Find Dallas Recent Arrests
Dallas recent arrests go through the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas County jail system. The Lew Sterrett Justice Center is the main facility where people booked in Dallas end up. With a combined capacity of around 5,000 inmates across five jail facilities, Dallas County processes a high volume of arrests every day. You can search for recent arrests online through the county's jail lookup tool, or request records from DPD's Records Division at 1400 South Lamar Street.
Dallas Overview
Dallas Arrest Processing
The Dallas Police Department handles arrests within city limits. Once booked, inmates go to the Dallas County jail system. The Lew Sterrett Justice Center is the primary facility. The county runs five jail buildings total with a combined capacity of roughly 5,000 beds. The bond desk operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
DPD's Records Division is at 1400 South Lamar Street, 1st Floor, Dallas, TX 75215. You can reach them at 214-671-3374. The fax number is 214-671-4636. Open Records requests can also go to guerecordunit@dpd.ci.dallas.tx.us. The Records Division processes public information requests and handles report copies.
| Records Division | 1400 South Lamar Street, 1st Floor Dallas, TX 75215 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (214) 671-3374 |
| Non-Emergency | (214) 671-3000 |
| Sheriff 24/7 | (214) 761-9025 |
Police reports cost $6 for non-certified copies. Certified copies run an additional $2 per page. Response time is typically within 10 business days under the Texas Public Information Act. The Records Division keeps data going back several years, with records from 2015 to 2019 available through standard requests.
Search Dallas Recent Arrests Online
The Dallas County jail lookup system is the fastest way to find someone recently arrested in Dallas. You can search by identity, birthdate, ethnicity, gender, booking ID, or case reference number. Results show custody status, housing location within the jail, charges, and bond details. The data updates in real time as new bookings come in.
Here is the Dallas Police Department website, which has links to the Records Division and open records request information.
The screenshot below shows the Dallas County jail lookup page where you can search for inmates by name or booking number.
The Dallas County Jail Lookup is free to use. Search results include the full name, charges, bond amount, and current location in the jail system. If someone was recently arrested and transferred to county, they should show up in this database within hours of booking. The system runs 24 hours a day.
For criminal court records, the Dallas County District Clerk maintains cases from 2008 to the present in their online system. Family and civil cases go back to 2006. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. Paid requests go through the Court Records Request Form. Mail requests go to Dallas County District Clerk, Records Request, P.O. Box 1276, Dallas, TX.
Recent Arrest Data in Dallas
Dallas Police arrest data includes the date, time, location, and charges for each arrest. Each record identifies the person by full name and age. Arresting officers are listed by badge number. Recent arrests in Dallas have covered murder, robbery, drug trafficking, and other serious offenses. DPD has various specialized units that focus on specific crime types.
Crime statistics are available through the Dallas Police Department. Body camera footage can be requested through the Records Division, but it goes through the Public Information Act review process. Accident reports are available online through the TxDOT system separately from arrest records.
Under Government Code Chapter 552, basic arrest information is public. Section 552.108(c) says agencies cannot withhold the arrested person's name, age, address, race, sex, occupation, or physical condition. The arrest date, time, place, offense, booking info, bond info, and officer names are all public too. Even if the case is still under investigation, these details must be released when asked.
Dallas Arrest Records Requests
You can submit an open records request to the Dallas Police Department by email, fax, mail, or in person. The department must respond within 10 business days. If your request involves a large number of records, they will send you a cost estimate before processing. You have the right to inspect records in person instead of paying for copies.
The Texas Attorney General handles complaints if an agency does not respond or tries to block a valid request. The AG's Open Records Division reviews cases and issues rulings. Agencies that fail to follow a ruling can face enforcement action.
For statewide searches, the DPS Criminal History portal costs $3.00 per search. It covers Class B misdemeanors and above from across Texas. The TDCJ Inmate Search covers state prison inmates. The DPS Crime Records Division collects data from all law enforcement agencies in the state.
Juvenile arrest records are confidential in Texas. They do not appear in public databases. Under Government Code 411, Section 411.135, records released to the public only show convictions and deferred adjudications.
Statewide Arrest Databases
The DPS Crime Records Division gets arrest reports from every law enforcement agency in Texas within seven days. The Computerized Criminal History System holds arrest, prosecution, and case outcome data for Class B misdemeanors and above. DPD sends its data to this system like every other agency in the state. The DPS Criminal History portal costs $3.00 per search. You need at least a first and last name. Adding a date of birth helps narrow the results.
The TDCJ Inmate Search covers people in state prison. Inmates serving under one year stay in county jail. Longer sentences go to a state facility. The general TDCJ information line is 800-535-0283. The Texas Judicial Branch Case Search covers appellate courts. It does not cover trial courts. For trial level criminal cases in Dallas, use the Dallas County District Clerk's online portal.
Dallas County Recent Arrests
Dallas is the county seat of Dallas County. The county jail system, sheriff's office, and District Clerk handle all arrest processing and court records for the city. See the Dallas County page for more on the jail facilities, inmate search tools, and how the county court system works.
Nearby Cities
The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area has many cities with their own police departments. Several share the Dallas County jail system, while others fall in Tarrant, Collin, or Denton counties.