The Facts You Should Know About Texas Arrest Records
In order to understand arrest records in Texas, first you have to know what an arrest record is. Basically, an arrest record in Texas is created anytime an individual is taken into custody in relation to a crime that has been committed. The arrest record is documented with the state in the county where the arrest occurred. Each arrest record will show up on your personal file against you, so it’s a good idea to know what your background report says about you if you've ever been arrested in Texas.
Statistics over recent years have shown an increase in violent crimes in Texas, as reported by the
Texas Department of Public Safety. The types of crimes we are talking about are murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault to name a few. The
Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) division of the TxDPS collects crime data from local law enforcement agencies and reports on how many arrests have been made throughout the state. The crime rate is determined by how many number of crimes have been committed per 100,000 population.
When searching arrest records in Texas, you will find a wealth of information on an individual. Arrest records will likely list a history of a person’s arrests documented with the state of Texas, prison sentence served, court records, inmate or jail records, and any and all information on file in which the individual has been taken into custody. Texas arrest records include pertinent information which may contain the following:
Types Of Records That Are Available To Search
- Full name of the offender & DOB
- The individual's age at the time of arrest
- Date and location the arrest took place
- The crime you were arrested for and whether or
not the arrest was considered a misdemeanor or a felony
- Pending court hearings related to the arrest
- Physical description of the suspect along with a
mug shot if available (including identifying marks)
- The arrestee’s last known address on file
- Any fines associated with the arrest
- Incarceration and release dates from prison
- Any past criminal convictions or arrests on file
Arrest Record vs Criminal Record vs Outstanding Warrants
Many people get confused between what an arrest record, a criminal record and an outstanding warrant is. Each of these types of records have one thing in common in that you have come into contact with the law in relation to a crime. All incidents will be documented on your personal file. Despite having a record, it does not necessarily mean you are guilty of a crime. To help you better understand the differences, below are definitions of each.
Arrest Record
An arrest record in Texas is an official record that documents and lists each time a person was arrested by the police. In order for you to have a Texas arrest record you would have had to be taken into custody by law enforcement as a suspect for a crime or arrested for criminal activity.
Warrant
A warrant is a document issued by a government official, usually a judge, authorizing law enforcement to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out some other action relating to the administration of justice.
Criminal Record
A criminal record is the summary of all illegal activity an individual has been caught participating in and found guilty of by law enforcement agencies. It provides details of all arrest records, along with convictions, sentencing, dismissals, court records, court decisions, verdicts and parole violations.
Having an arrest record in Texas does not necessarily mean you are guilty of anything. It just means you were arrested by police. If you have been arrested as a suspect for a crime that has been committed you will have an arrest record whether or not you were found guilty simply because you were taken into custody. Each time a citizen is detained by a law enforcement officer, the arrest and it’s details must be filed with the state.
After being arrested you will have the option of hiring a lawyer to support your case and prove your innocence. Your case will be decided by the Texas legal system if there is enough evidence against you. This is usually done in the county where the offense took place, unless it’s a serious crime which could be tried in the
Texas Supreme Court. If you are found guilty of the crime, you now have a criminal record and the state considers you an offender. Your personal file will list the criminal conviction along with the arrest record.
In situations where you were incarcerated, but deemed innocent of the crime, the criminal record will be removed and all that will be on your file is an arrest record. Each time a background check is required for a job, security clearance, or another situation where a background check is requested, any arrest record, criminal record, or warrant will likely show up on your personal file. If you have been involved in any type of exchange with the law these records could hold you back or stop you from getting employed. It’s vital to know what your background shows so you can be informed or even get the record removed if eligible
