Find Background Check Records in Cass County

Cass County background check records are maintained by the County Clerk and District Clerk in Linden, Texas. The County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal cases, civil court filings, and probate records dating back to 1846. Felony criminal records are kept by the District Clerk and handled through the 5th and 71st District Courts. Both offices are located at 100 E. Houston Street in Linden and are open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Cass County Clerk Records

The Cass County Clerk office in Linden is the main custodian for local court and vital records. County Clerk Tracy R. Smith maintains misdemeanor criminal records, civil case files, probate documents, and land records that go back to 1846. These records form a significant part of any Cass County background check. The office is at 100 E. Houston Street and can be reached by phone, email, or in person.

The County Clerk handles a wide range of public records. For background check purposes, the most relevant are the misdemeanor criminal case files from the county court. These records show charges filed, case dispositions, and sentencing outcomes for offenses handled below the felony threshold. Civil records from the county court, including small claims and civil matters under the district court threshold, are also here. Probate records go back to 1846, making Cass County one of the older record repositories in East Texas. Deed and property records cover the same long period.

Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies require a $5.00 certification fee plus copy costs. Recording fees start at $26 for the first page, with $4 for each additional page. Birth certificates are $23 and death certificates run $21 for the first copy and $3 for each additional one. Marriage licenses cost $82. Bring valid photo ID for in-person visits. Mail requests need payment and a return address included.

Note: The Cass County Clerk office does not conduct record searches by phone. Contact them by mail or visit the courthouse directly for record requests.

Cass County District Clerk Felony Records

Felony criminal cases in Cass County are handled by the 5th and 71st District Courts. The Cass County District Clerk, Penny L. Johnson, keeps all records for these courts. The District Clerk office is also at 100 E. Houston Street in Linden, though requests by mail go to PO Box 449. For a thorough background check in Cass County, felony records from both district courts should be searched.

The District Clerk maintains felony criminal case files, civil district court records, family law cases, and juvenile court records. For background check purposes, the felony criminal filings are most important. Each felony case file includes the indictment or information, arraignment records, plea agreements, trial records if applicable, sentencing orders, and any probation terms. These are public records unless sealed. The office can search by the subject's full name and time period. Fees are $1.00 per page for copies and $5.00 for a certified copy certification.

The District Clerk also handles expunctions and nondisclosure orders in Cass County. These legal actions can remove or restrict access to certain case records. If a person had charges dismissed, was acquitted, or completed deferred adjudication for certain offenses, they may have grounds to petition for record sealing. The result can change what shows up in a background check search.

Cass County Sheriff Arrest Records

The Cass County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement across unincorporated parts of the county and runs the county jail in Linden. Sheriff Larry R. Rowe leads the department. The Sheriff's Office is at 602 S. Greer Blvd. in Linden, separate from the courthouse. The mailing address is PO Box 40, Linden, TX 75563.

Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office are public under the Texas Public Information Act. Requests should be submitted in writing. The office has 10 business days to respond. Fees cover copy costs and any staff time needed to locate records. Incident reports typically range from $5.00 to $25.00. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Jail roster and inmate information can be requested by calling the office at (903) 756-5181.

Sex offender registration in Cass County is also managed through the Sheriff's Office. The full statewide list is searchable at the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry. You can search by name, county, or address. This database is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety and includes all registered sex offenders in the state.

Cass County Court System

Cass County has two district courts, the 5th and the 71st, which together handle all felony criminal and civil district matters. The county court manages misdemeanor criminal cases, probate, and mid-level civil cases. Justice of the Peace courts handle traffic violations, Class C misdemeanors, small claims, and evictions. Together, these courts generate the records that make up a Cass County background check.

The 5th District Court is one of the older district courts in Texas and has jurisdiction over a multi-county area. In Cass County, it handles major criminal and civil cases. The 71st District Court also serves Cass County and handles its share of felony and civil cases. Both courts file records with the same District Clerk office. Older case records may be on microfilm or in paper form at the courthouse.

All Texas court filings in civil, family, and probate matters are now submitted electronically through eFileTexas.gov. This system is linked to the re:SearchTX portal, where the public can search court records statewide at no charge for most searches.

Online Search Tools for Cass County Records

Cass County does not maintain its own public online records search portal. You can use several statewide tools to search criminal history and court records remotely.

The re:SearchTX portal covers district and county court records from counties across Texas, including Cass County. Search by party name, cause number, or court type. The Texas DPS Criminal History Name Search covers the entire state and costs $3.00 per search. It is the most direct way to check for criminal history across all Texas counties when you are not sure where charges may have been filed.

Statewide prison and parole records are available through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate search. The Texas Sex Offender Registry is also searchable online at no cost. For general guidance on accessing criminal history records in Texas, the Texas DPS Criminal History Records page is a good resource.

The Texas DPS Criminal History Records portal provides guidance on how to access statewide criminal history data, including records from Cass County.

This page explains name-based versus fingerprint-based searches and how to request an official criminal history report for any county in Texas.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cass County in Northeast Texas. Each has its own clerk and court system for background check record searches.