Refugio County Recent Arrests
Recent arrests in Refugio County are managed by the Sheriff's Office in the town of Refugio. This South Texas county has about 6,800 residents and covers roughly 770 square miles along the coastal plain. Refugio is the county seat. All booking data falls under the Texas Public Information Act, so basic arrest details are public record. You can call the Sheriff's Office, visit the courthouse, or use state-level search tools to find arrest information.
Refugio County Overview
Refugio County Arrest Records
The Refugio County Sheriff's Office keeps all arrest records for the county. The jail takes in bookings from local deputies, state troopers, and any other agencies that make arrests in the area. The facility is small, which matches the county's low population. Staff handle bookings, releases, and records requests.
Refugio County sits between Corpus Christi and Victoria along the coastal plain. The area is mostly ranching and oil production land with some small towns scattered throughout. US Highway 77 runs through the county. Traffic stops on this highway and on State Highway 183 account for a portion of the arrests in the area. Drug and DWI cases, theft, and warrant arrests make up most of the booking activity here.
The county does maintain some online presence. The screenshot below shows the Refugio County website, which provides contact details and general county information.
For arrest-specific data, you will likely need to call the Sheriff's Office directly. The website does not appear to have an online inmate search at this time.
| Office | Refugio County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | Refugio, TX 78377 |
| Phone | (361) 526-2351 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Recent Arrests and Public Access
Arrest records are public in Texas. The Texas Public Information Act under Government Code Chapter 552 guarantees this. Section 552.108(c) says basic arrest data cannot be held back. That includes the name, age, address, race, sex, and occupation of the arrested person. It also covers arrest date, time, location, the offense charged, booking info, bonding data, and arresting officers' names.
Refugio County must comply with these rules. The Sheriff's Office will share basic booking data with anyone who asks. No reason is required. The Texas Attorney General steps in when there are disputes about access. Juvenile records and sealed cases stay private.
Under Government Code Chapter 411, the DPS maintains a statewide criminal history system. Section 411.135 covers how conviction and deferred adjudication records are handled. Refugio County arrest data feeds into this state system through mandatory reporting.
Search Refugio County Arrests
The best way to check on a recent arrest in Refugio County is to call the Sheriff's Office at (361) 526-2351. Staff can confirm whether someone was booked and provide the charges. For detailed records, submit a written request. Include the person's full name and date of birth if possible.
State-level tools supplement your search. The DPS Criminal History Search covers all Texas counties for $3.00 per name. The TDCJ Inmate Search is free and covers state prison inmates. The Texas Courts Case Search has appellate records. The DPS Crime Records Division compiles data from local agencies.
Court records from Refugio County go through the District Clerk. Felonies are heard in the 24th or 135th Judicial District Courts. Misdemeanors go to county court. Both types are public. You can request case files, docket entries, and judgments in person or by mail.
Booking Process in Refugio County
When an arrest happens in Refugio County, the person is taken to the county jail for booking. Staff collect personal details, take fingerprints, and photograph the person. Charges are logged and bond is set. A magistrate sees the arrested person within 48 hours to read the charges and confirm bail. This creates the official arrest record that becomes part of the public file.
The arrest data then gets reported to the Texas DPS within seven days. It feeds into the Computerized Criminal History System that tracks records statewide. For the most current info on a Refugio County arrest, calling the jail directly remains the fastest option. Online state databases may lag behind by a few days for new bookings.
Refugio County is about 40 miles north of Corpus Christi on US Highway 77. If you need to visit in person, the courthouse is in the town of Refugio. Bring your ID. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement can tell you which agencies are active in the county.
How to Get Refugio County Records
Refugio County offers standard methods for accessing arrest records. The county is small, so the process tends to be quick and direct. Staff at the Sheriff's Office can usually answer basic questions about recent bookings over the phone.
- Call (361) 526-2351 for basic booking info during business hours
- Mail a written request to the Sheriff's Office in Refugio
- Visit the courthouse in person with valid ID
- Use the DPS Criminal History Search for statewide data
The county must respond to records requests within ten business days under state law. Basic arrest data is usually free. Certified copies of documents carry a per-page fee. Refugio is a small town, so in-person visits are easy if you are in the area. The courthouse is right in town. If you need court records tied to arrests, the District Clerk handles those files for both felony and misdemeanor cases.
Refugio County is close to the coast. Corpus Christi is about 40 miles to the south. Victoria is roughly 50 miles to the north. If you cannot make the trip, phone and mail work fine. The statewide DPS system picks up Refugio County data through the mandatory reporting that all Texas agencies follow. Every arrest gets reported within seven days of the booking.