Access Johnson County Felony Records
Johnson County felony records are maintained by the District Clerk in Cleburne, Texas, and cover all criminal cases processed by the Johnson County District Courts. This page explains how to search and obtain those public records in person, online, and through state resources.
Johnson County Overview
Johnson County District Clerk
The Johnson County District Clerk's office is in Cleburne at the county courthouse. The District Clerk is the official keeper of all felony criminal records, civil case filings, and family law matters handled in the Johnson County district courts. For felony cases, all records from indictment through final disposition are filed with this office.
Johnson County is a growing suburban county south of the Fort Worth metro area. The District Court system sees a significant volume of felony cases each year, including drug offenses, assault, property crimes, and DWI cases elevated to felony status. The clerk's office handles all of those filings and maintains them as public records.
You can search records at the courthouse in person. Staff can look up cases by name or cause number. Standard fees apply: $1 per page for copies, $5 per document for certification. If you do not have a cause number, a research fee may apply. The office is open Monday through Friday. Confirm hours before you visit since holiday schedules and court events can affect availability.
The re:SearchTX statewide portal also covers Johnson County cases and is the easiest online option for basic lookups without visiting the courthouse.
re:SearchTX allows you to search all 254 Texas counties by name, cause number, or attorney for free with nightly data updates.
District Courts in Johnson County
Johnson County has two district courts: the 18th District Court and the 249th District Court. Both courts sit in Cleburne and share jurisdiction over felony criminal cases. The 18th District Court has jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters. The 249th District Court handles criminal, civil, and family law cases.
When a felony case is filed in Johnson County, it is assigned to one of these two courts depending on the docket. Both courts follow the same procedures for arraignment, plea hearings, jury selection, trial, and sentencing. Records for both courts are kept by the same District Clerk's office.
Under the Texas Penal Code, felonies range from capital offenses to state jail felonies. Capital felonies carry life or death. First-degree felonies run 5 to 99 years. Second-degree felonies run 2 to 20 years. Third-degree felonies run 2 to 10 years. State jail felonies run 180 days to 2 years. All of these case types go through the Johnson County district courts and generate records indexed by the clerk.
Note: If you are trying to look up a specific court docket or check upcoming hearing dates, re:SearchTX is updated nightly and shows hearing schedules for both district courts.
Online Search Options for Johnson County
The re:SearchTX portal is the primary statewide court search tool for Johnson County felony records. The system is maintained by the Texas Office of Court Administration and covers all 254 counties. Search by defendant name, cause number, or attorney. Basic case data is free. Document image access may require a subscription.
The Texas DPS Criminal History system provides name-based criminal history searches for $3 per search. Results come from the statewide CCH database, which includes Johnson County felony dispositions. For formal purposes such as licensing or court use, fingerprint-based searches are more reliable. Both search types require a free CRS Public Website Account.
For current inmates in Texas state prisons, use the TDCJ Offender Search. The database includes people sentenced from Johnson County and shows facility, release date, and offense details. If someone was convicted of a felony in Johnson County and sent to a state prison, they will appear in this system.
Johnson County Sheriff and Local Law Enforcement
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated parts of the county and manages the county jail in Cleburne. The jail holds pretrial detainees facing felony charges. If you need to find out if someone is currently held at the Johnson County jail, contact the sheriff's office directly or check the county website.
Cleburne also has its own police department. Burleson, Alvarado, Joshua, and other cities in Johnson County have their own police as well. Arrests made by any of these agencies that result in felony charges ultimately flow through the Johnson County district courts. The District Clerk then maintains the court record regardless of which law enforcement agency made the arrest.
The Texas Sex Offender Registry covers all registered sex offenders in Johnson County and can be searched by name, city, or zip code. The registry is publicly available online at no cost.
Legal Resources for Johnson County Residents
If you need legal help with a felony matter in Johnson County, several resources are available. The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690. You can also search for licensed attorneys at texasbar.com.
For self-represented litigants, free guides and forms are available at TexasLawHelp.org. The Texas Courts website at txcourts.gov has official court forms for felony-related matters including expunction petitions and nondisclosure applications. Legal aid organizations serving North and Central Texas may be able to help with qualifying civil matters connected to criminal cases.
Expunction petitions under Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and nondisclosure orders under Texas Government Code Chapter 411 are both handled through the Johnson County District Clerk's office. If you think you qualify for either, start by contacting the clerk or a local attorney to review your eligibility.
Nearby Counties
Johnson County is south of the DFW metro in North Texas. These pages cover felony records in neighboring counties.