Find Background Check Records in Brewster County

Brewster County background check records are available at the County Clerk and District Clerk offices at 200 N. 5th Street in Alpine, Texas. Brewster is the largest county by area in Texas and covers the Big Bend region. The County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal, civil, and probate records going back to 1887. The District Clerk handles felony records for the 83rd and 394th District Courts. You can search Brewster County background check records by visiting the courthouse in Alpine or contacting either office by phone during regular business hours.

Brewster County Clerk Background Check Records

County Clerk Lana Shupp leads the Brewster County Clerk's office at 200 N. 5th Street in Alpine. This office maintains misdemeanor criminal records, civil case files, probate records, and real property documents going back to 1887. For background check purposes, the County Clerk is the right place to start for misdemeanor criminal history and older civil cases. Staff can search by name or case number during your visit.

The Brewster County Clerk also handles birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, assumed name filings, and military discharge records. These records can add context to a background check when you need to verify personal history. Copies cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies carry a $5.00 certification fee on top. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Note that hours differ slightly from some other Texas counties, so call ahead if you have a tight schedule. The phone number is (432) 837-3366 and you can reach them by email at brewstercoclerk@verizon.net.

Note: Brewster County does not have a major online public records portal. Most record requests require a phone call or visit to the courthouse in Alpine.

Brewster County District Clerk Criminal Records

District Clerk Lori N. Brown oversees the Brewster County District Clerk's office, also at 200 N. 5th Street in Alpine. This office holds felony criminal case records and civil district court filings for the 83rd and 394th District Courts. Felony criminal history, including charges, indictments, and case outcomes, all run through the District Clerk's office. If you need to check serious criminal history tied to Brewster County, this is your primary contact.

To request a criminal history search, call (432) 837-3368 or send a written request to PO Box 1776, Alpine, TX 79831. Fax requests can go to (432) 837-3369. Include the subject's full name and ideally a date of birth or specific date range. Name search fees are $5.00 per name per year searched, the standard Texas rate. Certified copies are $5.00 for certification plus $1.00 per page. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Expunction and nondisclosure proceedings in Brewster County go through the District Clerk's office. Successful petitions can remove or seal certain criminal records from public access, which would affect what shows in a background check.

Brewster County Sheriff Arrest Records

Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson leads the department at 201 W. Ave. E in Alpine. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking information for this large West Texas county. Arrest records are public in Texas and can be requested through the Records Division. Call (432) 837-3488 or mail a written request to PO Box 208, Alpine, TX 79831.

Due to Brewster County's remote location and small staff size, it helps to call ahead before visiting. Written requests should include the subject's full name, date of birth, and an approximate date range for the arrest. Fees apply for copies. The office must respond to open records requests within 10 business days under the Texas Public Information Act.

Sex offender registration data for Brewster County is included in the statewide Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry. The TDCJ offender search can show whether someone with a Brewster County conviction served time in the state prison system.

Brewster County Court System

Brewster County has two district courts, the 83rd and 394th, both handling felony criminal, civil, and family law cases. The 83rd District Court is a multi-county court that also serves Presidio, Jeff Davis, and Pecos counties. The 394th District Court is shared among several Big Bend area counties. The county court handles misdemeanor criminal cases and probate matters. Justice of the Peace courts take care of local traffic and Class C misdemeanor cases.

Because the courts here serve a large geographic area with a small population, the volume of filings is lower than in urban Texas counties. Still, the records are thorough and go back well into the late 1800s. The statewide re:SearchTX portal may have some Brewster County district court case data available online. E-filing for civil and family cases can be done through eFileTexas.gov.

Online Tools for Brewster County Background Checks

Brewster County's remote location makes online search tools especially useful. While the county does not have its own public records portal, state-level systems cover much of the criminal history you may need.

The re:SearchTX portal is the best online starting point for Brewster County district court case searches. Search by party name or cause number to find felony criminal and civil case data. The Texas DPS Criminal History Records page offers a $3.00 statewide name search covering all 254 Texas counties. For prison inmate history, the TDCJ offender search is a free online tool.

The Texas DPS Sex Offender Program page shows all registered sex offenders in Brewster County through a searchable statewide database.

You can search by name, city, or zip code to find registered sex offenders in Brewster County and the surrounding Big Bend region.

Note: Phone and in-person requests to the Brewster County courthouse in Alpine remain the most reliable way to get complete local criminal history records.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Brewster County in West Texas. Each has its own clerk offices and court system.