Gillespie County Criminal Court Records
Gillespie County criminal court records are filed and stored at the courthouse in Fredericksburg, Texas. The District Clerk handles felony criminal case records while the County Clerk manages Class A and B misdemeanor files. You can search Gillespie County criminal records using the statewide re:SearchTX portal, visit the Fredericksburg courthouse in person, or send a written request by mail to the clerk's office.
Gillespie County Overview
Gillespie County District Clerk
The Gillespie County District Clerk holds all felony criminal court records for the county. This office files grand jury indictments, manages the criminal docket, and stores all judgments and sentences from the 216th Judicial District Court. If someone was charged with a felony in Gillespie County, the case file is here. The courthouse is at 101 W. Main Street in Fredericksburg.
Staff can search for case files by name or cause number. They handle in-person requests during normal business hours and can process written requests by mail. For post-conviction matters, expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are filed with this office. When a court grants expunction, the record is removed from public access and agencies are required to destroy their copies per the court order.
| Office | Gillespie County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 W. Main Street Fredericksburg, TX 78624 |
| Phone | (830) 997-6515 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Gillespie County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal is free and covers district court criminal cases across Texas including Gillespie County. You can search by defendant name, cause number, or attorney without creating an account. The system shows case status, charges, and hearing dates. It is the fastest way to find basic case information without going to the Fredericksburg courthouse.
For a broader statewide criminal history, use the Texas DPS Criminal History Search at $3 per name. This covers courts across all Texas counties and is helpful when a person may have cases in multiple locations. When accuracy is critical, the FAST fingerprint program gives the most reliable result.
The image above shows the re:SearchTX portal operated by the Texas Office of Court Administration, which provides free public access to district court records including those from Gillespie County.
In-person searches are available at the Fredericksburg courthouse at 101 W. Main Street. Bring the name of the person and any cause number you may have. Staff can look up the case and provide copies for the standard per-page fee.
Gillespie County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Gillespie County are heard by the County Court and stored by the County Clerk. These include offenses like DWI, certain theft charges, and assault cases that do not reach the felony level. The County Clerk's office is in the same courthouse complex in Fredericksburg as the District Clerk.
To find a misdemeanor record in Gillespie County, contact the County Clerk. They can search by name or case number and confirm what documents are available. Class C misdemeanors are handled at the justice of the peace level and those records are not stored at the county or district clerk's office. You need to contact the specific JP court that heard the case to get those records.
| Office | Gillespie County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 W. Main Street Fredericksburg, TX 78624 |
| Phone | (830) 997-6515 |
Note: Class C misdemeanor records are kept by justice of the peace courts and are not available from the County Clerk or District Clerk offices.
Gillespie County Arrest Records
The Gillespie County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records for the county. When someone is booked into the jail, the sheriff creates a record that includes the person's name, charges at booking, and the date of arrest. That arrest record is separate from any court case. It shows only what was alleged at booking, not what happened in court. A person can be arrested and never charged, or charged but acquitted.
For current Gillespie County jail inmates, contact the Sheriff's Office in Fredericksburg. Statewide prison records are available through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search, which covers current and recently released TDCJ inmates. The DPS sex offender registry is also a free public tool that lists registered offenders by county and address.
What Gillespie County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal case files in Gillespie County include a range of documents depending on how the case was resolved. Every case starts with a charging instrument. For felony cases that is a grand jury indictment. For misdemeanor cases it is an information filed by the county or district attorney. The file grows as motions are filed, hearings are held, and the case reaches a resolution.
You will commonly find these items in a Gillespie County criminal case file:
- Indictment or information charging the offense
- Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
- Bond order and conditions of release
- Plea agreement or jury trial documentation
- Judgment and sentence of the court
- Probation or community supervision conditions if applicable
Most criminal records are open to the public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. The Texas Public Information Act gives you the right to request and receive government records including court documents. Some records are sealed, including juvenile cases. Expunged records will not appear in any public search, and agencies must destroy those records by court order. The Attorney General's open records page has full information on how to make a request.
Fees and Access in Gillespie County
Copies of criminal court records in Gillespie County cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an extra $5 certification fee. You can request copies at the courthouse in person or by mailing a written request with payment to the clerk. In-person requests are handled at the counter at 101 W. Main Street in Fredericksburg.
Online access through re:SearchTX is free for basic case data and requires no account. The DPS name-based search costs $3. The DPS Crime Records Service page has information on all available search options and their associated costs.
Note: Contact the Gillespie County District Clerk at (830) 997-6515 to confirm current per-page copy fees before submitting a mail request.
Legal Resources in Gillespie County
Lone Star Legal Aid serves low-income Texans in the Hill Country region, which includes Gillespie County. They may be able to help with criminal record issues like expunction or non-disclosure petitions. Check their website for current service areas and eligibility rules. For licensed attorney referrals, the Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool is a reliable starting point.
For self-help legal guidance, TexasLawHelp.org offers free guides on expunction, criminal records, and how the court process works in Texas. These guides are written for people without a legal background. The Texas Public Information Act also gives you the right to request records from the Gillespie County Sheriff's Office and other public agencies.
Cities in Gillespie County
Fredericksburg is the county seat of Gillespie County and the location of all district and county courts. Every criminal case in the county is processed here regardless of where the offense occurred.
Other communities in Gillespie County include Harper and Stonewall. None of these have separate court systems. All criminal cases are handled at the Gillespie County courthouse in Fredericksburg.
Nearby Counties
Gillespie County is in the Texas Hill Country. If you need to find out which county handled a case, the key factor is where the offense occurred. Neighboring counties with their own court records include Kerr County, Kimble County, Mason County, Blanco County, Llano County, and Kendall County.