Find Andrews County Police Records

Andrews County police records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in the city of Andrews, Texas. The county is in the Permian Basin region of West Texas and covers about 1,501 square miles of mostly flat, oil-producing land. With around 18,000 residents, it is a smaller county, but the Sheriff's Office still handles a full range of law enforcement duties. If you need to pull an incident report, look up an arrest, or check on a warrant, the Sheriff's Office in Andrews is the first place to go. State-level databases can also help you search for police records tied to this part of Texas.

Andrews County Sheriff's Office

The Andrews County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for the county's roughly 18,000 residents spread across 1,501 square miles. The office runs patrol, criminal investigations, dispatch, and the county jail. Deputies respond to emergency calls, handle traffic stops, and work with regional task forces. The jail houses both pre-trial detainees and people serving county sentences.

Records at the Sheriff's Office include incident reports, arrest files, and accident reports. The office keeps these in line with state retention schedules. If you need a copy, you can reach out by phone or visit in person. The office also serves civil process for local courts, including warrants, subpoenas, and protective orders. Courthouse security is another duty the Sheriff's Office handles for the Andrews County Courthouse.

Andrews County sits in the Permian Basin, and the Sheriff's Office takes part in regional task forces that deal with drug trafficking and other border-related crimes. The sex offender registration program is also run through this office. Deputies verify addresses and report violations to the state.

Requesting Andrews County Police Records

You have a right to ask for police records in Andrews County under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552). This law covers all government bodies in the state, including the Andrews County Sheriff's Office. You do not need to say why you want the records. The agency must respond promptly, which typically means within 10 business days.

Put your request in writing. Include the date of the incident, names of people involved, and any report numbers you have. The more detail you give, the faster they can find your records. Drop it off at the Sheriff's Office in Andrews, mail it, or call first to ask about their process. Some smaller counties like Andrews are flexible about how they take requests, but having something in writing always helps.

If the Sheriff's Office wants to hold back any part of a record, they must ask the Texas Attorney General for permission within 10 business days. The AG then has 45 working days to issue a ruling. You can call the AG's open government hotline at (512) 478-6736 if you have questions about a denied request.

Texas Police Records Databases

State-level tools can help when local records are hard to find. The Texas DPS Crime Records Division runs the statewide criminal history system. It holds over 15 million conviction records dating back to 1975. Public searches only show convictions and deferred adjudications. Arrests without a conviction are not public through DPS. A name-based search costs $3.00 per credit.

The screenshot below shows the DPS Crime Records Division portal, which is the main state resource for criminal history searches in Texas.

This system lets you search by name across the entire state, including any records tied to Andrews County cases that resulted in a conviction.

The TDCJ Offender Search is another free tool. It shows who is in state prison, where they are, what they were convicted of, and when they might get out. The database goes back to 1980 and gets updated every night. You can search by name, TDCJ number, or SID number. If someone from Andrews County ended up in state custody, this is how you find them.

For car wreck reports, use the TxDOT CRIS system. It stores all police-reported crashes in Texas. Reports go public after 60 days. A certified copy costs $8.00.

Andrews County Records Fees

Copy fees in Andrews County follow the state schedule. Paper copies are $0.10 per page for letter size. Legal size pages cost $0.15 each. If your request requires a lot of staff time, labor charges can kick in at $15.00 per hour. Overhead is 20% on top of labor. The first 50 pages are often free if the records are easy to pull.

Crash reports go through TxDOT at $6.00 to $8.00 per report. Court records from the County Clerk or District Clerk may have their own fees for copies and certified documents. Always call ahead to confirm the cost before you send payment.

Andrews County Victim Notification

If you are a crime victim in Andrews County, the Texas VINE system lets you track offenders. Sign up for free alerts when someone is booked, released, transferred, or escapes from custody. VINE covers all 254 Texas counties and runs around the clock. You can register by phone at 1-877-894-8463 or online.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles handles victim notification for parole hearings. Victims can register to get updates and submit input on release decisions. The board reviews about 75,000 parole cases each year and has victim services coordinators to walk you through the process. Call (800) 848-4284 for victim services.

Law Enforcement Licensing in Texas

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement licenses all peace officers in the state, including deputies in Andrews County. TCOLE requires over 700 hours of basic training plus a state exam. Officers must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years to keep their license. You can look up any officer's license status for free through the TCOLE online portal.

TCOLE also investigates complaints against officers. If someone has a concern about an Andrews County deputy, they can file a complaint with the commission. TCOLE can suspend or revoke a license for misconduct. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards sets rules for how the Andrews County Jail must operate, covering everything from inmate housing to medical care. Annual inspections ensure the jail meets state standards.

Police Records and Open Records Law

Texas takes open records seriously. Under Government Code Chapter 552, government agencies must make records available to the public unless a specific exception applies. Common exceptions for police records include active investigations, certain personnel files, and records that could endanger someone if released. But the default rule is that records are open.

If Andrews County denies your request, they have to cite a specific exception and get the AG's approval. You can challenge that decision in state district court within 30 days. The law includes criminal penalties for officials who intentionally conceal public records. The Attorney General's office publishes a Public Information Act Handbook that explains the rules in plain language.

Cities in Andrews County

Andrews is the only city of any size in the county. It is also the county seat. Police records for the city of Andrews go through the Andrews Police Department for calls inside city limits. For everything outside the city, the Andrews County Sheriff's Office handles it.

No cities in Andrews County are served by the county sheriff for most law enforcement needs. Contact the Sheriff's Office or the Andrews Police Department for local records.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Andrews County in the Permian Basin region. Make sure you contact the correct county for the location of the incident you are looking into.