Hood County Public Records /Hood County Criminal Records

Hood County Criminal Records

What Is Hood County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Hood County, Texas, are official documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the county jurisdiction. These records are maintained pursuant to Texas Government Code § 411.083, which establishes guidelines for criminal history record information management throughout the state.

Hood County criminal records encompass several distinct categories of documentation:

Arrest Records: Documents created when an individual is taken into custody by the Hood County Sheriff's Office or local police departments. These records exist whether or not charges are ultimately filed.
Conviction Records: Official documentation of guilty verdicts or pleas in criminal cases, which become permanent parts of an individual's record.
Felony Records: Documentation of serious crimes punishable by imprisonment of one year or more.
Misdemeanor Records: Records of less serious offenses typically punishable by fines or jail terms under one year.
Juvenile Records: Documentation of offenses committed by minors (under 17), which are generally sealed and not accessible to the public per Texas Family Code § 58.256.
Warrant Information: Records of active warrants for arrest versus historical warrant information.

Multiple agencies maintain different components of Hood County criminal records:

Hood County Sheriff's Office
400 Deputy Larry Miller Drive
Granbury, TX 76048
(817) 579-3307
Hood County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail records for the county.

Hood County Clerk's Office
1200 W. Pearl Street
Granbury, TX 76048
(817) 579-3290
Hood County Clerk

The County Clerk maintains records for misdemeanor cases and some civil matters.

355th District Clerk's Office
1200 W. Pearl Street
Granbury, TX 76048
(817) 579-3233
Hood County District Clerk

The District Clerk maintains felony case records and other district court proceedings.

Texas Department of Public Safety
Crime Records Service
PO Box 4143
Austin, TX 78765
(512) 424-2000
Texas DPS Crime Records

The comprehensive criminal history information in Hood County typically includes documentation of:

Arrests and bookings
Formal charges filed
Arraignment proceedings
Plea information
Trial records
Sentencing details
Probation and parole information

Are Criminal Records Public In Hood County

Criminal records in Hood County are generally considered public information under the Texas Public Information Act, codified in Texas Government Code Chapter 552. This statute establishes that "public information is available to the public at a minimum during the normal business hours of the governmental body." The law presumes that most government records, including criminal records, are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted.

The Texas Public Information Act states in § 552.021: "Public information is available to the public at a minimum during the normal business hours of the governmental body." This provision establishes the fundamental right of public access to government records in Texas, including most criminal records maintained by Hood County agencies.

However, important exceptions and restrictions apply to certain types of criminal records:

Ongoing Investigations: Records pertaining to active criminal investigations are generally exempt from disclosure until the investigation concludes.
Juvenile Records: Records involving minors under 17 years of age are confidential and not publicly accessible in most circumstances, as protected by Texas Family Code § 58.256.
Sealed or Expunged Records: Records that have been legally sealed or expunged through court order are not available to the public.
Deferred Adjudication: In some cases, records of successfully completed deferred adjudication may have restricted access.
Certain Victim Information: Details identifying victims of certain crimes, particularly sexual offenses, may be redacted from public records.

The following types of criminal records are typically available to the public in Hood County:

Adult arrest records
Court dockets and case information
Conviction records
Incarceration records
Bond information
Sex offender registry information

Members of the public seeking access to criminal records in Hood County must follow established procedures for requesting such information from the appropriate county agencies, which may include submitting formal requests and paying applicable fees for record retrieval and copying.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Hood County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Hood County may utilize several methods to access this information. The county provides multiple avenues for record retrieval, depending on the specific type of criminal record sought and the requesting party's needs.

For in-person requests at the Hood County Sheriff's Office:

Visit the Sheriff's Office during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
Complete an Open Records Request form at the front desk.
Provide specific information about the record being sought, including:
- Full name of the subject
- Date of birth (if known)
- Approximate date of incident or case number (if available)
Present valid government-issued photo identification.
Pay any applicable fees for record retrieval and copying.
Allow the required processing time, which varies based on request complexity.

For mail or email requests to the Sheriff's Office:

Download and complete the Open Records Request form from the Sheriff's Office website.
Include all relevant identifying information about the record being sought.
Mail the completed form to:

Hood County Sheriff's Office
Records Division
400 Deputy Larry Miller Drive
Granbury, TX 76048

Or email the completed form to the designated records email address provided on the Sheriff's Office website.
Include contact information for follow-up questions.
Await notification when records are ready for pickup or delivery.

For court records through the Hood County Clerk's Office:

Visit the County Clerk's online records portal for digital access to many court records.
For records not available online, visit the County Clerk's Office in person at the Hood County Justice Center.
Complete a records request form specifying the case number or party name.
Pay applicable fees for record retrieval and copying.
For certified copies, additional fees apply.

For felony case records through the District Clerk's Office:

Access the District Clerk's Records Portal for online search capabilities.
For records not available online, visit the District Clerk's Office in person.
Provide case number or party name information.
Pay required fees for document retrieval and copying.

For statewide criminal history information:

Submit a request through the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal History Search.
Complete the required forms and provide fingerprints if requesting a comprehensive background check.
Pay the state-mandated fees for criminal history information.
Allow processing time as specified by the Department of Public Safety.

How To Find Criminal Records in Hood County Online?

Hood County provides several online resources for accessing criminal records digitally. These electronic systems offer convenient alternatives to in-person requests, though the scope of available information varies by platform.

The Hood County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search system that provides:

Current jail population information
Booking details
Charges
Bond amounts
Scheduled court dates

To use this system:

Navigate to the Sheriff's Office website
Select the "Inmate Search" or "Jail Information" section
Enter the individual's name or booking number
Review the results, which update regularly

The Sheriff's Office also provides online access to bond information, which includes:

Defendant names
Bond amounts
Bond types
Charge information

For court records, the Hood County District Clerk's portal offers:

Felony case information
Court dockets
Case status updates
Document indexes (though full documents may require in-person requests)

To search district court records:

Visit the District Clerk's portal
Select the appropriate search option (case number, name, etc.)
Enter the required search criteria
Review the available case information

The County Clerk's online court records system provides access to:

Misdemeanor criminal cases
Traffic cases
Some civil matters

For statewide criminal history information, the Texas Department of Public Safety offers online record searches that include:

Conviction records
Arrest records (with limitations)
Sex offender registry information

Important limitations to note:

Some sensitive documents may be viewable only in person
Certain case types (juvenile, sealed, expunged) are not available online
Complete criminal history reports typically require formal requests and fees
Some online systems require user registration or subscription
Record accuracy should be verified through official sources

Can You Search Hood County Criminal Records for Free?

Hood County provides several options for free access to criminal records, though certain limitations and fee structures apply depending on the type of record and method of access. Under the Texas Public Information Act, the public has the right to inspect many government records without charge, though fees may apply for copies or extensive searches.

Free in-person inspection options include:

Hood County Sheriff's Office Records: Members of the public may visit the Sheriff's Office during regular business hours to inspect publicly available records. While inspection is free, copying fees apply according to the fee schedule established by the county.
Hood County Courthouse Public Terminals: The Hood County Justice Center provides public access terminals where visitors can search basic court case information at no charge. These terminals are available during regular courthouse hours.
Hood County Clerk's Office: The public may inspect misdemeanor case files and other county court records in person without charge, though fees apply for copies.
Hood County District Clerk's Office: Felony case records may be inspected in person at no cost, with copying fees applicable.

Free online resources include:

Hood County Jail Inmate Search: The Sheriff's Office provides free online access to current jail population information, including charges and bond amounts.
Hood County District Clerk's Records Portal: Basic case information for district court cases is available at no charge through the online portal.
County Clerk's Online Records: Limited information about county court cases is accessible online without charge.

Fee-based services include:

Certified copies of court documents
Extensive record searches requiring staff time
Complete criminal history reports
Expedited record retrieval
Copies exceeding certain page limits

The fee schedule for Hood County criminal records is established pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.261, which allows governmental bodies to charge reasonable fees for providing copies of public information. Current fee structures are available from each respective office.

What's Included in a Hood County Criminal Record?

Hood County criminal records typically contain comprehensive information about an individual's interactions with the local criminal justice system. The content of these records varies based on the nature of the case, the maintaining agency, and the stage of the criminal justice process.

Identifying Information:

Full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and age
Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
Mugshot or booking photograph when available
Current and previous addresses
State Identification Number (SID)
FBI number (if applicable)
Fingerprint classification

Arrest Information:

Date and time of arrest
Arresting agency and officer information
Booking number and facility
Charges filed at time of arrest with corresponding statute numbers
Bail or bond amount and status
Detention facility information
Arresting circumstances (as documented in arrest reports)

Court Case Information:

Case number and filing date
Court of jurisdiction (County Court or 355th District Court)
Judge assigned to the case
Formal charges filed by the Hood County Attorney's Office or District Attorney
Statutory citations for alleged offenses
Classification of charges (felony class or misdemeanor class)
Plea information
Defense attorney information
Prosecution records
Court appearance dates
Motion filings and judicial rulings

Disposition Information:

Final verdict (guilty, not guilty, dismissed, etc.)
Conviction date if applicable
Sentencing details including:
- Incarceration terms and location
- Probation conditions and duration
- Fines and court costs assessed
- Restitution orders
- Community service requirements
- Treatment program mandates
Appeal information if applicable
Probation or parole status and conditions
Compliance or violation records

Additional Information:

Active warrant status
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration requirements
DUI/DWI offense details
Traffic violations connected to criminal cases
Pending charges in other jurisdictions
Prior criminal history references

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice may maintain additional records for individuals who have been sentenced to state jail or prison facilities, including incarceration history, institutional behavior records, and release information.

How Long Does Hood County Keep Criminal Records?

Hood County maintains criminal records according to retention schedules established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission under authority granted by Texas Local Government Code § 203.041. These schedules mandate minimum retention periods for various types of criminal records, though some records may be kept longer at the discretion of county officials.

Key retention periods for Hood County criminal records include:

Misdemeanor Case Records:

Case files for Class A and B misdemeanors: 5 years after case closure or dismissal
Class C misdemeanors: 2 years after final disposition
Dismissed cases: 2 years after dismissal

Felony Case Records:

Capital felony cases: Permanent retention
First and second-degree felonies: 20 years after case closure
Third-degree felonies: 10 years after case closure
State jail felonies: 5 years after case closure
Dismissed felony cases: 5 years after dismissal

Arrest Records:

Arrest reports and booking information: 5 years
Fingerprint cards and identification records: 75 years

Jail Records:

Inmate confinement records: 5 years after release
Jail population reports: 3 years
Visitor logs: 2 years

Court Records:

Court dockets: Permanent retention
Court minutes: Permanent retention
Judgment records: Permanent retention for felonies, 5 years for misdemeanors
Exhibits: Varies by case type, typically retained until all appeals exhausted plus 1 year

Warrant Records:

Executed warrants: 5 years after execution
Unexecuted warrants: Until expiration or recall

It is important to note that while physical records may be destroyed after their retention period expires, information about criminal cases may persist in electronic databases maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division and other law enforcement information systems.

Records that have been expunged through court order are removed from public access and destroyed according to the provisions of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, which governs the expunction process in Texas.