Search Travis County Felony Records
Travis County felony records are maintained by the District Clerk's Criminal Division in Austin. The clerk keeps all adult felony criminal case files, and the public can search those records online through the Odyssey portal, visit the courthouse in person, or submit records requests by mail.
Travis County Overview
Travis County District Clerk - Criminal Division
The Travis County District Clerk maintains adult felony criminal records, felony non-disclosures, and all expunctions (both misdemeanor and felony). Velva L. Price serves as the District Clerk. The Criminal Division of the clerk's office operates out of the Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Travis County is home to Austin, the state capital. The county has grown rapidly in recent years. With over 1.3 million residents, Travis County has one of the busiest court systems in Texas. Multiple criminal District Courts handle the felony caseload. Cases range from drug offenses and property crimes to violent crimes and white-collar felonies.
| Criminal Records |
Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center Gault Annex, 501 W. 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Room 2.300 Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Civil/Family Records | Civil and Family Court Facility 1700 Guadalupe, Room 3.200, Austin, TX 78701 |
| Criminal Records Phone | (512) 854-9420 |
| Civil/Family Phone | (512) 854-9457 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Mailing Address | Travis County District Clerk, Records Request, P.O. Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767 |
| Website | traviscountytx.gov/district-clerk |
Travis County has two different locations for records depending on the case type. Felony criminal records go to the Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center at 501 W. 11th Street. Civil and family records go to 1700 Guadalupe. Make sure you go to the right location before making the trip.
The Travis County District Clerk provides online case search through the Odyssey portal, which is one of the more advanced online systems among Texas counties.
The Travis County District Clerk's case information and records page at traviscountytx.gov provides access to online case records, the Odyssey portal, and records request forms for felony cases in Austin.
How to Search Travis County Felony Records
Travis County offers several ways to access felony records. The online Odyssey portal is the most convenient option for basic case information. The clerk's office in Austin is where you go for certified copies and full file access.
The Travis County Online Case Information portal allows free searching of court records. The Odyssey system shows case summaries, a register of actions, party information, and some document images. The portal includes criminal cases from 2008 to present. Older cases may require an in-person visit or a mail request.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal also covers Travis County felony cases. This is useful if you want to search across multiple counties at once or if you prefer the statewide interface.
For in-person visits, go to the Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center at 501 W. 11th St. in Austin, 2nd Floor, Room 2.300. Bring your photo ID. Staff can pull files and make copies. The office is open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Note the earlier closing time compared to many county clerks.
Three ways to request Travis County felony records:
- Online through the Court Records Request Form
- By mail to Travis County District Clerk, Records Request, P.O. Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767
- In person at the Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center, Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Copy fees in Travis County: standard copies are $1 per page. Certification adds $5 per document. A basic record search is free for one name if done online or $10 per name for microfilm and paper searches for records before 1981.
TDCJ and State Prison Records
Travis County felony convictions resulting in state prison sentences appear in the TDCJ Offender Search. This free database shows current and former Texas state prison inmates. Search by name or TDCJ number for offense type, sentence length, and current facility location.
The Travis County Sheriff's Office maintains the county jail at 500 W. 10th St. in Austin, phone (512) 854-4180. People awaiting trial on felony charges are held there. The sheriff's office has an inmate search tool at tcsheriff.org for current jail inmates.
As a large urban county with a growing population, Travis County generates thousands of felony cases each year. Many defendants receive probation or deferred adjudication rather than state prison. Those individuals are in the courthouse records but will not appear in the TDCJ database.
Note: For statewide criminal history checks, the Texas DPS offers a name-based search at (855) 481-7070 or online through the DPS crime records site. This covers arrests and dispositions statewide, not just Travis County.
Felony Law in Travis County
All Travis County felony cases follow Texas Penal Code. The Criminal Division of the District Clerk's office maintains adult felony criminal records, felony non-disclosures, all expunctions (misdemeanor and felony), and provides support for the Travis County District Courts. This combined function means the criminal division handles more record types than in some other counties.
Most adult felony records are public under the Texas Public Information Act. Expunged records are removed from all public databases. After an expunction, the case does not appear in the Odyssey portal, re:SearchTX, DPS checks, or anywhere else in the public record. Travis County's criminal division processes expunction orders and ensures compliance with removal requirements.
Nondisclosure orders seal records from public view but not from law enforcement. If a Travis County defendant successfully completed deferred adjudication and received a nondisclosure order, the record will not appear in public searches even though it still exists within the court system for certain law enforcement purposes.
The Travis County District Attorney's office handles all felony prosecutions. The DA is located near the criminal courthouse in Austin. For questions about pending cases, contact the DA's office or the defendant's attorney. The Texas State Law Library guide at guides.sll.texas.gov/criminal-records explains Texas criminal records law in plain language for the general public.
More Travis County Criminal Record Resources
The Texas Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered sex offenders in Travis County by name, address, or zip code. With over a million residents, there are numerous registrants in the county. Each record shows offense type, current address, and risk level.
The Travis County Law Library at lawlibrary.traviscountytx.gov provides access to court records and legal research resources for the public. The law library is a good local resource for people researching their own cases or trying to understand court documents.
The Texas Attorney General's open government section explains your rights under the Public Information Act. The Open Government Hotline at (877) OPEN-TEX handles questions and complaints.
Legal aid in Travis County and Austin is available through Lone Star Legal Aid at (800) 733-8394 for qualifying individuals. Austin Bar Association Legal Aid can also help connect people with free legal services. The State Bar of Texas referral line at (800) 252-9690 can connect you with a criminal defense attorney in Austin. Free self-help resources are at texaslawhelp.org.
Cities in Travis County
Travis County includes Austin and several other communities. All felony cases from anywhere in the county go through the Travis County District Courts in Austin.