Find Lamar County Police Records
Lamar County police records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Paris, the county seat in Northeast Texas. The county has about 49,000 people and covers a mix of urban and rural areas. Law enforcement includes the Sheriff's Office, Paris Police Department, and smaller agencies across the county. You can search for arrest records, incident reports, and booking data through local offices or Texas state databases. This guide covers where to look and how to request police records from Lamar County agencies.
Lamar County Overview
Lamar County Sheriff's Office
The Lamar County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for areas outside the Paris city limits. Deputies patrol the rural parts of the county, serve warrants, and operate the county jail. The office stores arrest records, booking logs, and incident reports. You can request copies at the main office on Franklin Avenue in Paris.
The jail holds pretrial inmates and those serving short sentences for misdemeanors. Booking data includes the charge, arrest date, bond amount, and next court date. The Sheriff's Office also assists with civil process, including eviction notices and subpoenas. All of these create records that you can access through a public information request.
Paris also has its own police department that handles calls within the city. If the incident happened inside city limits, the police department may hold the report. For anything outside the city, check with the Sheriff's Office first.
| Office | Lamar County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 155 Franklin Ave Paris, TX 75460 |
| Phone | (903) 737-2400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.lamar.tx.us/sheriff |
How to Search Lamar County Police Records
You can start a search online using the Texas DPS Crime Records portal. It runs name-based searches against the statewide conviction database. Results include records from Lamar County courts. There is a fee per search, and only conviction and deferred adjudication records show up.
For local records, go to the Sheriff's Office or submit a written request under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552). You do not need to give a reason for your request. Include the name, date range, and any case details you have. The county has 10 business days to respond. Copies cost $0.10 per page.
The Lamar County website has links to county offices and departments. You can find phone numbers and addresses for the clerk offices from there.
The Lamar County website gives you a starting point for finding office locations and contact numbers related to police records.
Use this site to get directions to the courthouse and links to county departments that handle record requests in Lamar County.
The Lamar County Sheriff's page provides more specific details about law enforcement services and records access.
From the Sheriff's page you can find contact info for the records division and learn about the types of reports available.
State Police Record Databases
The DPS Crime Records Division maintains criminal history records for the whole state. Their database has over 15 million conviction entries. You can run a search by name from any computer for a small fee. Fingerprint-based checks cost $25 and are more accurate but take 7 to 14 days.
The TDCJ Offender Search shows anyone currently or previously in state prison. It is free. Search by name and see the offense, county of conviction, facility, and release date. For crash reports from Lamar County, use the TxDOT CRIS system at $6 per report.
Note: Crash reports become public 60 days after filing under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.065, so very recent crashes may not be available yet.
Lamar County Police Record Access Laws
The Texas Public Information Act controls access to police records in Lamar County. You have a right to ask for records from any government agency. Police departments and the Sheriff's Office must comply. Some records can be withheld under Section 552.108 if they are part of an open case.
Criminal history data is governed by Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 58. Only convictions are public through DPS. Juvenile records stay sealed under Family Code Chapter 58. If an agency denies your request, you can appeal to the Attorney General for a ruling.
Lamar County Court and Victim Info
Court records in Lamar County are kept by two offices. The County Clerk at (903) 737-2420 holds misdemeanor case files and vital records. The District Clerk at (903) 737-2421 handles felony cases from the 6th Judicial District Court. You can visit either office during business hours to ask for case records.
Crime victims can sign up for the VINE notification system to track offenders. It is free and works for the Lamar County jail and all state prisons. You can also check the Texas Sex Offender Registry to see if anyone in the area is a registered offender. The TCOLE site lets you verify peace officer licenses for Lamar County law enforcement.
Nearby Counties
These counties are next to Lamar County. Check the right jurisdiction before you request records. The location of the incident determines which county holds the report.