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  1. Fort Bend County Court
  2. Fort Bend County Arrest Records

Fort Bend County, Texas Arrest Records

Arrest records are law enforcement documents created by police officers when a person is detained and booked into the Fort Bend County Jail. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of these records and makes them available to the public under the Texas Public Information Act (PIA). Arrest records contain the arrested person’s identifying information, warrant details, bail amount and type, charge, and jail ID. The PIA does not cover criminal offender record information because it is not a public record. It is governed by Texas Government Code § 411 and is only released to the subject of the record, criminal justice agencies, and anyone with a court order.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Fort Bend, Texas?

Yes. The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) governs the public dissemination of arrest records. The PIA gives residents the right to view or obtain copies of arrest records from record custodians. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office accepts requests online and in person during normal business hours. However, the PIA permits law enforcement agencies to withhold certain arrest records from the public due to their confidential nature. Examples of such records are:

  • Investigative records
  • Juvenile arrest records
  • Expunged arrest records
  • An arrestee’s medical records
  • Any record revealing the identity of a crime victim or confidential source
  • Arrest records relating to child abuse investigations and the execution of a convict
  • An arresting officer’s residential address or any information about their family members
  • A peace officer’s photograph whose release would negatively affect their life or physical safety.
  • Arrest records whose disclosure would endanger the life or physical safety of a person or constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

Fort Bend County Arrest Search

Residents may conduct Fort Bend County arrest searches at state and federal law enforcement agencies. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) provides access to arrest records through the following ways:

  • Online: Visit the Inmate Information Search tool on the TDCJ website and search by name, gender, TDCJ number, SID number, or race.
  • Email : Submit a free request by sending the inmate’s full name and 7-digit TDCJ number to pia@tdcj.texas.gov. If the inmate’s TDCJ number is unknown, requesters may provide the exact date of birth or approximate age and county of conviction. The email’s subject line should include the inmate’s name.
  • Telephone : Call (844) 512-0461, (512) 406-5202, (936) 295-6371, or (800) 535-0283 from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to request Fort Bend County arrest records.
  • In-person: Visit any TDCJ facility during business hours to obtain copies of Fort Bend County arrest records.

Subjects of records may obtain copies of their records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) by mail, online, or through approved channelers. This service costs $18 and is payable by certified check, money order, or credit card. Members of the public may request Fort Bend County arrest records from the following agencies:

Fort Bend County Inmate Locator

Individuals may easily perform person searches through the Fort Bend County inmate locator. The Sheriff’s Office maintains this tool. Interested persons may use the Fort Bend County inmate locator by following the process below:

  • Visit the Sheriff’s Office official website
  • Click "Information" from the left navigation pane and select "Jail - Public Information Inquiry."
  • To perform a search, users must enter a first or last name
  • Click on the "Search" button
  • Click the inmate name to view their details.

Active Warrant Search in Fort Bend County

According to the Texas Code Crim. Proc. § 15.01, an arrest warrant is an order a magistrate writes and directs to a peace officer that commands them to arrest a person accused of committing an offense. The arrest warrant must be issued in the name of the state and must:

  • Specify the accused person’s name if known. If unknown, then a detailed description of the person should be provided
  • State that the person is accused of some offense against the laws of the State and name the offense.
  • Carry the magistrate’s signature and the office, which may be named in the body of the warrant or in connection with the signature.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office manages warrant information and provides online searches through its Public Portal. Users will need a name to access the portal. Alternatively, requesters may call the office at (281) 341-4665, email FBCSOPIO@fortbendcountytx.gov, or visit the office in person to inquire about active warrants.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Fort Bend County

The best way to find arrest records for free in Fort Bend County is online. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office has an Inmate Tool where anyone may find arrest information without paying a fee. Users will need a first name or last name to access the information on the portal. Upon locating a record, click the inmate’s name to view more details. However, this free tool has its own limitations. It excludes older and expunged arrest records and does not have an option to download copies of the record. Anyone who wants copies of current and older arrest records should visit the Sheriff’s Office during business hours for a fee.

Fort Bend County Arrest Report

Anyone searching for arrest information in Fort Bend County should understand the difference between an arrest record and an arrest report. An arrest record is a summary entry showing that a person was taken into custody by a police officer. It contains the arrestee’s identifying information, booking number, arrest date, custody status, the name of the arresting agency, and charges. Arrest records are available to members of the public.

Conversely, an arrest report is a detailed document created by the arresting officer. It contains every detail about how the arrest occurred, what happened during the arrest, the arrestee’s behavior, time, date, and location of the arrest, a description of the alleged offense, witness statements, and evidence collected. Arrest reports are more comprehensive than arrest records and are deemed confidential.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Fort Bend County

Per Tex. Code Crim. Proc. § 55A, individuals may expunge an arrest from their records after an acquittal, pardon, mistaken identity, or order of actual innocence. Eligible petitioners must file a completed Petition for Expunction of Criminal Records (Charges dismissed or quashed) or Petition for Expunction of Criminal Records (Charges not filed) with the Fort Bend County District Clerk’s Office. The clerk charges an expungement fee and additional fees for notifying agencies. Petitioners may call the office at (281) 341-4515 to learn the fees. Anyone who cannot afford the fees may file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs Form to ask the judge to waive them. The clerk will set a hearing date at least 30 days after receiving the petition and send notification to the law enforcement agencies named in the petition. The court will approve the petition if it meets the eligibility criteria and no party in the case opposes it. Once the court approves the petition, the clerk will order every agency listed in the petition to remove the arrest from the applicant’s record.

How Do You Remove Fort Bend County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Fort Bend County residents may remove their arrest records from law enforcement agencies’ official websites through expunction. Once their petition is granted, the Fort Bend County District Clerk’s Office will send the Expunction Order to every law enforcement agency maintaining the petitioner’s arrest records. The agencies would have to remove the person’s arrest records from their online databases. The petitioner may also send the expunction order to the Foundation for Continuing Justice, which will send copies to private companies that may have the petitioner’s record on file so they can update their systems.

What Do Public Fort Bend County Arrest Records Contain?

Fort Bend County arrest records contain the following information:

  • The arrested person’s full name, age, race, and sex
  • Jail ID, warrant number, issuing authority, jurisdiction, and charge description
  • Bail type, bail amount, fines, and description