Find Wichita County Police Records

Wichita County police records are kept by the Sheriff's Office and the Wichita Falls Police Department, depending on where the incident took place. The county is in North Texas, right near the Oklahoma border, and Wichita Falls serves as the county seat. If you need to search for an arrest report, pull an incident file, or check on a criminal case, you have several options. The Sheriff's Office handles records for the unincorporated parts of the county. The Wichita Falls Police Department covers everything inside city limits. Court records sit with the County Clerk and District Clerk at the courthouse in Wichita Falls.

Wichita County Sheriff's Office

The Wichita County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for the areas outside Wichita Falls. Deputies patrol the rural parts of the county and smaller communities like Burkburnett, Iowa Park, and Electra. The office runs the county jail, serves warrants, and investigates crimes in its jurisdiction. Police records for incidents in unincorporated Wichita County are filed here.

The Sheriff's Office keeps incident reports, arrest logs, and accident files. Staff follow state retention rules for all records. The office also provides courthouse security and civil process service. They work with the Wichita Falls PD and the Texas DPS on cases that cross jurisdictional lines. The county jail holds pre-trial detainees and inmates serving sentences for misdemeanor offenses.

The Wichita Falls Police Department is a separate agency with its own records division. If the incident happened inside city limits, you need to go through the WFPD. Their main office is in Wichita Falls. The Wichita Falls Police Department handles patrol, investigations, and its own records requests for the city.

How to Search Wichita County Police Records

Start by figuring out which agency has the record you need. If the incident was inside Wichita Falls, contact the WFPD. If it was in the county, contact the Sheriff's Office. Court records go through the County Clerk for misdemeanors and the District Clerk for felonies. Each office has its own process but follows the same state law on public records.

The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) gives you the right to ask for records. You do not need to say why you want them. The agency must respond within 10 business days. If they want to hold back any part of a record, they must ask the Texas Attorney General for approval within 10 business days.

Put your request in writing. Include the date of the incident, the names of people involved, and any case or report numbers. Drop it off, mail it, or call to ask about the process. Standard paper copies cost $0.10 per page. The first 50 pages may be free.

Wichita County Court Records

The Wichita County Clerk holds misdemeanor criminal records and civil case files. The office is in the Wichita County Courthouse in Wichita Falls. Staff can help you search for records in person. They keep filings, dispositions, and court orders for county-level criminal cases.

The screenshot below shows the TDCJ Offender Search, a free statewide tool for looking up people in Texas state prison or on parole.

The TDCJ database covers inmates going back to 1980. It shows current location, offenses, and release dates. It gets updated every night. If someone from Wichita County is in state custody, this tool will show their status.

The Wichita County District Clerk keeps records for the 78th and 89th District Courts. These courts handle felony criminal cases and large civil matters. For felony case files, contact the District Clerk at the courthouse. They manage the docket, collect fees, and store all filings. The Texas Judicial Branch portal also offers some online court record access.

Texas Police Records Databases

The Texas DPS Crime Records Division runs the statewide criminal history system. Over 15 million conviction records sit in the database. Public access covers convictions and deferred adjudication only. Name-based searches cost a small fee per credit. The DPS processes over 2 million inquiries each year.

Crash reports go through the TxDOT CRIS system. All police-reported car wrecks in Texas end up here. Reports become public after 60 days. A standard copy costs $6.00. A certified copy costs $8.00. Wichita Falls has busy roads, so crash reports from this area are common in the system.

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement licenses all peace officers in the state. You can verify an officer's credentials for free through their online portal. TCOLE tracks complaints and can suspend or revoke licenses for misconduct. Texas requires officers to complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years.

Victim Resources for Wichita County

Crime victims can use the Texas VINE system to track offenders in custody. VINE is free and anonymous. Sign up for alerts by phone, email, or text. You get notified when an offender is booked, released, transferred, or escapes. The service runs 24/7 across all Texas counties.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles notifies victims about parole hearings. If someone from Wichita County is up for release, victims can register to receive updates and submit comments. The Board reviews about 75,000 parole cases each year and grants parole to roughly 35% of those eligible.

Wichita County Police Records Fees

Fees for police records follow the state schedule. Paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Legal size pages are $0.15. Labor charges can apply at $15.00 per hour for requests that take significant staff time. If the cost goes over $40.00, you get an itemized estimate first.

Court record copies from the County Clerk or District Clerk have separate fees. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. TxDOT crash reports run $6.00 to $8.00 each. DPS criminal history searches cost per credit. The TDCJ offender search and VINE are both free to use.

Open Records and Wichita County Police Records

Under the Texas Public Information Act, most police records are open to the public. Agencies must respond to requests promptly. If they want to hold back records, they need the Attorney General's approval. Criminal penalties apply to officials who hide public records on purpose.

Open investigations are the biggest exception. Agencies can keep files sealed on active cases until they close. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.139, law enforcement must report data on officer-involved incidents to the state. Personnel files and internal affairs records may also be exempt. The Attorney General's open government hotline is available at (512) 478-6736 for questions about records access.

Cities in Wichita County

Wichita Falls is the largest city in the county and the county seat. Other communities include Burkburnett, Iowa Park, and Electra. Police records for incidents inside Wichita Falls go through the WFPD. The Sheriff's Office covers the rest of the county.

For incidents in Burkburnett, Iowa Park, or Electra, contact the local police department or the Wichita County Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wichita County. Check the location of an incident to make sure you contact the right office.