Find San Jacinto County Police Records
San Jacinto County police records are kept at the Sheriff's Office in Coldspring, Texas. The county sits in the Piney Woods of East Texas, north of Houston, with a population of about 28,000 people. The Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency and stores arrest reports, incident files, and accident records for the county. Coldspring is the county seat. If you need to look up or get copies of police records in San Jacinto County, the Sheriff's Office handles most requests. Court records tied to criminal cases go through the County Clerk and District Clerk in Coldspring.
San Jacinto County Overview
San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office
The San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency. It operates out of Coldspring and covers the rural areas and communities throughout the county. Deputies handle patrol, respond to 911 calls, investigate crimes, and manage the county jail. The office maintains records of all incidents, arrests, and accident reports. Staff process public information requests during regular business hours.
San Jacinto County includes Lake Livingston along its eastern edge, which draws a lot of recreational visitors. The Sheriff's Office handles calls tied to the lake area alongside Texas Parks and Wildlife officers. The county's proximity to the Houston metro area means the population has grown in recent years, and the Sheriff's Office manages an increasing volume of calls and reports.
| Office | San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address |
75 W. Cedar Ave Coldspring, TX 77331 |
| Phone | (936) 653-4367 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The office also serves civil process papers and manages courthouse security. Deputies handle sex offender registration compliance checks within the county. The jail holds pre-trial detainees and short-term inmates.
How to Get San Jacinto Police Records
Put your request in writing. Include the date of the incident, the names of people involved, and any report numbers you have. Bring the request to the Sheriff's Office in Coldspring or mail it in. You do not need to state a reason.
The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) gives the public broad access to government records. Agencies must respond promptly, usually within 10 business days. If an agency wants to hold back records, it must ask the Texas Attorney General for a ruling. The AG has 45 working days to issue a decision on whether the records must be released to you.
Some law enforcement records are exempt from immediate release. Active investigations are the most common exception. Once an investigation wraps up, the files typically become public. Court records for criminal cases in San Jacinto County are handled by the County Clerk (misdemeanor cases) and the District Clerk (felony cases). Both offices sit in the Coldspring courthouse.
Note: If your request involves a car crash, use the TxDOT CRIS system instead of the Sheriff's Office for the official report.
San Jacinto County Court Records
The San Jacinto County Clerk handles misdemeanor criminal records and civil case files. The office is in the courthouse in Coldspring. You can visit to search records or ask for copies during business hours. The Clerk also maintains property records and vital records, but the criminal case files are the ones tied to police records.
The District Clerk manages felony case files from the district court. If an arrest in San Jacinto County led to felony charges, the file is with the District Clerk. You can reach the County Clerk at (936) 653-2124 and the District Clerk at (936) 653-2125.
The screenshot below shows the TDCJ Offender Search, a free state tool for looking up inmates and parolees who may have been convicted in San Jacinto County.
TDCJ maintains records on about 130,000 inmates. The database updates nightly and goes back to 1980. You can search by name, TDCJ number, or SID number at no cost.
Texas Police Records Resources
The Texas DPS Crime Records Division runs the statewide criminal history database. It holds over 15 million conviction records. Public access covers conviction data and deferred adjudication records. A name search costs $3.00 per credit plus fees.
For crash reports involving San Jacinto County, the TxDOT CRIS system has all police-reported vehicle crashes. Reports go public after 60 days. Copies cost $6.00 to $8.00. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement offers a free tool to check officer credentials and certification status online.
Victim Services in San Jacinto County
The Texas VINE system lets crime victims track offender custody status at no cost. Register for alerts by phone, email, or text. VINE covers all 254 Texas counties and operates 24 hours a day. You get notified when an offender is booked, released, transferred, or escapes.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles notifies victims about upcoming parole hearings. Victims can register to provide written input on whether an offender should be released. The Board reviews about 75,000 parole cases per year across the state.
San Jacinto County Records Fees
Fees follow the statewide schedule set by the Texas Attorney General. Paper copies are $0.10 per page for letter size and $0.15 for legal size. Labor charges apply at $15.00 per hour for requests that take significant staff time. The first 50 pages may be free when the records are in one place and simple to pull. If costs pass $40.00, the agency must give you an itemized estimate first.
TxDOT crash reports cost $6.00 to $8.00 each. Court copies from the Clerk offices have their own fees, with certified copies costing more than plain ones.
Note: Call the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office at (936) 653-4367 to check fees before you send any payment.
Police Records and Open Records Law
The Texas Public Information Act controls access to police records. Under Government Code Chapter 552, most government records are public. If an agency wants to withhold records, it must get Attorney General approval. Criminal penalties exist for officials who intentionally conceal public records.
Active investigation files are the most common exception. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.139, agencies must report data on officer-involved incidents. Personnel files and internal affairs records may also be exempt. If your request is denied, contact the Attorney General's open government hotline at (512) 478-6736.
Cities in San Jacinto County
San Jacinto County includes Coldspring, Shepherd, and Point Blank. Coldspring is the county seat. None of the cities in the county meet the size for a separate city page for a page with local police records details. For police records, contact the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office in Coldspring or the local police department where the incident occurred.
Nearby Counties
These counties border San Jacinto County. Make sure you request records from the county where the incident took place.