Brownsville Background Check Records
Brownsville background check records are available from multiple sources. The Brownsville Police Department handles police reports and public information requests. The Municipal Court holds traffic violations and Class C misdemeanor cases. For more serious criminal records, Cameron County courts are the primary source. Brownsville is the county seat of Cameron County and sits at the southern tip of Texas on the border with Mexico. This guide explains where to find records and what each office provides.
Brownsville Overview
Brownsville Police Department Records
The Brownsville Police Department handles records for incidents that took place within city limits. The Records Division processes requests for police reports, crash reports, and public information. To reach the Records Division, call 956-548-7000 ext. 7004. The department is headquartered at 600 E Jackson St. Walk-ins are accepted during business hours, and mail requests are also an option.
Under the Texas Public Information Act, you have the right to request most police records in writing. The city has 10 business days to respond. Some records are exempt, including those related to ongoing investigations, juvenile subjects, and certain sensitive personnel matters. If you need a crash report for insurance purposes, the Records Division is the right call. Offense reports take longer and may require a formal written request.
The city's website at cob.us has contact information for city departments. The police department does not provide personal criminal history letters or clearance certificates. For those, go to the Texas DPS Crime Records Service.
| Address | 600 E Jackson St, Brownsville, TX 78520 |
|---|---|
| Records Phone | 956-548-7000 ext. 7004 |
| Non-Emergency | 956-548-7000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | cob.us |
Brownsville Municipal Court
Brownsville Municipal Court is located at 1034 E Levee St and handles Class C misdemeanors, traffic citations, and city ordinance violations. This is where you go to look up a speeding ticket, check for an active warrant, or find the payment status of a city-level fine. Court staff can look up cases by name or citation number during business hours.
Municipal court records are public. You can request them in writing or review them in person. Warrant information is also public, meaning anyone can ask whether an active warrant is on file for a given name. Felony charges and Class A and B misdemeanor cases from Brownsville are not here. Those go through the Cameron County District Court and Cameron County Court at Law. If you need records for a more serious charge, the county clerks are the right place to check.
| Address | 1034 E Levee St, Brownsville, TX 78520 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 956-548-6144 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Cameron County Criminal Records
Brownsville is the county seat of Cameron County, which means the county court offices are located in the city. The Cameron County District Clerk handles felony case files. The County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil records, probate, and property filings. Both offices are in Brownsville. Cameron County's website at cameroncounty.us has contact information and department details.
The statewide re:SearchTX portal may have some Cameron County court cases indexed. For jail and inmate records, contact the Cameron County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff manages the county detention facility and maintains a public roster of currently held inmates. Because Brownsville is a border city, federal courts and federal law enforcement are also active in the area. Federal criminal cases go through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, not through state courts.
Texas State Background Check Resources
The Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Service holds the statewide criminal history database. Name-based searches are available online at records.txdps.state.tx.us. Results show arrests and dispositions reported by law enforcement agencies and courts across Texas. Fees apply for name-based searches. Fingerprint-based searches are also available and provide more reliable results since they can't be confused by name spelling.
For sex offender registration data, the Texas Sex Offender Registry is free at records.txdps.state.tx.us/SexOffender/. Search by name or zip code to find registered offenders in Brownsville and Cameron County. TDCJ's offender search at tdcj.texas.gov covers people held in Texas state prisons and those on parole or supervision.
The City of Brownsville's official website provides access to police department services and public information request forms. The screenshot below is from cob.us, the city's main portal.
From the city site you can navigate to the police department page, find public records request procedures, and get contact information for city departments.
Open Records in Brownsville
City of Brownsville agencies are required to follow the Texas Public Information Act, which means most records they hold are available to the public on request. Submit a written request to the department that has the records. Describe what you need clearly and include any dates, names, or reference numbers. The city has 10 business days to respond, provide a cost estimate, or explain why the records are withheld.
Rejections based on exemptions can be reviewed by the Texas Attorney General. The AG's Open Government division at texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government provides guidance on how the Public Information Act works and what you can do if a request is denied. Many requests for simple documents like accident reports or court case status are handled quickly without any issue. More complex requests involving sensitive investigations may take the full 10 days or result in partial releases.
Note: Federal agencies operating in Brownsville such as Border Patrol and DEA fall under the federal Freedom of Information Act, not the Texas Public Information Act.
Nearby Cities
Other South Texas cities with public records resources include:
Cameron County Records
Brownsville is the county seat of Cameron County. Serious criminal cases from Brownsville, including felonies and Class A and B misdemeanors, are filed at the Cameron County courts in downtown Brownsville. Visit the Cameron County background check page for more on the county's court offices and how to search criminal records.