Search Austin Police, Jail and Court Records in the Correct System
An Austin arrest can create several separate records. Austin Police may hold the incident report, Travis County may hold the booking, Austin Municipal Court may handle a fine-only City case, and the Travis County Clerk or District Clerk may hold the misdemeanor or felony court file.
This guide explains what each system contains, how far its records go back, how quickly it updates, which identifiers to save, what copies cost, how to request an APD report and how to verify the final court outcome.
Daily updates covering the current date back 18 months.
Search the Travis County Sheriff inmate system.
Online Travis County data from June 1986 forward.
Online District Clerk criminal cases from 2008 forward.
Information checked August 5, 2026.
Start with the record that answers your question
Use this when you need a public Austin Police incident entry, APD case number, offense information, date, area or report-related details.
Use this when you need to know whether the person is currently in custody, the booked charges or the jail identifiers.
Use Austin Municipal Court for City Class C and traffic cases. Use the Travis County Clerk for Class A and B misdemeanors.
Use the Travis County District Clerk for felony filings, dockets, judgments, certified copies and felony history letters.
How the APD Incident Reports Database actually works
The APD database is an incident-report search, not a complete criminal-history database. It contains calls for police service where an Austin Police report was written.
The public search covers the current date back 18 months.
APD states that the online database is updated daily.
Search by known APD case number, police area command or district, ZIP code or census tract.
How to find an Austin arrestee in Travis County Jail
Austin Police does not operate the main county jail roster. People booked after many Austin arrests are searched through the Travis County Sheriff’s custody system.
Confirm the person before using an Austin arrest record
No Austin arrest record found? Follow this order
How to request an APD arrest or incident report
Texas Government Code Chapter 552 allows a person to request existing government information without explaining why the information is wanted. The request should identify records rather than ask the City to answer questions or create a new report.
Submit through the City of Austin Public Records Center and keep the confirmation number.
P.O. Box 689001
Austin, TX 78768
715 E. 8th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Information that reduces delay and clarification
What happens after submission
Austin public-information request fees and cost controls
| Item or service | Published charge | Practical cost-control step |
|---|---|---|
| Standard black-and-white paper | $0.10 per single-sided page | Request electronic delivery when possible. |
| Oversize paper | $0.50 per page | Ask whether a digital version is available. |
| CD | $1 each | Use secure electronic delivery if offered. |
| DVD | $3 each | Narrow body-camera or video timeframes. |
| Off-site record retrieval | $45 | Provide the exact APD case and date. |
| Eligible personnel time | $15 per hour | Limit names, dates, locations and document types. |
| Computer programming | $28.50 per hour | Request existing reports instead of custom data extraction. |
| Overhead | 20% of personnel or programming charge | Avoid unnecessarily broad electronic-data requests. |
Austin Municipal Court arrest, citation and warrant records
Austin Municipal Court generally handles the lowest-level criminal offenses, including City ordinance matters, traffic violations, juvenile matters, disabled-parking violations and other Class C or fine-only cases within its jurisdiction.
Search using the last name and date of birth or driver’s-license information.
Depending on the case, users may pay, request a deferral, request a hearing or submit documents.
The citation may not yet be filed. Check weekly or call the court.
Main court location and hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Thursday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Walk-in mitigation docket
| Day | Session | Check-in deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Wednesday | 8:30 a.m.–11 a.m. | Check in by 11 a.m. |
| Monday–Wednesday | 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | Check in by 3:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:30 a.m.–11 a.m. | Check in by 11 a.m. |
| Thursday | 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | Check in by 3:30 p.m. |
| Thursday evening | 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Check in by 8 p.m. |
Travis County misdemeanor records and update delays
The Travis County Clerk serves the County Criminal Courts at Law, which hear Class A and B misdemeanor cases such as many DWI, theft and assault prosecutions.
June 1986 to present online.
Redacted images from December 2005 forward.
Approximately every 24 hours.
May take about 72 hours to appear.
What the County Clerk search covers
- Travis County Class A and Class B misdemeanor records.
- Class C cases appealed from a municipal or Justice of the Peace court.
- Case data and available redacted public document images.
- Attorney-of-record information displayed with an individual cause-number result.
Misdemeanor name-search costs
| Search type | Published fee | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic data search | One name free, plus copy costs | Available electronic records. |
| 1981 to present misdemeanor search | One name and up to three aliases free, plus copies | Travis County misdemeanor records within the stated period. |
| Microfilm or paper search | $10 per name per 10-year period | Records requiring manual historical research. |
| Pre-1981 misdemeanor search | $10 for one name and up to three aliases | Older misdemeanor records; additional aliases cost $10 each. |
Travis County felony records, archived cases and certified history
Felony court files are maintained by the Travis County District Clerk. The free online portal provides public criminal cases from 2008 forward.
Public digital court records can be viewed without a copy charge when available in the portal.
Records before 2004 may be archived and may not appear through the public felony history portal.
The District Clerk can provide a certified positive or negative search letter covering Travis County felony cases only.
How to read a felony case
D-1-DC.
Felony records office
Gault Annex
501 W. 11th Street
2nd Floor, Room 2.300
Austin, TX 78701
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
512-854-9420, option 3
Use the case number to find the correct Austin court
| Number pattern | Likely record type | Office or next action |
|---|---|---|
| APD incident or case number | Austin Police incident or offense record | Search APD reports or include it in the City records request. |
| D-1-DC | Travis County felony case | Use the District Clerk and felony criminal docket. |
| C-1-CR | Travis County misdemeanor case | Use the County Clerk misdemeanor records system. |
| MC ending | Austin Municipal Court warrant or matter | Contact Austin Municipal Court at 512-974-4800. |
| CC ending | Austin Community Court warrant or matter | Contact Austin Community Court at 512-974-4879. |
| Booking or inmate identifier | Travis County jail custody record | Use it with the Sheriff’s inmate-information system. |
D-1-DC-23 indicates a felony case filed in 2023.
What Austin police, jail and court fields mean
| Field | Meaning | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| APD case number | Identifier assigned to an Austin Police incident. | It does not prove that an arrest or conviction occurred. | Use it to search or request the police record. |
| Highest offense | The highest-level offense displayed in a public APD dataset. | It may not display every offense connected with the incident. | Review the incident report and court filing. |
| Booking number | Identifier assigned to a custody intake. | It does not establish the final charge or disposition. | Use it for jail questions and record matching. |
| Booked charge | Allegation entered during arrest or intake. | The prosecutor may file a different or reduced charge. | Search the County or District Clerk. |
| Cause number | Identifier assigned to the court case. | The existence of a case does not establish guilt. | Use it for dockets, copies and court contacts. |
| Pending | The court case has not reached a final outcome. | It does not mean the original charge will remain unchanged. | Check the next setting and newest filings. |
| Dismissed | The identified charge or case was dismissed. | It does not automatically erase the arrest record. | Obtain the dismissal and review expunction eligibility. |
| Closed | The system no longer shows the case as active. | It does not explain the actual outcome. | Find the judgment, dismissal or final order. |
How Austin warrant searches and resolution contacts work
The City’s public warrant search covers active APD warrants only. It is not a complete statewide or nationwide warrant search.
| Warrant type | Published contact | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Warrant ending MC | Austin Municipal Court: 512-974-4800 | Arrange resolution of a Municipal Court matter. |
| Warrant ending CC | Austin Community Court: 512-974-4879 | Arrange resolution of a Community Court matter. |
| Other APD warrant information | APD Warrant Office: 512-974-5299 | Call during published hours of 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. |
| Self-surrender for other warrants | Travis County Self Surrender: 512-854-7860 | Ask for instructions before appearing. |
| Juvenile warrant | Gardner-Betts Juvenile Justice Center: 512-854-7090 | Arrange the juvenile-specific process. |
Travis County misdemeanor and felony record fees
| Service | District Clerk felony fee | County Clerk misdemeanor fee |
|---|---|---|
| Record search | $5 per cause, name or item searched | $5 standard fee; historical-search rules may differ |
| Paper copy | $1 per page | $1 per page |
| Self-service copy | Not listed in the general criminal schedule | $0.20 per page |
| Certified copy | $5 per document plus applicable copy charge | $5 per document plus copy charge |
| Electronic document | $1 per page through 10 pages, then $0.10 each additional page | Confirm availability and current copy method |
| Exemplified copy | $5 plus certified-copy cost | $2 plus applicable copy and certification charges |
Requesting physical felony copies
Use the District Clerk court-record request form for paid physical, certified or authenticated copies.
Records Request
P.O. Box 679003
Austin, TX 78767
501 W. 11th Street, Room 2.300, Austin, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Austin arrest expunction and nondisclosure filing path
When granted, an expunction generally requires identified agencies to destroy or return eligible records as directed by the order.
This generally restricts public disclosure of eligible criminal-history information but is not identical to destroying the underlying record.
Travis County filing information
Published filing fee: $350.
Published filing fee: $350.
Service and other case-specific fees may apply.
File in person or by mail after preparing the required petition.
Attorneys must e-file through the Texas system.
Criminal Division
501 W. 11th Street
Room 2.300
Austin, TX 78701
Attn: Expunctions/Non-Disclosure
P.O. Box 679003
Austin, TX 78767
How an Austin arrest becomes a court record
Austin police, jail and criminal court contacts
| Office | Contact | Use this office for |
|---|---|---|
| APD incident-search help | 512-974-5212 | Help using the public APD incident-report database. |
| APD Report Sales Unit | 512-974-5499 | Purchasing a public portion of an available police report. |
| Austin non-emergency services | 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 | Non-emergency reporting and City service routing. |
| Travis County inmate information | 512-854-9033 | Current custody, charges and jail-information questions. |
| Austin Municipal Court | 512-974-4800 | Class C cases, traffic citations and MC warrants. |
| Austin Community Court | 512-974-4879 | Community Court cases and CC warrants. |
| APD Warrant Office | 512-974-5299 | Other APD warrant questions during published hours. |
| Travis County Self Surrender | 512-854-7860 | Instructions for resolving qualifying non-MC or non-CC warrants. |
| County Clerk Misdemeanor Records | 512-854-9188 | Class A and B misdemeanor case data and copies. |
| Criminal Court Administration | 512-854-9244 | Criminal court dates, courtrooms and docket questions. |
| District Clerk Criminal Division | 512-854-9420, option 3 | Felony records, filings, certified copies and expunction filings. |
| Travis County District Attorney | 512-854-9400 | Felony prosecution office questions, not court-copy requests. |
| Travis County Law Library | 512-854-8677 | Self-help research and filing assistance resources. |
Travis County criminal court complex
Felony records are handled at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center Gault Annex, 501 West 11th Street. Criminal court administration and county court operations are centered in the same downtown justice area.
What should you do with the record you found?
Confirm the booking and current status with Travis County before visiting, paying or arranging transportation.
Request the identified APD report using the case number, date, location and exact document type.
Search the correct court division and obtain the dismissal, judgment or final order.
Order a certified court copy or certified positive or negative felony search letter.
Contact the agency that created the incorrect field and submit official proof of the mismatch.
Save the certified dismissal and review Texas expunction or nondisclosure eligibility.
Austin arrest-record questions answered
How do I search Austin Police arrest reports?
Search the APD Incident Reports Database by case number, police area, ZIP code or census tract. The database is updated daily and covers the current date back 18 months.
Does an APD incident report mean someone was arrested?
No. The database contains incidents where a police report was written. Some incidents result in a citation, investigation without arrest or no criminal filing.
Where are people arrested by Austin Police booked?
Many APD arrestees are processed through the Travis County jail system. Use the County inmate search and verify the booking identifiers.
Why is a recent Austin arrest not online?
Booking may still be underway, the name may be recorded differently, the person may have received a citation, or another agency may control the custody record.
How far back does the APD report search go?
The public APD incident database states that it provides information from the current date back 18 months.
How do I request an APD report older than 18 months?
Submit a City of Austin public-information request with the APD case number, date, location, involved name and exact record requested.
How long does the City take to release records?
The City targets release of available responsive information within 10 business days and provides a status update on the eighth business day. Complex, broad or redaction-heavy requests may take longer.
What happens when an Austin records request costs over $40?
The City sends an itemized estimate. The requester must accept the charge before work continues, and failure to respond within 10 days may close the request.
Where do I search an Austin traffic or Class C criminal case?
Use the Austin Municipal Court Public Portal. Search non-parking matters with the last name and date of birth or driver’s-license information.
What if my Austin citation is not in the Municipal Court portal?
The citation may not yet have been filed. Check weekly or call the court. The case may also belong to a Justice of the Peace or another county court.
How far back do Travis County misdemeanor records go online?
Case data is available from June 1986 forward. Redacted document images are generally available from December 2005 forward.
How quickly do new misdemeanor documents appear?
Case data updates about every 24 hours, while newly filed redacted document images may take approximately 72 hours to appear.
How do I identify a Travis County felony case?
Felony cause numbers commonly begin with D-1-DC. Use the Travis County District Clerk portal and confirm the defendant and filing year.
How do I identify a Travis County misdemeanor case?
Misdemeanor cases commonly use a cause number beginning C-1-CR and are maintained by the Travis County Clerk.
How much is a Travis County certified court copy?
Both the District Clerk and County Clerk currently publish a $5 certification charge per document plus applicable page-copy fees.
Can I search Austin active warrants online?
Yes, but the City warns that the APD search covers APD warrants only. Use the warrant suffix and issuing office to determine the correct resolution contact.
Does dismissal automatically remove an Austin arrest record?
No. A dismissal may support eligibility for relief, but the arrest remains unless an expunction, nondisclosure or another authorized correction process applies.
How much is a Travis County expunction petition?
The District Clerk currently lists a $350 petition fee for expunction and $350 for nondisclosure. Additional service or case-specific costs may apply.