Start with the right Denton County records office
Denton County criminal records are split between several agencies. The District Clerk maintains criminal district-court records such as felony cases, the County Clerk maintains misdemeanor court records, and the Denton County Sheriff’s Office maintains jail, bond and many law-enforcement records. Texas DPS operates a separate statewide criminal-history database. Knowing which record you need can save a large amount of time.
Which Denton County office has the criminal record?
Denton County’s justice system does not store every criminal record in one office. The record custodian depends heavily on the type and stage of the case.
Felony / district criminal cases
The District Clerk maintains records for Denton County District Courts, including criminal district-court files and felony records.
Misdemeanor cases
The County Clerk is the official keeper of misdemeanor court records and also maintains juvenile court records.
Jail / bond / law enforcement
Use the Sheriff’s Office for jail records, bond information and Sheriff’s Office incident or arrest-related public-record requests.
Statewide criminal history
DPS maintains Texas criminal-history information reported by criminal-justice agencies throughout the state.
Criminal appeals
Denton County criminal appeals generally go to the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, except death-penalty appeals that go directly to the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Federal prosecutions
Denton County lies in the Sherman Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas for federal judicial purposes.
Search Denton County court, jail and bond records online
Denton County provides a centralized Judicial & Law Enforcement Records Search page. It links users to county case records, court calendars, Sheriff jail records and bond records.
The main Public Access portal is: Denton County Public Access.
Open Denton County Public Access
Use the county-hosted portal rather than beginning with a commercial background-check website.
Select the correct record category
For felony district-court records, choose the District Court case-record option. Other options cover county-court, jail, bond and calendar information.
Search using the strongest identifier
Case or cause number is usually strongest. If unavailable, use the name fields and any date or other filter the portal provides.
Open the registry of actions
Review the sequence of filings and court events instead of relying only on the first charge or case label.
Verify important facts with the actual court file
Denton County expressly warns that online records are subject to data-entry limitations and that judgments and case details should be verified against the actual court records.
Denton County felony criminal records
Felony records filed in Denton County District Courts are maintained by the Denton County District Clerk.
Denton County District Clerk
1450 E. McKinney Street, 1st FloorDenton, TX 76209
Mail: P.O. Box 2146, Denton, TX 76202
Phone: 940-349-2200
Criminal / felony records: 940-349-2210
Email:
dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov
Published hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Formal felony case-record search
Denton County also publishes a Felony Case Record Search form.
| Item | Current Denton County instruction |
|---|---|
| Scope | Felony cases held by the Denton County District Clerk only. |
| Search fee | $5 per search and per certificate as stated on the current form. |
| Processing | Allow up to 10 business days for completion and mailing of the certificate. |
| Identification | A current valid state-issued ID or driver’s license should be presented when making the request. |
| Useful identifiers | Full name, date of birth, driver’s license, state ID or other identifying data requested on the form. |
| Coverage limitation | Not a statewide or nationwide background check. |
Denton County misdemeanor criminal records
The Denton County County Clerk is the official record keeper for misdemeanor court records. County Criminal Courts 1 through 5 handle local misdemeanor matters.
Denton County Clerk — Criminal
1450 E. McKinney StreetDenton, TX 76209
Criminal misdemeanor clerks:
940-349-2014
Criminal request email:
CountyClerkCriminalRequest@dentoncounty.gov
Fax: 940-349-2015
Misdemeanor background search request
Denton County publishes a dedicated Criminal Misdemeanor Background Search Request.
| Item | County Clerk rule |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Criminal Class A and B misdemeanor cases filed in Denton County. |
| Initial search | $5 |
| Additional case found | $5 for each additional case |
| Identifiers | The form asks for at least three identifiers such as name, DOB, SSN, state DL or state ID. |
| Processing | County Clerk asks requesters to allow up to 10 days. |
How to read a Denton County criminal case result
| Field | Meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Case / cause number | Identifier assigned to the court proceeding. | Use it when requesting copies or calling the clerk. |
| Charge | Offense alleged or filed. | Do not treat it as proof of conviction. |
| Registry of Actions | Chronological sequence of court activity. | Look for plea, motions, dismissal, judgment and sentence entries. |
| Disposition | How the charge or case was resolved. | Conviction, dismissal, deferred adjudication or other result. |
| Sentence | Court-imposed consequences when applicable. | Jail, probation/community supervision, fines or other orders. |
| Bond | Release-security information. | Bond does not indicate guilt or final disposition. |
How to get plain or certified Denton County criminal court copies
District Clerk copies — felony / district cases
The District Clerk requires its Record Request Form before performing records research or processing a copy request. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, fax or email.
| Copy/service | Current information |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $1 per page + $5 certification fee |
| Plain / uncertified copy | Can be emailed to the requester. |
| Certified copy format | Produced as hard copy and mailed to requester. |
| Credit-card processing | District Clerk currently publishes a 2.75% transaction fee, with a $1 minimum. |
| Personal checks | Not accepted by the District Clerk for these record requests. |
County Clerk copies — misdemeanor cases
The County Clerk publishes an Email Copy Request form for criminal court cases. The current form is for electronic plain copies only, asks for the case/cause number and defendant’s name, and states an approximate 10-day turnaround.
County Clerk criminal copy formWhen an in-person Denton County courthouse search is better
The District Clerk says public computers are available in the lobby of its office and the Denton County Courthouse/County Courts Building for viewing case-file documents that are publicly accessible.
In-person access can be useful when:
- a case appears online but the document does not
- the file predates convenient online access
- you need to inspect the underlying docket document
- you need a certified copy
- you know the case number but online details are incomplete
- you need the clerk to explain the correct record-request process
Denton County jail and inmate records
The Denton County Sheriff’s Office provides an online jail-record search through the county’s justice-record system.
Search Denton County jail recordsThe Sheriff’s Services page also links separately to Jail Records Search and Bond Records Search.
Law Enforcement Center
127 N. Woodrow LaneDenton, TX 76205
Denton County bond records
Denton County’s Sheriff’s Services page includes an official Bond Records Search. The county’s Judicial & Law Enforcement Records page also identifies sheriff jail and bond records as part of the public county records system.
Bond data can help explain whether a person has been released and the type or amount of bond, but it does not establish whether the person was convicted.
Sheriff jail and bond servicesHow to request Denton County Sheriff’s Office records
For a Sheriff’s Office arrest report, incident report or other public information not available through a direct search, Denton County currently accepts Sheriff’s public-information requests by four approved methods.
Denton County Sheriff’s Office Records
127 N. Woodrow LaneDenton, TX 76205
Records:
940-349-1630
Email:
so.orr@dentoncounty.gov
City of Denton Police records are separate from county records
This is an important local distinction. The Denton County District Clerk maintains records for District Courts; it does not maintain City of Denton departmental records.
If the Denton Police Department made the arrest and you need its police report, the City directs open-record requests through the City Secretary’s Office.
Denton Police Records
601 E. Hickory St., Suite EDenton, TX 76205
Police Records:
940-349-7973
Police non-emergency:
940-349-8181
City open-record requests
Denton Police instructs requesters to submit police open-record requests through the City Secretary’s public-information process.
City of Denton open-record instructionsHow to check a Denton County warrant
Denton County publishes a Most Wanted resource, but a Most Wanted page should not be treated as a complete index of every active warrant.
For a specific warrant-status question, the Denton County Sheriff’s Office publishes a dedicated Warrants contact.
Denton County Sheriff’s Warrants
Phone:
940-349-1560
Alternate:
972-434-5505
Texas Public Information Act requests in Denton County
Texas Government Code Chapter 552 provides a process for requesting existing government records. The Texas Attorney General explains that a valid Public Information Act request should be made in writing to the governmental body that maintains the information.
Identify the record custodian
Court record, Sheriff report, City of Denton police report and DPS criminal history can belong to different governmental bodies.
Ask for existing records, not answers to questions
The governmental body does not have to create new information or perform legal research in response to a PIA request.
Describe the record precisely
Include case number, incident number, date, location, person’s name or other details that will help staff locate the record.
Keep proof of submission
Texas Attorney General guidance recommends keeping a copy of the request and proof the governmental body received it.
Texas DPS statewide criminal-history search
Denton County court records only cover cases maintained by Denton County offices. For a broader Texas criminal-history search, use the Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search.
Texas DPS states that public conviction and deferred-adjudication information can be available through its public criminal-history website.
| Item | Current DPS online rule |
|---|---|
| Account | A public-site account is required. |
| Search credit | $1 per online search credit. |
| Credit-card purchase charge | 2.25% per credit plus a $0.25 transaction fee. |
| Required search fields | First and last name; additional details improve results. |
| Date of birth | A complete DOB can narrow results. |
| Identity caution | Name searches can produce incorrect matches; fingerprints provide positive identification. |
How to review your own Texas criminal history
Texas DPS provides a fingerprint-based Personal Review process for people who want a copy of their own Texas criminal-history information or who need to investigate a possible error.
DPS uses its FAST/IdentoGO fingerprinting system for electronic personal-review submissions.
Denton County criminal appeals: Second Court of Appeals
The Texas Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth has appellate jurisdiction over Denton County. It handles criminal appeals from Denton County district and county courts, except death-penalty appeals that go directly to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Public users can review case status and opinions through the Texas appellate court system.
Second Court of AppealsDenton County expunction records and the 2025 procedure change
Texas expunction law and Denton County filing procedures changed for cases filed after September 1, 2025. Denton County District Clerk now publishes local instructions tied to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A.
| Item | Denton County instruction |
|---|---|
| New expunction suit filing | $350 base filing fee under the current local instructions. |
| eFile category | Civil — related to Criminal Matters. |
| Case type | Expunction. |
| Agency addresses | Petition must include required physical and email contact information for listed entities. |
| Electronic notice | No issuance fee for qualifying electronic expunction notices. |
| Certified-mail notice | Current Denton County issuance fee is $25 per applicable party. |
Order of nondisclosure vs. expunction
Texas also provides Orders of Nondisclosure for qualifying cases. Nondisclosure is different from expunction.
Removal under qualifying law
Expunction can require agencies to remove qualifying records under the applicable Texas statutory process.
Record is generally sealed from public disclosure
Texas Judicial Branch guidance explains that nondisclosure seals covered criminal-history information from ordinary public access but does not make it disappear from every authorized agency.
Denton County Pre-Trial Diversion and why a case may later be dismissed
The Denton County Criminal District Attorney operates a Pre-Trial Diversion program for qualifying low-risk, true first offenders.
Denton County states that when a participant successfully completes all PTD terms, the case is dismissed and becomes eligible for expunction.
Cases commonly considered can include qualifying low-level matters such as:
- certain non-violent misdemeanors
- low-level felonies
- theft
- criminal mischief
- criminal trespass
- certain evading-arrest cases
Denton County juvenile criminal records
The Denton County County Clerk maintains juvenile court records, but juvenile records do not follow the same public-access rules as ordinary adult misdemeanor records.
Texas Attorney General guidance identifies juvenile-offender information among common categories of information protected from general public disclosure.
Federal criminal cases arising in Denton County
Denton County falls within the Sherman Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Federal prosecutions are separate from Denton County state criminal cases.
Use PACER to search federal criminal cases.
| PACER access | Current rule through Dec. 31, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Electronic case information | $0.10 per billable page. |
| Single qualifying document | Generally capped at $3. |
| Quarterly charges of $30 or less | Automatically waived. |
| Federal courthouse public terminal | Viewing case information is free. |
Denton County Courts Building: criminal-record access location
Denton County Courts Building
1450 E. McKinney StreetDenton, TX 76209
This building houses the County Clerk, District Clerk, County Criminal Courts, multiple District Courts, District Attorney, Law Library and other justice offices.
Useful contacts at this address
District Clerk:
940-349-2200
Felony / Magistrate Records:
940-349-2210
County Clerk Criminal:
940-349-2014
County Courts:
940-349-2108
Denton County criminal-record search tips that save time
Know felony vs misdemeanor
Felony record = District Clerk. Class A/B misdemeanor record = County Clerk.
Start with Justice1
The county Public Access portal can quickly tell you whether a case, jail record or bond record is available online.
Use the case number
Case numbers reduce confusion between people with similar names.
Recent arrest? Check jail first
The jail record may appear before the full criminal case is searchable.
Don’t mix City of Denton and Denton County
A Denton Police report belongs with the City; the criminal court case belongs with the appropriate county clerk.
Read the disposition
The original arrest charge may not be the final outcome of the case.
Check both local and statewide systems when needed
Denton County records are local. Texas DPS provides a separate statewide search.
Use courthouse terminals for missing documents
District Clerk public computers can provide access to eligible case-file documents that are not as convenient to review remotely.
Get a certified disposition when correcting DPS
DPS instructs users with missing or incorrect court dispositions to obtain the certified court record from the court of jurisdiction.
Using Denton County criminal records for employment or tenant screening
A public Denton County court search is not automatically the same thing as a legally compliant employment, housing, credit or insurance background report.
Texas DPS also distinguishes ordinary public criminal-history searches from fingerprint-based checks conducted for authorized employment, licensing and regulated purposes.
Denton County criminal records FAQs
1. Can I search Denton County criminal cases online for free?
Yes. Denton County provides a Public Access portal for general case information, court calendars, jail records and bond information. Formal background searches, certified copies and some other services have fees.
2. Where do I search Denton County felony records?
Felony criminal cases are maintained by the Denton County District Clerk. You can begin with the county Public Access portal or submit the District Clerk’s Felony Case Record Search form for a formal local search.
3. Where do I search Denton County misdemeanor records?
The County Clerk maintains misdemeanor court records. Denton County also provides a Criminal Misdemeanor Background Search Request covering Class A and B misdemeanor cases filed in the county.
4. How much is a Denton County felony record search?
The current District Clerk felony-search form states a fee of $5 per search and per certificate. The search covers felony records held by the Denton County District Clerk only.
5. How much is a Denton County misdemeanor background search?
The current County Clerk form lists $5 for the initial misdemeanor background search plus $5 for each additional case found.
6. Where can I search someone in the Denton County Jail?
Use Denton County’s Public Access jail-record system. The Sheriff’s Office also publishes Jail Records at 940-349-1630 and Jail Information at 940-349-1700.
7. How do I request a Denton County Sheriff’s arrest report?
The Sheriff’s Office accepts written public-information requests through its GovQA portal, by email at so.orr@dentoncounty.gov, by mail, or by hand delivery to the Records Division at 127 N. Woodrow Lane, Denton, Texas 76205.
8. How do I check a Denton County warrant?
Denton County publishes law-enforcement and Most Wanted resources, but for current status of a specific warrant the Sheriff’s Warrants unit can be contacted at 940-349-1560 or 972-434-5505.
9. Does a Denton County search cover all of Texas?
No. Denton County searches cover records maintained by Denton County offices. Texas DPS operates a separate statewide criminal-history search.
10. Can a Denton County record be sealed or expunged?
Some qualifying records can be subject to expunction or an order of nondisclosure under Texas law. Eligibility depends on the case. Denton County publishes current expunction procedures and Texas Judicial Branch provides nondisclosure guidance and forms.
Official sources used to verify this guide
- Denton County — Judicial & Law Enforcement Records Search
- Denton County — Public Access
- Denton County District Clerk
- Denton County County Clerk
- Denton County — Felony Case Record Search Form
- Denton County — Misdemeanor Background Search Request
- Denton County Sheriff’s Office
- Denton County Sheriff — Jail, Bond and Record Services
- City of Denton Police Department — Records Information
- Texas Attorney General — How to Request Public Information
- Texas DPS — Criminal History Name Search
- Texas DPS — Fingerprinting and Personal Review
- Texas Second Court of Appeals
- Texas Judicial Branch — Orders of Nondisclosure
- Denton County Criminal District Attorney — Pre-Trial Diversion
- U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Texas
- PACER — Federal Court Case Search