El Paso County Criminal Court Records Search
El Paso County criminal court records are filed and stored at the courthouse in El Paso, Texas. The El Paso County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal case files, while the County Clerk handles Class A and B misdemeanor records. El Paso is one of Texas's most populous counties, bordering New Mexico and Mexico, and the courts handle a large and varied caseload. Records can be searched online through the statewide re:SearchTX portal, the county's own system, or by visiting the courthouse or making a written request.
El Paso County Overview
El Paso County District Clerk
The El Paso County District Clerk is the official custodian of all felony criminal records in the county. Every felony case, from the moment an indictment is returned or a criminal information is filed, is assigned a cause number and tracked by this office. The clerk stores all documents generated during the case, from the initial filing through the final judgment and any post-conviction proceedings.
El Paso County operates a substantial number of district courts given its population. The 34th, 41st, 65th, 120th, 168th, 171st, 205th, 210th, 243rd, 327th, 346th, 383rd, 384th, and 448th Judicial District Courts all sit in El Paso County. Criminal cases are assigned among these courts based on charge type and available docket space. The District Clerk's office can tell you which court has a specific case once you have the cause number or name.
The office also handles expunction and non-disclosure petitions for felony records filed in El Paso County. Staff can confirm whether a particular case is sealed or restricted. The District Clerk's website is at epcounty.com/districtclerk.
| Office | El Paso County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 E. San Antonio Avenue, Suite 105 El Paso, TX 79901 |
| Phone | (915) 546-2021 |
| Website | epcounty.com/districtclerk |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search El Paso County Criminal Records
The statewide re:SearchTX portal is the easiest free tool for searching El Paso County criminal cases. It covers both district court felonies and county court misdemeanors. Search by name or cause number and get results showing the charge, court dates, case status, and filed documents. Most cases back to at least the mid-2000s are available in the system.
The El Paso County District Clerk's website at epcounty.com/districtclerk provides additional online access options specific to El Paso County cases, including links to the case management system for more detailed case information.
The screenshot below shows the El Paso County District Clerk portal, one of the main access points for local criminal court records. The source is epcounty.com/districtclerk.
The portal above covers current and recent filings. For a full Texas-wide criminal history that goes beyond just court records, the Texas DPS Criminal History portal is the right tool. Self-searches are free. Third-party searches require a fee per search through an authorized vendor. Certified fingerprint-based reports are available through the FAST program.
El Paso County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and B misdemeanor cases in El Paso County are heard in the County Courts at Law and the records are maintained by the El Paso County Clerk. Misdemeanor charges at this level include first-offense DWI, assault causing bodily injury, theft within certain dollar limits, and possession of small amounts of certain substances. Given the county's size, the Courts at Law handle a large volume of misdemeanor filings each year.
The County Clerk's office is located at the same courthouse complex on San Antonio Avenue. The re:SearchTX portal covers county court cases the same way it covers district court felonies. If you are unsure whether a case is a felony or misdemeanor, a quick search on re:SearchTX will show the court type and tell you which office to contact for documents.
Class C misdemeanors, including traffic tickets and minor city violations, are handled by the El Paso Municipal Court or the county's Justice of the Peace courts. Those records are held by the specific court that heard the case and are not part of the County Clerk's files.
Arrest Records and Criminal History
Arrests in El Paso County are made primarily by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office and the El Paso Police Department. The county jail processes bookings from both agencies and from other law enforcement in the area. Each agency maintains its own incident and booking records. The jail roster is sometimes available online through the Sheriff's Office website.
For a comprehensive criminal history covering El Paso County and all of Texas, the Texas DPS Criminal History portal is the most complete option. It pulls arrest and conviction data from agencies statewide. Self-searches are free. Third-party requests require a small fee. For certified results needed for licensing or legal proceedings, use the FAST fingerprint program.
The Texas Sex Offender Registry lets you search registered offenders by county or name. The TDCJ offender search shows anyone who has been incarcerated in the Texas state prison system after a conviction anywhere in Texas, including El Paso County. Federal criminal cases filed in El Paso are handled through the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division.
What El Paso County Criminal Case Files Contain
El Paso County criminal case files follow the same structure as other Texas counties. A simple plea produces a short file. A contested jury trial generates a much larger set of documents. Common items in a criminal case file include:
- Grand jury indictment or criminal information
- Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
- Bond documents and release conditions
- Pretrial motions filed by the defense and prosecution
- Court orders and judicial rulings
- Plea agreement and judicial acceptance
- Final judgment and sentence
- Community supervision or probation conditions
- Restitution orders if applicable
- Appellate filings if the case was appealed
Expunged records are not accessible to the public under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55. Sealed orders and juvenile records are also restricted. Clerks can confirm whether a record falls into a restricted category when you ask in person or by phone.
Fees and How to Get El Paso County Records
Standard copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee on top of that. El Paso County cases can be large files, so it is worth calling the District Clerk first to get a page count before sending payment. Some records are available electronically through the online portal, which can reduce costs for basic case information.
Mail requests should go to the El Paso County District Clerk at 500 E. San Antonio Avenue, Suite 105, El Paso, TX 79901. Include the defendant's full name, cause number if you have it, the approximate date range, a clear description of what you need, and payment. The office will contact you if the actual amount differs from your estimate.
For legal help with El Paso County criminal records, TexasLawHelp.org has free guides on expunctions and non-disclosures in Texas. Lone Star Legal Aid serves qualifying residents in the region. The Texas Bar referral service can connect you with a licensed criminal defense attorney in El Paso. Official court forms are available through txcourts.gov.
Cities in El Paso County
El Paso is both the county seat and the largest city in El Paso County, home to most of the county's population. All criminal court filings from the city and the surrounding unincorporated county are processed at the District Clerk's office in downtown El Paso.
Nearby Counties
El Paso County sits at the far western tip of Texas, bordering New Mexico and Mexico. Find criminal court records for nearby Texas areas at: Hudspeth County and Culberson County.