Upton County Recent Arrests
Recent arrests in Upton County go through the Sheriff's Office in Rankin. This is a sparsely populated West Texas county with about 3,600 residents spread across 1,242 square miles of oil country. The Permian Basin drives the economy here. The sheriff is the primary law enforcement body and runs the county jail. Arrest records are public under the Texas Public Information Act, and you can request them by phone, mail, or in person at the sheriff's office.
Upton County Overview
Upton County Arrest Records
The Upton County Sheriff's Office keeps all arrest records for the county. Their office in Rankin handles jail operations and processes every booking. With such a small population, the sheriff is often the only law enforcement presence in large stretches of the county. DPS troopers patrol the highways and may bring in arrests as well. All bookings go through the county jail in Rankin.
Rankin and McCamey are the two towns in Upton County. Rankin is the county seat with about 800 people. McCamey has around 2,000 residents and sits about 20 miles to the west. The rest of the county is oil fields and ranch land. Because of the Permian Basin oil boom, the area has seen population swings tied to energy prices. When oil activity picks up, so does the transient population, which can affect arrest numbers.
| Office | Upton County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Location | Rankin, TX 79778 |
| Phone | (432) 693-2422 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (jail is 24/7) |
The county jail is small, matching the population. People with serious felony charges may be held here for a while, or they may get transferred to a larger facility in a neighboring county if space or security demands it. Upton County is part of the 83rd Judicial District, which covers several West Texas counties. Felony cases go to the district court while misdemeanors are heard in the county court.
How to Find Recent Arrests
Upton County does not have an online jail roster or inmate lookup tool. For a county with fewer than 4,000 people, that is typical. To check on a recent arrest, call the Sheriff's Office at (432) 693-2422. Staff can tell you if someone was booked, the charges, and what the bond is set at. This is the fastest and most reliable way to get basic arrest data.
Written requests are also accepted. Send a letter to the Upton County Sheriff's Office in Rankin. Include the name of the person and any other details like a date of birth or the approximate date of the arrest. Under state law, the county has 10 business days to reply. Phone inquiries are free for basic info. Copies of reports may carry a small fee.
You can use the statewide DPS criminal history system to search for records that include Upton County data. The screenshot below shows the DPS portal.
That system covers conviction records from all 254 Texas counties. Each search costs $3.00 and an account is required. It pulls from the statewide Computerized Criminal History file.
Public Records Law and Upton County
Arrest records in Texas are public. The Texas Public Information Act under Government Code Chapter 552 says that basic arrest data must be shared. Section 552.108(c) defines what counts: name, age, address, race, sex, occupation, charges, bond, and the date and place of arrest. The arresting agency is public too. You do not need to state a reason for asking.
Juvenile records are sealed. Medical info from the jail is not shared. Sealed or expunged cases are off limits. But for adult arrests, Upton County must release the basic booking data to anyone who asks. The Texas Attorney General handles enforcement when an agency wrongly denies a records request.
Texas Arrest Search Tools
State-level databases cover Upton County along with the rest of Texas. The DPS Criminal History Search is the main statewide tool for conviction records. Each search is $3.00. Under Government Code Section 411.135, DPS manages how conviction and deferred adjudication records flow through the system.
The TDCJ Inmate Search is free and shows people who are in state prison. The Texas Courts Case Search handles appellate records. The DPS Crime Records Division compiles crime statistics from agencies across the state.
Midland and Odessa are the closest larger cities, about 60 miles to the north. People who need a lawyer for an arrest in Upton County often turn to the Midland-Odessa area. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement tracks certified law enforcement agencies in the Permian Basin region.
Upton County Booking Process
After an arrest in Upton County, the person goes to the county jail in Rankin for booking. Staff record personal details, take a mugshot, and collect fingerprints. A medical screening checks for health problems. The officer's arrest report gets added to the file. All of this becomes the public arrest record.
A magistrate sets bail after the booking is complete. Cash bonds, surety bonds through a bail agent, and personal recognizance bonds are all possible. Minor offenses may lead to a quick release. Serious charges mean higher bail. The 83rd Judicial District Court handles felonies while the county court covers misdemeanor cases. Both courts are based at the Upton County Courthouse in Rankin.
Oil field activity brings a transient workforce to Upton County. This can lead to arrests that involve people from out of state or from distant parts of Texas. DWI and drug charges make up a good portion of the caseload. The sheriff's office also handles calls related to oilfield theft, which is a recurring problem across the Permian Basin. Equipment and materials left at remote well sites can be targets for theft, leading to felony charges in some cases.