Bexar County Criminal Court Records Search: Cases & Dockets

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Bexar County, Texas court-record guide

Start with the right Bexar County criminal-record system

Bexar County criminal records are split among several offices. The District Clerk keeps felony district-court records, the County Clerk keeps Class A and Class B misdemeanor County Court at Law records, the Sheriff’s Office handles jail and many law-enforcement records, and the Central Magistrate system is useful for very recent arrests. Bexar County’s newer Justice Information Portal now brings many court and justice searches into one public interface.

Coverage: Bexar County, Texas Information checked: September 24, 2026 Primary sources: Bexar County, City of San Antonio and Texas agencies
Arrest ≠ conviction. A booking, magistrate record, warrant or criminal charge does not establish guilt. Follow the case through the court docket and read its final disposition.
Search court cases Felony and misdemeanor case records in Bexar County’s new portal.
Justice Portal →
Recent arrest People processed by Central Magistrate within the last 24 hours.
Magistrate →
Jail / booking Recent BCSO jail activity, charges and bond information.
Jail records →
Warrant information County warrants, municipal warrants and the correct verification path.
Warrants →
Texas criminal history Statewide DPS conviction and deferred-adjudication search.
Texas DPS →

Which Bexar County office has the criminal record?

The Bexar County Justice Information Portal makes searching easier, but the official custodian still depends on the type of case.

District Clerk

Felony court cases

The Bexar County District Clerk is the official custodian of felony Criminal District Court records.

County Clerk

Class A / B misdemeanors

The County Clerk maintains criminal misdemeanor cases heard in Bexar County Courts at Law.

Central Magistrate

Very recent arrests

Use the Central Magistrate search for qualifying arrests processed within the previous 24 hours.

Sheriff

Jail / law-enforcement records

BCSO maintains jail activity reports, inmate information, offense reports, mugshots and warrant functions.

San Antonio Municipal Court

City Class C cases

City of San Antonio traffic and Class C misdemeanor matters use the municipal court system.

Texas DPS

Statewide criminal history

Use Texas DPS when you need qualifying criminal-history information from across Texas rather than Bexar County only.

A single event can create several records. One arrest may produce a Central Magistrate record, Sheriff’s booking record, police report, District or County Clerk case file, Texas DPS criminal-history entry and eventually a TDCJ record. They are related, but they are not interchangeable.

Bexar County Justice Information Portal

Bexar County has moved its former Court Records Search, Fugitive Search and Bail Bond Search into a newer Justice Information Portal.

Public registration is not required. Bexar County’s current Odyssey Portal user guide states that ordinary public users can access the public portal without registering. Elevated justice-partner access is separate.

The county cautions that information displayed through the portal is intended as a convenient public resource and is not a substitute for a certified or official record obtained from the responsible county office.

Open Bexar Justice Information Portal Official portal user guide

How to search Bexar County criminal court dockets and hearings

The Justice Information Portal includes a Search Hearings function, while the District Clerk also links to online criminal and civil court dockets.

Docket and hearing information can be useful when you need to answer questions such as:

  • Which court is hearing the case?
  • Is there an upcoming setting?
  • What day is the defendant scheduled to appear?
  • Has a hearing already occurred?
  • Which judge/court is assigned?
  • Has the case moved from an earlier setting?
Confirm important hearing dates close to the appearance date. Court settings can change, and online docket data should not replace instructions issued directly by the court.

Bexar County felony criminal court records

The Bexar County District Clerk is the official record custodian for felony criminal district-court cases.

The District Clerk’s Criminal Operations section:

  • files felony indictments
  • maintains criminal district-court records
  • issues subpoenas
  • sets initial court settings
  • processes criminal appeals
  • processes post-conviction writs
  • maintains case updates as hearings occur
  • prepares penitentiary packets after qualifying convictions
District Clerk Criminal Operations
Paul Elizondo Tower
101 W. Nueva St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

Criminal Main Line: 210-335-2591
Supervisor: 210-335-2187

Felony background search

The District Clerk currently lists a $5 fee for a Bexar County felony background search. Requests may be made in person or by mail when the required payment is included.

Public kiosks are also available in the District Clerk criminal section for on-site self-service searching.

Need only a Bexar County felony check? The District Clerk’s $5 county background search can be useful. For statewide Texas criminal history, use Texas DPS instead.

Bexar County misdemeanor criminal court records

The Bexar County Clerk is the statutory clerk for the County Courts at Law handling Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases.

Misdemeanor records are searchable through the same current Justice Information Portal, but requests for official misdemeanor copies and clerk services should go to the County Clerk.

County Clerk Criminal Central Filing
Bexar County Courthouse
100 Dolorosa, Basement
San Antonio, TX 78205

Phone: 210-335-2238
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., except county holidays.

Class A and B vs. Class C: Class A/B misdemeanors belong in the County Courts at Law. City or Justice Court Class C matters can use different databases and are covered separately below.

Bexar County criminal record copy and search fees

The county publishes different criminal-record fee schedules depending on whether the record is maintained by the District Clerk, County Clerk or Sheriff’s Office.

Service Published amount Office / note
Felony background check $5 Bexar County District Clerk Criminal Operations.
Felony record copy $1 per page District Clerk currently lists this amount for felony plain/certified copies.
Misdemeanor background check $5 County Clerk 2026 criminal fee schedule.
Misdemeanor copy $1 per page County Clerk criminal records.
County Clerk document certification $5 Added where certification is requested.
BCSO offense / incident report No cost Sheriff Central Records current service-fee table.
BCSO local record check $3 Local Sheriff’s Central Records service.
BCSO criminal history service $8 Do not confuse this local BCSO service with Texas DPS statewide history.
Fees can change. Confirm the current amount with the clerk before mailing payment or traveling to the courthouse.

Older and historical Bexar County criminal court records

A missing result in the current portal does not always mean no historical case exists. The District Clerk maintains a separate Historical Cases resource and an archives function.

1 Search the Justice Portal Start with the current name/case search.
2 Try case-number / wildcard variants Older indexing may differ from modern naming conventions.
3 Use District Clerk Historical Cases Check the separate historical-record tool.
4 Contact Records / Archives Ask whether the original or archived case file must be retrieved.
District Clerk Records Office

Records Office: 210-335-2653

Bexar County also operates a Records & Training Center at 232 Iowa St., San Antonio, TX 78210; that facility requires an appointment.

District Clerk Historical Cases

Bexar County recent arrest search: first 24 hours

For a very recent arrest, the Bexar County Central Magistrate Search is often more useful than waiting for the complete criminal court case to appear.

The county says the tool covers people arrested for a Class B offense or higher who were processed by the Central Magistrate Office within the previous 24 hours.

Current search results can include

  • name
  • race
  • date of birth / age information
  • SID
  • booking number
  • charges
  • bond information after magistration
Central Magistrate
200 N. Comal
South Tower
San Antonio, TX 78207

Phone: 210-335-6111
Operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Practical sequence after a fresh arrest: Central Magistrate → save SID / booking number → check BCSO custody → search the Justice Information Portal as the criminal case develops.

Bexar County jail, booking and bond information

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office publishes Jail Activity Reports covering a rolling seven-day period.

BCSO warns that booking data can temporarily lag while a defendant moves through the booking process.

Bexar County Jail Activity Reports

Need current inmate charges, bond or warrant information?

BCSO’s Inmate/Bond Information Line can provide inmate charges, bond amounts and warrant information. The Sheriff’s Office says callers should have the person’s full name and date of birth.

BCSO Inmate / Bond Information

Phone: 210-335-6201

Bexar County Adult Detention Center
200 N. Comal Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
Booking data is not a conviction record. A person can be released, charges can change, or a prosecution can end without conviction. Follow the related court case for the final result.

Bexar County Sheriff’s reports, mugshots and local records

The Sheriff’s Central Records Division handles multiple public record services.

Offense report

Incident / offense records

Provide the case number when available, or the date, location and complainant name. The Sheriff’s current fee table lists offense/incident reports at no cost.

Mugshot

Booking-photo request

BCSO accepts mugshot requests through Central Records. The county asks for a full name, SID or date of birth.

Body camera

Body-worn camera request

Requests must identify the date/approximate time, location and at least one known subject, as required by Texas law.

BCSO Central Records

How to request Bexar County public records

Texas uses the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552 for many government-record requests.

Bexar County operates an online Public Information Request Center, but the county specifically directs judicial record requests back to the appropriate clerk:

Court record

Use the clerk

Felony district-court documents → District Clerk.
County Court at Law misdemeanor documents → County Clerk.

Agency record

Use Public Information Act process

Sheriff’s reports, county administrative records and other qualifying agency records can use the county Public Information Request Center.

Bexar County also says mugshot requests should be directed through the county’s designated mugshot-request channel rather than treated as a court-file request.

Bexar County Public Records Requests

Useful distinction: a court case document and a Sheriff’s incident report can arise from the same arrest, but they are maintained by different offices and follow different request procedures.

Bexar County criminal warrant information

For county warrant questions, Bexar County directs the public to the Sheriff’s Judicial Services / Criminal Warrants section.

BCSO Warrants

Phone: 210-335-6030 or 210-335-6050
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays.

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
200 N. Comal
San Antonio, TX 78207

BCSO provides separate phone menu options for attorneys/bondsmen, extradition or detainers, and law-enforcement/criminal warrant information.

Traffic-ticket warning: BCSO says an SAPD traffic ticket should be handled through San Antonio Municipal Court. Tickets issued by a Sheriff or Constable may need the corresponding precinct.
Warrant status can change quickly. Verify a consequential warrant question directly with the responsible court or Sheriff’s Office rather than relying only on an older web result.

BCSO Warrant Information

Class C misdemeanor and San Antonio Municipal Court records

Bexar County’s Class A and Class B misdemeanor courts are not the same as city municipal court.

The San Antonio Municipal Court handles many City of San Antonio traffic, parking, ordinance and Class C criminal citations.

San Antonio Municipal Court
401 S. Frio St.
San Antonio, TX 78207

General information: 210-207-8970
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Magistrate Court / detention operations are available 24/7.

San Antonio’s website provides a Traffic/Criminal Case Search and active city-warrant search.

New citation? San Antonio Municipal Court says a citation can take up to 10 business days to appear in the online system.

San Antonio Municipal Court San Antonio City Warrants

Texas DPS statewide criminal-history search

A Bexar County court search only covers Bexar County. The Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division maintains Texas’s statewide Computerized Criminal History system.

Public users can use the DPS Criminal History Conviction Name Search.

Current public online search cost

DPS currently charges one $1 search credit for a submitted online name-based search.

Credit-card purchases currently add:

  • 2.25% per credit
  • $0.25 transaction fee
A $1 search is charged even when no matching record is found. DPS also warns that a name-based match does not positively identify a person.

Search fields and matching

DPS requires first and last name and recommends supplying a middle/maiden name and complete date of birth when possible. The search can test similar-sounding names as well as exact variations.

Identity matters: DPS states that fingerprints are the only reliable way to positively link a person to a criminal-history record when a name-based match is disputed.

Fingerprint-based personal Texas criminal-history review

If you are reviewing your own record or disputing a possible name-based match, Texas DPS provides a fingerprint-based personal review process.

DPS currently lists:

  • $15 DPS fingerprint-based criminal-history record-check fee
  • $10 additional FAST electronic fingerprinting fee for the personal-review process

DPS contracts with IdentoGO for FAST electronic fingerprinting locations.

Fingerprint vs. name: use the public $1 name search for general public research. Use fingerprint-based personal review when you need stronger proof that a record does or does not belong to you.

Texas DPS fingerprinting services

Texas prison and parole records for a Bexar County case

A person in the Bexar County Adult Detention Center is not necessarily a TDCJ inmate. County custody and Texas state-prison custody are separate.

Use the official Texas Department of Criminal Justice Offender Search for state corrections information.

The TDCJ search supports:

  • name
  • SID number
  • current TDCJ number
  • previous TDCJ numbers
  • wildcard partial searches
Simple rule:
Bexar County jail → BCSO / Central Magistrate.
Texas state prison or TDCJ supervision → TDCJ Offender Search.

Bexar County criminal appeals

Criminal cases from Bexar County can move into Texas’s appellate court system.

Fourth Court of Appeals

The Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio has intermediate appellate jurisdiction over criminal cases from Bexar County and other counties in its district, except categories reserved to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Fourth Court of Appeals
Cadena-Reeves Justice Center
300 Dolorosa, Suite 3200
San Antonio, TX 78205-3037

Phone: 210-335-2635
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Fourth Court of Appeals

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the state’s highest court for criminal cases. Its public case-search system contains appellate case and document information.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Bexar County expunction and nondisclosure records

Texas expunction and orders of nondisclosure are different legal remedies. Eligibility and filing requirements depend on the case and applicable Texas law.

A useful Bexar County expunction detail

The District Clerk publishes a Suggested Expunction Agencies list because criminal records can exist with more than one agency.

The county’s current suggested list includes, where applicable:

  • Bexar County District Clerk
  • Bexar County District Attorney
  • Bexar County Clerk
  • Bexar County Sheriff
  • Bexar County Pre-Trial Services
  • Texas Office of Court Administration for qualifying e-filed cases
  • Texas DPS Expunction Unit
  • San Antonio Police Department
  • San Antonio Municipal Court
The list is only a starting point. Bexar County expressly says the suggested agencies may not include every agency that holds a person’s records. The filer is responsible for identifying all applicable agencies.

Bexar suggested expunction agencies

County Clerk nondisclosure fee: use the newer fee schedule

Bexar County has older FAQ text still showing a previous nondisclosure filing amount. The newer 2026 County Clerk Criminal & Bond Forfeiture Fee Schedule lists the Petition for Nondisclosure filing total at $350.

The same 2026 schedule also identifies a $28 nondisclosure fee line under Government Code § 411.081.

Because Bexar County pages contain older and newer fee references, call Criminal Central Filing at 210-335-2238 before filing to confirm the exact total currently payable.

Bexar County juvenile criminal records

Juvenile records do not follow the ordinary adult criminal-record workflow.

The District Clerk Juvenile Division:

  • files Juvenile Delinquent Conduct petitions
  • files Children in Need of Supervision matters
  • issues subpoenas
  • sets juvenile matters for hearing
  • prepares juvenile appeals
  • files Applications for Sealing of Juvenile Records
  • files Applications for Restricted Access
Juvenile District Courts
Tejeda Juvenile Justice Center
235 E. Mitchell
San Antonio, TX 78210

District Clerk Juvenile: 210-335-1171

Do not assume a juvenile record is public just because an adult record would be. Juvenile matters are subject to additional confidentiality and access restrictions.

Federal criminal records for Bexar County

Federal prosecutions are not Bexar County District or County Court cases. Bexar County is within the San Antonio Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Federal Court

U.S. District Court — San Antonio Division

262 W. Nueva St., Room 1-400
San Antonio, TX 78207

Phone: 210-472-6550
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT

Federal electronic case dockets and documents are generally searched through PACER.

Do not search the Bexar Justice Information Portal for a federal prosecution. County/state and federal courts use separate systems.

Where to go in person for Bexar County criminal records

Felony Records

Bexar County District Clerk

Paul Elizondo Tower
101 W. Nueva St.
San Antonio, TX 78205

Criminal Filing: 210-335-2591
Main District Clerk: 210-335-2113

Misdemeanor Records

Bexar County Clerk

Bexar County Courthouse
100 Dolorosa, Basement
San Antonio, TX 78205

Criminal Central Filing: 210-335-2238
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Call first if the case is old. Archive retrieval, certification and unusual record requests can take longer than a normal online lookup.

Bexar County Courthouse map

The historic Bexar County Courthouse is the primary County Clerk location and sits within the downtown justice complex. The District Clerk’s felony Criminal Operations office is nearby in the Paul Elizondo Tower at 101 W. Nueva St.

Bexar County Courthouse, 100 Dolorosa, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Confirm the exact office before traveling because felony and misdemeanor record counters are in different buildings/areas.

Bexar County criminal-record search tips that save time

Tip 01

Use the new portal

Older Bexar court, fugitive and bail-search applications have been consolidated into the new Justice Information Portal.

Tip 02

Public users do not need to register

The current Odyssey Portal guide says registration is not required for ordinary public access.

Tip 03

Enter names surname first

The portal expects Last, First Middle Suffix format.

Tip 04

Use the wildcard

An asterisk can help when you know only part of the first name or spelling.

Tip 05

Fresh arrest? Start with Central Magistrate

The 24-hour arrest search can provide an SID and booking number before the court file becomes easy to locate.

Tip 06

Felony and misdemeanor have different custodians

District Clerk handles felony records; County Clerk handles Class A/B misdemeanor records.

Tip 07

City Class C? Use Municipal Court

San Antonio city citations and city warrants are not the same as Bexar County felony or County Court at Law records.

Tip 08

Use DPS for statewide history

The Bexar portal cannot tell you whether the same person has cases in other Texas counties.

Tip 09

Read the final disposition

The original arrest or charge can differ significantly from the final case outcome.

Using Bexar County criminal records for employment or housing

Public court access does not automatically make a county search suitable for every employment, tenant, credit, licensing or other eligibility decision.

A county court search is not automatically an FCRA-compliant consumer report. Additional federal and state requirements may apply depending on who provides the report, the purpose of the search and how the information is used.

Bexar County criminal court records: frequently asked questions

1. Where can I search Bexar County criminal court records?

Use the Bexar County Justice Information Portal. It consolidates the former county court-record, fugitive and bail-bond search applications and supports public case searching.

2. Do I need an account to search the Bexar County Justice Information Portal?

No. Bexar County’s current Odyssey Portal user guide states that registration is not required for ordinary public access. Elevated justice-partner access is a separate permission level.

3. How should I enter a person’s name in the Bexar portal?

The county instructs users to enter names in Last, First Middle Suffix order. The portal also supports an asterisk wildcard when part of a name is unknown.

4. Who keeps Bexar County felony criminal records?

The Bexar County District Clerk is the official custodian of felony Criminal District Court records. Criminal Operations can be reached at 210-335-2591.

5. Who keeps Bexar County misdemeanor records?

The Bexar County Clerk maintains Class A and Class B misdemeanor County Court at Law records. Criminal Central Filing is at 100 Dolorosa in the courthouse basement.

6. How can I search someone arrested in Bexar County today?

Use the Bexar County Central Magistrate Search. It covers qualifying Class B-or-higher arrests processed by Central Magistrate during the previous 24 hours.

7. How can I get Bexar County inmate charges or bond information?

Contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Inmate/Bond Information Line at 210-335-6201. The Sheriff’s Office asks callers to have the person’s full name and date of birth.

8. Is a Bexar County court search the same as a Texas criminal-history check?

No. Bexar County searches local court records. Texas DPS maintains the statewide public criminal-history search for qualifying Texas conviction and deferred-adjudication information.

9. Where can I search a San Antonio Class C misdemeanor or city warrant?

Use the San Antonio Municipal Court Traffic/Criminal Case Search or city warrant resources. Municipal court cases are separate from Bexar County District and County Courts at Law.

10. Where do I search federal criminal cases involving Bexar County?

Bexar County is within the San Antonio Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Federal electronic case records are searched through PACER.

Official Bexar County and Texas sources

Portal interfaces, fees and record-access rules can change. Verify important information with the government office maintaining the original record.

Editorial note: Criminal-Record.org is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, the State of Texas or any court or law-enforcement agency. Arrest records, bookings, warrants, court cases and statewide criminal-history records are separate sources and can contain different information. Records can also be corrected, restricted, sealed, expunged or updated after publication. Verify consequential information directly with the government office maintaining the official record.

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