Jones County Criminal Court Records
Jones County criminal court records are filed and maintained at the Jones County Courthouse in Anson, a small west Texas community in the rolling plains southeast of Abilene. The District Clerk handles felony case records for the 259th Judicial District Court while the County Clerk stores Class A and B misdemeanor files. You can search Jones County criminal cases online through the state's free portal, visit the Anson courthouse in person, or send a written request by mail. This page covers all three methods, explains which office to contact, and details the fees involved.
Jones County Overview
Jones County District Clerk
The Jones County District Clerk is the official keeper of felony criminal court records in the county. This office manages the criminal docket for the 259th Judicial District Court, processes grand jury indictments, and stores all judgments, sentencing orders, and case documents from filing through final resolution. Every felony charge in Jones County has its case file here at the Anson courthouse.
In-person requests are handled at the courthouse counter during regular business hours. Mail requests are also accepted. Staff can search by defendant name or cause number. Expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are filed with the District Clerk. When the court grants an expunction, the record is pulled from public access and all agencies holding copies are directed by the court to destroy them.
The Jones County District Clerk's office maintains the official record of all district court criminal cases. The Jones County District Clerk page on the county website has contact details and service information.
The Jones County District Clerk office shown above handles all felony criminal filings and maintains the official case record from indictment through final judgment.
| Office | Jones County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Courthouse Plaza Anson, TX 79501 |
| Phone | (325) 823-2424 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Jones County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal from the Texas Office of Court Administration is the best free online resource for Jones County district court records. Search by defendant name, cause number, or attorney. You can see charges, case status, filing date, and upcoming hearings. No registration is required.
For a statewide search across all 254 Texas counties, the DPS Criminal History Search runs a name-based check for $3 per name. This helps when you are not certain which county holds a record, especially for anyone with ties to both Jones County and the Abilene area in neighboring Taylor County. The FAST fingerprint service is the most accurate method when identity confirmation is required.
The Jones County Clerk's office also handles county court records including probate and real property matters alongside criminal misdemeanor files. The Jones County Clerk page has contact and office details.
The Jones County Clerk office shown above stores Class A and B misdemeanor criminal records along with other county court filings.
Jones County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Jones County are heard in the county court and filed with the County Clerk in Anson. Common charges include first-offense DWI, low-level assault causing bodily injury, and theft below the felony amount. The County Clerk's office is in the same courthouse building as the District Clerk at Courthouse Plaza in Anson.
To request a misdemeanor file, contact the County Clerk with the defendant's name or cause number. Staff can search and pull the record. Older files may be in paper storage and take longer to retrieve. Class C misdemeanors, such as traffic violations and minor infractions, go through justice of the peace courts in Jones County. Those records are not held by the County Clerk and must be requested from the specific JP precinct that handled the case.
| Office | Jones County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Courthouse Plaza Anson, TX 79501 |
| Phone | (325) 823-3762 |
Note: Class C misdemeanor records are held at justice of the peace courts, not the County Clerk's office.
Jones County Arrest Records
Arrest records for Jones County are created by the Jones County Sheriff's Office when someone is booked into the county jail in Anson. The booking record lists the person's name, the charges at the time of booking, and the date. That record is separate from any court case and does not show how the matter was resolved. An arrest alone is not a conviction.
The Jones County Sheriff's Office also provides county-level law enforcement across the rural parts of the county outside city limits. The Sheriff's Office maintains its own records separate from the court clerk's files. The Jones County Sheriff's Office page has current contact information.
The Jones County Sheriff's Office shown above is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of the county and maintains booking records for the county jail in Anson.
For people serving sentences in Texas state prisons, use the free Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search. The DPS sex offender registry lists registered offenders by county and zip code at no cost. Both tools are accessible online without an account.
What Jones County Criminal Records Contain
A Jones County criminal case file holds documents from the start of the case through its final outcome. Felony files start with a grand jury indictment. Misdemeanor files begin with an information filed by the county attorney. Both types of files grow as the case moves through pre-trial stages, plea proceedings, or trial.
Common items found in a Jones County criminal case file:
- Indictment or information identifying the charge
- Arrest warrant and probable cause affidavit
- Bond conditions and release documents
- Pre-trial motions and court orders
- Plea agreement or jury trial record
- Final judgment and sentence
- Community supervision or probation conditions
- Appeal filings, if any were filed
Criminal records in Jones County are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Expunged records, juvenile cases, and records under seal or non-disclosure orders are not available through public requests. The Texas Attorney General's Office handles open records complaints when an agency improperly denies access to records that should be public.
The Jones County District Attorney's Office handles prosecution of felony and some misdemeanor cases. Their work generates records that become part of the official court file held by the District Clerk. The Jones County District Attorney page has contact details for that office.
The Jones County District Attorney's Office shown above prosecutes felony cases filed in the 259th Judicial District Court and maintains its own records separate from the court clerk's files.
Fees and Record Access in Jones County
Copies of criminal court records in Jones County cost $1 per page. Certified copies add a $5 fee. You can request records in person at the Anson courthouse or by mailing a written request to the clerk with payment enclosed. Include the defendant's full name, the cause number if you have it, and whether you need plain or certified copies.
The re:SearchTX portal is free for basic case data. The DPS statewide criminal history search is $3 per name. Call the Jones County District Clerk at (325) 823-2424 to confirm the current fee schedule before mailing any payment for copies.
Legal Resources in Jones County
Lone Star Legal Aid may assist qualifying Jones County residents with civil legal matters such as expunction petitions. For private attorneys, use the Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool to search by county and practice area. Self-help guides on expunction, non-disclosure, and court access are at TexasLawHelp.org. Official court forms are available at the Texas Courts rules and forms page.
Cities in Jones County
Anson is the county seat of Jones County and the location of all district and county courts. Criminal cases from any part of Jones County are filed and heard in Anson.
Other communities in Jones County include Hamlin, Stamford, and Hawley. Abilene, the nearest large city, is actually in neighboring Taylor County, not Jones County. All criminal matters for residents throughout Jones County go through the courts in Anson at 100 Courthouse Plaza.
Nearby Counties
Jones County is in west Texas east of Abilene. Each neighboring county has its own courts and keeps its own criminal records. Surrounding counties include Shackelford County, Haskell County, Stonewall County, Fisher County, Nolan County, Taylor County, and Callahan County.