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  1. Ellis County Court
  2. Ellis County Arrest Records

Ellis County, Texas Arrest Records

In Ellis County, Texas, arrest records are created by law enforcement agencies after an arrest. Such records typically include basic information about an arrest incident, such as the arrestee’s name, date, time, and location. Note that arrest records are not evidence of guilt. An arrestee is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Ellis County arrest records are considered public documents under the Texas Public Information Act. Specifically, Chapter 552.108 of the Texas Government Code determines which arrest records are made public or withheld. Chapter 411 of the Texas Government Code also controls public access to criminal history information compiled by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Arrest records in Ellis County are made public for these reasons:

  • To protect the public from potential harm.
  • To provide accurate information about arrest events.
  • To provide transparency in the criminal justice system.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Ellis, Texas?

A majority of arrest information in Ellis County is accessible to the public. The Texas Public Information Act generally allows public access to records generated by public entities. Public members can view and obtain copies of arrest records using resources provided by the record custodians.

Note that record custodians may deny public or unauthorized access to specific records. Restricted records often include sensitive or confidential information about involved parties. Examples of non-public arrest records in Ellis County include:

  • Personal information of arresting officers
  • Personal information of crime victims, informants, and witnesses
  • Juvenile offender’s arrest information.
  • Records whose disclosure will interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution.
  • Arrest information that is sealed or expunged under state laws.

Ellis County Arrest Search

Interested parties may conduct searches for arrest records in related public records, such as inmate records and criminal history. To locate arrest information in inmate records, record seekers may search online inmate databases. The database may disclose arrest information, such as the inmate’s personal description, arrest charges, booking date, and bond amount.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice website hosts an online search portal for inmates held in state-run correctional facilities. Record seekers may view records on the portal by entering any of these details:

  • The inmate’s full name
  • TDCJ number
  • SID number
  • Inmate’s gender.

Likewise, you may locate inmate information by using the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator. The online platform reveals details of inmates serving time in federal prisons. To view records on the platform, you may enter the inmate’s name or prison identification number.

Criminal history records are an alternative resource for locating arrest information in Ellis County. The Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) maintains the Criminal History Conviction Name Search platform. Record seekers using the platform can access records of persons arrested for class B misdemeanors or higher. To view information on the platform, record seekers may first create an account and enter relevant information. The TxDPS also hosts a searchable portal for violent offenders arrested in Ellis County.

Ellis County Inmate Locator

The Ellis County Inmate Locator is an online database that provides information on arrestees detained in the county jail. Record seekers may view records on the database by following these steps:

  1. Visit the Ellis County Sheriff’s Inmate Roster.
  2. Select a preferred search term from the dropdown menu. You may choose to search by the inmate’s name, booking number, inmate number, or crime class.
  3. Fill in the relevant information.
  4. Click on "Search" to view arrest data.

The inmate roster reveals the arrestee’s inmate number, booking number, mugshot, and arrest date.

Note: The inmate roster does not include confidential arrest information. Such data are only accessible via offline requests to the sheriff’s office. Note that the sheriff may only disclose the record to legally eligible parties like the record subject, attorneys, and immediate family members.

Active Warrant Search in Ellis County

Arrest warrants are court documents that call for the arrest of persons suspected of breaking the law. In Ellis County, court judges and magistrates issue arrest warrants after receiving a complaint or sworn affidavit from a peace officer. The complaint or affidavit must establish probable cause for the suspect’s arrest. An active warrant issued in Ellis County may include these details:

  • Name and personal-identifying details about the defendant.
  • Warrant issuance date and location.
  • Warrant document number and case-related identifiers.
  • Alleged criminal offense
  • A statement that the offender must be apprehended and brought before the court.
  • Name of the court official’s signature and name

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, via the Warrant Division, manages all information regarding active and inactive warrants. The division does not have an online search platform for warrants issued in the county. However, interested parties may obtain information about active warrants and fugitives by contacting the division at:

Ellis County Sheriff’s Office,

300 South Jackson Street,

Waxahachie, TX 75165,

Phone: (972) 825-4901.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Ellis County

In Ellis County, you may search arrest records for free by using official resources and tools. For instance, the Ellis County Sheriff’s website hosts the Inmate Roster search platform for inmates held in the county jail. The database may reveal the inmate’s name, arrest date, mugshot, and inmate number.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice also hosts online search tools for arrestees. The agency’s inmate search tool reveals arrest information like the inmate’s personal identifying data and criminal charges. To search for arrest information, record seekers must enter search criteria such as the inmate’s name or inmate ID number.

The Texas Department of Public Safety also offers multiple search portals for arrest information. For example, the agency’s Violent Offender Search reveals arrest information for persons charged with or convicted of crimes of violence.

Free online search databases may exclude information regarding older arrests, supporting documents, and redacted materials. Such information is only accessible via offline request to the arresting agency. Record seekers must submit an offline request along with a valid ID to the agency during its official business hours.

Ellis County Arrest Report

In Ellis County, an arrest report is a detailed account of an arrest. Also referred to as a police or incident report, the document is usually written from the arresting officer’s perspective. It generally shows the full account of the events leading to the arrest. Furthermore, it documents materials gathered during the arrest, such as evidence, officers’ observations, and witness statements. Ellis County arrest reports are important for filing formal charges and for evidence in case proceedings.

In contrast, arrest records provide summarized data regarding an arrest event. Such records contain basic information regarding the arrest event and post-arrest activities. For example, arrest records may include the arrestee’s personal description, booking details, bond amount, and mugshot.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Ellis County

To get an arrest record expunged, you must file a petition for expunction with the district court in Ellis County. You are generally required to follow standard legal procedures, including meeting the legal requirements, to file for expunction. Petitioners may follow these steps to expunge arrest records:

  1. Fulfill the legal requirements: Texas laws consider petitioners eligible for expunction under these conditions:
  • They were not convicted or served probation for a crime, except for a Class C deferred disposition.
  • They were victims of identity theft.
  • They were not arrested for missing child support payments or contempt of court.
  • More than 180 days from the arrest date for a class C misdemeanor.
  • It has been more than one year since they were arrested for a Class A or B misdemeanor.
  • It has been more than 3 years since the arrest date for the felony offense.
  1. Fill out the required petition form: Petitioners must fill out the Petition for Expunction of Criminal Records (Charges Not Filed) if the arrest charges were not filed. However, they must fill out the filed charges form if the charges were dismissed or quashed in the trial court.
  2. Make copies of the document and have them reviewed by an attorney. Contact the district court clerk to determine the required number of copies. To get the copies stamped, you must visit the district court clerk between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at this address:

Ellis County Courthouse

109 South Jackson Street,

Waxahachie, TX 75165

  1. File the forms. You may file the petition form online via the E-File Texas platform or in person at the district clerk’s office.
  2. Attach the required fees. The Ellis County District Court Clerk charges $350 for expunction filing. The court clerk also charges $24 per agency served with the petition and order.

The court may schedule a hearing date when you file a petition for expunction. Furthermore, the court clerk may require you to fill out a Notice of Hearing form before the scheduled hearing date. On the hearing date, the court may grant or deny your expunction request. If the petition is granted, the court will issue an expunction order to all agencies that hold the record.

How Do You Remove Ellis County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Under Texas laws, applicants may be able to legally remove arrest records from the internet by following these steps:

  1. Get a court order for the expungement: You must file a petition with the district court to expunge the arrest record. The court judge will grant an order of expunction if your petition is approved.
  2. Contact the websites that hold the records: Third-party websites may disclose your arrest information to the public. However, eligible parties may have them removed by sending a request for removal along with a copy of the court order. Most websites have their contact information on their "About Us" or "Contact Us" pages.

You may also request removal from data brokers that supply arrest records to third-party websites. Upon receiving the request, the data broker may include your details in their "do not sell" list.

What Do Public Ellis County Arrest Records Contain?

In Ellis County, public arrest records may reveal these details:

  • Inmate’s name and personal identifying details like the race, age, height, and hair color.
  • Inmate’s residential address
  • Inmate number
  • Booking number
  • Offense number, date, and type.
  • Crime class.
  • Arrest date and the location of the detention center.
  • Name and location of the arresting agency

Private or confidential arrest information is generally inaccessible to the general public. Record custodians may only disclose such data to legally eligible parties like the record subject, legal representatives, and other concerned parties.