Dallas Background Check Records
Dallas background check records come from the Dallas Police Department, Dallas County courts, and Texas state databases. Dallas is the third largest city in Texas and generates a high volume of public records each year. Arrest records, police reports, court cases, and warrant information are all accessible through official city and county portals. You can search many of these records online or visit the relevant offices in person.
Dallas Quick Facts
Dallas Police Department Records
The Dallas Police Department Records Section is based at Jack Evans Police Headquarters, 1400 S. Lamar St., Dallas, TX 75215. For records-related questions, call 214-671-3345. For open records matters, call 214-671-3148. The department handles offense reports, accident reports, and public information requests.
Accident reports typically become available 5 to 7 working days after the incident. The fee for a crash report is $6.00. DPD cannot release information about active investigations over the telephone, and some records may be withheld while a case is ongoing. If you need a copy of an offense or incident report, you need to submit a written request. The department does not give out case information by phone.
Visit the Dallas Police Department website for guidance on requesting records, filing online reports, and finding department contacts. The site also has crime statistics and public data tools for the city.
The Dallas Police Department site is the starting point for records requests, report copies, and public data related to law enforcement in Dallas.
Dallas Municipal Court Records
Dallas Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanor cases for the city. This covers traffic citations, city ordinance violations, and other low-level offenses. These records are public and can come up in background checks. For case information, call the court at 214-670-5566.
If you have an outstanding warrant through Dallas Municipal Court, the court can confirm the status and explain how to clear it. Warrants stay on record until resolved and can appear in public record searches. The Dallas Municipal Court website has case lookup tools, payment options, and information on deferred dispositions for eligible defendants.
You can find more about the court process and access case information through the Dallas Municipal Courts page on the city website. Court records go back several years and are searchable by name or citation number in many cases.
Note: Class C misdemeanor cases are city-level matters. Felonies and Class A or B misdemeanors go through Dallas County courts, not the municipal court.
Dallas County Criminal Records
Dallas County handles all felony cases and Class A and B misdemeanor cases for residents of Dallas. The Dallas County District Clerk maintains records for district court proceedings, which include felonies. The County Clerk handles county court-level criminal cases. Both offices are public record sources.
Dallas County has an online records search available at dallas.tx.publicsearch.us. This portal allows name-based searches and shows case filings, judgments, and other court information. The Dallas County website at dallascounty.org also links to department-specific search tools for criminal, civil, and property records.
For certified copies of court records or access to sealed or older files, visit the District Clerk's office at the George Allen Courts Building in downtown Dallas. For a full overview of Dallas County records access, see the Dallas County background check records page.
The Dallas County website provides links to court records, inmate information, and other public records held at the county level.
The Dallas public records search portal gives access to county-level court filings and case history by name or case number.
Texas State Background Check Resources
The Texas DPS Crime Records Service maintains the state's criminal history database. Name-based and fingerprint-based searches are available through the DPS FACT Clearinghouse. This system covers arrests and convictions across all Texas jurisdictions, including Dallas and Dallas County.
The statewide sex offender registry is searchable through the DPS Sex Offender Registration Program. For inmates in state custody, use the TDCJ inmate search tool. Court records from many Texas counties are also available through re:SearchTX, which includes Dallas County case data.
Open Records Requests in Dallas
Under the Texas Public Information Act, anyone can request records from the City of Dallas or its departments. This includes records from DPD, the Municipal Court, and other city agencies. Requests must be submitted in writing, and the city has 10 business days to respond.
The City of Dallas has an open records process for public information requests. You can find details and submission options through the city website. For guidance on what is public and what exemptions may apply, the Texas AG provides a handbook at texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government. Fees may apply for large requests, and you can ask for digital delivery to reduce costs.
Note: Dallas ISD, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and other independent entities have their own records request processes separate from the City of Dallas.
Nearby Texas Cities
Other cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area also maintain public background check records.