Find Felony Records in Donley County
Donley County felony records are kept by the District Clerk in Clarendon. These records cover all felony criminal cases filed in the district court, including indictments, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing documents. You can search them online through the statewide re:SearchTX system or visit the courthouse in person to request copies. The Texas Public Information Act allows the public to access most criminal court records upon request.
Donley County Overview
Donley County District Clerk Office
The District Clerk in Donley County is the official keeper of felony court records. The office is located at the Donley County Courthouse, 300 S. Sully St., Clarendon, TX 79226. Phone: (806) 874-3436. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The clerk files and dockets all criminal cases in the district court, issues court process, and maintains the case files from first filing through final disposition. Copies of indictments, judgments, and other case documents can be requested in person or by mail. Standard copies are $1 per page and certified copies add a $5 certification fee per document. If you do not have a case number, a $5 name search fee may apply.
Donley County is in the 100th Judicial District. The District Court handles all felony criminal cases along with civil cases, family law matters, and delinquent tax suits. The court shares jurisdiction with other counties in that judicial district.
Online Access to Donley County Felony Records
The re:SearchTX portal provides online access to court case information from all 254 Texas counties, including Donley. The system lets you search by party name, case number, or hearing date. You can track cases, view docket entries, and set up case alerts. Registration is free, but some document downloads may require a paid subscription. Data is refreshed nightly.
The Donley County website at www.co.donley.tx.us provides general county information and may include links to court-related services. For direct case lookups, re:SearchTX is the most reliable statewide tool available.
The Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system is a separate state database covering arrests, prosecutions, and dispositions for Class B misdemeanor and higher offenses across all Texas jurisdictions. Public name-based searches cost $1 per search credit. This database is run by DPS and does not replace the court file maintained by the clerk.
The screenshot below shows the Donley County website, which serves as a public resource for local government information including court office contacts.
Donley County official website
The county site links to offices that maintain local court records, including the District Clerk and County Clerk.
Felony Classifications Under Texas Law
Texas uses five felony levels. Each one sets the punishment range for a criminal conviction. All five levels are tried in district court and their records are maintained by the Donley County District Clerk.
Capital felonies are the most serious, carrying life or death. First-degree felonies carry 5 to 99 years or life. Second-degree felonies carry 2 to 20 years. Third-degree felonies carry 2 to 10 years. State jail felonies carry 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility. The Texas Penal Code defines each level and sets fines up to $10,000 for most felony offenses.
Deferred adjudication is also possible in some cases. Under this arrangement, a judge defers the formal finding of guilt and places the defendant on community supervision. If completed successfully, no conviction is entered. These cases still appear in the court records and may show up in DPS criminal history searches.
TDCJ and State Offender Records
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains records for people sentenced to state prison or state supervision. If someone convicted of a felony in Donley County received a state prison sentence, their record appears in the TDCJ offender search system. You can look up current incarceration status, projected release date, offense type, and facility location.
TDCJ also maintains death row information, including detailed profiles of offenders awaiting execution and historical execution data going back to 1923. This is all public information available on the TDCJ website.
Note: TDCJ records only include people sentenced to state prison or state supervision. Individuals held in county jail pending trial or serving short sentences locally do not appear in the TDCJ database.
Requesting Criminal History from Texas DPS
The Texas DPS maintains the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system, which serves as the state's central repository for criminal history records. Authority for this system is found in Texas Government Code Chapter 411. The CCH captures all Class B misdemeanor and higher offenses statewide.
To do a public name-based search, you must create a CRS public website account and purchase search credits. Each name-based search costs $1. The search returns criminal history based on first and last name and date of birth. Because name-based searches are not exact, results may include multiple individuals or the wrong person. A fingerprint-based search provides a definitive match.
Fingerprint services are available through the Fingerprint Applicant Services of Texas (FAST) program. These checks are typically used for professional licensing, firearms purchases, or employment in regulated fields. They cost more than name-based searches and require an in-person fingerprint submission.
Open Records and the Public Information Act
Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the Public Information Act, government records are presumed public unless a specific exception applies. For felony court records, access is generally open from the time of indictment onward. Sealed records, juvenile records, and certain sensitive case types have additional restrictions.
Governmental bodies must respond to public information requests within 10 business days. If a record is to be withheld, the body must seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General. The AG's office publishes open records decisions and provides guidance through its Open Government Hotline at (877) OPEN-TEX.
Nearby Counties
Donley County is in the Texas Panhandle. Neighboring counties also maintain their own felony records through their respective district clerks.