Terrell County Police Records
Terrell County police records are held at the Sheriff's Office in Sanderson, Texas. This is one of the least populated counties in the state, with about 760 residents spread over 2,358 square miles of remote West Texas desert. If you need to search for an arrest report, look up an incident file, or get copies of a criminal case record, the Sheriff's Office in Sanderson is the place to contact. The County Clerk also keeps court records at the courthouse. Both offices are in Sanderson and can be reached by phone or in person.
Terrell County Overview
Terrell County Sheriff's Office
The Terrell County Sheriff's Office is the sole law enforcement agency in this vast county. It handles all patrol, criminal investigations, and jail duties from Sanderson. With fewer than 800 people in the entire county, the office has a tiny staff but covers an area bigger than the state of Delaware. US Highway 90 and Highway 285 run through the county, which generates most of the law enforcement calls. The office works closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol due to the county's border-adjacent location.
The Sheriff's Office keeps records of incident reports, arrest files, and traffic accident reports. Staff follow state rules on retention and public access. The office also handles civil process and serves warrants for local courts.
| Office | Terrell County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address |
105 W. Oak St Sanderson, TX 79848 |
| Sheriff Phone | (432) 345-2525 |
| County Clerk | (432) 345-2421 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Terrell County ranks as one of the five smallest counties in Texas by population. Despite the low head count, the Sheriff's Office still deals with drug trafficking cases, illegal border crossings, and highway crimes that come with sitting in a remote border corridor. The office coordinates with federal agencies on a regular basis.
Getting Terrell County Police Records
To get police records from Terrell County, contact the Sheriff's Office in Sanderson. Put your request in writing. Include the date of the incident, names of people involved, and any case or report numbers. You can mail it or drop it off in person at 105 W. Oak St. Staff will check the file and let you know what they can release and what it costs.
The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) gives the public a right to ask for records from any government body. No reason is needed. The Terrell County Sheriff's Office must respond within 10 business days. If they want to withhold something, they must seek approval from the Texas Attorney General. Fees run $0.10 per page for paper copies. The first 50 pages may be free for simple requests.
The screenshot below shows the Terrell County website, which lists office contacts and services.
Use this site to find phone numbers and addresses for county offices before you submit your request.
Note: Records from active cases or open investigations may not be available until the matter is resolved.
Texas Police Records Databases
Texas runs statewide databases that hold police records beyond what Terrell County offices keep. The Texas DPS Crime Records Division holds over 15 million conviction records. Public access covers conviction data and deferred adjudication. A name search costs $3.00 per credit. Arrest records without a conviction are not public through DPS.
The TDCJ Offender Search is free. It shows current inmates and parolees by name or TDCJ number. It covers records going back to 1980 and gets updated nightly. For crash reports from Terrell County, the TxDOT CRIS system stores police-reported vehicle crashes. Reports become public 60 days after the crash and cost $6.00 to $8.00.
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement provides free officer certification lookups. Crime victims can track offender custody through the Texas VINE system, which covers all 254 counties and sends alerts by phone, email, or text.
Open Records and Terrell County
Under Government Code Chapter 552, any person can ask a Texas government body for records. The Terrell County Sheriff's Office must respond. If they deny the request, they need the Attorney General's sign-off. Criminal penalties exist for officials who hide public records.
Active investigation files can be held back. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.139, agencies must report officer-involved incident data to the state. Those records become public after the investigation closes. If your request is turned down, the Attorney General's open government hotline at (512) 478-6736 can help. You can appeal in state district court within 30 days.
Cities in Terrell County
Sanderson is the only community in Terrell County. It serves as the county seat. With about 760 people in the whole county, there is no separate city police department. All police records go through the Terrell County Sheriff's Office.
No cities in Terrell County meet the size for a separate city page for a page with local police records details. Contact the Sheriff's Office in Sanderson for all records requests.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Terrell County. Check where the incident took place to contact the right county for records.