Kenedy County Felony Records
Kenedy County felony records are kept by the District and County Clerk in Sarita, Texas, and include all criminal cases filed in the Kenedy County District Court. Kenedy is one of the least populous counties in Texas, but its court records are public and accessible like those of every other county in the state.
Kenedy County Overview
Kenedy County District and County Clerk
Kenedy County has a combined District and County Clerk's office in Sarita. This single office maintains all court records for the county, including felony cases heard in district court, misdemeanor cases, civil filings, and probate matters. Because Kenedy is one of the smallest counties in Texas by population, the clerk's office is very small. Staff count may be one or two people.
If you need to search felony records in Kenedy County, call the clerk's office before making the drive. Sarita is a small community, and the courthouse may have limited hours or close unexpectedly. Having the cause number ready will make the search much faster. The office can search by name, but limited staff means searches take more effort.
Standard Texas copy fees apply: $1 per page for plain copies, $5 per document for certified copies. Cash and money orders are the safest payment method for small county offices. Confirm what payment types are accepted before you go.
The Kenedy County official website has contact information for county offices including the clerk in Sarita.
The county site lists addresses and contact numbers for offices located in Sarita.
District Court Jurisdiction in Kenedy County
Kenedy County is part of a multi-county judicial district in South Texas. The district judge travels to Sarita to hear cases on a scheduled rotation. Because felony case volume in Kenedy County is low, court may not be in session every week. Check with the clerk's office for scheduled hearing dates before traveling for a court appearance.
Texas felony levels under the Penal Code range from capital offenses to state jail felonies. Capital cases can result in the death penalty or life without parole. First-degree felonies carry 5 to 99 years. 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. All of these case types are indexed by the Kenedy County clerk.
Kenedy County is bordered by the King Ranch on several sides and has a significant amount of privately owned ranchland. Felony cases in the county may include trespassing on private ranch property, wildlife-related offenses, and drug charges common to South Texas border areas.
Searching Kenedy County Felony Records Online
The re:SearchTX portal covers Kenedy County and all 254 Texas counties. This is the easiest way to look up a Kenedy County felony case without traveling to Sarita. Search by defendant name or cause number. Basic case information is free. The data is updated nightly.
The Texas DPS Criminal History system allows name-based searches for $3. The database includes all Texas counties including Kenedy. For fingerprint-based searches, contact DPS directly. Both types of searches require a free CRS website account.
People sentenced to Texas state prison from Kenedy County cases can be looked up through the TDCJ Offender Search. The database shows current facility, release date, and offense details. The Texas Sex Offender Registry is also searchable by county and covers registered offenders in Kenedy County.
Note: Given the very small population of Kenedy County, the number of cases in any system will be limited. If a search returns no results, consider broadening the search or contacting the clerk directly.
Public Information and Records Requests
Felony court records in Kenedy County are public under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. You can request records in person, by mail, or in some cases by email. The clerk's office has 10 business days to respond to a request. Include the case name, cause number if known, and a description of what you need.
The Texas Attorney General's Open Government page explains your rights and how to escalate a request if a government body does not respond. The Open Government Hotline is available at (877) OPEN-TEX for questions about public information rights in Texas.
Expunction and nondisclosure petitions for Kenedy County cases are handled through the District Clerk's office. Eligibility and procedures follow statewide Texas law under Chapter 55 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Government Code Chapter 411.
Nearby Counties
Kenedy County is in South Texas along the Gulf Coast plain. These pages cover felony records in neighboring counties.