Burnet County Criminal Records
What Is Burnet County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Burnet County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.
Arrest records document the act of taking an individual into custody and reflect probable cause determinations by law enforcement, while conviction records reflect formal findings of guilt entered by a court of competent jurisdiction. The distinction is legally significant: an arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt under Texas law. Felony records involve offenses punishable by confinement in a state penitentiary, whereas misdemeanor records involve lesser offenses typically adjudicated at the county level. Juvenile records are generally sealed by operation of law and are not accessible to the general public in the same manner as adult records. Active warrant records reflect outstanding judicial orders for an individual's arrest, while historical records document completed proceedings.
The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Burnet County include:
- Burnet County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking logs, jail rosters, and inmate records
- Burnet County District Court and County Court at Law — maintain case files, charging instruments, pleas, trial records, sentencing orders, and probation conditions
- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository through the Crime Records Service division
- Local municipal police departments — maintain arrest and incident reports within their respective jurisdictions
Criminal records typically contain charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, probation and parole conditions, and any subsequent modifications to those orders. Under Texas Government Code § 411.083, the Department of Public Safety is designated as the central repository for criminal history record information in the state.
Burnet County Sheriff's Office 1601 E. Polk St., Burnet, TX 78611 (512) 756-8080 Burnet County Sheriff's Office
Burnet County District Clerk 220 S. Pierce St., Burnet, TX 78611 (512) 756-5450 Burnet County District Clerk
Burnet County Clerk 220 S. Pierce St., Burnet, TX 78611 (512) 756-5406 Burnet County Clerk
Are Criminal Records Public In Burnet County
Criminal records in Burnet County are presumptively public under Texas law. The Texas Public Information Act, codified at Texas Government Code Chapter 552, establishes that all government records are open to the public unless a specific statutory exception applies. Under this framework, adult conviction records, court case filings, sentencing orders, and most court proceedings are available for public inspection and copying.
The following categories of records are generally accessible to members of the public:
- Adult conviction records and final court dispositions
- Arrest records and booking information
- Court dockets, case filings, and hearing schedules
- Sentencing orders, probation terms, and parole conditions
- Sex offender registration information maintained by the Texas DPS
Certain categories of records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure under current law:
- Juvenile records — sealed pursuant to Texas Family Code provisions protecting minors
- Sealed or expunged records — removed from public access by court order under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55
- Ongoing criminal investigations — exempt to protect investigative integrity
- Confidential informant information — protected under law enforcement privilege
- Mental health and medical records — protected under applicable privacy statutes
Members of the public may inspect publicly available criminal records at the offices of the District Clerk, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office during regular business hours. Requests submitted under the Texas Public Information Act must receive a response within ten business days of receipt.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Burnet County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Burnet County may access them through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.
Step 1 — Identify the Correct Agency Determine whether the record sought is an arrest record (Sheriff's Office or municipal police), a court case record (District Clerk or County Clerk), or a statewide criminal history (Texas DPS Crime Records Service).
Step 2 — Submit a Public Information Request For records held by county agencies, submit a written public information request to the relevant office. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email. The Burnet County offices are located at the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St., Burnet, TX 78611.
Step 3 — Request a Statewide Criminal History For a comprehensive criminal history, members of the public may submit a name-based or fingerprint-based request to the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Service. Name-based searches are available online through the DPS portal. Fingerprint-based searches provide a more definitive result and are required for certain employment and licensing purposes.
Step 4 — Pay Applicable Fees Fees are assessed per record or per page copied, as established by the relevant agency's fee schedule. The Texas DPS currently charges a fee for name-based criminal history searches conducted through its online portal.
Step 5 — Appear In Person If Required Certain records, including sealed case files or records not available in digital format, may require an in-person visit to the clerk's office. The District Clerk's public counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Texas Department of Public Safety — Crime Records Service P.O. Box 4143, Austin, TX 78765 (512) 424-2474 Texas Department of Public Safety
How To Find Criminal Records in Burnet County Online?
Several official online portals provide access to Burnet County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit. Each portal contains distinct categories of information.
Texas DPS Crime Records Service Portal The Texas DPS Crime Records Service provides name-based criminal history searches for a fee. Users create an account, enter the subject's name and date of birth, and receive a report of criminal history information maintained in the statewide repository. This portal contains arrest and conviction data reported by law enforcement and courts statewide.
Texas Judicial Branch Case Search The Texas Judicial Branch maintains a statewide case search tool that allows users to search for court cases by name, case number, or county. This tool provides access to case filings, hearing dates, and dispositions for cases adjudicated in Texas district and county courts.
Burnet County Jail Roster The Burnet County Sheriff's Office publishes a current jail roster on its official website, listing individuals currently in custody at the Burnet County Jail. The roster is updated regularly and includes the individual's name, booking date, and charges. No registration is required to view the jail roster.
Online vs. In-Person Only Records Not all records are available online. Historical case files, physical exhibits, and records predating electronic filing systems may only be accessible in person at the District Clerk's or County Clerk's office. Expunged and sealed records are not accessible through any public portal.
Can You Search Burnet County Criminal Records for Free?
Texas law does not mandate that all criminal record searches be provided at no cost; however, several categories of records are available for free inspection. Under the Texas Public Information Act, members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge, though fees may be assessed for copies and for the labor involved in locating and compiling records.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- Burnet County Jail Roster — available free of charge on the Sheriff's Office website; lists current inmates, booking dates, and charges
- Texas Judicial Branch Case Search — free to search for case information, hearing dates, and dispositions
- Court docket inspection — members of the public may inspect court dockets in person at the District Clerk's office at no charge during regular business hours
Fees are assessed for the following:
- Certified copies of court records (per-page fee set by statute)
- Name-based criminal history searches through the Texas DPS portal
- Fingerprint-based background checks
Members of the public who wish to inspect records without incurring copy fees may do so in person at the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St., Burnet, TX 78611, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
What's Included in a Burnet County Criminal Record?
A complete criminal record in Burnet County may contain information drawn from multiple agencies and proceedings. The specific contents vary depending on the source of the record and the nature of the underlying case.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) assigned by Texas DPS
- FBI Number assigned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer
- Booking number and facility
- Charges filed at time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount set
- Jail facility where individual was held
Court Case Information
- Case number and court of jurisdiction
- Filing date and charging instrument (indictment, information, or complaint)
- Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere)
- Attorney of record and prosecuting agency
Disposition Information
- Verdict or dismissal
- Conviction date and offense of conviction
- Sentence type (imprisonment, probation, fine, community service)
- Sentence length, fines, restitution, and special conditions
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole status and supervising agency
Additional Record Elements
- Outstanding warrants
- Protective orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI adjudications
- Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
- Pending charges and open cases
How Long Does Burnet County Keep Criminal Records?
Burnet County retains criminal records in accordance with retention schedules established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under the authority of the Texas Local Government Code. Retention periods vary by record type and agency.
The following retention periods are currently in effect for principal record categories:
| Record Type | Minimum Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Felony conviction records | Permanent |
| Misdemeanor conviction records | 10 years after final disposition |
| Arrest records (no conviction) | 3–5 years (varies by agency) |
| Jail booking records | 5 years |
| Court case files (felony) | Permanent |
| Court case files (misdemeanor) | 10 years |
| Juvenile records (sealed) | Until subject reaches age 21, then destroyed per court order |
| Probation records | 5 years after discharge |
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission publishes the Local Schedule CC (Records of County Clerks) and Local Schedule J (Records of Justice and Municipal Courts), which govern retention requirements for county-level criminal justice records. Agencies are required to retain records for at least the minimum period specified and may retain them longer at their discretion.
Expunged records are destroyed or returned to the petitioner pursuant to a court order issued under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55. Once an expunction order is entered, the relevant agencies are required to delete or destroy the records within a specified timeframe, and the individual may legally deny the existence of the arrest or prosecution.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission 1201 Brazos St., Austin, TX 78701 (512) 463-5455 Texas State Library and Archives Commission