Austin City, Texas Criminal Records
Criminal records in the City of Austin are official documents that reveal an offender’s criminal history. Such records reveal an offender’s name, arrest charges, booking information, and court disposition.
Austin criminal records are a compilation of crime-related data created by local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies. The local police departments contribute arrest and custody details in criminal records, while the judicial system provides case-related information. The Austin City Municipal Court, for instance, provides case records of minor misdemeanors and infractions. At the state level, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice may contribute crime-related information to criminal records.
What are Austin City Public Records?
In Austin City, public records refer to files that were created or stored by government entities in the performance of their duties. The Texas Public Information Act generally allows interested parties to obtain public records from government entities. Under the law, government entities must provide avenues via which the public may access records. These avenues may include online search portals and offline requests. For example, record seekers may submit in-person requests for arrest records held by the city’s police departments.
Not all government records are accessible to the public. The state law exempts records whose disclosure is not in the public interest. Examples of such records include court adoption records and social security numbers.
Austin City Crime Statistics
Situated in Travis County, the City of Austin serves as the county seat and the capital of Texas. The city limits extend into Hays and Williamson Counties. The Texas Department of Public Safety published a report on crimes documented in 2025. Per the agency’s report, the Austin Police Department recorded 35,000 crimes and a crime rate of 3,547 per 100,000 residents. Violent crimes numbered 4,229, while property crimes and crimes against society accounted for the remainder of the total reported crimes. In comparison with the 2024 report, the total number of crimes fell by 5.46 percent.
Are Austin City Criminal Records Public?
In Austin, the public may access most criminal history records generated by local record custodians. Publicly accessible criminal records may include these details:
- Offender’s personal information.
- Arrest and booking information.
- Case-related data, including filing date, docket number, and court disposition.
The Travis County District Clerk’s Office, via the Criminal Division, allows the public to view summaries of case information. To view such documents, record seekers may conduct searches using the clerk’s Odyssey portal. The portal allows name- or number-based searches for case summaries.
In contrast, record seekers may submit an online request form to obtain certified criminal history files. The clerk’s office may charge different fees after reviewing completed request forms. For example, the clerk may charge $5 per request and $5 per certified copy.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is another record custodian of criminal history files. To obtain records, interested parties may conduct name- or fingerprint-based searches at the agency. The agency maintains a name-based search platform for criminal records. Interested parties must create an account and provide relevant data to view records on the platform. In contrast, requesters may conduct fingerprint searches by scheduling an appointment with a third-party licensed vendor.
The Austin Municipal Court allows public access to criminal case records in their custody. Note that criminal case records are quite distinct from criminal history files. The former only reveals details of criminal case proceedings. Record seekers may access records using the court’s online search portal or by submitting a request in-person to this address:
6800 Burleson Road
Building 310
Suite 175
Austin, TX 78744
How to Obtain Austin City Police Reports and Arrest Records
The Austin Police Department allows online searches or offline requests for police reports and arrest records in their custody. To view police reports online, requesters must enter the case number or other relevant data on the APD Incident Reports Database. Record seekers may obtain physical copies of arrest documents by submitting an in-person request to the agency at this address:
715 East 8th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 974-5000
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office is another custodian of police reports generated in Austin. Record seekers may view arrest information via the sheriff’s inmate search platform. The platform allows name-based search for arrest details. Alternatively, requesters may obtain physical copies of arrest records by sending a mail or in-person request to this address:
In-person address:
Travis County Sheriff's Office
5555 Airport Boulevard
Austin, TX 78751
Mail-in address:
Travis County Sheriff's Office
Attn: Paralegal
5555 Airport Boulevard
Austin, TX 78751
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Austin City
The Texas Department of Public Safety maintains a sex offender database for registered sex offenders in the City of Austin. To view relevant data, requesters must enter the offender’s location, full name, or institute of higher education.
The National Sex Offender Public Website offers an alternative option for finding registered sex offenders. Requesters may search sex offenders by name, address, city, state, or proximity.
What Happens if My Request for Criminal Records is Denied in Austin City?
Concerned parties must first determine the reasons for the record denial, as agencies may refuse requests for the reasons:
- The record contains sealed or expunged details.
- The record is exempt under state laws.
- The record is not available in the available format.
If agencies cannot fulfill record requests, they must inform the Attorney General’s Open Records Division and the requester in writing within ten business days. Requesters may proceed to file a complaint with the Open Records Division if:
- The agency refused to notify them within the specified timeframe.
- The reasons are not valid under state laws.
- They have the legal right to view such information.
Requesters may submit their complaint and a copy of the request to the agency at:
Office of the Attorney General
Open Records Division
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
How to Expunge or Seal Austin City Criminal Records
In the City of Austin, residents may file a petition with the district court to expunge or seal criminal records. Texas state laws consider a petitioner eligible for expungement under these conditions:
- They were arrested as a result of mistaken identity.
- They were tried and were not found guilty.
- They received a pardon.
- They completed a deferred adjudication for certain Class C misdemeanors.
- The specific statutory waiting period has elapsed. Petitioners must wait one year and three years post-arrest for Class A and B misdemeanors and felonies, respectively.
Eligible parties must follow these steps to expunge their records:
- Complete the appropriate form:
- Petition for Expunction of Criminal Records (if the arrest charges were not filed).
- Petition for Expunction of Conviction Records.
- Create copies of the form and have them stamped at the district clerk’s office.
- Attach the required fees. The clerk’s office may charge $350 for an expungement petition.
- File the documents online or in-person by visiting the clerk’s office at this address:
Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Court House
1000 Guadalupe Street
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 854-9457