Start with the Collin County judicial search, then follow the record to the right office
Collin County makes unusually useful criminal-case information available online, but a complete search can involve several offices. District Clerk records cover felony-level District Court cases; the County Clerk handles Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases in the County Courts at Law; the Sheriff’s Office maintains jail, arrest, warrant and law-enforcement records; and Texas DPS maintains statewide criminal-history information. This guide shows how those systems fit together.
Choose the right Collin County record before you search
Felony criminal case
District Court criminal files, including felony cases and related court documents.
Class A or B misdemeanor
County Courts at Law handle Class A and B misdemeanor cases and Class C appeals.
Lower-level local matters
Justice Court cases are also included in Collin County’s broader case-information systems.
Arrest / jail record
Arrests, releases, inmate custody, warrants and Sheriff’s Office reports.
State criminal history
Qualifying statewide criminal-history information collected in Texas DPS CCH.
State prison record
State correctional and offender information rather than the original county court file.
How to search Collin County criminal court cases online
Collin County’s official Case Information page provides several public search tools.
Online Judicial Search
Searches court cases by name, case or citation number and also links to inmates, mugshots where available, bonds and active warrants.
Case Search
Searches multiple case types from one screen. County information says this dataset is refreshed daily at approximately 6 p.m.
Case Record Inquiry
Searches one selected case type at a time and is described by the county as updating in real time.
Practical search steps
Start with Online Judicial Search
It is the most useful entry point when you do not yet know whether the record belongs to District Court, County Court at Law or another county court.
Search by full legal name
Use the full first and last name. Add the case or citation number instead when available because those identifiers are more precise.
Open the individual case
Review the filing court, charges, case status, docket activity, bond information and disposition fields that are publicly displayed.
Identify whether it is felony or misdemeanor
That determines which clerk should provide the official file or certified copies.
Request the actual record if needed
Online case summaries are convenient, but formal proof should come from the clerk who maintains the original case file.
Know the online date limits before assuming an old case is missing
Collin County publishes useful coverage dates for its online case systems.
| Case category | Online historical coverage | Where to go for older records |
|---|---|---|
| District Court criminal | 1988 to present | District Clerk record request for earlier cases. |
| County Court at Law criminal | 2000 to present | County Clerk for older misdemeanor records. |
| Justice Court | Broader Case Search lists historical Justice Court data from 1984 to present. | Relevant Justice Court when online coverage is insufficient. |
Felony criminal records: use the Collin County District Clerk
The District Clerk is the principal records office for Collin County District Court criminal cases. The online system covers District Court criminal matters filed or completed from 1988 forward.
For older criminal cases completed from the 1800s through 1987, submit the District Clerk Record Request Form.
Collin County District Clerk — Records
2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12132McKinney, TX 75071
Main:
(972) 548-4320
Records:
(972) 548-4106
Email:
dcrecords@co.collin.tx.us
Mail:
Collin County District Clerk
P.O. Box 578
McKinney, TX 75070
Misdemeanor records: use the County Clerk / County Courts at Law
Collin County’s County Court at Law Clerk files Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases and Class C appeals.
If you need documents from one of those misdemeanor files, use the County Clerk’s record-request process rather than sending the request to the District Clerk.
County Court at Law Criminal Section
2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12165McKinney, TX 75071
Misdemeanor case/bond information:
(972) 548-6420 /
(972) 548-6422
How to request an older Collin County criminal record
The District Clerk requires a written search when the criminal case falls outside its online historical coverage.
For a search when the cause number is unknown, provide:
- complete name
- date of birth
- approximate filing or disposition year
- any known party or case information
- self-addressed stamped envelope for mailed responses
- required search payment
The District Clerk says ordinary search requests are normally processed within about one or two days after receipt, although the current Record Request Form asks users to allow up to 10 business days and notes normal completion is often 1–3 days.
Current District Clerk copy and certification fees
Once you know the felony case number, you can request the exact document rather than paying for another broad record search.
| Service | Current published fee | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Record search when case/pleading unknown | $5 | Finding an older or otherwise unknown case. |
| Noncertified paper copy | $1 per page | Ordinary research copy. |
| Noncertified electronic copy | $1 up to 10 pages, then $0.10 each additional page or portion | Lower-cost electronic delivery. |
| Certified paper copy | $1 per page + $5 per document for certificate and seal | Formal proof when certification is required. |
| Disk exceeding 100 pages | $20 per disk | Large document production. |
The District Clerk’s current form accepts cash, check, money order and supported card payments. A separate record-request form should be used for each case number.
How to find someone in the Collin County jail
The Collin County Sheriff’s Office inmate page links to the official inmate search.
The county says the inmate list includes:
- people currently incarcerated in the Collin County jail
- people released during the previous 24 hours
- current charges
- bond amounts
- linked case information where available
Recent Collin County arrests and releases
The Sheriff’s Office publishes an Arrests & Releases Report that can be run for activity dating back up to approximately one week.
This is useful when an event occurred recently and a court case has not yet become easy to locate.
Open Sheriff’s Public ResourcesSearch active Collin County warrants
The Sheriff’s Public Resources section provides an Active Warrants search and the broader Judicial Court & Case Information tool can link warrants to related cases.
Collin County warns that not every warrant may be visible to the public. If you have concerns about a warrant, the Sheriff’s Office recommends confirming with the Sheriff’s Office or the appropriate constable precinct.
Check Active WarrantsRequest a Sheriff’s report, mugshot or other law-enforcement record
Use the Collin County Sheriff’s Office Open Records section for Sheriff’s Office records.
Collin County Sheriff’s Office — Open Records
4300 Community AvenueMcKinney, TX 75071
Email:
CCSOOpenRecords@CollinCountyTX.gov
Phone:
(972) 547-5199
Lobby: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
Payment hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Common Sheriff’s record fees
| Record | Current fee |
|---|---|
| Offense / media report | $5 |
| Inmate mugshot photo | $5 |
| Dispatch / call-for-service report | $3 |
| Accident report | $6 |
| Body-camera recording | $10 per recording, with review/redaction charges when applicable |
| Records search | $5 |
| Certified copy | $1 |
Additional charges can apply depending on production, review, redaction and the type of record. Confirm the live Sheriff’s fee schedule before paying.
Do not request every Collin County police report from the Sheriff
This is one of the most important local distinctions.
Collin County specifically explains that when a city police department created the record, the requester should contact that police department. For example, if Plano Police responded to an incident, the report should be requested from Plano Police—not from the county.
Sheriff’s Office records, county jail information and records created directly by CCSO should instead be requested through the Sheriff’s Open Records section.
Court records and Texas Public Information Act requests use different paths
Collin County’s public-information guidance makes a useful distinction: criminal court records are maintained by the clerks of the courts where the case was filed, while ordinary county agency records can fall under the Texas Public Information Act.
Use the clerk
Felony, misdemeanor, traffic and other court files should be obtained from the relevant court clerk.
Use a PIA request
County administrative records and qualifying Sheriff’s records may be requested under applicable Texas public-information procedures.
Collin County says ordinary copies under its Public Information Act process are generally $0.10 per page, and when the county already has a digital record available it generally releases that digital record without a copy charge.
Collin County Open RecordsUse Texas DPS when you need statewide criminal-history information
A Collin County court search only covers records within the county. To search qualifying public criminal-history information across Texas, use the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records system.
DPS’s public criminal-history search requires an account and search credits. Current DPS guidance lists credits at $1 per search, plus applicable payment transaction charges.
Texas DPS Criminal History SearchGet better DPS matches
- use complete first and last name
- add middle name
- include maiden name when known
- use full date of birth when available
- avoid nicknames
- verify the result before assuming identity
Texas prison records: use TDCJ Offender Search
If the person was sentenced to Texas state prison, use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Offender Search.
TDCJ currently allows searches by:
- name
- SID number
- current TDCJ number
- previous TDCJ number
The search also supports an asterisk wildcard when only part of a name or SID is known.
Open TDCJ Offender SearchCheck Texas appellate records when the criminal case was appealed
Texas trial and appellate records use different systems. If a Collin County criminal case was appealed, search the statewide Texas appellate system.
Texas Appellate Case SearchSearch by appellate case number, trial-court case number, party or other available fields. The trial-court case number is particularly useful once you already found the Collin County case.
A federal prosecution will not appear as a Collin County criminal case
Federal criminal prosecutions are separate from Texas county and district court cases. Use the federal judiciary’s PACER service when the matter was filed in U.S. District Court.
Search Federal Cases with PACERExpunctions and orders of nondisclosure can change public visibility
Texas provides different forms of criminal-record relief. An expunction and an order of nondisclosure do not have the same legal effect.
Potential removal of qualifying records
Eligibility depends on Texas law and the specific arrest/case history.
Restricts public disclosure
A qualifying nondisclosure order can limit public release while some government entities may retain statutory access.
Collin County’s County Clerk directs users seeking nondisclosure forms and instructions to the Texas Office of Court Administration.
The District Clerk also publishes local forms and agency contact information for Collin County expunction matters.
District Clerk Forms & Expunction ResourcesCollin County courthouse and criminal-record offices
District Clerk Records
Russell A. Steindam Courts Building2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12132
McKinney, TX 75071
Records: (972) 548-4106
County Clerk Criminal Section
2100 Bloomdale Road, Suite 12165McKinney, TX 75071
Case/Bond: (972) 548-6420
Collin County Sheriff’s Office
4300 Community AvenueMcKinney, TX 75071
Open Records: (972) 547-5199
Russell A. Steindam Courts Building map
This is the main McKinney location for the Collin County District Clerk and County Clerk criminal sections described above.
Collin County criminal-record search tips that save time
Start with Online Judicial Search
It connects more local information than beginning separately with every county office.
Save the cause number
Once you find the right case, use its exact cause number for copies and follow-up requests.
Felony = District Clerk
Do not send felony-document requests to the County Clerk’s misdemeanor section.
Class A/B misdemeanor = County Clerk
County Courts at Law are the practical clerk route for those misdemeanor files.
Pre-1988 felony case?
Stop repeating online searches and submit a District Clerk historical-record request.
Very recent arrest?
Check the Sheriff’s arrest/release and inmate tools before expecting a complete court docket.
City police report?
Request it from the city agency that created the record, not automatically from Collin County.
Need statewide history?
Move from the county search to Texas DPS after you finish the local court check.
Need formal proof?
Order a certified court document rather than relying on a screenshot of an online result.
Questions people commonly have about Collin County criminal records
1. Can I search Collin County criminal cases online for free?
Collin County provides public online judicial and case-search tools for many current and historical cases. Separate fees apply when the clerk must perform a record search or provide copies.
2. How far back do online Collin County felony records go?
Collin County states that its online District Court criminal case data covers cases filed or completed from 1988 to the present. Older District Court criminal cases require a District Clerk request.
3. Who keeps Collin County felony criminal records?
The Collin County District Clerk maintains District Court criminal records, including felony cases.
4. Who keeps Collin County misdemeanor records?
The County Clerk’s County Court at Law Criminal Section files Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases and Class C appeals.
5. How much is a District Clerk record search?
The current District Clerk Record Request Form lists a $5 search fee when the cause number or pleading is unknown.
6. How do I find someone in the Collin County jail?
Use the Sheriff’s inmate search or Online Judicial Search. The county says the inmate list includes current inmates and people released within the previous 24 hours.
7. Can I search active Collin County warrants online?
Yes. The Sheriff’s Public Resources page links to an Active Warrants search. The county warns that not every warrant may be publicly visible, so concerns should be confirmed with the Sheriff’s Office or appropriate constable precinct.
8. Can I request a Plano Police report from Collin County?
Generally, no. Collin County specifically gives the example that a record created by Plano Police should be requested from Plano Police. Use the agency that created the report.
9. Where do I search criminal history outside Collin County?
Use the Texas DPS criminal-history system for qualifying statewide Texas criminal-history information. For Texas state-prison information, use TDCJ Offender Search.
10. What if a Collin County case no longer appears publicly?
Check the relevant clerk before concluding that no record exists. Historical coverage limits, expunctions, orders of nondisclosure and other access rules can affect public visibility.
Official sources for continuing your search
- Collin County — Case Information
- Collin County District Clerk — Criminal
- Collin County District Clerk — Record Request Form
- Collin County Clerk — County Court at Law Criminal Section
- Collin County Sheriff — Inmate Information
- Collin County Sheriff — Warrants, Arrests & Public Resources
- Collin County Sheriff — Open Records
- Collin County — Open Records Requests
- Texas DPS — Criminal History Search
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice — Offender Search
- Texas Appellate Case Search
- PACER — Federal Court Records