Jimwells County Criminal Records
What Is Jimwells County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Jim Wells County, Texas, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system from the point of initial law enforcement contact through final case disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating at the county, state, and federal levels.
A fundamental distinction exists between arrest records and conviction records. An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt or a finding of criminal liability. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal judicial determination of guilt, whether through a guilty plea, no-contest plea, or jury or bench verdict. Under Texas Government Code § 552.001, the public has a right to access government information, which includes many categories of criminal justice records.
Felony records document offenses classified as the most serious under Texas law — crimes punishable by confinement in a state penitentiary for one year or more. Misdemeanor records cover less severe offenses typically adjudicated at the county court level and punishable by fines or confinement in a county jail. Juvenile records are treated differently under Texas law: pursuant to Texas Family Code § 58.007, records involving persons under 17 years of age are confidential and generally sealed from public view, with limited exceptions for serious or habitual offenders.
Active warrant records reflect currently outstanding judicial orders authorizing law enforcement to apprehend an individual, while historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have been fully adjudicated. The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Jim Wells County include:
- Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking logs, jail rosters, and incident reports
- Jim Wells County District Court and County Court at Law — maintains case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation/parole documentation
- Texas Department of Public Safety, Crime Records Division — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
- Alice Police Department — maintains local arrest and incident records for the City of Alice
A complete criminal record may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, entered pleas, trial records, sentencing details, conditions of probation or parole, and any subsequent modifications to those conditions.
Jim Wells County District Clerk's Office 200 N. Almond St., Alice, TX 78332 (361) 668-5717 Jim Wells County District Clerk
Are Criminal Records Public In Jimwells County
Criminal records in Jim Wells County are presumptively public under Texas law. The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code § 552.021) establishes that all government information is available to the public unless a specific exception applies. This statute provides that "each person is entitled, on request, to inspect or receive a copy of public information."
Records that are currently accessible to the public include:
- Adult conviction records and court dispositions
- Arrest logs and booking records
- Court dockets, case filings, and hearing schedules
- Sentencing orders and probation terms
- Sex offender registration information
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Juvenile records, which are sealed pursuant to Texas Family Code § 58.007
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would interfere with law enforcement
- Expunged or nondisclosed records, which have been removed from public access by court order under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 55.01
- Victim identifying information in certain sensitive case types
- Mental health and medical records associated with criminal proceedings
Members of the public may inspect publicly available criminal records without demonstrating a specific need or purpose. Governmental bodies are not permitted to inquire into the reason a requestor seeks public information.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Jimwells County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Jim Wells County may access them through several official channels. The following steps outline the current process for obtaining records from the principal custodial agencies.
Step 1 — Identify the Correct Custodial Agency Determine whether the records sought originate from a law enforcement agency (arrests, bookings) or a court (case filings, dispositions). Arrest records are held by the Sheriff's Office or the Alice Police Department; court records are held by the District Clerk or County Clerk.
Step 2 — Submit a Public Information Request Requests for records held by Jim Wells County agencies must be submitted in writing. Requestors may deliver written requests in person, by mail, or by email to the relevant office. Under the Texas Public Information Act, agencies are required to respond promptly and must either provide the records or seek an Attorney General ruling within ten business days.
Step 3 — Request Statewide Criminal History For a comprehensive criminal history search covering all Texas jurisdictions, members of the public may submit a name-based search through the Texas Department of Public Safety's Crime Records Division. Fingerprint-based searches, which yield more accurate results, are available through DPS-authorized fingerprinting service providers.
Step 4 — Pay Applicable Fees Fees for copies of records are set by statute and agency schedule. The first ten pages of standard-size paper copies are currently provided at no charge; additional pages are assessed at a per-page rate established under Texas Government Code § 552.261.
Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office 200 N. Almond St., Alice, TX 78332 (361) 668-5702 Jim Wells County Sheriff's Department Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Texas Department of Public Safety — Crime Records Division P.O. Box 4143, Austin, TX 78765 (512) 424-2474 Crime Records — Texas Department of Public Safety
How To Find Criminal Records in Jimwells County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Jim Wells County criminal records and related justice system information. Each portal contains distinct categories of records and carries its own search requirements.
Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search The Texas Department of Public Safety operates an online portal through which members of the public may conduct name-based criminal history searches statewide. The Criminal History Name Search portal returns conviction and deferred adjudication records reported to the state repository. No registration is required for a basic name search; a fee applies per search transaction. The portal does not return arrest records that did not result in a conviction.
Texas Judicial Branch Case Search (OCA) The Office of Court Administration maintains the Texas Judicial Branch's public case search portal at publicaccess.courts.state.tx.us, which allows users to search civil and criminal case records by name, case number, or attorney. This portal reflects case filings, hearing dates, and dispositions reported by participating courts. No registration is required.
Jim Wells County Jail Roster The Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office currently maintains an online jail roster reflecting individuals held in the county detention facility. The roster is accessible through the Sheriff's Office page at the Jim Wells County Sheriff's Department website. The roster includes booking date, charges, and bond information for current detainees.
Texas Sex Offender Registry The DPS maintains a publicly searchable sex offender registry at txsor.dps.texas.gov, which includes registrant photographs, addresses, and offense information for individuals required to register under Texas law.
Records that are available only through in-person inspection or written request include sealed case files, expunged records (accessible only to the subject), and certain law enforcement investigative reports.
Can You Search Jimwells County Criminal Records for Free?
Texas law currently mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public information at no charge. Under Texas Government Code § 552.021, inspection of records — as distinct from obtaining copies — must be provided without a fee. The following resources are available at no cost:
- In-person inspection at the Jim Wells County District Clerk's Office, 200 N. Almond St., Alice, TX 78332, during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
- In-person inspection at the Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office, same address, during public counter hours
- Texas Judicial Branch Case Search — free name and case number searches with no registration required
- Jim Wells County Jail Roster — free online access through the Sheriff's Office website
- Texas Sex Offender Registry — free public search with no account required
Fees are assessed when requestors seek paper or electronic copies beyond the statutory free threshold. The Crime Records Division charges a per-transaction fee for name-based criminal history searches through the DPS portal; fingerprint-based searches carry a higher fee due to processing costs. Court-certified copies of case documents are subject to per-page fees established by the District Clerk's fee schedule.
What's Included in a Jimwells County Criminal Record?
A complete Jim Wells County criminal record may contain several categories of information compiled across multiple agencies and proceedings.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by the Texas DPS
- FBI Number, where applicable
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, Alice PD, or other)
- Booking number and facility name
- Charges filed at the time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount and conditions
- Name of the detention facility
Court Case Information
- Case number and court of jurisdiction (District Court or County Court at Law)
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges and applicable Texas Penal Code statutes, including felony degree or misdemeanor class
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, no contest)
- Attorney of record (defense and prosecution)
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, deferred adjudication)
- Conviction date, if applicable
- Sentence type and length (imprisonment, probation, fine, community service)
- Fine and restitution amounts
- Conditions of probation or parole
- Appeal filings and outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Outstanding or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
- Pending charges not yet resolved
How Long Does Jimwells County Keep Criminal Records?
Jim Wells County retains criminal records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the Texas Local Government Records Act. The following retention periods currently apply to principal categories of criminal justice records:
- Felony conviction records — permanent retention; these records are never destroyed
- Misdemeanor conviction records — retained permanently at the court level
- Arrest records without conviction — retained for a minimum of two years from the date of arrest, subject to expunction orders
- Jail booking records — retained for a minimum of two years
- Incident and offense reports — retained for a minimum of five years
- Juvenile records — retained until the subject reaches age 21, after which destruction may be authorized under Texas Family Code § 58.007, unless the record has been transferred to adult court
- Expunged records — destroyed or returned to the petitioner pursuant to a court order under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 55.01; agencies must comply within a specified period following the order
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission publishes the official Local Schedule PS (Public Safety Records) governing retention periods for law enforcement and court records. Agencies are required to follow these schedules and may not destroy records ahead of the mandated retention period without authorization.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission 1201 Brazos St., Austin, TX 78701 (512) 463-5455 Texas State Library and Archives Commission