Erath County Public Records /Erath County Criminal Records

Erath County Criminal Records

What Is Erath County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Erath County, Texas, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.

Arrest records document the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and do not indicate guilt or conviction. Conviction records, by contrast, reflect a formal finding of guilt following a plea or trial. Under Texas law, felony offenses are classified as capital, first-, second-, or third-degree, while misdemeanors are classified as Class A, B, or C, each carrying different penalties and record implications. Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public, whereas juvenile records are typically sealed pursuant to § 58.007 of the Texas Family Code, which restricts disclosure of juvenile justice information. Active warrants represent current legal orders for arrest and are distinct from historical records of past proceedings.

The principal agencies maintaining Erath County criminal records include:

Erath County Sheriff's Office — responsible for arrest records, booking information, and jail rosters
Erath County District Court and County Court at Law — maintain case files, charges, arraignments, pleas, trial records, sentencing, and probation or parole documentation
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
Stephenville Police Department — maintains arrest records for incidents occurring within city limits

Criminal records may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial outcomes, sentencing details, conditions of probation or parole, and any subsequent appeals.

Erath County Sheriff's Office 112 W. College St., Stephenville, TX 76401 (254) 965-1454 Erath County Sheriff's Office

Erath County District Clerk 100 W. Washington St., Stephenville, TX 76401 (254) 965-1462 Erath County District Clerk

Erath County County Clerk 100 W. Washington St., Stephenville, TX 76401 (254) 965-1482 Erath County County Clerk

Are Criminal Records Public In Erath County

Criminal records in Erath County are presumptively public under the Texas Public Information Act, codified at Texas Government Code Chapter 552. This statute establishes that government records are open to the public unless a specific exception applies. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of adult criminal records, court proceedings, conviction records, and booking information without demonstrating a particular need or purpose.

Records that remain public under current law include:

Adult conviction records and court case dispositions
Arrest logs and booking records
Court dockets and case filings in district and county courts
Sentencing information and probation conditions of record

Certain categories of records are restricted from public disclosure, including:

Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, which may be withheld to protect law enforcement operations
Juvenile records, which are sealed under Texas Family Code § 58.007
Expunged or nondisclosed records, which are removed from public access pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55
Victim identifying information in certain sensitive cases

Under current law, any governmental body that receives a public information request must respond within ten business days, either by providing the records, requesting an attorney general opinion, or notifying the requestor of a statutory exception.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Erath County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Erath County may access them through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.

Step 1 — Identify the Record Type and Maintaining Agency Determine whether the record sought is an arrest record (Sheriff's Office or Stephenville Police), a court case record (District Clerk or County Clerk), or a statewide criminal history (Texas DPS).

Step 2 — Submit a Public Information Request For records held by the Erath County Sheriff's Office or other county agencies, submit a written public information request to the relevant office. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email. The county's public information officer coordinates responses pursuant to Texas Government Code Chapter 552.

Step 3 — Request Court Records from the District or County Clerk Court case records, including charges, pleas, and dispositions, are available through the Erath County District Clerk's office for felony matters and the County Clerk's office for misdemeanor cases. Requestors may appear in person during public counter hours or submit written requests.

District Clerk public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
County Clerk public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Step 4 — Request a Statewide Criminal History from Texas DPS For a comprehensive criminal history report, members of the public may submit a request to the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Service. Requests require a completed form, a valid government-issued photo ID, and applicable fees.

Texas Department of Public Safety — Crime Records Service P.O. Box 4143, Austin, TX 78765 (512) 424-2474 Texas Department of Public Safety

Step 5 — Pay Applicable Fees Fees for copies of records are set by statute. Under Texas Government Code § 552.261, standard copy fees apply unless the requestor qualifies for a fee waiver.

How To Find Criminal Records in Erath County Online?

Several official online portals provide access to Erath County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

Texas Online Court Case Search (OCA) The Texas Judicial Branch Case Search portal, maintained by the Office of Court Administration, allows members of the public to search court case records statewide, including Erath County District Court and County Court at Law cases. Users may search by name, case number, or date range. The portal contains case numbers, filing dates, charge descriptions, and disposition information. No registration is required for basic searches.

Erath County Jail Roster The Erath County Sheriff's Office maintains a current jail roster that lists individuals presently in custody at the Erath County Jail. This roster is accessible through the county's official website and is updated regularly. It includes the detainee's name, booking date, charges, and bond information.

Texas DPS Crime Records — Conviction Search The Texas DPS Conviction Search portal allows members of the public to conduct a name-based search of the state's criminal history database. This portal returns conviction records maintained in the statewide repository. A fee applies for full criminal history reports, though a limited name-based search is available at no cost.

Stephenville Municipal Court Records Class C misdemeanor cases adjudicated in Stephenville Municipal Court may be accessible through the City of Stephenville's official channels. Members of the public should contact the municipal court directly for case-specific inquiries.

City of Stephenville Municipal Court 298 W. Washington St., Stephenville, TX 76401 (254) 918-1220 City of Stephenville

Records involving sealed, expunged, or nondisclosed matters do not appear in any public online portal under current law.

Can You Search Erath County Criminal Records for Free?

Texas law provides that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under Texas Government Code § 552.228, a governmental body must allow inspection of public records without imposing a fee for the act of inspection itself. Fees may only be charged for copies, duplication, or other services beyond basic inspection.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

Texas Judicial Branch Case Search — free name-based court case searches statewide, including Erath County cases, with no registration required
Erath County Jail Roster — free online access to current in-custody information through the Sheriff's Office website
Texas DPS Name-Based Conviction Search — a limited free search is available through the Crime Records Service portal
In-person inspection at the District Clerk's or County Clerk's office — members of the public may inspect court records at the public counter during business hours at no charge

Fees apply when requesting certified copies, printed copies, or full criminal history reports from Texas DPS. Copy fees are governed by the Texas Government Code and the Texas Administrative Code, which set per-page rates for standard reproductions.

What's Included in a Erath County Criminal Record?

A complete Erath County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the maintaining agency and the nature of the case.

Identifying Information Name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color), photograph or mugshot, last known address, State Identification (SID) number, and FBI number where applicable.

Arrest Information Date, time, and location of arrest; arresting agency; booking number; charges filed at the time of arrest; bail or bond amount; and the name of the jail facility where the individual was held.

Court Case Information Case number; court name and jurisdiction (district court or county court at law); filing date; statutory charges including felony or misdemeanor classification; entered plea; attorney of record; and scheduled or completed hearing dates.

Disposition Information Verdict or finding; conviction date; sentencing details including type of sentence (incarceration, probation, fine, community service), length of sentence, fines imposed, restitution ordered, and any special conditions; records of appeals filed; and probation or parole status.

Additional Record Elements Active or recalled warrants, protective orders, sex offender registration status pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 62, DUI or DWI adjudications, traffic violations adjudicated in county or municipal court, and any pending charges not yet resolved.

How Long Does Erath County Keep Criminal Records?

Retention periods for criminal records in Erath County are governed by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission Local Schedule CC, which establishes mandatory minimum retention periods for county court records, and the Texas Rules of Court.

Current retention requirements include:

Felony court case files — retained permanently, as required for cases involving capital offenses or sentences of life imprisonment; other felony files are retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition
Misdemeanor court case files — retained for a minimum of five years following final disposition for Class A and B misdemeanors; Class C misdemeanor records are retained for two years following final disposition
Arrest and booking records — retained by the Sheriff's Office for a minimum of two years for records not resulting in prosecution, and longer for records associated with prosecuted cases
Judgment and sentence records — retained permanently by the District Clerk
Probation records — retained for a minimum of five years following discharge from supervision
Expunged records — destroyed or returned to the petitioner pursuant to court order under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission mandates that all county offices adhere to the applicable local records schedule, and destruction of records prior to the expiration of the retention period is prohibited without proper authorization.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission 1201 Brazos St., Austin, TX 78701 (512) 463-5455 Texas State Library and Archives Commission