Access Bowie County Police Records
Bowie County police records are held by the Sheriff's Office in New Boston. This northeast Texas county borders Arkansas and has a population of roughly 94,000. Texarkana is the largest city in the county and sits right on the state line. The Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement across the county's unincorporated areas while city police departments cover their own jurisdictions. Police records from Bowie County include arrest reports, incident logs, jail bookings, and crash reports. You can request copies from the Sheriff's Office or search state databases for criminal history data. This page explains the options, fees, and contact details you need.
Bowie County Overview
Bowie County Sheriff's Office
The Bowie County Sheriff's Office is located in New Boston. It provides law enforcement for the unincorporated parts of the county and operates the county jail. Deputies handle patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, and warrant service. The office also provides courthouse security and works with city departments on joint operations.
Bowie County is in the far northeast corner of Texas. Texarkana sits on the Texas-Arkansas border and is split between the two states. If an incident occurred on the Arkansas side, you need to contact Miller County, Arkansas instead. The Texas side falls under Bowie County jurisdiction for county-level law enforcement.
The jail books people around the clock. Each booking creates a record with the person's name, charges, bond amount, and arresting agency. The Sheriff's Office keeps incident reports for all calls. To get copies, submit a written request describing what you need. Include the person's name and the date of the event.
| Office | Bowie County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | New Boston, TX 75570 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.bowie.tx.us |
Searching Bowie County Police Records
You have multiple ways to look up police records tied to Bowie County. Start with state databases if you want to search from home. For local records, contact the Sheriff's Office in New Boston.
The Texas DPS Crime Records Division runs a name-based criminal history search. Each search costs $3. The database contains over 15 million conviction records going back to 1975. It shows convictions and deferred adjudication. Arrests without conviction do not appear. If someone was convicted of a crime in Bowie County, their record is in this system.
The screenshot below shows the Bowie County official website, which provides information about county offices and services including the Sheriff's Office.
Use the county site to find contact details, office hours, and links to county departments. The site connects you to the Sheriff's Office, County Clerk, and District Clerk.
The TDCJ Offender Search shows state prison inmates and parolees for free. Crash reports from Bowie County go into the TxDOT CRIS system. Reports cost $6 to $8 and become available after a 60-day hold. Texas Transportation Code requires officers to file crash reports within 10 days.
Bowie County Police Records and Public Access
Police records in Bowie County are governed by the Texas Public Information Act. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 552, most government records are open to the public. The Sheriff's Office must respond to requests within 10 business days. You do not have to explain why you want the records. The law says you have a right to them.
There are exceptions. Active investigation records may be held back under Section 552.108. This protects cases that are still being worked. Once the investigation wraps up, those records typically become public. Personnel files and certain law enforcement operational data may also be exempt.
If the Bowie County Sheriff's Office denies your request, they must ask the Texas Attorney General for a ruling within 10 business days. The AG decides whether the records must be released. You can appeal to district court if you disagree with the ruling. The AG's office also has a hotline at (512) 478-6736 for questions about public information access.
Sealed and expunged records under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are removed from public searches. If a record has been expunged, it will not show up in any database.
Bowie County Records Fees
Bowie County uses the standard Texas fee schedule for records copies. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Certified copies run $1 per document plus the page fee. Electronic media costs whatever the actual media costs. The first 50 pages may be free if the records are in one location and easy to pull.
Labor charges kick in for larger requests. General staff time costs $15 per hour. IT work runs $26 per hour. There is a 20% overhead charge on labor. If the bill will top $40, you get an estimate before work begins. You can always view records in person at the Sheriff's Office for free during business hours. Just ask the staff for help finding what you need.
Note: Confirm current fees with the Bowie County Sheriff's Office before sending payment, as rates may be updated.
What Bowie County Police Records Show
An arrest record from Bowie County lists the person's full name, date of birth, physical description, charges, arresting officer, and booking information. Incident reports describe the nature of the call, what the deputy found at the scene, and what steps were taken. These reports may include witness statements and evidence collected.
Booking records from the Bowie County Jail show intake details. They list charges, bond amounts, court assignments, and any holds from other jurisdictions. Because Bowie County sits on the state line, holds from Arkansas agencies are not uncommon.
Criminal court records for Bowie County sit with the District Clerk (felonies) and County Clerk (misdemeanors) in New Boston. The county has two judicial districts: the 5th and the 102nd. Both handle felony cases. The court records are separate from the police records but are often used together when researching a case.
Legal Help in Bowie County
The State Bar of Texas referral service connects you with local attorneys at (800) 252-9690. TexasLawHelp.org has free self-help guides on expungement, nondisclosure, and public records access. Court forms for Texas courts are posted at txcourts.gov.
The Texas VINE system lets Bowie County crime victims track offenders. It sends alerts when custody status changes. The service is free. Register online or call 1-877-894-8463. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement handles officer licensing and accepts complaints about peace officers. You can verify any Bowie County officer's license through the TCOLE online portal at no cost.
Nearby Counties
Bowie County borders these Texas counties as well as Arkansas to the north. If the event happened outside Bowie County, check with the correct neighboring jurisdiction.
Texarkana straddles the Texas-Arkansas border. Events on the Arkansas side are handled by Miller County, Arkansas, not Bowie County. Make sure you know which side the incident took place on before filing a records request.