Search Mason County Criminal Court Records
Mason County criminal court records are filed and maintained by the combined District and County Clerk office located on Courthouse Hill in Mason, Texas. This office serves the 198th Judicial District and handles both felony and misdemeanor criminal case files. Mason County is a small, rural Hill Country county, and most record requests can be handled by phone or in person at the courthouse. The re:SearchTX portal also provides free online access to district court filings.
Mason County Overview
Mason County District and County Clerk
Mason County uses a combined clerk system. One office handles both district court and county court criminal records. This setup is standard for small Texas counties with limited court volume. The combined clerk on Courthouse Hill manages all criminal case filings, from the initial charge through to final disposition. If you need a record from either the felony or misdemeanor court, one visit or one call gets you there.
The 198th Judicial District covers Mason County along with several neighboring Hill Country counties. Felony cases are heard in the district court. The county judge handles Class A and B misdemeanor cases in the county court. Both sets of records are maintained through the combined clerk office. Call ahead if you need to verify whether a specific case falls under district or county court jurisdiction.
Post-conviction filings, including expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, are also filed through this office. The clerk can tell you whether a record has been expunged or sealed before you request copies.
| Office | Mason County District/County Clerk (Combined) |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Courthouse Hill Mason, TX 76856 |
| Phone | (325) 347-5253 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Mason County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal is the primary online tool for searching Mason County criminal case records. It is free, public, and does not require an account. You can search by the defendant's name, by cause number, or by attorney name. The portal shows the charges, case status, filing date, and documents that have been added to the file.
The portal is run by the Texas Office of Court Administration and covers courts statewide. Cases filed in recent years are most likely to appear. Older or closed cases may require a direct request to the clerk's office at the Mason County Courthouse.
The re:SearchTX portal provides public access to Mason County district court criminal case filings at no charge.
The portal is regularly updated as new filings come in from the clerk's office, making it a reliable first step for any records search.
For a broader statewide search, the Texas DPS Criminal History Search provides name-based results for $3. If you need a certified, fingerprint-based criminal history report, the FAST program through DPS is the right option. For in-person searches, visit the combined clerk at 100 Courthouse Hill in Mason. Bring a valid ID and any known details about the case.
Mason County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Mason County are filed in the county court and handled by the county judge. These include offenses such as DWI first offense, assault causing bodily injury, theft in certain ranges, and similar charges. Because Mason County uses a combined clerk office, misdemeanor records are kept in the same location as felony records. You do not need to visit a separate office.
Class C misdemeanors are handled differently. Those go to a justice of the peace court or municipal court, not the county or district clerk. Class C records are kept at the JP precinct level. If you need a Class C citation or charge record from Mason County, contact the relevant JP precinct or city court. The combined clerk at (325) 347-5253 can point you in the right direction if you are unsure which court handled the matter.
Mason County Arrest Records
The Mason County Sheriff's Office makes arrests and maintains jail booking records for the county. Booking records show the person's name, the charge at the time of arrest, the date and time of booking, and basic identifying information. These are separate from court records. An arrest record does not show the outcome of a case. To find out what happened after an arrest, you need to look at the court file.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search is a free online tool for finding people currently in state custody or recently released from a Texas state prison. The Texas sex offender registry, maintained by the Department of Public Safety, covers registered offenders across all Texas counties. Both resources are available at no cost and are updated regularly.
What Mason County Criminal Records Contain
A criminal court file in Mason County contains documents from each stage of a case. The file opens with the charging document and adds materials as the case moves through the system. Here is what you will typically find:
- Indictment or information with the formal charges
- Warrant or capias if one was issued
- Bond orders and any conditions of release
- Motions and responses from both sides
- Court orders and rulings from the judge
- Plea agreement if the case was resolved that way
- Judgment and sentence after the case closed
- Probation or community supervision terms
Most of these records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Records that have been expunged, sealed, or involve juveniles are not available to the public. The clerk can tell you whether a specific record is restricted before you submit a request.
Fees and Access in Mason County
Copy fees at the Mason County combined clerk office are $1 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost an additional $5 on top of the per-page fee. If you are mailing a request, use a money order for payment. Call (325) 347-5253 before sending a mail request to confirm current fees and the preferred format.
Online access through re:SearchTX is free. The DPS name-based search costs $3. Official court forms are available at no charge through txcourts.gov/rules-forms. For legal guidance on records issues, TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help resources. The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool lists licensed attorneys by county. Lone Star Legal Aid may be available to eligible residents in the Hill Country region.
Cities in Mason County
Mason is the county seat and the only incorporated city in Mason County. All criminal court filings for the county are processed through the courts located in Mason. The county is rural, and there are no other cities with qualifying pages on this site.
Nearby Counties
Mason County is in the Texas Hill Country and borders several other rural counties. For records from neighboring jurisdictions, see Llano County, San Saba County, McCulloch County, Menard County, Kimble County, or Gillespie County.