Denton County Criminal Court Records Search: Cases & Dockets

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Denton County, Texas court-record guide

Start with Denton County Records Inquiry for criminal cases and dockets

Denton County criminal court records are divided between felony district-court files, misdemeanor County Criminal Court records, Justice Court cases, jail information and other agency records. The county provides an official public-access portal for case information and jailing information, while certified documents and formal background searches must be requested from the appropriate clerk.

Jurisdiction: Denton County, Texas County seat: Denton Information checked: September 26, 2026
Fast answer: use Denton County Records Inquiry for public criminal case and docket information. Choose District Court Case Records and Calendar for felony district-court matters, or use the criminal-record options for JP and County Court cases. For certified felony records, formal felony background searches or sealed-record questions, contact the Denton County District Clerk.
Search court records Denton County public case records and calendars.
Records Inquiry →
Felony case District Court records maintained by the District Clerk.
Felony route →
Misdemeanor case County Criminal Courts and County Clerk records.
Misdemeanor route →
Jail / booking Sheriff prisoner-information and jail records.
Jail route →
Certified record Request official documents from the appropriate clerk.
Copies →

Which Denton County criminal record are you searching for?

District Clerk

Felony criminal case

The District Clerk is the custodian of pleadings, instruments and papers filed in Denton County criminal district courts.

County Clerk

Misdemeanor case

The County Clerk is the official record keeper for Denton County misdemeanor court records, including the County Criminal Courts.

Justice Courts

JP / Class C records

Justice Courts handle qualifying fine-only criminal and traffic matters and provide separate case-access options.

Sheriff

Jail or booking record

Current custody and Sheriff-created law-enforcement records are separate from the criminal court docket.

Texas DPS

Statewide criminal history

DPS provides statewide public criminal-history information and should not be confused with a Denton County case docket.

Second Court of Appeals

Criminal appeal

Denton County criminal appeals generally go to the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, except matters within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Criminal Appeals.

A filed charge is not proof of guilt. Read the final disposition before describing the result of a criminal case.

Search Denton County criminal court records online

Denton County provides an official public-access portal for general case and jail information:

Open Denton County Records Inquiry

The Denton County District Clerk specifically directs users to this site and instructs them to choose District Court Case Records and Calendar when searching district-court cases.

Best practice: once you locate the case, write down the full cause number, court number and party name. Those identifiers make copy requests and clerk calls much easier.
Sealed cases will not appear for public viewing. Denton County states that cases sealed by court order or statute are not available through public access.

How to search Denton County criminal cases and dockets

Open Denton County Records Inquiry

Use the official county public-access portal rather than relying on a commercial records site.

Choose the correct criminal court search

For felony district cases choose District Court Case Records and Calendar. For county or JP cases, use the corresponding criminal case-record search option.

Search by the strongest identifier

A full cause number is usually best. If searching by person, use a full legal name and compare date-of-birth or other identifying details where available.

Open the registry of actions

Review filings, settings, court events, orders and disposition information rather than stopping at the first charge description.

Check the calendar / next setting

Denton County criminal courts direct users to the records site to check court dates and case status.

Request the official document when needed

Online case summaries are useful for research, but a formal purpose may require a clerk-issued plain or certified copy.

Denton County felony criminal records

Felony cases are district-court matters. The Denton County District Clerk is the official custodian of records filed in the county’s criminal district courts.

District Clerk

Denton County District Clerk

1450 E. McKinney Street
Denton, TX 76209

Main phone: 940-349-2200
Main fax: 940-349-2201

Office hours

Public counter

Denton County currently lists general District Clerk public hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., excluding holidays or closures.

Formal felony case-record search

The District Clerk publishes a Felony Case Record Search Form. The current fee is $5 per search and per certificate.

The current form asks for identifying information such as:

  • full legal name
  • date of birth
  • driver’s license number
  • issuing state
  • state identification number
  • Social Security number where applicable
Why the formal search exists: the public portal is useful for self-service case research. A formal clerk search can be useful when you need a certificate or an official search result.

Denton County misdemeanor criminal court records

The Denton County County Clerk is the official record keeper for misdemeanor court records. Denton County currently has multiple County Criminal Courts that handle misdemeanor criminal cases.

The County Clerk’s court division links directly to the county’s Court Records Search, and the individual County Criminal Court pages direct defendants and attorneys to the same system to check case status and court dates.

County Clerk

Denton County County Clerk

1450 E. McKinney Street
Denton, TX 76209

Administration: 940-349-2012

Misdemeanor background-search request

The County Clerk publishes a dedicated Criminal Misdemeanor Background Search Request form. The form asks the requester to provide at least three identifying elements, such as:

  • name
  • date of birth
  • Social Security number
  • driver’s license number
  • identification number

The current form lists the Criminal Intake Clerk at:

Denton County Clerk – Criminal Intake
1450 E. McKinney Street, Suite 1332
Denton, TX 76209

Email: CountyClerkCriminalRequest@dentoncounty.gov

Denton County Justice Court criminal records

Justice of the Peace courts handle qualifying criminal and traffic matters. Denton County Justice Court pages link to a dedicated Criminal Case Records Search – JP & County Court.

This is important because a fine-only or JP-level case may not be the same record as a district-court felony case.

Current procedural change: Denton County Justice Court Precinct 3 states that criminal e-filing became mandatory on September 1, 2026. Procedures can vary by precinct, so check the individual Justice Court page when filing rather than only searching records.

How to find Denton County criminal court dates and dockets

The Denton County criminal court pages repeatedly direct users to the county case-record system to check court dates and case status.

When reviewing a case, look for:

  • current court assignment
  • next scheduled setting
  • hearing date and time
  • registry of actions
  • plea or trial setting
  • disposition or sentencing entry
Do not contact the judge directly about a pending case. Denton County criminal court pages specifically warn parties not to contact the judge by mail, email, telephone or in person about a pending or potential case.

Can you view Denton County criminal case documents online?

Denton County distinguishes between viewing general case information online and inspecting the actual filed documents.

The District Clerk states that public case documents can be viewed using public computers located:

  • in the District Clerk’s office lobby
  • in the lobby of the Denton County Courts Building

The courthouse location is:

Denton County Courts Building
1450 E. McKinney Street
Denton, TX 76209
Sealed documents are excluded. Records sealed by court order or statute will not be available for ordinary public viewing.

Denton County criminal court copy and certification fees

District Clerk and County Clerk records can use different fee schedules, so make sure you know which office holds the case before ordering.

District Clerk record fees

Service Current published fee
Record search $5 per search
Certified paper copy $5 certification + $1 per page
Noncertified paper copy $1 per page
Electronic document, 1–10 pages $1 per document
Electronic document, 11+ pages $0.10 per page
Certificate of no appeal $5

Denton County currently applies a third-party credit-card processing fee to many District Clerk transactions. Confirm the amount when paying because processing rates can change.

How to submit a District Clerk copy request

Denton County states that a completed Record Request Form can be submitted:

  • in person
  • by mail
  • by fax
  • by email
Denton County District Clerk
P.O. Box 2146
Denton, TX 76202

Fax: 940-349-5754
Email: dcrecords@dentoncounty.gov
Plain vs. certified: the District Clerk states that plain or uncertified copies can be emailed, while certified copies are produced in hard copy and mailed to the requester.

Official Denton County criminal background-search requests

Denton County provides separate formal search forms for felony and misdemeanor records.

Felony

District Clerk Felony Case Record Search

The current District Clerk search fee is $5 per search and certificate. Valid government identification and sufficient identifying information are required.

Misdemeanor

County Clerk Misdemeanor Background Search

The County Clerk publishes a dedicated misdemeanor background-search request requiring multiple personal identifiers.

County background search ≠ statewide Texas criminal history. If you need statewide public criminal-history information, use Texas DPS rather than relying only on a Denton County clerk search.

Denton County jail and booking information

Denton County’s public-access portal includes jailing information, while the Sheriff’s Office maintains the actual detention records and prisoner-information channels.

Prisoner information

Denton County Sheriff’s Office

Phone: 940-349-1600
Alternate: 972-434-5500

Sheriff Records

Records Division

127 N. Woodrow Lane
Denton, TX 76205

Phone: 940-349-1630

Jail status is not a conviction record. A person can be held while the criminal case is pending. Use the case or cause number to review the actual court docket and disposition.

Denton County warrant information

The Denton County Sheriff’s Office publishes a dedicated Warrants contact line:

Warrants

Phone: 940-349-1560
Alternate: 972-434-5505

A public court record can help identify the related case, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed real-time warrant confirmation system.

If the warrant may concern you personally: verify the current status directly with the court or Sheriff’s Office instead of relying on a third-party warrant site.

How to request Denton County Sheriff’s Office records

Denton County publishes four approved methods for requesting public information from the Sheriff’s Office:

  • U.S. mail
  • email
  • hand delivery
  • GovQA online portal
DCSO Records Division
127 N. Woodrow Lane
Denton, TX 76205

Email: so.orr@dentoncounty.gov

This route is appropriate for Sheriff-created public records such as qualifying incident, offense or detention-related information. It is not a substitute for requesting a certified court judgment from the District Clerk or County Clerk.

Texas DPS statewide criminal-history search

A Denton County case search only answers the Denton County court-record question. For statewide public Texas criminal-history information, use the Texas DPS Criminal History Conviction Name Search.

Texas DPS provides public conviction and qualifying deferred-adjudication information statewide, subject to Texas public-release law.

1 Create an account The public DPS portal requires account access.
2 Purchase credits DPS currently charges $1 per online search credit.
3 Search legal name + DOB More identifiers improve matching.
4 Verify with the court Use Denton County court records to confirm disposition.
Name searches are not positive identification. Texas DPS warns that fingerprint comparison is the most reliable method of confirming a criminal-history match.

Denton County criminal appeals: Second Court of Appeals

Denton County is within the jurisdiction of the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth.

The Second Court hears criminal appeals from district and county courts in Denton and 11 other north-central Texas counties, except death-penalty appeals, which go directly to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

1 Find the trial case Use Denton County Records Inquiry.
2 Look for notice of appeal Review the registry of actions.
3 Search the Second Court Use Texas appellate records and opinions.
4 Check final appellate outcome An appeal can affirm, reverse or modify a trial-court ruling.

Denton County expunction records

Denton County publishes criminal expunction forms and standing orders through both its District Clerk and County Clerk resources.

The County Clerk currently publishes Standing Order SO-2025-0002 addressing cases in Denton County statutory County Courts where an expunction order is granted while an active cash bond exists.

The District Clerk also publishes expunction-related filing and issuance forms.

Texas expunction and nondisclosure are different. Expunction can require qualifying records to be removed or destroyed under a court order. Nondisclosure generally restricts public disclosure while allowing access by specified agencies and authorised entities.

Denton County’s County Clerk quick links also point users to the Texas Judicial Branch Orders of Nondisclosure forms.

Why a Denton County criminal case may not appear online

A missing result can have several explanations:

  • the case is sealed by court order
  • access is restricted by statute
  • the case is filed under a different name variation
  • the matter is in a different Denton County court level
  • the record is older or not remotely viewable
  • the case was expunged
  • the search terms are incomplete
  • the case belongs to another county or city court
Do not infer innocence or absence of history solely from an empty online search. Denton County explicitly states that sealed cases are not publicly viewable.

Map: Denton County Courts Building

The District Clerk, County Clerk court divisions and several Denton County criminal courts operate from the county judicial complex at 1450 E. McKinney Street.

Before visiting: call the appropriate clerk first if you need a certified record, historical file or formal background search. The public lobby computers can be useful for document review, but not every restricted record is available for inspection.

Denton County criminal court record search tips

Tip 01

Start with the official county portal

Use justice1.dentoncounty.gov/PublicAccess before using a private people-search site.

Tip 02

Know felony vs misdemeanor

Felony records generally point to the District Clerk; misdemeanor records point to the County Clerk.

Tip 03

Use the cause number

Once found, the cause number is usually the fastest identifier for clerk questions and copy requests.

Tip 04

Check the registry of actions

It can show filings, settings, orders and disposition activity that a simple case-summary view may not explain.

Tip 05

Recent arrest? Check jail information

The Sheriff’s prisoner-information system can be more useful immediately after an arrest.

Tip 06

Do not mistake a charge for a conviction

Read the final disposition before describing the outcome.

Tip 07

Statewide search is separate

Denton County court records do not replace the Texas DPS statewide criminal-history system.

Tip 08

Check appeals

A criminal judgment may later be affirmed, reversed or modified by the Second Court of Appeals.

Tip 09

Missing online? Call the clerk

Restricted, sealed, older or differently indexed files can require clerk assistance.

Using Denton County criminal court records for screening

Public court access does not automatically make every possible use of criminal-record information lawful. Employment, housing, credit, licensing and other eligibility decisions can involve additional federal or Texas requirements.

A Denton County court search is not automatically an FCRA-compliant background check. Third-party consumer reports used for employment or tenant screening can trigger separate disclosure, authorization, accuracy and adverse-action requirements.

Denton County criminal court records: frequently asked questions

1. Where can I search Denton County criminal court records online?

Use Denton County Records Inquiry at justice1.dentoncounty.gov/PublicAccess. The District Clerk directs users there for general district-court case and calendar information.

2. Where do I search Denton County felony cases?

Use the District Court Case Records and Calendar section of Denton County Records Inquiry. The Denton County District Clerk is the official custodian of felony district-court records.

3. Where do I search Denton County misdemeanor cases?

Denton County misdemeanor records are maintained by the County Clerk and can be searched through the county’s criminal case-record system.

4. How much is a Denton County felony record search?

The District Clerk currently lists a $5 fee per felony case-record search and certificate.

5. How much is a certified Denton County District Clerk copy?

The current District Clerk schedule lists a $5 certification charge plus $1 per page for a certified paper copy.

6. Can I view filed criminal case documents online?

General case information is available remotely, but the District Clerk says public case documents can be viewed using public computers in the clerk’s office and courthouse lobby. Sealed records are excluded.

7. How do I find someone in the Denton County Jail?

Denton County Records Inquiry includes jailing information, and the Sheriff’s Office prisoner-information line is 940-349-1600.

8. Where do Denton County criminal appeals go?

Denton County is served by the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth for ordinary criminal appeals, except matters within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

9. Why can’t I find a Denton County criminal case online?

The case may be sealed, restricted by statute, filed in another court, indexed under different identifiers, older, expunged or otherwise unavailable for ordinary public viewing.

10. Does Denton County Records Inquiry search all Texas criminal records?

No. It is a Denton County system. Use Texas DPS for statewide public criminal-history information.

Official Denton County criminal-record resources

Editorial note: Criminal-Record.org is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with Denton County, the Texas Judicial Branch, the Texas Department of Public Safety or any government agency. Court availability can change because of expunction, nondisclosure, sealing orders, statutory restrictions, data corrections and system updates. Always verify important information with the government office that maintains the original record. An arrest, jail booking or criminal charge should never be treated as proof of guilt.

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