Mason County Felony Records Search
Mason County felony records are on file with the District Clerk in Mason, Texas, covering all criminal cases processed by the county district court. This page explains how to access, search, and request copies of those records.
Mason County Overview
Mason County District Clerk
The Mason County District Clerk is the official custodian of all felony court records in the county. The office is located at the Mason County Courthouse in Mason, Texas. Staff can help you search for cases by name or cause number, pull copies of court documents, and certify records on request. The District Clerk files and indexes all felony indictments, motions, judgments, and other criminal pleadings from the district court.
Mason County is a small Hill Country county in Central Texas. The county seat of Mason is a rural community. Because the county is small, the District Clerk's office may have limited staffing. It is a good idea to call ahead before visiting, especially if you need a large number of copies or are researching older cases. Standard copy fees apply statewide: $1 per page for plain copies, $5 per document for certified copies.
If you are mailing a records request, include the full name of the defendant, the approximate case year, and a cause number if you have one. Include a check or money order for the estimated fee. The office will contact you if the actual cost differs from your estimate.
The Mason County official website provides contact information for county offices, including the District Clerk.
The county site lists department hours, phone numbers, and links to public information resources.
District Court Felony Cases in Mason County
The 198th District Court serves Mason County and has jurisdiction over all felony criminal matters in the county. From the initial indictment through any post-conviction proceedings, every step of a felony case creates documents that are filed with and indexed by the District Clerk. The 198th District Court serves multiple counties in its judicial district and rotates between them on a set schedule.
Under the Texas Penal Code, felonies are divided into five classes. Capital felonies carry the death penalty or life without parole. First-degree felonies bring 5 to 99 years or a life sentence. Second-degree felonies carry 2 to 20 years. Third-degree felonies run 2 to 10 years. State jail felonies result in 180 days to 2 years in a state jail. All levels are handled by the district court and recorded by the District Clerk.
Because the 198th District Court rotates between counties, Mason County court dates may not occur every week. The court's schedule can be confirmed through the District Clerk's office or through the statewide re:SearchTX system, which shows scheduled hearings and case events for district courts across Texas.
How to Search Mason County Felony Records
The re:SearchTX portal is the best free online resource for looking up Mason County felony records. This statewide system covers all 254 Texas counties. Search by defendant name or cause number to find case records. Results include case type, parties, docket entries, and current status. Some documents are viewable for free, while others require a registered account.
In-person searches can be done at the District Clerk's office during regular business hours. Public search terminals may be available in the clerk's office. If you do not have a cause number, staff can search by name. Older cases that predate digital records may be in paper indexes or microfilm archives. These may take more time to locate.
For a statewide criminal history check, use the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. A name-based search costs $3 per person. Fingerprint-based searches are more complete and are used for official background checks. DPS searches pull from the statewide criminal history database and include records from all Texas counties.
Note: For small counties like Mason, the statewide re:SearchTX system may not have full document images, but case docket information is generally available for recent cases.
Arrest Records and the Mason County Sheriff
The Mason County Sheriff's Office handles arrests and maintains the county jail. Felony arrests generate a booking record that gets submitted to the Texas DPS criminal history system. Most arrest records from the Sheriff's Office are public under the Texas Public Information Act.
Written public information requests should be directed to the Sheriff's Office. Under Government Code Chapter 552, the agency has 10 business days to respond. Some records tied to active investigations may be temporarily withheld, but the agency must tell you in writing if it is withholding something and cite the legal reason.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search covers all state prison inmates. If someone convicted in Mason County received a state prison sentence, they will appear in the TDCJ system. Search by name, TDCJ number, or SID number. Results include offense type, facility, and projected release date.
Expunctions and Nondisclosure in Mason County
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, a person may be eligible to have a felony arrest record expunged if the case was dismissed, the person was acquitted, or the prosecution never went forward within the statute of limitations. Expunction orders require all agencies to destroy the records. Petitions are filed in the district court in Mason County.
Nondisclosure orders are available for some people who completed deferred adjudication and were discharged from supervision. This seals the record from public view but does not destroy it. Not all offenses qualify. Violent felonies and certain other serious crimes are excluded. The District Clerk can provide petition forms, and the Office of Court Administration at txcourts.gov posts official forms online.
Free legal resources for expunction and nondisclosure are at texaslawhelp.org. If you are not sure whether your case qualifies, a Texas attorney who handles criminal defense or record-sealing cases can review your situation and advise you before you file.
Statewide Resources
The Texas Sex Offender Registry is searchable by county, zip, or name. Registered sex offenders with Mason County addresses appear in this database. The registry is updated by the Texas DPS. It is free and open to the public.
The Texas Attorney General Open Government page covers public information rights under Chapter 552. The AG's hotline at (877) OPEN-TEX answers questions about records requests and disputes. If a county agency denies your request without a valid reason, the AG can issue an opinion requiring disclosure.
The Texas Judicial Branch site at txcourts.gov has all official court forms, rules, and procedures. If you need to understand how a felony case moves through the court system, TexasCourtHelp.org offers plain-language guides without requiring a law degree.
Nearby Counties
Mason County is in Central Texas and is surrounded by several Hill Country counties. Felony records for those areas are available through their county pages.