the combined clerk's files. They stay with the JP court that handled the case.
Donley County Arrest Records
The Donley County Sheriff's Office creates and maintains arrest records for the county. A booking record is made when someone is taken into the county jail. That record shows the date of arrest, the charges at the time of booking, and basic personal information about the person booked. It is not the same as a court record and does not reflect any outcome in court.
To look up someone currently in the Donley County jail, contact the sheriff's office directly. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search covers people in TDCJ custody statewide. The Texas sex offender registry is a public database of registered sex offenders, including those in Donley County. The DPS Crime Records Service handles statewide criminal history data collected from courts and law enforcement across Texas.
What Donley County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal case files in Donley County include the documents created from the time charges are filed through the resolution of the case. For felony cases, the file typically starts with a grand jury indictment. For misdemeanor cases, it begins with a charging document from the prosecutor. The file grows with each hearing, filing, and court order that follows.
A standard criminal case file in Donley County includes:
- Indictment or charging information
- Arrest warrant and affidavit
- Bond records and conditions of release
- Plea agreement or trial transcript
- Judgment and sentence
- Probation or deferred adjudication terms if relevant
Most items in a criminal court file are public records. Juvenile cases are sealed. Records expunged under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure are removed from public view. The Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the Public Information Act, gives you the right to request copies of public records from courts and government offices in Donley County.
Fees and Record Access
Record copies in Donley County cost $1 per page. Certified copies include an additional certification fee. Requests can be made in person at the courthouse or by mail with payment enclosed. Send mail requests to the District and County Clerk at 300 S. Main Street, Clarendon, TX 79226.
The re:SearchTX portal is free for basic case information. Full documents require a courthouse visit or a written request. The DPS name-based criminal history search costs $3 per person. Your rights to request records are outlined in the Texas Public Information Act overview from the Texas Attorney General.
Note: Call (806) 874-3436 to confirm copy fees and learn the best way to submit a records request to the Donley County clerk's office.
Legal Resources in Donley County
Donley County residents who need legal help can contact Lone Star Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal services to income-eligible Texans including those in the Panhandle region. They cover a range of matters including criminal record expunctions and related issues.
The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool lets you search for attorneys by county and practice area. For self-help guides on topics like expunction and record sealing, visit TexasLawHelp.org. The Texas Public Information Act gives you a formal path to request records from the Donley County courts and sheriff's office.
Cities in Donley County
Clarendon is the county seat of Donley County and is where the courthouse and all court offices are located. Criminal cases filed anywhere in the county are handled through the Clarendon courthouse.
Other small communities in Donley County include Hedley and Howardwick. None have their own criminal court systems. All cases go through the Donley County courts in Clarendon.
Nearby Counties
Donley County sits in the Texas Panhandle region. If you are unsure which county handled a case, confirm where the alleged offense took place. Neighboring counties with their own courts and records include Gray County, Armstrong County, Carson County, Hall County, and Collingsworth County.