Fannin County Public Records /Fannin County Criminal Records

Fannin County Criminal Records

What Is Fannin County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Fannin County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.

Key distinctions exist among the various types of criminal records:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt, either through a guilty plea, no-contest plea, or jury/bench verdict.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by more than one year of incarceration, while misdemeanors carry lesser penalties, typically under one year in a county jail.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under applicable law. Juvenile records are routinely sealed or restricted to protect the privacy of minors, and access is limited to authorized parties.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants represent current, outstanding orders for an individual's arrest. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have already been adjudicated.

Records maintained in Fannin County include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and probation or parole conditions. The principal agencies responsible for maintaining these records are:

Fannin County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail rosters
Fannin County District Court — maintains case filings, court proceedings, and final dispositions
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository through the Crime Records Service
Local municipal police departments — maintain records of arrests and incidents occurring within their respective jurisdictions

Under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 60, criminal history record information is defined to include identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, informations, and other formal criminal charges, as well as any disposition arising therefrom.

Fannin County District Clerk's Office 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Suite 201, Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7459 Fannin County District Clerk

Fannin County Sheriff's Office 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-2143 Fannin County Sheriff's Office

Are Criminal Records Public In Fannin County

Criminal records in Fannin County are generally considered public records under Texas law. The Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552, establishes the public's right to access government records, including criminal history information maintained by county agencies. Under this statute, members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of records held by governmental bodies, subject to specific exceptions.

The following categories of criminal records are accessible to the public:

Adult conviction records and court case dispositions
Arrest logs and booking records maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Court dockets, case filings, and hearing schedules
Final judgments, sentencing orders, and probation terms entered in open court

The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:

Juvenile records: Records pertaining to individuals who were under 17 years of age at the time of the offense are sealed pursuant to the Texas Family Code and are not available to the general public.
Sealed or expunged records: Individuals who have obtained an order of expunction or nondisclosure are entitled to have their records removed from public access. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 55.01, eligible individuals may petition the court to expunge arrest records where charges were dismissed, the individual was acquitted, or certain other conditions are met.
Ongoing investigations: Records related to active criminal investigations are exempt from disclosure where release would interfere with law enforcement operations.
Confidential informant information and certain victim data: These categories are protected under specific statutory provisions.

Members of the public seeking criminal history information compiled by the Texas Department of Public Safety must submit requests through the DPS Crime Records Service, as county-level agencies do not maintain the comprehensive statewide criminal history database.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Fannin County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain criminal records in Fannin County through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing these records:

Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the records sought relate to an arrest (contact the Sheriff's Office), a court case (contact the District Clerk or County Clerk), or a comprehensive criminal history (submit a request to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service).

Step 2 — Submit a written public information request. Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, requestors may submit a written request to the relevant county office. Requests should include the full name of the subject, date of birth, and any known case numbers or dates of arrest to facilitate an accurate search.

Step 3 — Pay applicable fees. County offices may charge fees for copies and search services in accordance with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission fee schedule. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors.

Step 4 — Request statewide criminal history from Texas DPS. For a comprehensive background check, members of the public may submit a name-based or fingerprint-based criminal history request through the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. Fingerprint-based searches provide the most accurate results and are processed through the Fingerprint-Based Applicant Clearinghouse of Texas (FACT) system.

Step 5 — Visit the courthouse in person. Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Fannin County District Clerk's Office or County Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Public counter hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding official county holidays.

Fannin County County Clerk's Office 101 E. Sam Rayburn Dr., Suite 102, Bonham, TX 75418 (903) 583-7486 Fannin County County Clerk

Texas Department of Public Safety — Crime Records Service P.O. Box 149322, Austin, TX 78714-9322 (512) 424-2474 Texas DPS Crime Records Service

How To Find Criminal Records in Fannin County Online?

Several online portals currently provide access to Fannin County criminal records and related court information. Members of the public may use the following resources:

Texas Judicial Branch Case Search (re:SearchTX): The re:SearchTX portal provides public access to district and county court case information statewide, including Fannin County. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal contains case filings, hearing dates, and disposition information. No registration is required for basic public searches.
Fannin County Official Website: The Fannin County government website provides links to county offices and may include access to online records portals maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk.
Texas DPS Crime Records Online: The Texas DPS offers an online portal for submitting name-based criminal history requests. Requestors must create an account and pay the applicable fee. The portal returns results from the statewide criminal history database.
Fannin County Sheriff's Office Jail Roster: Current inmate information and recent booking records may be available through the Sheriff's Office. Members of the public are advised to contact the Sheriff's Office directly to confirm current online availability of jail roster data.

It is important to note that not all records are available online. Older case files, sealed records, and certain sensitive documents are available only through in-person inspection at the relevant county office. Online portals reflect information that has been entered into the electronic case management system and may not include all historical records.

Can You Search Fannin County Criminal Records for Free?

Texas law provides that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Under the Texas Public Information Act, § 552.271, a governmental body may not charge a fee for the inspection of public records; fees may only be assessed for the reproduction of copies.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection at the District Clerk's Office: Members of the public may review court case files, dockets, and dispositions at the public counter without charge during regular business hours.
re:SearchTX online case search: Basic case searches through the re:SearchTX portal are available to the public at no cost. Viewing case documents may require a registered account and applicable fees depending on document type.
Fannin County Sheriff's Office jail roster: Current booking and inmate information, where made available online, is accessible at no charge.
Texas DPS name-based criminal history search: A fee is assessed for name-based and fingerprint-based criminal history searches conducted through the Texas DPS Crime Records Service. This fee is set by statute and is not waived for general public requests.

Fees for copies of records are governed by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's published fee schedule, which sets standard per-page rates for paper copies and electronic records.

What's Included in a Fannin County Criminal Record?

A complete criminal record in Fannin County may contain information drawn from multiple agencies and systems. The specific contents vary depending on the source of the record and the nature of the individual's criminal history.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and place of birth
Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
Booking photograph (mugshot)
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by Texas DPS
FBI Number (assigned for federal criminal history purposes)

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (Sheriff's Office, municipal police, or other law enforcement)
Booking number and facility where the individual was held
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond amount set
Name of the detention facility

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (District Court or County Court at Law)
Filing date and assigned judge
Charges as filed, including applicable Texas Penal Code statutes and felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
Attorney of record (defense and prosecution)

Disposition Information

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed)
Conviction date where applicable
Sentencing details, including type of sentence (incarceration, probation, deferred adjudication), length, fines, restitution ordered, and special conditions
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole status and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Outstanding or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status (maintained by Texas DPS under Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure)
DUI/DWI convictions and related license actions
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges not yet adjudicated

How Long Does Fannin County Keep Criminal Records?

Fannin County retains criminal records in accordance with retention schedules established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) under the authority of the Texas Local Government Code. These schedules set minimum retention periods for records held by county courts, law enforcement agencies, and other governmental bodies.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Felony court case files: Permanently retained. Records involving capital offenses and life sentences are never destroyed.
Misdemeanor court case files: Retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition.
Arrest and booking records: Retained for a minimum of two years for records not resulting in conviction; records associated with convictions are retained longer in accordance with the applicable court record schedule.
Jail records and inmate files: Retained for a minimum of two years following release, with longer retention for serious offenses.
Probation and supervision records: Retained for a minimum of five years following discharge from supervision.
Expunged records: Following a valid court order of expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 55.01, agencies are required to return or destroy records as directed by the court order.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission publishes the Local Schedule CC (Records of County Clerks) and related schedules, which govern the retention of court and criminal justice records at the county level. County agencies are required to comply with these schedules and may not destroy records before the minimum retention period has elapsed without authorization.

Texas State Library and Archives Commission 1201 Brazos St., Austin, TX 78701 (512) 463-5455 Texas State Library and Archives Commission