Travis County Criminal Court Records

Travis County criminal court records are public documents that cover all felony and misdemeanor cases filed in the county that includes Austin, the state capital. The Travis County District Clerk handles felony criminal filings across multiple district courts, while the County Clerk maintains Class A and B misdemeanor records at a separate location. With a population of about 1.3 million, Travis County has one of the larger court systems in Texas. Records are accessible online, in person at the Austin courthouse, and by mail. This guide covers where to look, how to request records, and what information those files contain.

Travis County District Clerk

The Travis County District Clerk is based at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in downtown Austin. This office maintains all felony criminal case files for Travis County. Cases range from state jail felonies up through capital offenses. The clerk assigns cause numbers, keeps case files current as the case moves through the court, and stores all final records including judgments and sentences.

Travis County has multiple district courts dedicated to criminal cases. The District Clerk serves all of them. When a case goes to trial, the clerk keeps the trial record along with any exhibits filed into evidence. If a plea is entered, the plea papers and judgment are stored in the same file. Everything is part of the public court record unless a judge issues a sealing order.

The Travis County District Clerk's website at traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk lists current services, online search options, and contact information for the office.

The Travis County District Clerk processes thousands of felony filings each year across the county's multiple criminal district courts in Austin.

How to Search Travis County Criminal Cases

Travis County offers online case search through the Travis County District Clerk website at traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk. This is the most direct starting point for felony cases. The statewide re:SearchTX portal also covers Travis County and lets you search alongside records from other Texas counties. Both tools allow name-based and cause number searches. Basic case information is free on both platforms.

Re:SearchTX is operated by the Texas Office of Court Administration and pulls data from district and county courts statewide. For Travis County cases, it returns case status, charge details, court settings, and dispositions. Document copies may involve fees depending on what the county has loaded into the system. For the most complete document access, the Travis County District Clerk's own website may have more detail than re:SearchTX.

The Texas judicial branch research portal gives you free statewide access to court case data including all Travis County criminal filings.

The Travis County District Attorney's office prosecutes felony and serious misdemeanor cases in the county. Case files handled by the DA's office become part of the public court record maintained by the District Clerk.

In-person access is available at 501 W. 11th Street during business hours. For older records, call ahead to confirm availability, since some older files may require retrieval from storage. The clerk's staff can search by name or cause number. For mail requests, send your written request to the District Clerk address and include the name, any cause number, what records you need, a return envelope, and a check or money order for copy fees.

The Texas DPS maintains a separate public criminal history portal that draws from conviction data reported statewide. This is useful for a broad check across Texas but does not show the full case file details available through the clerk's office. For certified fingerprint-based results, the Texas FAST program provides official background checks.

Misdemeanor Records in Travis County

Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Travis County are filed in the county courts at law and maintained by the Travis County Clerk. The County Clerk's misdemeanor records office is at a separate location from the District Clerk. Travis County has multiple county courts at law that handle the high volume of misdemeanor cases in a county of this size.

The Travis County Clerk's misdemeanor records are located at 5501 Airport Boulevard, Austin, TX 78751. Common misdemeanor charges handled through this system include first-offense DWI, assault causing bodily injury, drug possession below the felony threshold, criminal mischief, and a range of other Class A and B offenses.

Misdemeanor records in Travis County are public and can be searched through re:SearchTX alongside felony records. The County Clerk also maintains its own case index. Call the County Clerk directly or check the Travis County website for current contact information and online access options for misdemeanor records.

Class C misdemeanors in Travis County are handled by Austin Municipal Court and multiple justice of the peace courts. These are separate from the county court system. Class C violations result in fines only and no jail time. Records for Class C cases are held by the specific court that processed them. Contact Austin Municipal Court or the relevant JP court if you are looking for a Class C record.

Texas law allows some criminal records to be cleared through expunction or non-disclosure. Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 applies to dismissed or acquitted cases. Non-disclosure applies to certain deferred adjudication completions. Both require a petition filed in the Travis County court that handled the original case. Approved forms are at txcourts.gov/rules-forms.

Arrest Records and Criminal History in Travis County

Arrest records in Travis County come from multiple agencies. The Travis County Sheriff's Office holds records for people arrested and booked into the county jail. The Austin Police Department maintains separate records for arrests made within city limits. An arrest is not a conviction. If the district attorney filed charges, a court case file will exist at the District or County Clerk. If charges were declined, no court record was created even though an arrest record exists.

The Travis County Sheriff's Office provides a jail roster and inmate search tool through the county website. If you need to know whether someone is currently in custody in Travis County, that is the right tool to check first.

Statewide conviction history is available through the DPS criminal history portal. Name-based searches are free. The database reflects convictions and some deferred adjudication records reported to DPS from courts and law enforcement across Texas. For a certified fingerprint-verified result, the Texas FAST program is the official route.

People in Texas state prison or on parole can be found through the TDCJ offender search. It is free and publicly accessible. The Texas Sex Offender Registry allows name-based and county-level searches. Given Travis County's size, there are many entries for Austin and surrounding communities in that registry.

The Texas Public Information Act at Texas Government Code Chapter 552 governs access to public records. Criminal court files are largely public under this law. Sealed records and juvenile case files are the main exceptions.

What Travis County Criminal Records Contain

A criminal court file in Travis County contains documents covering the full life of the case. Here is what to expect when you request a file:

• The charging instrument, which may be an indictment from a grand jury, a criminal information, or a complaint
• Defendant name, date of birth, address at filing, and any aliases on file
• Specific charge descriptions and the penal code sections cited
• A docket sheet listing all court settings, hearings, and outcomes
• Plea information and the date the plea was entered
• Final judgment, sentence, and any conditions of probation or deferred adjudication
• Bond conditions and any bond forfeiture actions
• Attorneys of record for prosecution and defense
• Sentencing enhancements or prior conviction allegations if applicable
• All motions, responses, and court orders in the case
• Jury selection records if the case went to trial

Sealed records, juvenile files, and materials subject to active protective orders are not in the public case file. Travis County's high case volume means the District Clerk's office processes many requests daily. Having the cause number in advance will speed up your request significantly.

Electronic records in Travis County go back further than in many smaller counties. Most cases from the past two decades are in the online system. Older paper-only records may take more time to retrieve.

Fees and Access for Travis County Records

Copy fees follow the standard Texas rate of $1 per page for regular copies. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee on top of the per-page charge. The clerk's office confirms the exact total when you make your request. Given the volume of cases in Travis County, the office typically handles records requests efficiently.

Online access through the District Clerk's website and re:SearchTX is free for basic case information. Document copies online may involve fees. DPS public name searches are free. The FAST fingerprint background check carries a fee set by DPS, paid at the time of the request.

Mail requests to the Travis County District Clerk should be sent to 501 W. 11th Street, Room 2.300, Austin, TX 78701. Include the defendant's full name, any cause number you have, the specific records needed, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. The District Clerk website at traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk may have updated request instructions and a current fee schedule posted.

Free legal resources for Travis County residents include Texas Law Help and Lone Star Legal Aid. Austin has a number of nonprofit legal aid organizations serving low-income residents. For private representation on expunction or non-disclosure matters, the State Bar of Texas lawyer referral service connects you with attorneys licensed in Texas who handle these cases.

Cities in Travis County

Austin is the county seat and by far the largest city in Travis County. It is also the state capital and home to the main Travis County courthouse complex. Other cities in Travis County include Cedar Park, Round Rock (which extends into Williamson County), and Pflugerville, though those cities do not have dedicated pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Counties that border Travis County include Bastrop County, Burnet County, Caldwell County, Hays County, Lee County, Milam County, and Williamson County. Each county page includes clerk contact details and links to available search tools.