Hale County Criminal Court Records
Hale County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the courthouse in Plainview, Texas. The District Clerk manages felony criminal case records while the County Clerk handles Class A and B misdemeanor files. You can search Hale County criminal records through the free statewide re:SearchTX portal, visit the Plainview courthouse in person, or send a written request by mail to the clerk's office.
Hale County Overview
Hale County District Clerk
The Hale County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal court records for the county. This office processes grand jury indictments, manages the criminal docket for the 64th Judicial District Court, and stores all judgments and sentences. All felony cases filed in Hale County are on record at 500 Broadway in Plainview.
Staff can search for case files by defendant name or cause number. In-person requests are handled at the counter during business hours. The office also accepts written requests by mail. For expunction matters, petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are filed here. A granted expunction removes the record from public access and requires all agencies to destroy their copies.
| Office | Hale County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 Broadway Plainview, TX 79072 |
| Phone | (806) 291-5236 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Searching Hale County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal is free and gives you online access to Hale County district court criminal records. Run by the Texas Office of Court Administration, this statewide system lets you search by name, cause number, or attorney without setting up an account. The results show case status, charges, and hearing dates.
The re:SearchTX portal, shown above, is the official statewide court records system operated by the Texas judiciary and is free for public use including for Hale County criminal case searches.
For a statewide criminal background check, use the Texas DPS Criminal History Search at $3 per name. This pulls records from courts across all 254 Texas counties. For the most accurate and verified results, the FAST fingerprint program is available through DPS. In-person requests are available at the Plainview courthouse during regular hours.
Hale County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Hale County go through the County Court and are stored by the County Clerk. Common charges at this level include DWI, assault, and theft below the felony line. The County Clerk is located in the same courthouse building in Plainview as the District Clerk.
To request misdemeanor records, contact the Hale County Clerk by phone or visit in person. They can search by name or cause number. Class C misdemeanor cases are handled at the justice of the peace level and are not part of the County Clerk's records. Contact the specific JP court that heard the case if you need those files.
| Office | Hale County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 Broadway Plainview, TX 79072 |
| Phone | (806) 291-5261 |
Note: Class C misdemeanor records are held by individual justice of the peace courts and are not available from the County Clerk or District Clerk.
Hale County Arrest Records
The Hale County Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records for the county. When someone is booked at the county jail, the sheriff creates a booking record with the person's name, charges at the time of arrest, and date of booking. That record is separate from any court case file. An arrest does not mean a person was convicted. The booking record shows only what was alleged at the time the person was taken into custody.
For current Hale County jail inmates, contact the Sheriff's Office in Plainview. For Texas state prison records, use the free TDCJ offender search. The DPS sex offender registry lists registered offenders by county and address and is available to the public at no cost.
What Hale County Criminal Records Contain
A criminal court file in Hale County starts with the charging instrument. For a felony, that is a grand jury indictment. For a misdemeanor, it is an information filed by the county attorney. The file grows with each step of the case, adding documents like motions, orders, and eventually the final judgment.
Typical items in a Hale 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
- Community supervision conditions if probation was ordered
Most of these documents are open to the public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Juvenile records and some mental health evaluations may be sealed. Records that have been expunged under Chapter 55 do not appear in public searches and agencies must destroy their copies. The Texas Attorney General provides guidance on submitting public records requests.
Fees and Access in Hale County
Copies of criminal court records in Hale County cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an extra $5 fee. You can request records in person at the Plainview courthouse or by mailing a written request with payment to the District Clerk's office at 500 Broadway, Plainview, TX 79072.
The re:SearchTX portal is free for basic case data and does not require an account. The DPS name-based search costs $3. Full details on all Texas criminal records search options are at the DPS Crime Records Service page.
Note: Call the Hale County District Clerk at (806) 291-5236 to confirm the current fee schedule before submitting a mail request.
Legal Resources in Hale County
Lone Star Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income Texans across West Texas including Hale County. They may assist with expunction petitions and similar criminal record matters. For licensed attorneys, use the Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool to search by location and practice area.
Free self-help guides on expunction, criminal records, and the Texas court process are available at TexasLawHelp.org. The site uses plain language and links to official forms. You can also submit open records requests to the Hale County Sheriff's Office under the Texas Public Information Act.
Cities in Hale County
Plainview is the county seat of Hale County and is where all district and county courts are located. All criminal cases from across the county are processed through the courts in Plainview.
Other communities in Hale County include Tulia-area communities and Floydada-area locations near the county borders. All criminal matters are handled at the Hale County courthouse in Plainview.
Nearby Counties
Hale County is in the Texas South Plains. Neighboring counties each have their own court systems. To determine which county filed a case, check where the offense occurred. Bordering counties include Lubbock County, Swisher County, Floyd County, Lamb County, and Castro County.