Hidalgo County Felony Records
Hidalgo County felony records are maintained by District Clerk Laura Hinojosa in Edinburg, Texas. With 13 active district courts and nearly one million residents, Hidalgo is one of the largest county court systems in Texas. This page explains how to search, request, and access public felony case records for cities including McAllen, Edinburg, Pharr, and Mission.
Hidalgo County Overview
Hidalgo County District Clerk
District Clerk Laura Hinojosa runs the main records office for Hidalgo County's district courts. The office is at the Hidalgo County Courthouse, 100 E. Cano St., Edinburg, TX 78539. Main phone: (956) 318-2200. Fax: (956) 318-2251. Email: districtclerk@co.hidalgo.tx.us. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Parking is available on the north side of the courthouse. Mailed summons include a parking permit.
This office is responsible for filing and docketing all District Court documents, maintaining court case files for felony criminal cases, civil cases, family law matters, and juvenile cases. Staff collects court fees and fines, issues subpoenas and citations, coordinates jury duty, and reports criminal dispositions to the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History system. The District Clerk also manages court-appointed attorney appointments and administers child support payments. For a county the size of Hidalgo, these functions require a large staff organized by case type and court number.
The Hidalgo County District Courts page provides court-specific contact information, links to online case access, and forms for common clerk requests.
The re:SearchTX portal, linked through the Hidalgo County District Clerk site, provides free case status lookups and tracks hearings and filings across all Hidalgo district courts.
Hidalgo County's 13 District Courts
Hidalgo County operates 13 district courts, all based at the Hidalgo County Courthouse or nearby buildings in Edinburg. Each court handles felony criminal cases along with civil, family, and juvenile matters. The courts and their main contact numbers are: 92nd District Court, 100 N. Closner, (956) 318-2250; 93rd District Court, 100 N. Closner 2nd Floor, (956) 318-2255; 139th District Court, 100 N. Closner, (956) 318-2260; 206th District Court, 100 N. Closner 2nd Floor, (956) 318-2265; 275th District Court, 100 N. Closner 2nd Floor, (956) 318-2270; 332nd District Court, 100 N. Closner, (956) 318-2275; 370th District Court, 100 N. Closner 2nd Floor, (956) 318-2280; 389th District Court, 100 N. Closner 2nd Floor, (956) 318-2080; 398th District Court, 100 N. Closner 2nd Floor, (956) 318-2470.
Additional courts include the 430th District Court at 111 S. 9th Street, (956) 318-2900; the 464th District Court at 100 N. Closner 3rd Floor, (956) 292-7046; the 449th District Court at 1001 N. Doolittle Road, (956) 381-0744; and the 476th District Court at 100 N. Closner 7th Floor, (956) 292-7044.
When a grand jury indicts a defendant in Hidalgo County, the case is assigned to one of these courts. Felony cases cover the full range of Texas offense grades, from state jail felonies through capital murder. Under the Texas Penal Code, state jail felonies carry 180 days to 2 years. Third-degree felonies bring 2 to 10 years. Second-degree felonies run 2 to 20 years. First-degree felonies carry 5 to 99 years or life. Capital felonies carry life in prison or the death penalty.
Online Case Access for Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County provides online case access through several platforms. The Hidalgo County District Clerk website at hidalgocounty.us offers case search by name or case number, an e-filing portal, court calendar information, fee schedules, and records request instructions. The site also links to the Odyssey Public Access portal used by many Texas counties for detailed case management data.
The re:SearchTX statewide portal is free for basic lookups and covers all 13 Hidalgo County district courts. You can search by party name, cause number, or attorney. Case status, hearing dates, and some filed documents are viewable through this system. Document access for complete case files may require a subscription. The data refreshes nightly. Registered users can set up alerts to track case changes automatically.
Federal felony cases involving Hidalgo County defendants may appear in the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system at pacer.uscourts.gov. Federal cases are separate from state court records but cover serious federal offenses like drug trafficking and immigration crimes that are common in South Texas border counties.
Note: Public court records in Hidalgo County are also accessible through CourtCaseFinder and similar public records aggregators, though the official portals are the most reliable source for current case data.
Fees and Records Request Process
Standard copy fees apply at the Hidalgo County District Clerk's office. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $5 per document. Name-based record searches are $5 per name when a cause number is not provided. Payment methods accepted include cash, credit or debit card, money order, and cashier's check. Public terminals at Hidalgo County courthouses allow free on-site record viewing.
To request records in person, visit the District Clerk's office at 100 E. Cano St., Edinburg, TX 78539. Bring the defendant's full name and cause number if available. Staff will assist with the search. To request records by mail, send a written request with case details and payment to Hidalgo County District Clerk, 100 E. Cano St., Edinburg, TX 78539. Include your contact information so the office can reach you if records are not found or if additional payment is needed.
The County Clerk's office is located at 100 E. Cano St., Suite 304, Edinburg, TX 78539, phone (956) 318-2204. The County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases under $200,000, probate matters, real property records, and vital records. For felony-level offenses, you go to the District Clerk.
Statewide Resources for Hidalgo County Cases
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service lets you run a statewide criminal history check that will capture any Hidalgo County felony conviction reported to the Computerized Criminal History system. Name-based searches cost $3 each and require a free CRS Public Website Account. A fingerprint-based search through FAST is more accurate and required for formal employment or licensing purposes.
The TDCJ Offender Search shows all people currently serving time in Texas state prisons, including those convicted in Hidalgo County. Search by name or TDCJ number. The system shows current facility, projected release date, and the offense for which the person is incarcerated.
The Texas Sex Offender Registry can be filtered by Hidalgo County to show all registered sex offenders with addresses in the county. It is maintained by the Texas DPS and updated regularly. Registration details include the offender's name, date of birth, address, and offense classification.
Records that have been expunged or sealed through a nondisclosure order are not accessible through public portals. Expunction procedures are governed by Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Petitions are filed with the Hidalgo County District Clerk. The Texas Attorney General Open Government page provides additional guidance on public records rights in Texas.
Cities in Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County is one of Texas's most populous counties and includes several major cities. Felony cases from these cities are all handled through the Hidalgo County District Clerk's office in Edinburg. City-specific resources are available through the following pages:
Nearby Counties
Hidalgo County is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Felony records for neighboring areas are available at those county pages.