Search Madison County Felony Records
Madison County felony records are on file with the District Clerk in Madisonville, Texas, covering all criminal cases heard in the county district court. This page covers how to search, request, and access these public records.
Madison County Overview
Madison County District Clerk
The Madison County District Clerk is the official custodian of all felony case records in the county. The office is located at the Madison County Courthouse in Madisonville, Texas. Staff can look up cases by name or cause number, pull file copies, and certify documents on request. The District Clerk files and indexes all felony indictments, revocation motions, bond forfeitures, and related criminal pleadings.
Madison County sits between Houston and Waco along Interstate 45. The county's district court sees felony cases from the entire county. If you need a certified copy of a felony judgment or want to confirm the outcome of an old case, the District Clerk is the right contact. Standard copy fees in Texas are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document for certification. Search fees may apply if staff must locate the record manually.
Written mail requests are accepted. Include the full name of the defendant, the approximate year the case was filed, and the cause number if you have it. Send payment with your request or call ahead to confirm the fee before mailing.
The Madison County official website provides contact information for county offices and departments.
Through the county site you can find office hours, department phone numbers, and links to county services.
District Court and Felony Jurisdiction in Madison County
The 12th District Court serves Madison County. This court has authority over all felony criminal matters, from the first hearing through trial, sentencing, and appeals. All case records from felony proceedings go to the District Clerk for indexing and storage.
Texas classifies felony offenses into five levels. Capital felonies are punishable by life or death. First-degree felonies carry 5 to 99 years or life. Second-degree felonies run 2 to 20 years. Third-degree felonies bring 2 to 10 years. State jail felonies result in 180 days to 2 years in a state jail. All of these are processed through the 12th District Court and recorded by the District Clerk.
The 12th District Court also handles civil matters, family law cases, and juvenile proceedings. For felony records specifically, the criminal docket is tracked in the county's case management system and is accessible through the statewide re:SearchTX portal. Both current and past cases can be searched online by name or case number.
How to Search Madison County Felony Records Online
The re:SearchTX portal is the primary free tool for looking up Madison County felony records online. This statewide system covers all 254 Texas counties. Search by defendant name, cause number, or attorney. The system returns case type, party names, filing date, docket entries, and current status. Some document images are available free, while others require a subscription through a registered account.
If you need older records that may not appear in the online system, call the District Clerk directly. Staff can search manual indexes and pull case files from storage. Records going back many years are held at the courthouse. Some older files may take extra time to locate, especially if they have been moved to off-site storage.
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service is another option for finding felony conviction information. A name-based search costs $3 and returns results from the statewide criminal history database. Fingerprint-based searches are more thorough and are used when results need to be used for official purposes. Both are available through the DPS website portal.
Note: Always confirm current case status directly with the District Clerk when the information will be used for legal or official purposes.
Madison County Sheriff and Arrest Records
The Madison County Sheriff's Office processes all county arrests, handles booking, and maintains jail records. When a person is arrested on a felony charge, the Sheriff's Office creates a booking record and submits the arrest data to the Texas DPS criminal history database. Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office are generally public records and can be requested under the Texas Public Information Act.
To ask for arrest records or incident reports, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Under Government Code Chapter 552, the county has 10 business days to respond to a public information request. Some records may be withheld if they involve an ongoing investigation or if the information is otherwise excepted under state law.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search covers all state prison inmates. If a person convicted in Madison County is serving a sentence in a Texas state prison, they will appear in this search. You can look up by name, TDCJ number, or SID number. The result shows facility, sentence info, and projected release date.
Expunctions and Nondisclosure Orders
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, people with certain dismissed or acquitted felony arrests may qualify for expunction. An expunction order requires all agencies to destroy records of the arrest and case. The petition must be filed in the district court, and all affected agencies must receive notice. The District Clerk's office can provide the required forms.
Orders of Nondisclosure are available for some deferred adjudication cases. A nondisclosure seals the record from public view but does not destroy it. Criminal justice agencies may still access sealed records. Eligibility depends on the offense type and the waiting period after discharge from supervision. Not all felony offenses qualify for nondisclosure under Texas law.
Free legal guidance on both options is available at texaslawhelp.org. The Office of Court Administration at txcourts.gov posts official forms for expunction and nondisclosure petitions. If you are not sure whether you qualify, consult a licensed Texas attorney before filing.
State Resources for Madison County Cases
The Texas Sex Offender Registry is free to search by county, city, zip code, or name. All registered sex offenders with addresses in Madison County appear in this database. Entries include offense type, registration status, and current address when available. The registry is updated by the Texas DPS.
The Texas Attorney General's Open Government page explains how to file a public information request and what to do if a government body denies access. It includes a hotline at (877) OPEN-TEX for questions about public information rights. The AG's office can issue formal opinions when disputes arise over whether records must be disclosed.
The Texas Judicial Branch website has court forms, rules, and general guidance that applies to all Texas counties. If you are trying to navigate the criminal court process without a lawyer, txcourts.gov and TexasCourtHelp.org both have plain-language resources to help.
Nearby Counties
Madison County borders several other Central and East Texas counties. Felony records for neighboring areas are available through their county pages.