Criminal Court Records in Wise County
Wise County criminal court records are maintained at the courthouse in Decatur, Texas. The District Clerk handles all felony case files while the County Clerk manages Class A and B misdemeanor records. You can search Wise County criminal cases for free through the statewide re:SearchTX portal, visit the courthouse at 101 N. Trinity Street in Decatur, or request copies by mail. This page covers how the court system works in Wise County and how to find the records you need.
Wise County Overview
Wise County District Clerk
The Wise County District Clerk maintains all felony criminal court records for the county. The office is at 101 N. Trinity Street in Decatur and handles cases from the 271st Judicial District Court. When someone is indicted on a felony charge in Wise County, the case file lives at this office through sentencing and any post-conviction work. The clerk can search records by defendant name or cause number.
In-person requests are processed at the counter during regular business hours. You can reach the clerk at (940) 627-5041 to confirm that a record exists or to ask about fees before visiting. The office also files expunction petitions under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 for those seeking to have arrest records removed from public files.
The re:SearchTX portal provides free public access to Wise County district court criminal records from the Texas court system. The portal shows case status, charges, hearing dates, and documents filed in district court.
The portal is updated regularly with Wise County case data. No account is needed to search by name or cause number.
| Office | Wise County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 N. Trinity Street Decatur, TX 76234 |
| Phone | (940) 627-5041 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Wise County Criminal Records
Start with the free re:SearchTX portal. It covers district court criminal cases across all Texas counties including Wise. Enter a name or cause number to see the charges, court assignment, filing date, and current case status. No account is required. Wise County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and the portal covers active and closed cases in the county's district courts.
For a statewide criminal history check, the Texas Department of Public Safety offers a name-based search for $3. This covers courts across all of Texas. For a result tied to fingerprints, the FAST fingerprint program provides more precise identification. In-person searches are available at the Decatur courthouse during regular office hours.
Wise County Misdemeanor Records
Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in Wise County are handled by the county courts at law and stored by the County Clerk. These include charges like DWI, assault, and theft under certain amounts. The County Clerk's office is in the same courthouse building in Decatur.
To request misdemeanor records, contact the Wise County Clerk. They can search by name or cause number and tell you what documents are available. Class C misdemeanor records are not kept by the County Clerk. Those minor cases go through the justice of the peace courts and municipal courts in communities like Decatur, Bridgeport, Rhome, and Boyd. Contact the relevant local court for Class C records.
Wise County Arrest Records
Arrest records for Wise County are maintained by the Wise County Sheriff's Office. When someone is booked into the county jail, the sheriff creates a record with the name, date of arrest, and charges at booking. These records are separate from court case files and do not show the final outcome of any charges.
Contact the Wise County Sheriff's Office directly for current jail information or recent arrest data. The Wise County Sheriff's page is at wisecountytexas.info. For state prison records, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search is available free online. The Texas sex offender registry from DPS lists registered offenders by county and zip code.
What Wise County Criminal Records Contain
A criminal case file in Wise County contains documents from every phase of the case. Most records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. The file starts with the charging document and adds materials as hearings occur and the case works toward a verdict or plea agreement.
Standard documents in a Wise County criminal case file:
- Grand jury indictment or information with formal charges
- Arrest warrant and affidavit
- Bond documents and release conditions
- Defense and prosecution motions
- Court orders and judge's rulings
- Plea agreement if the case resolved without trial
- Final judgment and sentence
- Probation conditions if applicable
Records that have been expunged under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure are removed from public access. Juvenile records are sealed by law. The District Clerk can confirm if a specific case has been expunged, but they cannot give you access to sealed files.
Fees and Record Access
Copies of criminal court records in Wise County cost $1 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $5 certification fee. Records can be requested in person at the Decatur courthouse or by mail. Send mail requests with the defendant name, approximate year, and payment to the District Clerk at 101 N. Trinity Street, Decatur, TX 76234.
Online access through re:SearchTX is free. The DPS name-based search costs $3 per person. Forms for court records requests are available through the Texas Courts website. For legal help, Lone Star Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income residents. The Texas Bar Find-A-Lawyer tool helps locate licensed attorneys. Self-help guides on expunctions and criminal records are at TexasLawHelp.org.
Cities in Wise County
Decatur is the county seat of Wise County and the location of the courthouse. All criminal cases in the county go through the district and county courts in Decatur, no matter where in the county the offense occurred.
Other communities in Wise County include Bridgeport, Rhome, Boyd, Alvord, and Newark. Wise County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and has grown as northern Tarrant and western Denton counties have expanded. None of these communities have separate criminal district courts. All cases go through Decatur.
Nearby Counties
Wise County is northwest of Fort Worth in north Texas. Neighboring counties with their own court records include Denton County, Tarrant County, Jack County, Montague County, and Parker County.