Find Felony Records in Austin County

Austin County felony records are on file with the District Clerk in Bellville. The 155th District Court covers felony criminal cases here, and records can be searched online or in person at the courthouse.

Austin County District Clerk

The Austin County District Clerk is Sue Murphy. She is the custodian of all records for the district courts, which hold jurisdiction over felony criminal cases in the county. The 155th District Court also serves some neighboring counties on a rotating basis, so cases from Austin County may occasionally be heard elsewhere in the district.

Passport applications at the District Clerk's office are by appointment only. For court records, in-person visits are welcome during regular business hours. Public access terminals are available in the reception area of the District Clerk's office at no charge. The county's case record search allows users to look up criminal and civil court case records from the courthouse location at 265 N. Chesley Street.

How to Search Austin County Felony Records

Austin County provides a public access website at public.austincounty.com where you can search probate and civil and family case records. For felony criminal case searches, the statewide re:SearchTX portal is the best online option. It covers all 254 Texas counties including Austin County, with data refreshed nightly.

In-person access is available during office hours. Go to the District Clerk at 265 N. Chesley Street in Bellville. Staff can search by name or cause number. The office has free public terminals in the reception area. You do not need an appointment for a basic record search. Bring the name of the party or a case number if you have it.

For records that go back further in time, Austin County history is well documented. The county was incorporated March 27, 1837. The District Clerk has court records from 1839 through 1940 in the historical collection. Divorce records go back to 1839 and marriage records back to 1824. For very old records, contact the office to discuss availability.

The Austin County Court at Law also serves residents. Judge Daniel W. Leedy handles misdemeanor criminal cases. That office is at One East Main, Bellville, Texas, phone (979) 865-5911. Misdemeanor records go through the County Clerk, not the District Clerk. For felony cases only, the District Clerk is your contact.

155th District Court

The 155th District Court handles most felony cases filed in Austin County. District Judge Jeff Steinhauser presides. The court's schedule of settings can be found on the District Clerk website. Felony defendants appear before this court for arraignment, pre-trial hearings, and trial. All records from these proceedings are maintained by the District Clerk in Bellville.

The Fourteenth Court of Appeals reviews cases appealed from the 155th District Court. That appellate court serves Austin County and nine other counties. Appeals records are separate from the trial court records held by the District Clerk but can be accessed through state appellate court resources if needed.

Texas felony charges are classified from state jail felonies through capital felonies. A state jail felony carries 180 days to two years. Third-degree felonies carry two to ten years. Second-degree felonies carry two to twenty years. First-degree felonies carry five to ninety-nine years or life. Capital felonies can carry life without parole or the death penalty. All of these case types go through the 155th District Court in Austin County.

Austin County Clerk

The Austin County Clerk is Carrie Gregor. Her office handles county criminal records (misdemeanors), civil and family case records, probate, and real property records. The office is at 265 N. Chesley, Suite 7, Bellville, phone (979) 227-3144.

For misdemeanor criminal records and County Court matters, go here rather than the District Clerk. The County Clerk also maintains vital records including birth, death, and marriage records. Public access for court records and indexes is available at the office during business hours.

Statewide Criminal Record Resources

Austin County felony records feed into the Texas statewide criminal history database maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety. After a case is disposed, the District Clerk reports the outcome to DPS. That means Austin County felony convictions appear in DPS name-based searches as well as in local courthouse records.

• re:SearchTX - official statewide court portal covering all Texas counties
• TDCJ Offender Search - Texas prison system inmate lookup
• Texas DPS Criminal History - statewide name-based records
• Texas Sex Offender Registry - searchable by county, city, or address

Nearby Counties

Austin County is west of Houston in the Brazos Valley area. Check the county where the offense occurred to find the right clerk office.