Uncover Free Tarrant County Arrest Records (Public Resource)

Look through free Tarrant County arrest records today to find crucial details on anyone in custody.

You can access this information for free through various tools and record custodians. Arrest records can inform you about a person’s custody status, what type of crime they are alleged to have committed, and more.

Arrest information is considered a public government record under Texas’ Public Information Act and is accessible to anyone who wants to look it up. While this is a right afforded to citizens, there is no requirement on how a record custodian must provide this information.

In order to conduct an effective search of arrest records in Tarrant County, Texas, this article walks you through the most efficient lookup process and provides helpful tips along the way.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How Do I Access Recent Tarrant County Arrest Records & Mugshots for Free?

Through Texas’ Public Information Act, you have access to arrest information throughout the county and state. If you are considering a search of arrest records for a particular person, you will want to start with having their full name, if possible.

In addition, information on the charges, date and location of the incident can also be helpful. If you are having difficulty finding a record, descriptive (e.g., height, weight, sex) or identifying (e.g., date of birth, address, etc.) information may help.

Once you have gathered your information, you can conduct a search using the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search Tool.¹ This tool allows you to search for inmates by their name.

If you want to narrow down your search, you can also include the person’s race or sex. After you complete your search, you can view all matching inmates.

The results page will provide you with their full name, ID number, race, sex and whether they are currently in custody.

For their complete online arrest record, you can click on the “details” button to the left of the inmate’s name.

On the arrestee’s record, you can view their mugshot and, if they are in custody, where they are currently incarcerated. There is also an “active bookings” section where you can find the reason for their arrest.

Here, you can view a summary of the charge, arresting agency, date the person was taken into custody, case and booking number. You can also view bond information, such as the type and amount.

You can also look up arrest information with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office Daily Booked In Report.² Here you can find an individual daily list of booking information for the last 14 days.

If you need additional information or cannot find what you are looking for online, you can also submit a public records request with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office. You can submit an online request or via email at [email protected].³ You can also make your request with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office by mail or in person at the address below:

Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office
Records Division
200 Taylor St., 6th Fl.
Fort Worth, Texas 76196

While county searches are a great tool, it’s not your only way to access arrest information. Sometimes, you need a detailed police report that you can only obtain from the arresting agency. Or, the person may have just been taken into custody, and you need the arrest information immediately.

For additional information, you can call the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office at 817-884-3099.

Another option for obtaining arrest information is by contacting the Tarrant County Corrections Center. You can call them at 817-884-3000 or talk to someone in person at the address below:

Tarrant County Corrections Center
100 N. Lamar St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76196

In either of these situations, you may have to search or request arrest information from a city police department. For instance, you can obtain arrest information from the Fort Worth Police Department. You could also complete a Police Records Request Form.⁴

You can mail this form or bring it to the address below:

Fort Worth Police Department
1000 Calvert St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107

The cost is free for up to 10 pages and then $0.10 per page if over ten pages. The cost is an additional $5.00 if you need the record certified. For additional information, you can contact the Fort Worth Police Department at 817-392-4160.

One option is to use the Fort Worth Police Department’s Report Search.⁵ You can search by either a report number or date range. For the date range option, you will also have to know the person’s last name.

If you still need another way to access arrest information, you can utilize a third-party service that has access to this data. One option for this type of service is searching with VINELink.

You now have several different ways in which you can find arrest information. While this information can be incredibly valuable, you may want to learn more about a person’s prior arrests. In the next section, you will learn how to search for an individual’s criminal record throughout Tarrant County.

How To Retrieve Information on Prior Criminal Activity & Arrests Made Within Tarrant County Texas

Different types of information may be desired for various reasons. Oftentimes, a person wants to learn about someone’s past, including any prior criminal activity.

In addition to arrest information, you can search a person’s criminal record to learn if they have any convictions and related information (e.g., charge, sentence, etc.).

One option for accessing a person’s criminal record is to search with the Tarrant County Clerk’s Docket Inquiry Tool.⁶ A citizen can utilize this tool to access criminal records by a person’s name or ID number. After running your search, you can view a summary of all matching criminal records.

The results will provide you with all matching defendants’ names, case numbers, the court their case was tried in and the date it was filed. In addition, the results page will also provide a quick description of the primary offense and the type.

For additional information, click on the case number.

Once you click on the case number, you can view information on other parties involved in the case, such as the attorneys and bondsman. You can also view bond information and details on the most recent case event.

You can also use the Tarrant County Court Records Search Tool to search for misdemeanor criminal cases.⁷

You can select a specific court or search through all courts in Tarrant County.

You can run a search by case number, defendant’s name, citation, attorney or even the date filed. In addition, you can choose to search either open or closed case statuses. You can also set a filing date range.

The results page will provide you with the case and citation number, the defendant’s name, court, filing date and a brief description of the charges. You can then click on the individual’s case number to view the complete criminal record. The criminal record will contain additional identifying information about the defendant, such as their address.

Next, there is an “Events & Orders of the Court” section that provides a chronological listing of every action and filing that occurred in a particular criminal matter.

The last section of the criminal record includes financial information. Here, you can view any fines or fees related to the case and whether there is a balance due.

In Tarrant County, there are two different types of courts that handle criminal cases. The District Court is responsible for handling serious criminal cases referred to as felonies. Less serious misdemeanor cases are handled by Justice of the Peace Courts.

For either type of case, you can request criminal records from the Tarrant County Clerk’s Office. For information on how to request criminal records, the clerk’s office is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can call them at 817-884-1574 or by going in person to the address below:

Tarrant County Clerk
100 N. Calhoun St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76196

At the city and town level, there are often municipal courts. These courts handle a variety of matters, sometimes including limited criminal cases. In Tarrant County, one example is the Fort Worth Municipal Court, which handles certain misdemeanor criminal cases.

For criminal record information, you can submit a Court Records Request Form.⁸ Here, you can provide information about a person or criminal case you would like additional information about.

If you have any questions about requesting criminal records from the Fort Worth Municipal Court, you can contact them by phone at 817-392-6700. They are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can also go in person at the address below:

Fort Worth Municipal Court
1000 Throckmorton St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76102

If you are looking for a way to broaden your search of a person’s criminal record, there are ways to access a defendant’s criminal record for all of Texas. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) provides an Online Inmate Search Tool to access these records.⁹

With this tool, you can look up an individual’s Texas criminal history using their name, State ID, or TDCJ number. Once you run your search, you will be taken to the results page with all matching criminals. The results page will provide you with the convict’s name along with certain identifying information (gender and race).

If a defendant is currently incarcerated, you can view the current unit and facility where they are assigned. If they are no longer incarcerated, you can view their release date. Once you find the individual you are seeking, you can click on their name to view their complete online criminal record.

This online criminal record will provide detailed information regarding their criminal history. You can view a description of any charges they were convicted of, where the original offense occurred and the date.

You can also view sentencing information. This includes how much time they are required to serve and when they are eligible for release and parole.

People search for this information for a variety of reasons. You now have the tools and resources you need to look up both recent arrests as well as a person’s past criminal history. In the last section, you will learn your options for posting someone’s bail who has recently been arrested in Tarrant County.

How To Post Bail or Use a Bail Bondsman in Tarrant County

While you now know how to search for arrest information, the time may come when you have to take action with that information. Such is the case if you find out that a person you know is currently in jail and cannot post their own bail. In this scenario, you may want to assist them.

Before you do so, it’s important to know that there are two primary options to help someone post bail. The option many are familiar with is using a bail bondsman.

In this situation, you pay the bail bondsman a non-refundable fee (typically 10% of the bail amount) to handle all aspects of posting the bond. They will not only post the bond, but they also bear the risk of loss if the defendant does not show up for a future court hearing as required.

The other option is referred to as the self-bail process and involves you posting 100% of the bond with your own assets. You can use money you have in a bank account by posting a cash bond. Or, if you have a property with enough equity in it, you can have a lien placed against it, and it can be used as collateral for a bond.

You get 100% of the bond back if the defendant complies with attending all future court hearings; however, you risk losing it all if the defendant does not.

Each option comes with different benefits and risks that you should consider before making a decision on how you want to assist someone with posting bail.

In Tarrant County, bonds can be posted with the Corrections Center.¹⁰ First, call the Tarrant County Jail Information Line at 817-884-3000 to determine how much the bond is for. You can post a bond at the below address:

Tarrant County Corrections Center
100 N. Lamar St. 
Fort Worth, Texas 76196

If someone has already been released, their information will be displayed on this report of all bonds posted in Tarrant County within the past 24 hours; that way.¹¹

You are now equipped with different ways to seamlessly access Tarrant County arrest records; if needed, you also now know how to post bail yourself and through a bondsman.