TexasArrestWarrantRecords.com | Texas Arrest Warrants

What is an Arrest Warrant in Texas?
As outlined in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure an arrest warrant is a legal document which authorizes a law enforcement officer to arrest the person named on the warrant in relation to a crime. For an arrest warrant to be legally carried out in Texas, it must be issued by a neutral judge on behalf of the state. If an arrest warrant does not exist there can be no lawful arrest. The purpose for an arrest warrant is to bring the suspect before a judge to deal with the charges under Texas law.

An arrest warrant is essential to carry out an arrest when a crime has been committed but was not witnessed by law enforcement. The Federal statute, as derived from the Fourth Amendment of the United States, mandates an arrest warrant is necessary under these conditions. In most cases after an arrest is made the person taken into custody will appear in court before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. Bail will be set by the presiding judge if necessary. At that point the individual will be able to hire a criminal lawyer. The law states that all citizens have a chance to prove their innocence and gather witnesses and evidence to support their case.

A warrant can also come in the form of a search warrant which allows police to conduct a search of a person, location, vehicle, or property for evidence of a crime. A search warrant is a court order and must be sanctioned by a judge. Most jurisdictions respect the law and require a search warrant be in place to allow police to conduct a legal search in the course of a criminal investigation.

What is Probable Cause?
Probable cause is a necessary component in the issuance of warrants. Since the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that no warrant shall be issued without probable cause, a police officer must submit a written affidavit to a judge under oath to legally obtain a warrant. The information presented must clearly describe the person to be arrested, property to be searched or items to be seized.

It's important to note that the affidavit must contain factual information and be free of any falsehoods or else it is void. If parts of the affidavit submitted by the police contain false or inaccurate information (whether knowingly or not) and the remaining parts of the affidavit can't establish probable cause by itself, then the warrant may be dismissed. Once a judge signs off on the warrant, it becomes active and the suspect named can be arrested any place and any time.

Probable cause is validated by the witnessing of a crime by a police officer, evidence connecting the suspect to the crime, or the public coming forth and testifying to the police and disclosing vital information related to the crime. It must be highly evident that the person named committed the crime in question. If a judge is convinced there is enough evidence against that person an arrest warrant will be issued. The reason for probable cause and a neutral judge is to ensure that all citizens rights are protected and that an innocent person is not arrested for a crime they didn't commit. This aids law enforcement in the apprehension of the correct subject.

How to Search Arrest Records and Outstanding Warrants in Texas
Texas government agencies have provided many valid resources to conduct a warrant or arrest record search statewide which they make available to the public. The Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) offers an online search portal where you can search anyone's criminal history who lives or has lived in the state. This is known as the Texas Computerized Criminal History System (CCH). The search tool will pull arrest records for offenses higher than a class B misdemeanor. From the TxDPS's site you can also run a sex offender search which allows the public to search sex offenders registered in Texas. To use either of these search options you will have to signup with an ID and password to access the information online.

The Texas Department of Public Safety also gives you the option of filing a formal request for criminal record information by mail. The cost is $10 to do so and the mailing address is: TxDPS, Crime Record Service, PO box 15999, Austin, TX 78761-5999.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice whose job is to provide public safety has an online offender search as well. While it is updated consistently, only offenders who are currently incarcerated in a TDCJ facility will be found with this search. You can search by name, TDCJ number, or SID (state identification) number.

To start any Texas warrant search, the best place to find information is always going to be the sheriff's office of the county where the offense took place or the record was recorded. Here is a link to all sheriff departments in Texas broken down by county in a map diagram. Select the county you want and you will be taken to the county page which gives names, numbers, addresses and email contact information for the sheriff in that county.

Since the county sheriff is in charge of enforcing the law, it makes sense they would keep criminal records on file. Each county sheriff will have a database containing criminal records available for public viewing. Many counties in Texas provide an online records search for your convenience. You can always visit the local sheriff's office in person, but beware, if you have a warrant in your name you risk being arrested on the spot.

Another option to run any warrant search in Texas is to use the above search box on this site. You will have access to records on any citizen of the United States not just Texas. It's easy, confidential, and completely discreet. Start by typing in the person's first and last name and choose a state. Your results will be displayed within seconds of running a search. Types of records may include outstanding warrants, arrest records, court records, background reports, marriage/divorce records, birth/death records, property records, and so much more.

The Facts You Should Know About Texas Arrest Warrants
Many outstanding warrants exist throughout Texas. An outstanding warrant is one that hasn't been resolved by an arrest of an individual or payment of fines. Having an outstanding warrant doesn't mean the warrant expired and will disappear off your personal record. The arrest warrant goes against your name in the Texas warrant system which all law enforcement officers have access to. If you get into trouble with the police for any other reason the warrant will show up when they look up your background history. Law enforcement will have no other option but to arrest you and take you into custody for the outstanding warrant.

You can end up with a warrant in your name for many reasons and not even know it. That's why it's important to find out what your background report shows. Reasons for a warrant can include more serious offenses like committing a crime against a person or the state to not paying traffic fines or parking tickets. Since Texas is a huge state many warrants go unresolved with state estimates for outstanding warrants equaling more than 300,000.

If you find yourself with an arrest warrant in Texas it's strongly advised to hire a criminal attorney even if you are innocent. A lawyer will build your case, gather witnesses, represent you in court and help you navigate the judicial system to effectively handle your case. If you are proven innocent by the Texas court system then the warrant is considered resolved and your record will not be tainted. You don't have to expose this record to anyone and can act as if it never happened. On the other hand, if you are found guilty, a lawyer may be able to reduce your fines or lessen your sentencing depending on the nature of your case.

Texas Public Information Act
The Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), originally known as the Texas Open Records Act, went into effect in 1973. This piece of Texas state legislature guarantees the public access to government records including criminal records at all levels of the state. It dictates that anyone has the right to access or request public records in Texas. The reason for doing so or the purpose of obtaining these records does not matter since these records are considered public domain.

Under this act, Texas state government is obligated to provide records within 10 days of a request. Certain records are exempt due to their subject matter and need to be kept confidential. Types of records may include juvenile criminal records, records related to a pending litigation and information related to attorney-client privilege.

Until the TPIA was adopted, citizens could only access public records if the custodian of the records agreed. Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code gives more information about who has the right to acess public records in Texas.