Wise County Felony Records Search
Wise County felony records are filed with the District Clerk's office in Decatur, Texas. This North Texas county, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, handles criminal cases through the Wise County District Court. Case files are stored at the courthouse on North Trinity Street in Decatur. You can search Wise County felony records online through state tools or visit the courthouse in person to get certified copies and review case documents.
Wise County Overview
Wise County District Clerk
The Wise County District Clerk in Decatur maintains all felony court records for the county. The District Court handles all felony criminal cases. The clerk files, tracks, and provides access to case documents. Staff can search by name or cause number and provide plain or certified copies of case records.
The District Clerk office is open Monday through Friday. The County Clerk at the same courthouse handles County Court at Law records and misdemeanor cases. Call (940) 627-3351 for County Clerk matters. The District Clerk number for felony records is (940) 627-5534. Both offices are at 101 North Trinity Street in Decatur.
| Office | Wise County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 N. Trinity St., Decatur, TX 76234 |
| Phone | (940) 627-5534 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
How to Search Wise County Criminal Records
Wise County felony records can be searched online through state tools or in person at the courthouse in Decatur. Online searches are fast for basic case information. The courthouse is needed for certified copies and full case file access.
The re:SearchTX portal includes Wise County court data. You can search by name or cause number and view docket entries for felony cases. Some documents are viewable online without charge. Free registration is required. Data refreshes nightly.
The Texas DPS criminal history system tracks felony arrests and convictions statewide. Wise County data is included. Create a CRS Public Website account and pay per search to run name-based lookups. This is useful when you want to check a person's Texas felony history beyond a single county.
For state prison inmates, use the TDCJ Offender Search. This covers people sentenced to state custody for felony offenses. Search by name or TDCJ number to see offense type, current facility, and projected release date.
For in-person visits to the Decatur courthouse, bring photo ID. Staff can search by name or cause number and pull case files. Certified copies are available for a fee. Plain copies cost less. You can also send a written records request by mail to the District Clerk's office.
Wise County Official Website
The Wise County official website provides county government information and links to department contacts including the District Clerk's office that maintains felony court records in Decatur.
The Wise County homepage links to department contacts for accessing felony records through the District Clerk in Decatur.
Wise County Court System
Wise County has a District Court and a County Court at Law. The District Court handles all felony criminal cases. The County Court at Law handles misdemeanors and civil matters below the district court threshold. Both courts operate from the courthouse in Decatur.
Texas felony classifications under Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 apply to all felony cases in Wise County. State jail felonies carry up to 2 years in state jail. Third-degree felonies mean 2 to 10 years. Second-degree felonies mean 2 to 20 years. First-degree felonies can mean 5 to 99 years or life in state prison.
Wise County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and its proximity to the DFW market has led to population growth. Case volume in the Wise County District Court has increased as the county grows. The District Clerk maintains all case records from the courthouse in Decatur.
Texas Statewide Felony Record Resources
State agencies maintain several tools with Wise County felony data. These let you search without traveling to Decatur.
The Texas Sex Offender Registry at sor.dps.texas.gov lets you search by county for registered sex offenders. Wise County results show active registrations, offense history, and current addresses. DPS updates this registry regularly.
The Texas Attorney General's open government portal at texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government explains public records rights. Wise County felony records are public under the Texas Public Information Act. If a request is improperly denied, call the AG's hotline at (877) OPEN-TEX.
The Texas Office of Court Administration at txcourts.gov/oca publishes annual reports with felony case data for Wise County. These reports show filing volumes and disposition statistics by court and year, useful for tracking trends in the county's court system.
Texas Law on Felony Records
Wise County felony records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. You do not need to explain why you want them. The District Clerk must respond within 10 business days. Routine requests are usually handled faster.
Deferred adjudication records are public in Texas. A person who received deferred adjudication may have that record appear in public searches even after discharge. A nondisclosure order can limit access. Not all deferred adjudication cases qualify for nondisclosure under Texas Government Code Chapter 411.
Expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 removes records from public access for dismissed or acquitted cases. After expunction, the case should not appear in public records searches. If a case you expect to find is absent, it may have been expunged or sealed by a court order.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Wise County in North Texas near the DFW metro area. Each maintains its own court system and District Clerk.