Find Criminal Court Records in Shackelford County
Shackelford County criminal court records are held at the combined District and County Clerk office in Albany, which serves as the county seat. Because the county's population is small, a single office handles both felony and misdemeanor criminal filings. Records can be searched online through the re:SearchTX portal or requested in person and by mail from the Albany courthouse. This page covers each available source, what documents you can get, and how to submit a request.
Shackelford County Overview
Shackelford County District and County Clerk
Shackelford County is a small rural county in West Texas, and like many counties of its size, the District Clerk and County Clerk duties are handled by a combined office in the Albany courthouse. This office is the official custodian of all criminal case files in the county, covering both felony cases filed in the district court and Class A and B misdemeanor cases filed in the county court. The office is small, and calling ahead before you visit is a good idea.
The district court for Shackelford County is the 42nd Judicial District Court. Felony criminal cases filed in Shackelford County are indexed and archived by this office. The clerk can search by defendant name or cause number and can locate case files for both recent and older cases. If you are requesting older records, it helps to have as much identifying information as possible since index systems for older cases may be paper-based.
The Shackelford County District Clerk's office website at shackelfordcounty.org provides contact information and basic guidance on how to make records requests.
The official page for the Shackelford County District Clerk shows the office's contact details and provides a starting point for submitting a records request or checking what forms are available.
The District Clerk's page confirms the Albany address and phone number shown in the table below. Use it to verify current office hours before making the trip from out of town.
| Office | Shackelford County District/County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 225 S. Main Street Albany, TX 76430 |
| Phone | (325) 762-2232 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Expunction and non-disclosure petitions for Shackelford County cases are filed with this combined clerk's office. The Texas expunction process is governed by Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55.
How to Search Shackelford County Criminal Records
The re:SearchTX portal is a free statewide system run by the Texas Office of Court Administration. It covers district and county court criminal cases from all 254 Texas counties, including Shackelford County. You can search by defendant name or cause number and get case status, charge information, hearing dates, and any documents that have been scanned into the system.
The Texas judiciary's online case search at re:SearchTX lets you look up Shackelford County criminal court records without having to travel to Albany.
For older cases where documents may not yet be digitized, an in-person or mail request to the Shackelford County clerk's office in Albany is the most reliable option. The Texas DPS Criminal History portal is a separate system that pulls arrest and disposition data across all Texas counties and is useful for a broader criminal history search beyond what is in the court records system.
Misdemeanor Records in Shackelford County
Class A and B misdemeanor cases in Shackelford County are filed in the county court and are part of the combined clerk's record holdings in Albany. Because both functions sit in the same office, you do not need to make separate requests for felony and misdemeanor records. A single inquiry to the combined clerk's office will cover both.
The Shackelford County Clerk's official page at shackelfordcounty.org covers the county court side of the office, including the types of records it holds and how to submit requests.
The Shackelford County Clerk page outlines the county court records maintained at the Albany courthouse, which includes Class A and B misdemeanor criminal filings alongside civil and probate records.
Class C misdemeanors are handled at the Justice of the Peace level and are not part of the combined clerk's record set. For JP court records in Shackelford County, contact the JP court directly in Albany.
Arrest Records and Criminal History
The Shackelford County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. The Sheriff handles arrests, books individuals into the county jail, and maintains arrest records. These records are separate from the court files held by the clerk. If you need information about an arrest that did not result in charges or about someone's jail status, the Sheriff is the right contact.
The official page for the Shackelford County Sheriff's Office gives contact details and information about how to reach the department for records inquiries.
For a full statewide criminal history search, the Texas DPS Criminal History portal covers all Texas counties and is more complete than searching any single county's records. Individuals can check their own record at no cost. The FAST fingerprint program produces certified results for licensing and official use. The Texas Sex Offender Registry and the TDCJ offender database are also free public tools for checking status in Shackelford County.
What Criminal Case Files Contain
Criminal case records in Shackelford County follow the same standard format used across Texas courts. Regardless of the charge level, a complete case file typically contains these documents:
- Indictment from the grand jury or criminal information document
- Arrest warrant and supporting affidavit
- Bond and pretrial release documentation
- Motions filed by defense and prosecution
- Court orders on motions
- Plea agreement if the case was resolved by a plea
- Judgment and sentence
- Community supervision or probation conditions if applicable
- Any appeal filings and outcomes
Records that have been expunged under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure are removed from public access. Juvenile records are also restricted. Ask the clerk if a record you expect to find is not showing up, as it may be sealed or expunged.
Fees and Requesting Records
Copy fees in Shackelford County are $1 per page under the standard Texas schedule. Certified copies carry an added certification fee. For a small county like Shackelford, most case files are not especially long, so the total cost of a request is usually modest. Calling ahead to ask about page count before sending payment is always a good idea for older or larger files.
Mail requests should include the defendant's full name, approximate filing year, cause number if known, a description of what you need, and a check or money order for estimated costs. The clerk's office will return copies by mail. For more guidance on your rights to access public court records in Texas, see TexasLawHelp.org or review the Texas Public Information Act. The Texas Bar referral service can connect you with a local attorney if needed.
Cities in Shackelford County
Albany is the county seat of Shackelford County and the largest community in the county, with a population of around 2,000. No city in Shackelford County meets the population threshold for a dedicated criminal records page. All criminal court records for the county, including cases involving Albany residents, are held at the combined clerk's office at the Albany courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Shackelford County is located in West Texas and borders several other counties in the region. Criminal court records for neighboring counties are available at: Callahan County, Haskell County, Jones County, Knox County, Stephens County, and Throckmorton County.