Menard County Felony Records
Menard County felony records are on file with the District Clerk in Menard, Texas, covering criminal cases heard in the county district court. This page explains how to find and request access to those records.
Menard County Overview
Menard County District Clerk
The Menard County District Clerk maintains all felony case records for the county. The office is at the Menard County Courthouse in Menard, Texas. Staff can search cases by name or cause number, pull file copies, and certify documents as requested. All felony indictments, motions, judgments, and court orders from the district court are filed and indexed through this office.
Menard County is a small, remote county in West Central Texas on the San Saba River. The county seat of Menard has a few thousand residents. Because the county is small and rural, the clerk's office staffing is limited. Call ahead before visiting to confirm current hours and availability. For mail requests, include the defendant's full name, approximate case year, and cause number if available, along with payment.
Copy fees are $1 per page for plain copies and $5 per document for certified copies. A search fee may apply when staff must search manually. The District Clerk can confirm exact costs before you visit or send your request.
The Menard County official website provides contact information for county offices.
Use the county site to find the District Clerk's phone number and office hours before making a trip or sending a mail request.
198th District Court and Menard County Felonies
The 198th District Court serves Menard County along with Mason and McCulloch Counties. This court rotates between the three counties on a set schedule. When the court is sitting in Menard County, it handles all pending felony criminal cases for the county. The District Clerk in Menard keeps records of all Menard County cases.
Texas felony classes run from capital (death or life) at the most serious end to state jail (180 days to 2 years) at the least serious. First-degree felonies bring 5 to 99 years or life. Second-degree felonies carry 2 to 20 years. Third-degree felonies run 2 to 10 years. All of these cases come through the 198th District Court and are recorded by the District Clerk.
Because the court rotates among counties, hearing schedules in Menard County may vary from week to week. If you need to know when a specific case will next be heard, contact the District Clerk. You can also search current case settings through the re:SearchTX system, which shows scheduled court events across all Texas counties.
Searching Menard County Felony Records
The re:SearchTX portal covers all 254 Texas counties including Menard. This free system lets you search by defendant name or cause number. Results show case type, parties, docket entries, and status. For a very small county like Menard, the online record set will be modest, but recent and current cases should be findable. Older cases that predate digital filing are in paper form and require a direct request to the clerk.
For in-person searches, visit the District Clerk's office at the courthouse in Menard. If you do not have a cause number, staff can search by name. For older cases, manual searches of paper indexes may be needed. Call before visiting if you are researching cases that are more than a few years old.
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service offers statewide criminal history searches for $3 per name. This draws from the state criminal history database and covers all counties. Fingerprint-based searches are more thorough and are required for formal background checks.
Note: Given the small population of Menard County, online database coverage may be limited. Contact the District Clerk's office directly for the most reliable information.
Arrest Records and the Menard County Sheriff
The Menard County Sheriff's Office handles arrests and runs the county jail. Felony arrests create booking records submitted to the Texas DPS criminal history database. Most arrest records are public under the Texas Public Information Act.
Submit written public information requests to the Sheriff's Office. Under Government Code Chapter 552, the agency has 10 business days to respond. Records tied to active investigations may be temporarily withheld with written notice of the legal reason.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender search covers all state prison inmates. Menard County convictions resulting in state prison sentences appear here. Search by name or TDCJ number to find facility, offense, and release date information.
Expunctions and Nondisclosure
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, a person may petition to expunge a felony arrest record when the case was dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or was not prosecuted within the statute of limitations. All agencies must permanently destroy the records after expunction. Petitions are filed in the 198th District Court when sitting in Menard County.
Nondisclosure orders are available for some deferred adjudication cases. This seals the record from public view but does not destroy it. Serious offenses are excluded from eligibility. Official forms are at txcourts.gov and free self-help guides are at texaslawhelp.org. An attorney can help evaluate eligibility and prepare the correct documents.
Statewide Resources
The Texas Sex Offender Registry is searchable by county, city, zip, or name. Registered offenders with Menard County addresses appear here. The registry is managed by the Texas DPS and is free to search.
The Texas Attorney General Open Government page explains your rights to public records and handles disputes. The hotline is (877) OPEN-TEX. All Texas county agencies must respond to public information requests under Chapter 552.
The Texas Judicial Branch site has official forms and guidance. TexasCourtHelp.org provides plain-language guides for people navigating Texas criminal courts without an attorney.
Nearby Counties
Menard County is in the Hill Country of West Central Texas. Felony records for neighboring areas are available through their county pages.