Access Free Hidalgo County Arrest Records (Record Lookup)

Free Hidalgo County Arrest Records Search
Access Hidalgo County Arrest Records: Recent jail records, prior arrests, mugshots, crimes committed, bail details, release date, probation information, police reports, court dates and more.

Find free Hidalgo County arrest records using this brief resource and the linked search tools within.

Certain county custodians offer free methods to look up arrest records online or via other methods. Statewide agencies tend to provide criminal history record services to members of the public.

Whether you’re curious about someone’s record or looking to find out if a friend has been arrested, there are several ways to obtain this information. Follow the steps in this streamlined resource to acquire arrest records in Hidalgo County, Texas, today.

How To Track Down Updated Hidalgo County Arrest Records, Inmate Rosters & Mugshots for Free

According to the Texas Public Information Act, anyone can look up arrest records in most cases.1 The Act allows any person to request access to government records or information. Because inmate rosters and arrest records are within the control of government agencies, anyone can inspect or copy these records.

When searching for arrest records in Hidalgo County, it is important to at least know the full name of the individual you are searching for. Additional information, such as the location of arrest, or the individual’s middle name and date of birth will also help you in your search.

The first place to begin your search is with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office maintains the county jail, and holds all detainees who have been arrested by law enforcement agencies in the area.

To find arrest records, use the Hidalgo County Jail Records Search Tool.2 This search tool allows anyone to look up who is currently in jail, or already released, by name or booking number. You must enter both the last and first name of an individual for the search to yield results.

When results are generated it will produce a list of persons that share a common name with the one entered into the search. Unless a charge has been expunged, all offenses from persons with the common name will be listed. Results will show a current or prior detainee’s full name, booking and release date, arresting agency, and charge.

Select the ‘Booking Number’ to learn more about a particular case, including the mugshot, physical descriptions, aliases, address, bond information, and disposition.

A screenshot from the Hidalgo County Records Inquiry displays personal information such as the full name, alias, address, physical description, a side and front mugshot, charges, bond information, and the issuing authority details.
Source: Hidalgo County, Texas3

Additionally, interested persons may submit a written request for public information to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office to obtain mugshots, incident reports, case reports, and jail bookings. A requester will need to provide a detainee’s full name, date of birth, and arrest date, in addition to the requester’s contact information.

Contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office using the details below for more information.

Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office
711 El Cibolo Rd.
Edinburg, Texas 78542

Phone: 956.383.8114
Fax: 956.393.6179
Email: [email protected]

The McAllen Police Department’s Crime Records Bureau provides interested parties with access to case reports and criminal histories. Those interested in obtaining police reports may submit a request in person, over the phone, or in writing. The request should include the name of the person arrested, and date of arrest, and the requester’s contact information.

If the request is sent via mail it should be directed to

McAllen Police Department
Crime Records Office, PO Box 220
McAllen, TX 78505

The Crime Records Bureau is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for walk-in service.

McAllen Police Department
1601 North Bicentennial Blvd.
McAllen, Texas 78505

Phone: 956.681.2080
Fax: 956.681.2081

Third-party services may also be helpful when searching for arrest records in Texas. VINELink is a third-party platform that allows anyone to look up arrest and criminal records.

While the sheriff’s office and local police departments provide helpful resources to find current arrests, accessing older cases requires an alternative approach.

How To Search Previous Arrest Details & Criminal Charges in Hidalgo County Texas

The Criminal Courts in Hidalgo County are the best place to check when you want access to previous arrest details and criminal charges. The county courts have jurisdiction over misdemeanors while the district courts have jurisdiction over felonies.

When a law enforcement agency in Hidalgo County makes an arrest and files charges, the case is sent to one of the appropriate courts. These cases are maintained by the Hidalgo County District Clerk’s Office.

The most convenient method to search previous arrest details and criminal charges through the clerk’s office is by utilizing the Hidalgo County Records Inquiry for criminal case records.4 This database maintains records of all criminal cases filed in Hidalgo County that have not been sealed or expunged.

You can search the database by case number, defendant name, citation number, or attorney name. Since you will likely be looking up an individual, the name-based method found under the ‘Defendant’ section in the ‘Search By’ drop-down menu is the best option.

You must enter the last and first name of the person with charges filed in Hidalgo County. You can also enter the middle name and date of birth to narrow the results.

After results are generated you will be able to view all criminal cases filed and made available in Hidalgo County that have the name of the person entered into the search as a defendant. You can view the person’s full name, date of birth, court location, status and type, and charges. Click on the case number to view additional information.

A screenshot from the Hidalgo County Records Inquiry, a legal case docket detail highlighting the register of actions for a case involving an adult misdemeanor, with information on the defendant, the state, charges, dispositions, bond and hearing details, and other procedural data from a court case filed in Texas.
Source: Hidalgo County, Texas4

It is unclear whether you can submit a written or in-person request to the clerk’s office for previous arrest records or criminal history information. However, you can use the contact information below to find out. The office is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Hidalgo County District Clerk’s Office
100 North Closner
Edinburg, Texas 78539

Phone: 956.318.220
Fax: 956.318.2251
Email: [email protected]

The City of Edinburg Police Department is located in Hidalgo County. The department allows interested parties to submit requests for public information. This may include criminal history information as it pertains to arrests made exclusively by the Edinburg Police Department.

The request should include, if known, the case number, name and date of birth of the person, date and location of the incidents, and the type of incident. The request can be dropped off, mailed, or submitted online through the Edinburg Public Information Portal. Online submissions require you to create a free account.

The Edinburg Police Department is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Edinburg Police Department
Records Department
1702 South Closner Blvd.
Edinburg, Texas 78539

Phone: 956.289.7795

The Texas Department of Public Safety is a statewide law enforcement agency that allows members of the public to request an individual’s criminal history records.5 The department maintains a database of all crimes in which a person has been convicted and was submitted to the department by a local or county law enforcement agency or court.

The criminal history conviction name search requires interested parties to create a free account. Afterward, you can submit a request to view a person’s criminal history for a fee.

A search credit allows you to perform one search and view one public criminal history record. Search credits cost $3 each. There is also a 2.25% fee per credit and $0.25 transaction fee per order.

A screenshot from the Texas Department of Public Safety displays a webpage section for purchasing credits, where each credit is used for searching and viewing criminal history records online; the cost per search credit and additional transaction fee are specified, and there is an option to enter the number of credits to be purchased for the database search.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety6

For more information, contact the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Texas Department of Public Safety
5805 N. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78752

Phone: 512.424.2000

Now that you have an understanding about the process of obtaining an arrest record in Hidalgo County, the next step involves posting bail. If you find yourself in the position of needing to assist with their release, understanding how to post bail is essential.

How To Post Bail for an Arrest Made in Hidalgo County: A Summary

When a person is arrested for committing a crime and booked into a jail, they will soon thereafter come before a judge who will set their bond.

The bond is a monetary device that secures a person’s appearance in court to face the charge. If the bond is paid, called posting bail, the person is released from jail and will not go back unless they are rearrested or convicted of the underlying crime at trial.

If a person fails to appear for their trial date, the bail money is forfeited and a bench warrant will be issued for the person’s arrest. Anyone over the age of 18 who can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can post a person’s bail. Typically, a person will provide their driver’s license or passport, and pay the bond amount.

Anyone can also use the assistance of a professional bail bondsman. Generally, the bail bondsman will pay the full bond amount, while the civilian pays 10% of the bond amount to the bail bondsman as a fee. The Hidalgo County Bail Bond Board oversees this process.7 The Board is tasked to enforce and administer the bail bond regulations, as enacted by the Texas Courts.

Do not wait to discover if someone has a criminal record. Learning about a person’s Hidalgo County arrest records can provide you with some necessary information; follow the guidance offered within this resource to efficiently acquire the details you’re seeking.


References

1Hidalgo County, Texas. (2016). Texas Public Information Act Request Procedures. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from <https://www.hidalgocounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/21916/Hidalgo-County-Public-Information-Request-Procedures-2016?bidId=>

2Hidalgo County, Texas. (n.d.). Hidalgo County Records Inquiry. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from <https://pa.co.hidalgo.tx.us/default.aspx>

3Hidalgo County, Texas. (2024). Jail Records. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from <https://pa.co.hidalgo.tx.us/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400>

4Hidalgo County, Texas. (2024). Criminal Case Records. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from <https://pa.co.hidalgo.tx.us/Search.aspx?ID=100>

5Texas Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Crime Records. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from <https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records>

6Texas Department of Public Safety. (n.d.). Criminal History Conviction Name Search – Purchase Credits. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from <https://publicsite.dps.texas.gov/ConvictionNameSearch/Application/Purchase>

7Hidalgo County, Texas. (n.d.). Bail Bond Board. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from <https://www.hidalgocounty.us/177/Bail-Bond-Board>