Houston County Felony Records
Houston County felony records are kept by the District Clerk's Office in Crockett, Texas, and cover all criminal case filings handled through the local district court. This page covers how to find, request, and use these public records.
Houston County Overview
Houston County District Clerk
The Houston County District Clerk maintains all felony records for the county. The office is located at the Houston County Courthouse in Crockett, Texas. Staff handle felony indictments, criminal case filings, and records requests from the public. If you need to search for a case, having the defendant's name or the cause number will make the process faster.
Houston County is served by the 3rd District Court and the 349th District Court. Both courts sit at the courthouse in Crockett and hear felony criminal matters along with civil and family law cases. Felony cases in Texas move through district courts regardless of county size, and Houston County is no exception. The District Clerk files new indictments, tracks case status, and stores all final judgments and sentencing orders.
The courthouse is located at 401 E. Commerce St., Crockett, TX 75835. Office hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Contact the District Clerk's office directly at (936) 544-3255 to confirm current hours and ask about records availability before making the trip.
The Houston County official website provides contact information and general information about county offices including the District Clerk.
From the county website you can find links to department pages, office hours, and public information resources for Houston County government.
Felony Courts in Houston County
Two district courts serve Houston County: the 3rd District Court and the 349th District Court. Both handle felony criminal cases, civil cases, and family law matters. These courts hold jurisdiction over all criminal matters above the misdemeanor level. A grand jury must return an indictment before a felony case can proceed to trial in Texas, and those indictments are filed with the District Clerk once returned.
Texas felonies range from state jail felonies at the low end up through capital felonies at the top. State jail felonies carry 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility. Third-degree felonies bring 2 to 10 years in state prison. Second-degree felonies range from 2 to 20 years. First-degree felonies go up to 99 years or life. Capital felonies can result in life without parole or death. The Houston County district courts handle all of these levels.
If you are looking up an older case, some records may require an in-person visit to the courthouse. The District Clerk can search by name or cause number during regular business hours. Bring identification when visiting the office for records requests.
Search Houston County Felony Records Online
The fastest way to search Houston County felony records is through the re:SearchTX statewide portal at research.txcourts.gov. This system is free to use and covers all 254 Texas counties. You can search by party name, cause number, or attorney. Basic case information is available at no charge. Actual document images may require a subscription depending on the county and case type.
re:SearchTX shows party names, charge descriptions, court dates, case status, and docket entries for most district court cases. For Houston County felony cases, search using the defendant's full name or a partial name. The system will return all matching records from that county. You can also narrow results by date range or case type if needed.
If you cannot find a case online, you can request a manual search through the District Clerk's office. Staff can search by name or cause number and provide copies. Standard copy fees in Texas run $1 per page, with a $5 certification fee per document. Research fees may apply when the cause number is unknown.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search lets you look up anyone currently housed in a Texas state prison. Search by name, TDCJ number, or state ID. If someone was convicted of a felony in Houston County and is serving time, they will appear in the TDCJ database.
Houston County Sheriff's Office
The Houston County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and jail records for the county. For current inmates, the Sheriff's Office can tell you who is in custody, the charges, and bond information. Arrest records and incident reports can be requested through the Sheriff's Office under the Texas Public Information Act.
Requests for public information from the Sheriff's Office should be submitted in writing. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, the agency must respond within 10 business days. If the records exist and are public, they must be produced or the agency must notify you of any exception it plans to raise. Most arrest records and booking information are public in Texas once a case is filed.
The Sheriff's Office is located in Crockett, Texas. For general inquiries, contact the main line and ask for the records or open records division. For ongoing criminal cases, records may be restricted until the case is resolved.
Statewide Tools for Houston County Records
Beyond the county courthouse, several state-level resources can help you find felony records connected to Houston County. The Texas DPS Crime Records Service provides name-based criminal history searches for a fee of $3 per search. Fingerprint-based searches offer more complete results and are better suited for formal uses. Both require a CRS Public Website Account.
The Texas Sex Offender Registry is searchable by name, county, city, or zip code. It includes all registered offenders in Houston County and is updated regularly. The registry shows conviction offense, registration status, and address when available.
The Texas Attorney General's Open Government page explains your rights under the Public Information Act. If a government body denies your records request or fails to respond on time, you can file a complaint with the Attorney General's office. The Open Government Hotline is available at (877) OPEN-TEX.
Under Texas Government Code Chapter 411, conviction records and deferred adjudication information are public. You do not need to show a reason to access them. Sealed records and expunctions are exceptions. If someone had their record expunged in Houston County, those records are no longer public and cannot be disclosed.
Expunctions and Orders of Nondisclosure
Texas law allows for two main ways to limit access to criminal records: expunction and orders of nondisclosure. An expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 results in the complete destruction of arrest and case records. It is available in limited cases, such as acquittals, dismissed charges with no probation, and some pardons. Once granted, the person can legally deny the arrest ever happened.
An order of nondisclosure seals the record from public view without destroying it. It is available for certain deferred adjudication cases where the person completed probation without being convicted. The District Clerk in Houston County handles the filing of these petitions. Forms and procedures are available through the courthouse or online through the Texas Law Help portal.
Not every case qualifies. The type of offense matters, as do prior criminal history and other factors. Anyone with questions about eligibility should consult an attorney or contact a legal aid organization. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Lone Star Legal Aid serve various parts of East Texas and may be able to assist with expunction matters.
Nearby Counties
Houston County sits in East Texas and borders several neighboring counties. You can find felony records information for each through their county pages.