Search Galveston County Felony Records
Galveston County felony records are maintained by the District Clerk's office on Galveston Island. The 212th Criminal District Court handles felony cases for the county, which covers the Gulf Coast area south of Houston. This page explains how to search, access, and request copies of those records.
Galveston County Overview
Galveston County District Clerk
The Galveston County District Clerk's Office is located at the Galveston County Courthouse, 600 59th Street, Suite 2001, Galveston, TX 77551. Main Phone: (409) 770-5100. The office maintains records for all District Courts in the county including felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law, and juvenile cases. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The District Clerk is responsible for filing all court documents, maintaining case files, collecting court fees, issuing subpoenas and writs, coordinating jury service, and reporting criminal dispositions to the Texas DPS. The office also manages court-appointed attorney assignments and handles child support payment processing for family cases.
Galveston County also operates a branch office in League City for added convenience. The League City Office is at 174 Calder Road, League City, TX 77573, Phone: (281) 316-8729. This branch serves residents in the northern part of the county near the Houston suburbs. Both locations can process most records requests.
Galveston County uses the Odyssey case management system. Cases may be searched online using the Odyssey portal at portal.galvestoncountytx.gov/portal by case number, party name, or attorney name. The District Clerk website at galvestoncountytx.gov/districtclerk provides access to the search portal, e-filing options, court calendars, and fee schedules.
The 212th Criminal District Court
The 212th District Court is the dedicated Criminal District Court for Galveston County. It handles all felony criminal cases in the county including violent crimes, drug offenses, property crimes, weapons cases, and white-collar offenses. The court is located at the Galveston County Courthouse on 59th Street.
Galveston County also has the 10th, 56th, 122nd, 306th, and 405th District Courts handling civil and family matters. For felony criminal purposes, the 212th is the primary court. All indictments from the Galveston County grand jury flow through this court. The clerk assigns cause numbers and maintains the official case file from indictment through final judgment.
Galveston County runs a special court program called HOPE (Helping Ourselves with Positive Efforts), a court-supervised treatment program for non-violent offenders dealing with drug or alcohol addiction. The program takes 12 to 18 months to complete and aims to cut repeat offenses. Participants who complete HOPE may have better outcomes on their underlying cases. This is a voluntary program and not all defendants qualify.
Under Texas Government Code Chapter 411, felony conviction records are public. Acquittals, dismissals, and deferred adjudication dispositions are also part of the court record and generally accessible through the clerk's office or the online Odyssey portal.
Note: The federal courts covering Galveston County are part of the Southern District of Texas. The Galveston Division of the U.S. District Court is located at 601 Rosenberg, Room 411, Galveston, TX 77550, Phone: (409) 766-3530. Federal felony cases are separate from state cases and not kept at the county District Clerk's office.
Searching Galveston County Felony Records Online
You have several options for online searches. The Galveston County Odyssey portal at portal.galvestoncountytx.gov/portal lets you search by case number, party name, or attorney bar ID. This system is free to use and provides case status, party information, hearing dates, and some document images. It is the most direct local option for Galveston County cases.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal also covers Galveston County. This system covers all 254 Texas counties and is free for basic lookups. It is a good option if you are searching across multiple counties or if you prefer a single search interface. Both systems refresh nightly, so very recent filings may take a day to appear.
For statewide criminal history background checks, the Texas DPS Crime Records Service allows name-based searches for $3 per search. Fingerprint-based checks through FAST are more precise and required for formal purposes. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office also maintains an online arrest records database for recent bookings. To view those, you need the case number, arrest event date or timeframe, and the full name of the person.
Requesting Copies of Felony Records
Copy fees at the Galveston County District Clerk follow standard Texas rates. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee per document. A name-based research fee of $5 per name applies when no cause number is provided. There is no charge to view case records online through the Odyssey portal. Payment methods include cash, credit or debit card, money order, and cashier's check.
To request copies in person, visit the District Clerk at 600 59th Street, Suite 2001, Galveston, TX 77551 or the League City branch at 174 Calder Road, League City, TX 77573. Bring photo ID and as much case information as possible. Staff can look up cases on the Odyssey system and provide copies.
To request copies by mail, write to the Galveston County District Clerk, 600 59th Street, Suite 2001, Galveston, TX 77551. Include the defendant's full name, approximate case year, cause number if available, and a money order for the estimated copy cost. Requests should also include your name and a return address.
Under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552, government bodies must respond to records requests within 10 business days. If more time is needed or records are to be withheld, the agency must notify you and may seek an opinion from the Texas Attorney General.
Statewide Resources for Galveston County Cases
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Offender Search covers all people currently in Texas state prisons. Search by name, TDCJ number, or SID number. Results show current facility, projected release date, and offense information. People sentenced in Galveston County courts and transferred to TDCJ custody will appear here.
The Texas Sex Offender Registry is searchable by county, city, zip code, or name. It covers all registered sex offenders in Galveston County. The registry is maintained by Texas DPS under Government Code Chapter 62 and includes name, date of birth, address, and offense details for each registrant.
For expunctions and nondisclosures in Galveston County, the relevant statutes are Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure for expunctions and Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1 for nondisclosure orders. Cases that were dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or were never prosecuted may qualify for expunction. Certain deferred adjudication cases may qualify for nondisclosure. Petition forms are available from the District Clerk's office in Galveston.
Nearby Counties
Galveston County sits along the Gulf Coast south of Houston. Records for neighboring counties are available through their respective pages.