Search Kaufman Court Records

KaufmanCountyCourt.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports.
All searches conducted on KaufmanCountyCourt.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

  1. Kaufman County Court
  2. Kaufman County Arrest Records

Kaufman County, Texas Arrest Records

Kaufman County arrest records are official documents used by law enforcement officers to maintain information about arrests made in the county. These records are created and maintained by officers in various law enforcement agencies, mainly the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office and the Kaufman Police Department. Under the Texas Public Information Act (codified in Texas Government Code, Chapter 552), arrest records are generally considered public information, and certain booking details such as inmate rosters, jail logs, and court dockets can be viewed by the public. 

This helps promote transparency by enabling members of the public to keep track of activities in the criminal justice system. However, certain provisions under Texas Government Code, Chapter 411, make criminal history record information maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety confidential, restricting its dissemination except as specifically authorized by law.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Kaufman, Texas?

Yes. Kaufman County arrest records are public under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). However, certain records may be unavailable for public viewing for several reasons, including exemption by other state privacy laws, expunction (per Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 55A), or set-aside by court order (per Texas Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1). 

Under the TPIA, public arrest records may be viewed by interested persons for free, regardless of residency. Fees may only be assessed if copies are requested. Furthermore, a person is not mandated to disclose the reason for their request. Individuals visiting a law enforcement agency to request records in person may need to show a valid means of identification upon entry.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

The general public is typically allowed access to the arrestee’s identifying information, information about the offense, booking information, and court proceeding-related information.  The following arrest information is generally accessible to the general public, except in cases where the entire case file is sealed, expunged, or set aside:

  • Full legal name and any known aliases
  • Date of birth, age, gender, and race
  • Physical descriptors—height, weight, eye color, and identifying scars or tattoos
  • Mugshot taken at booking
  • Date, time, and location of arrest
  • Name of the arresting agency
  • Charges filed, including applicable statutory citations
  • Booking number and jail intake details
  • Bond or bail amount and conditions
  • Court case number

While the following may be contained in certain Kaufman County arrest records, they are usually protected from public access: juvenile records, investigative details, personal identification data (e.g., social security numbers, driver’s license number, and bank account/credit card numbers), expunged records, records protected by a nondisclosure order, victim identification information, and identifying information about sexual assault or trafficking victims.

Kaufman County,  Texas Arrest Search

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the state’s main repository for criminal history and related records. This agency does not maintain a dedicated online resource for arrest record searches, although arrest information is often included in criminal records available through the agency’s Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. Searches on CCH are name-based and cost $1.00 per search.

Individuals incarcerated at the federal level are within the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Inquirers can perform an inmate search using either the inmate’s full name or their BOP registration number. Note that the BOP registration number is a unique identification number assigned to every inmate in the bureau's custody.

Kaufman County Inmate Locator

The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online inmate locator tool on its website. Interested persons can either search using an inmate’s name or the complete inmate list arranged in alphabetical order. The home page only displays the inmate’s full name, age, race, sex, and date of admission into the county jail. Click on the inmate’s name for more details, including offense information, bond type and amount, and information about the charges.

For actual copies of records, contact the sheriff’s office 

1900 E US-175

Kaufman, Texas 75142

Mailing Address: Drawer 849, Kaufman, Texas

Phone: (972) 932-4337 

Fax: (972) 932-9751

Business Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Active Warrant Search in Kaufman County

An arrest warrant is a written order from a magistrate, commanding a peace officer or other law enforcement officer to take a person accused of committing an offense. Kaufman County arrest warrants are issued based on probable cause and are governed by Chapter 15 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. An arrest warrant issued by a magistrate in Kaufman County may be executed in any county, city, or municipality in the state of Texas. They contain 

  • The suspect’s name and other identifying information
  • The offense the person is suspected of
  • The name and signature of the issuing authority
  • The date and time of issuance
  • The arrest clause
  • Bail amount

Active arrest warrants are public, except in cases where there are concerns about the suspect evading arrest. Interested persons inquire about the existence of a warrant for their arrest at the court clerk’s office or the sheriff’s office during office hours. The person of interest’s name will be required to perform a search. If a person has reason to believe that a warrant is out for their arrest, it may be best to have an attorney help them perform the check, as they risk immediate arrest if they appear in person.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Kaufman County

The Texas Public Information Act makes arrest records free (viewing only). As such, arrest record searches on the sheriff’s online inmate locator are free. The sheriff’s office also allows interested members of the public to view copies of arrest records for free at the office. However, a fee is required for copies. 

Arrest information may also be found on the criminal case records associated with the arrest. This would involve using free public access methods provided by the presiding court clerk’s office. Record seekers will have to provide the court case number or the arrestee’s name during this exercise.

Kaufman County Arrest Report

An arrest report, which provides a detailed narrative of an arrest incident, is not the same as an arrest record, which typically provides a limited overview of an arrest. An arrest report describes circumstances that led to the arrest and often includes additional information, such as an inventory of items found on an arrestee at the time of the arrest and witness statements. 

While an arrest report is limited to a specific incident, an arrest record is cumulative and may cover a person’s arrest history. Kaufman County arrest reports are maintained by the sheriff’s office, are public under the TPIA, and can be obtained by submitting an open record request.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Kaufman County

In Kaufman County, people are allowed to legally destroy their arrest record and all associated court records if the case was dismissed, they were acquitted, or they were pardoned. In Texas, an expunction can be mandatory (automatic) or discretionary. A less effective alternative to expunction under Texas law is nondisclosure orders (governed by Texas Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter E-1). Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 55A, governs arrest record expunctions. Under this law, a person qualifies for expunction if any of the following is true for their case:

  • The arrest was due to mistaken identity
  • The indictment was not presented and at least
    • 180 days has passed since the arrest date (for a class C misdemeanor)
    • 1 year has passed since the arrest date (for class A or B misdemeanor) if no felony arose as a result of the case
    • 3 years has passed since the arrest was made (for a felony)

N/B: The attorney representing the state must certify that the records or files won't be relevant to any future criminal investigation or prosecution.

  • The arrest was due to mistaken identity
  • The indictment was dismissed or quashed
  • If the statute of limitations has expired

Under Texas law, expunction is prohibited for the following cases:

  • The records are related to the suspension or revocation of a driver’s permit, license, privilege to operate a motor vehicle
  • The arrest was made for violation of community supervision
  • A person absconded after arrest

An expunction may be handled by a district court, municipal court of record, or justice court in the county where the arrestee is a resident. Qualified persons should file an ex parte petition for expunction (usually obtainable from the court clerk’s office). The petition must contain 

  • the petitioner’s full name, sex, race, date of birth, driver’s license number, social security number, and address at the time of the arrest;
  • the offense charged;
  • the name of the county or municipality of arrest;
  • the arrest date;
  • the name of the arresting agency;
  • the case number and court of offense; 
  • physical/email addresses of law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, criminal justice agencies, and other officials or agencies of the county and state that may have custody of copies of the record 
  • physical/email addresses of central federal repositories of criminal records that may have copies of the affected records; and
  • physical/email addresses of private entities that compile and disseminate criminal history record information if there is reason to believe that they have information related to the arrest in question.

The court shall set a hearing date not earlier than 30 days from the date the petition is filed and give a copy of the petition to each agency listed on the petition. If, at the hearing, the court finds that the petitioner is entitled to the expunction, it shall enter an expunction order, which shall be sent to the agencies named in the petition, directing them to expunge the affected records.

How Do You Remove Kaufman County Arrest Records From the Internet?

An expunction or nondisclosure order can be used to remove Kaufman County arrest records from specific websites—not the internet as a whole. To do this, a person must go through the legal process to obtain an expunction or nondisclosure order from the court. They must then send copies of the order to websites that still have the expunged record on display, demanding their removal.