Choose felony or misdemeanor first — Dallas County uses two different clerks
Dallas County criminal court records are easier to find once you know whether the case is a felony, misdemeanor, municipal citation or another local matter. Felony court records are maintained by the Dallas County District Clerk, while misdemeanor court records are maintained by the Dallas County Clerk. Dallas County also provides a free online criminal-background search covering felony and misdemeanor case history dating back to 1975.
Dallas criminal records are split between several offices
The biggest local mistake is assuming that every criminal record is kept by one Dallas office. Dallas County divides responsibility by court type.
Felony criminal records
Felony cases filed in Dallas County district criminal courts and Magistrate Court records connected with the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
Misdemeanor records
Dallas County Criminal Courts misdemeanor cases, record searches, copies and certified copies.
City citations
City-level citations, many Class C misdemeanor matters, municipal warrants and municipal dockets.
Jail / warrant information
County jail custody, inmate information and Sheriff’s warrant-information services.
State criminal history
Statewide public conviction and deferred-adjudication information through the Texas DPS system.
State prison / supervision
Texas prison and offender information rather than local Dallas County court dockets.
Use Dallas County’s free criminal background search first
Dallas County provides an official free online tool for searching felony and misdemeanor court case history. The county states that the search covers criminal case information from 1975 to the present.
Open Dallas County Criminal Background SearchSearch fields available
The current search supports several fields that can help narrow common names:
- last name
- first name
- middle name
- name type
- race
- sex
- date of birth
- number type
- pending-case filter
- case number
How to search a Dallas County criminal case step by step
Open the official county search
Start with Dallas County’s Criminal Background Search rather than a third-party people-search website.
Enter the last name
Last name is required for a name search. Add first and middle name whenever you know them.
Add date of birth
DOB is especially useful when the person has a common name or multiple people appear in the results.
Review felony and misdemeanor results
The Dallas search combines case information from the county’s felony and misdemeanor courts.
Open the individual case
Note the case number, court, filing date, charges, status and disposition information.
Identify the correct clerk
Felony case? Move to the District Clerk. Misdemeanor case? Move to the County Clerk.
Get the actual court document when necessary
If you need formal proof, request the complaint, indictment, judgment, disposition, order or certified copy rather than relying only on the search summary.
Dallas County felony records are handled by the District Clerk
The Dallas County District Clerk is the custodian for felony criminal court records. The office supports the district courts that hear felony matters presented through the Dallas County grand-jury process.
Official felony records information: Dallas County District Clerk — Criminal Court Records.
Online felony coverage
Dallas County says criminal case information is available online back to 1975, and documents for most felony cases are available online for cases filed after 2009.
Felony Records Desk
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Blvd.
2nd Floor
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone:
(214) 653-5950
Email:
DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Dallas County misdemeanor records are handled by the County Clerk
Misdemeanor cases heard by the Dallas County Criminal Courts are maintained by the Dallas County Clerk Criminal Courts Division.
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard
2nd Floor, Room A-1
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone:
(214) 653-7099
Misdemeanor records:
(214) 653-5767
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Misdemeanor background search by mail
Dallas County Clerk currently lists a $5 record-search fee. For a misdemeanor background search by mail, provide the person’s full name and date of birth, payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-43
Dallas, TX 75207
ATTN: Record Search
How far back do Dallas criminal records go online?
| Record | Current online coverage | What to do for older files |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal case history | Dallas County states case information is searchable from 1975 to present. | Contact the appropriate clerk when online details are incomplete. |
| Felony documents | Most felony case documents are available online for cases filed after 2009. | Older files may require a District Clerk request. |
| Misdemeanor plain copies | Dallas County says plain misdemeanor documents are available online from 2011 to present. | Prior-to-2011 files require County Clerk assistance. |
| Older misdemeanor files | Not all older file material is immediately available online. | Some files are stored offsite and can require advance retrieval. |
Read the disposition before describing the case outcome
Court records can show allegations that did not result in conviction. A useful criminal-record search follows the case through its final disposition.
| Case item | What it means | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Charge | An offense alleged in the case. | Check whether that count was dismissed, amended or resulted in conviction. |
| Pending | The matter has not reached a final resolution. | Review upcoming docket events and the latest court action. |
| Dismissed | The charge was ended without a conviction on that count. | Check whether other counts in the same case remained. |
| Deferred adjudication | A Texas disposition with specific legal consequences distinct from a conventional conviction. | Review the judgment/order and any later nondisclosure relief. |
| Convicted | A conviction was entered. | Review sentence, probation/community supervision and later appellate activity. |
| Closed | The court considers the case no longer active. | Closed does not itself tell you whether the result was dismissal or conviction. |
How to obtain plain or certified Dallas criminal court records
Online case information is useful for research, but formal uses may require a copy issued by the clerk.
Online case information
Useful for identifying the case, court, charges and status.
Plain copy
Copy of a filed document without the clerk’s certification.
Certified copy
Court-authenticated copy used when an agency or legal process requires certification.
Felony copy request
Felony copy requests can be made in person, by mail or by email to the District Clerk. Dallas County provides a Criminal Records Request Form for this purpose.
Email: DCRecordsCriminal@dallascounty.org
Attn: Criminal Records
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-12
Dallas, TX 75202
Misdemeanor copy request
Plain misdemeanor documents from 2011 forward are available through Dallas County’s Court Portal. For certified copies or older files, contact the County Clerk Criminal/Central Records section.
Preferred misdemeanor-record email: DC.CriminalRecords@dallascounty.org.
Current Dallas criminal-record search and copy fees
| Service | Current listed fee | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Felony record search without case number | $5 per name / record search | District Clerk |
| Misdemeanor record search | $5 | County Clerk |
| Paper copy | $1 per page | Clerk fee schedules |
| Certification | $5 per certified document / case as applicable | District or County Clerk |
| Exemplification | $5 additional per document / packet as applicable | Clerk fee schedule |
| Archive file retrieval | Additional archive/search charges may apply | Depends on office and file age |
Fees can change. Confirm the current amount with the appropriate Dallas County clerk before sending payment.
Older Dallas files may be stored offsite
Older court records can exist even when the full file is not immediately available online.
Frank Crowley Courts Building is the main criminal-record location
Both Dallas County felony and misdemeanor criminal-record offices operate from the Frank Crowley Courts Building.
District Clerk Felony Records Desk
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard2nd Floor
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: (214) 653-5950
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday
County Clerk Criminal Courts Division
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard2nd Floor, Room A-1
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: (214) 653-7099
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday
Map to the Frank Crowley Courts Building
Use the Sheriff’s inmate system for current Dallas County custody
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office maintains the county jail and provides an official inmate lookup. This is useful when the question is whether someone is currently in Dallas County custody rather than how the criminal court case ultimately ended.
Dallas County Sheriff inmate informationJail / inmate information: (214) 761-9025
Dallas County warrant information is separate from the court-history search
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office lists a warrant-information line for county warrant questions.
Dallas County warrant information: (214) 761-9026
A court docket may show events associated with a warrant, but active warrant verification should be obtained from the responsible law-enforcement or court agency rather than a commercial warrant website.
Dallas Municipal Court records are not the same as Dallas County criminal-court records
City of Dallas Municipal Court maintains its own citation and docket search for municipal matters. This can include city citations and many Class C misdemeanor cases that do not belong in the Dallas County felony or county-misdemeanor workflow.
Dallas Municipal Court Citation & Docket SearchMunicipal search options
The City currently allows searches using information such as:
- citation number
- name and date of birth
- docket number
- Dallas Police Department case number
- similar-sounding name option
- upcoming docket search
Municipal Court information line: (214) 670-0109.
Use Texas DPS when you need statewide public criminal-history information
A Dallas County search covers Dallas County court history. It does not automatically search criminal cases from Harris, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis or the other Texas counties.
Texas DPS operates a statewide public Criminal History Conviction Name Search for qualifying conviction and deferred-adjudication information.
Texas DPS Public Criminal History SearchUse TDCJ for Texas prison and offender information
If a Dallas County case resulted in a Texas prison sentence, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search may provide correctional information.
TDCJ Offender SearchTDCJ currently allows searches by name, SID number or TDCJ number and supports wildcard searching.
Search Texas appellate courts when a Dallas criminal case was appealed
Trial-court and appellate records use different systems. If a Dallas County criminal judgment was appealed, use the Texas appellate case search.
Texas Appellate Case SearchSearches can use the appellate case number, trial-court case number, case style, originating court and other fields.
Federal criminal cases in Dallas are not Dallas County cases
Federal prosecutions are separate from Dallas County District Courts. Federal criminal cases in Dallas are generally handled in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Use PACER for federal criminal case information.
Search federal court records with PACERWhy a Dallas criminal case may not be publicly visible
Dallas County says records that are sealed by court order or confidential under state or federal law are not available through ordinary public online access.
The District Clerk also notes that public case information subject to an order of nondisclosure is not available to the public through the normal criminal-record search.
Court-restricted access
Access may require specific legal authority or a court order.
Public access restricted
Texas nondisclosure can limit public disclosure while some authorized agencies retain access.
Sensitive information
Certain records involving children, sexual-assault victims or other protected information may not be available online.
Dallas County expunction and nondisclosure records
Dallas County District Clerk handles expunction filings in the district criminal courts and also provides guidance for nondisclosure filings.
Dallas County expunction and nondisclosure informationLocal Dallas filing points
Dallas County says self-represented filers may submit qualifying petitions at the District Clerk cashier on the second floor of the Frank Crowley Courts Building or electronically where allowed.
Current contact emails include:
Juvenile Dallas County records use a separate process
Juvenile records are not handled like ordinary adult felony and misdemeanor court records. Dallas County maintains juvenile records through the juvenile court/records system at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center.
2600 Lone Star Drive
Dallas, TX 75212
Juvenile Records: (214) 698-4903
Dallas criminal court search tips that save time
Start with the free county search
It covers both Dallas County felony and misdemeanor case history back to 1975.
Save the case number
A known case number avoids paid name-search fees when you later request copies.
Felony = District Clerk
Do not send a felony document request to the County Clerk.
Misdemeanor = County Clerk
The Criminal Courts Division handles Dallas County misdemeanor records.
City ticket?
Switch to Dallas Municipal Court instead of the Dallas County felony/misdemeanor workflow.
Current inmate?
Use the Sheriff’s inmate lookup first, then locate the court case for the legal outcome.
Old file?
Call before visiting because some older files require offsite retrieval.
Need official proof?
Get a certified judgment or disposition rather than relying only on a screen result.
Nothing in Dallas?
Search Texas DPS and other counties if the person’s possible case was outside Dallas County.
Common questions about Dallas criminal court records
1. Can I search Dallas County criminal records for free?
Yes. Dallas County provides a free Criminal Background Search for felony and misdemeanor case information dating back to 1975. Additional fees can apply when you request clerk-conducted searches, paper copies, certification or archive retrieval.
2. Who maintains Dallas County felony criminal records?
The Dallas County District Clerk is the custodian of records for the county’s felony courts and the Magistrate Court in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
3. Who maintains Dallas County misdemeanor records?
The Dallas County Clerk Criminal Courts Division maintains misdemeanor criminal court records.
4. How far back does Dallas County’s online criminal search go?
Dallas County states that its online criminal case-information search covers felony and misdemeanor cases from 1975 to the present.
5. Are felony documents available online?
Dallas County says documents for most felony cases filed after 2009 are available online. Older, sealed or confidential documents may require a clerk request or may not be publicly accessible.
6. Can I get Dallas misdemeanor documents online?
Plain misdemeanor copies from 2011 to the present are available through the Dallas County Court Portal. Certified copies and older records require assistance from the County Clerk.
7. How much does a Dallas County criminal-record search cost?
Dallas County lists a $5 fee for clerk-performed misdemeanor background searches and a $5 District Clerk search fee when a felony record must be searched by name because no case number is provided. The county’s self-service online criminal background search is free.
8. Where do I go in person for Dallas criminal records?
The principal felony and misdemeanor criminal-record counters are in the Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75207.
9. Does the Dallas County criminal search include Dallas Municipal Court citations?
Not necessarily. City of Dallas municipal citations and dockets use the Dallas Municipal Court Citation and Docket Search. Use the municipal system when the matter is a city citation or municipal case.
10. Why might a Dallas criminal case disappear from public search?
A case may be sealed, subject to an order of nondisclosure, expunged or otherwise restricted by law. Protected juvenile and other confidential records are also not handled like ordinary public adult cases.
Official Dallas and Texas sources used for this guide
- Dallas County — Criminal Background Search
- Dallas County District Clerk — Felony Criminal Court Records
- Dallas County District Clerk — Felony Criminal Section
- Dallas County Clerk — Criminal Courts Division
- Dallas County Clerk — Criminal Courts FAQs
- Dallas County Clerk — Central Records FAQs
- Dallas County Sheriff — Inmate Information
- Dallas Municipal Court — Citation & Docket Search
- Texas DPS — Public Criminal History Search
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice — Offender Search
- Texas Appellate Case Search
- PACER — Federal Court Records
- Dallas County — Expunction and Nondisclosure Information