Approximately 600 of the over 570,000 arrests that law enforcement agencies report in Texas each year take place in Anderson County. According to the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), the public can see and obtain copies of records created and maintained by government entities, including law enforcement agencies. Consequently, anyone can view and obtain copies of the county's arrest records for a fee ranging from $0.15 to $25.
However, some records are not made public to protect individuals and maintain privacy. Juvenile records, expunged or sealed records, medical and mental health records, records of ongoing investigations, and records that could jeopardize law enforcement or public safety are exempt from public access. Exempt records are only accessible by entities having legitimate interests, such as the individuals listed in the records, their legal representatives, law enforcement agents, judicial officers, and the Anderson County District Attorney's Office.
Arrest records in the County may be accessed through multiple government agencies, including local police departments, the County Sheriff's Office, the courts, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The county's arrest records can be inspected and obtained from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. Interested individuals may send their request by mail, fax, or in person to the Sheriff's Office during business hours at:
The County Sheriff's Office
1200 East Lacy Street
Palestine, TX 75801
Phone: (903) 729-6068
Fax: (903) 729-3022
Arrest records may also be obtained from Police Departments within the county. Requesters must determine the Police Department responsible for the arrest and then contact their records division to make the request. Police Departments in the county may receive requests by mail, fax, in person, or online. Record seekers must typically provide basic details about the arrest, such as the arrestee's name, the location of the arrest, and the arrest date.
Fees are usually charged for copies of arrest records, and processing time varies. In addition, some PDs make their arrest and incident logs available to the public online. Below are some notable Police Departments in the County:
Information about arrests in the County can be found in the criminal history records maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The Criminal History Name Search tool allows those looking for records to search for information about people who have been arrested in the county. They can also mail the completed Criminal History Records Information Request Form and $10 to the DPS at:
Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division P.O. Box 15999 Austin, TX 78761
Record seekers can contact the Criminal History Search Support Unit by phone at (855) 481-7071 for more information.
Criminal court records in the County include arrest records of persons whose arrests led to prosecution. Interested persons can contact the Anderson County District Clerk or the County Clerk for the county's criminal court records. They can also search for the county's criminal court records on the Anderson County Courts Records Inquiry platform.
Additionally, interested persons may find the County's arrest records on reliable third-party websites like InfoTracer. These platforms compile public records from multiple sources, providing a convenient and faster way to access arrest records.
Anderson County has an arrest rate of 581 per 1,000 people. Below are the county's arrest records for adults and juveniles.
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 |
| Sex Offenses | 27 |
| Kidnapping | 5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 22 |
| Fraud Offenses | 52 |
| Larceny | 255 |
| Robbery | 5 |
| Burglary | 50 |
| Arson | 8 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 581 |
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety
It is situated in Anderson county, Texas with a total number of 81 employees - 9 female, 25 male officers and 47 civilians. Anderson County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is TX0010000, it belongs to the West South Central division in the South region with a region code of Region III.
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson County TX Juvenile Detention Center | 1120 East Crawford Street | 903-731-8201 |
| George Beto Unit | 1391 Fm 3328 | 903-928-2217 **022 |
| H. H. Coffield Unit | 2661 Fm 2054 | 903-928-2211 **006 |
| Joe F. Gurney Transfer Facility | 1385 Fm 3328 | 903-928-3118 **094 |
| Louis C. Powledge Unit | 1400 Fm 3452 | 903-723-5074 **028 |
| Mark W. Michael Unit | 2664 Fm 2054 | 903-928-2311 **036 |