Were you arrested in Texas? Or, were you convicted of a crime? Whether or not your arrest turned into a conviction, you may be wondering, “Is my criminal record public information?” This is a question that comes up a lot, especially from clients who are concerned about their family, boss, a former spouse, or a prospective employer finding out about their criminal record.
Yes, criminal records are generally public information. If someone really wanted to know if you were arrested or convicted of a crime, they could find out for a fee. The Texas Department of Public Safety, for example, has a form where anyone can request public criminal history data. All the person has to do to request criminal history data available to the public under Section 411.135 of the Texas Government Code is provide the person’s:
- Name
- Any other name(s) used
- Sex
- Race
- Date of birth
Searching the Criminal History Database
If someone wants to search for criminal history records on another person, they can search the Criminal History Database. For someone to perform a criminal history record search, he or she will have to create their own CRS Public Website Account, and they’ll have to purchase credits for each criminal record search they want to perform.
If someone wants to search for your criminal records, they’ll get the best results if they have a lot of information about you. For example, if they can provide your first and last name, your middle name, and your date of birth, they’ll have the best chances of recovering your public criminal record data. Generally, it’s close friends or family, or prospective employers who have this kind of personal information about someone.
To learn more about accessing someone’s public criminal record, including your own, click here. If you’re interested in learning how an expunction may restrict who can see your criminal record, we urge you to contact The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC to learn more.