Tyler Felony Records
Tyler felony records are maintained by the Smith County District Clerk, which is located in Tyler since Tyler is the county seat of Smith County. The clerk's office is at 100 N. Broadway Ave. and handles all district court criminal case files for the county. Finding a felony record in Tyler is straightforward because the court system is right here in the city, not in a distant county seat.
Tyler Overview
Smith County District Clerk in Tyler
The Smith County District Clerk keeps the official records for all district court cases in Tyler and Smith County. That includes felony criminal cases at every level from state jail felonies through capital cases. The office is at 100 N. Broadway Ave., right in downtown Tyler near the Smith County courthouse. Staff can pull records by name or cause number and assist with copies and certified documents.
Smith County has multiple district courts. Criminal felony cases are assigned to specific courts based on charge type and court capacity. All of them use the same District Clerk's office. Once a case is filed, the cause number stays constant throughout the case, including any appellate proceedings.
| Office | Smith County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. Broadway Ave. Tyler, TX 75702 |
| Phone | (903) 590-1300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Certified copies carry the court seal and cost more than plain copies. Call (903) 590-1300 to confirm current fees and bring a valid ID when you visit. The clerk can tell you exactly which documents are in a specific case file.
How to Find Tyler Felony Records Online
Use re:SearchTX first. This free statewide portal covers participating courts in Texas and lets you search by full name or cause number. Smith County criminal cases from Tyler typically appear here with the court name, charges, and case status. No account is needed to run a basic name search.
Smith County also has its own online case access system. The county's records portal at smith-county.com links to court records and other county services. Check there for direct access to Smith County case search tools.
For a statewide criminal history check, use the Texas DPS Crime Records Service at dps.texas.gov. Name-based searches cost $10. Fingerprint searches cost $15. Fingerprint results are more reliable because they don't depend on name spelling. Both can be requested online or by mail.
The TDCJ offender search at offender.tdcj.texas.gov is free and covers people currently in Texas state custody. It shows the offense, current unit, and projected release date for state inmates.
Smith County Records Portal
Smith County maintains an online records system where felony case information is accessible, including criminal cases filed in Tyler through the District Clerk's office.
The Smith County site links to the District Clerk, Sheriff, and other county offices. All Tyler felony court records are held by the District Clerk at 100 N. Broadway Ave.
Tyler Police Department Records
The Tyler Police Department keeps incident reports and arrest records for events within city limits. Their address is 711 W. Ferguson St., Tyler, TX 75702. Phone: (903) 531-1000. These records are separate from the court records system. An arrest record from Tyler PD shows that someone was taken into custody. For what happened in court after the arrest, you need the Smith County District Clerk.
The Tyler Municipal Court at 813 N. Broadway Ave. handles Class C misdemeanor citations, including minor traffic violations. Phone: (903) 531-1250. Municipal court cases are not felony records. If the charge is above a Class C, the case is at the county level, even if Tyler Police made the original arrest.
Smith County also operates a jail. People arrested in Tyler for felony charges are typically booked at the Smith County Jail while their case is pending. If you're looking for someone who is currently in county jail rather than state custody, contact the Smith County Sheriff's Office.
Texas Public Access to Felony Records
Texas Government Code Chapter 552, known as the Public Information Act, gives the public the right to access government records including most court documents. Felony case files at the Smith County District Clerk are generally public. You don't need to show a reason for your request.
There are limits. Records sealed by a judge, juvenile records, and cases that were expunged or received non-disclosure orders are not accessible through a standard search. If someone's case was expunged after dismissal or acquittal, the records are destroyed and the case won't appear in a public search. Non-disclosure orders hide records from most public requests but not all law enforcement checks.
If you search by name and find nothing, it could mean the case was expunged, the name is spelled differently in the system, or the case was filed in a different county. Try a statewide DPS name search if you get no results at the county level.
Legal Help in Tyler
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas has an office in Tyler that serves Smith County residents. Call (903) 595-2800. They handle some civil legal matters and may be able to help with expunctions in qualifying cases. For criminal defense referrals, call the State Bar of Texas at (800) 252-9690 or search texasbar.com for attorneys in Smith County.
Self-help guides are free at texaslawhelp.org. Court forms are at txcourts.gov. The Smith County District Clerk at (903) 590-1300 can answer questions about their records system and copy procedures.
Smith County Felony Records
Tyler is the county seat of Smith County. The Smith County District Clerk, located right in downtown Tyler, handles all felony filings for the county. For more on the court system, clerk office details, and online search access, see the Smith County felony records page.