Texas Criminal Background Check
Search official Texas criminal records from the Department of Public Safety in real time.
Our Texas statewide criminal background check covers all 254 counties in one search.
- Convictions and deferred adjudications
- Fingerprint-supported CCH records
- Texas Sex Offender Registry included
- Results in 24 hours or less
Texas Criminal Records Search at a Glance
Employers, landlords, and volunteer groups need fast and accurate Texas criminal records.
BCS Background Screening LLC connects you directly to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
First, you enter the applicant’s name and date of birth. Then, our system queries the DPS Computerized Criminal History database in real time.
As a result, you get a clear report with arrests, charges, and court outcomes.
Price
$20 + $3.45 DPS fee
Turnaround
Real-time, 24 hours or less
Data source
Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH)
Coverage
All 254 Texas counties reporting to DPS
Records returned
Convictions and deferred adjudications
Also searched
Texas public Sex Offender Registry
Search inputs
Full name and date of birth
FCRA use
Employment, tenant, and volunteer screening
What a Texas Statewide Criminal Background Check Shows
Every Texas DPS record follows one case from arrest to final court outcome.
Here is what you will see.
Subject Identifiers
You see the State ID (SID), name variations, birth dates, and physical description.
A DPS photo appears when one is on file.
Arrest Details
Each arrest lists the date, arresting agency, tracking number, and offense citation.
Moreover, DPS ties these records to fingerprints.
Offense Level
The report shows the degree, from Class B misdemeanor to first-degree felony.
It also lists the Texas Penal Code section.
Prosecution Action
You learn whether the prosecutor accepted, reduced, or refused the charge.
This step often explains a lesser conviction.
Court Disposition
Court entries show the plea, disposition date, and cause number.
In addition, you see confinement, probation, fines, and costs.
Sex Offender Registry
We also search the Texas public Sex Offender Registry.
That way, you catch registrant records in the same order.
Know the Limits of Texas DPS Criminal Records
DPS data is strong, but it is not complete.
Smart employers pair it with other searches.
Reporting Delays
Local courts send outcomes to DPS on their own schedule.
So recent or pending cases may not show yet.
Sealed Records
Expunctions and orders of nondisclosure remove records from public view.
Consequently, those cases never appear.
Name-Based Matching
DPS matches on name and date of birth.
Therefore, you should confirm every record against your applicant’s identifiers.
Texas Only
DPS covers Texas cases only.
For other states or federal crimes, add a nationwide or federal search.
Need deeper coverage? Add a county criminal court search, a federal criminal search, or a nationwide background check.
Texas Background Check Laws Employers Should Know
Texas lets the public see conviction and deferred adjudication records under Texas Government Code Chapter 411.
However, Texas Business and Commerce Code §20.05 limits what screening companies may report.
Specifically, it bars conviction records older than seven years for jobs paying under $75,000 a year.
Texas has no statewide ban-the-box law for private employers.
Still, some cities apply their own fair-chance hiring rules.
Federal rules also apply to every Texas employer.
The FTC requires written disclosure, signed consent, and adverse action notices.
The EEOC rescinded its 2012 guidance on arrest and conviction records on October 28, 2026; Title VII and the disparate-impact rule in 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(k) still apply, so keep weighing the offense, the time elapsed and the job.
For a full breakdown, read our Texas background screening laws guide.
Sample Texas DPS Criminal Records Report
This sample shows exactly how a Texas statewide criminal background check looks.
It uses a fictitious person with invented identifiers and case numbers.
Each arrest below lists its full offense, prosecution, and court detail.
Record Found
SID 07748213
Subject
9 Arrests
| Date of Arrest | Seq. | Tracking Number | Agency | Final Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/22/2023 | A | 9204518736 | HARRIS CO CONSTABLES OFFICE PCT 4 SPRING | Deferred adjudication |
| 04/18/2023 | A | 9211036482 | HARRIS CO CONSTABLES OFFICE PCT 4 SPRING | Convicted |
| 06/27/2023 | A | 9217094325 | NEW BRAUNFELS PD | Dismissed |
| 08/12/2023 | A | 9219860417 | ROBSTOWN POLICE DEPT | Convicted |
| 02/17/2024 | A | 9230745196 | ROUND ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT | Convicted – lesser charge / Convicted |
| 04/22/2025 | A | 9248913657 | HARRIS CO CONSTABLES OFFICE PCT 4 SPRING | Convicted |
| 03/12/2026 | A | 9261307428 | HARRIS CO SO HOUSTON | Convicted |
| 03/13/2026 | A | 9261309914 | HARRIS CO SO HOUSTON | Convicted – lesser charge |
| 06/29/2026 | A | 9266482051 | DALLAS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE | Convicted |
Searches based on names, date of birth and other alphanumeric identifiers are not always accurate. The only way to positively link someone to a criminal record is through fingerprint identification. It is your responsibility to make sure the records you access through this site pertain to the person about whom you are seeking information. Extreme care should be exercised in using any information obtained from this Web site. DPS and the State of Texas shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions produced by secondary dissemination of this data.
Deferred adjudication
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 01/22/2023 · Charge A001 · Final Disposition: Deferred adjudication
Guilty plea · Deferred adjudication · 2 years community supervision · $69 costs · Supervision expired 01/24/2025, defendant discharged
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
Court Status B
Convicted
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 04/18/2023 · Charge A001 · Final Disposition: Convicted
Guilty plea · Convicted · 30 days confinement · $319 costs
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
Dismissed
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 06/27/2023 · Charge A001 · Final Disposition: Dismissed
No contest plea · Deferred, 12 months probation · $400 fine · $258 costs · Dismissed 01/27/2025 after probation
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
Court Status B
Convicted
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 08/12/2023 · Charge A001 · Final Disposition: Convicted
No contest plea · Convicted · 60 days confinement · $174 costs
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
Convicted – lesser charge
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 02/17/2024 · Charge A001 · Final Disposition: Convicted – lesser charge
Guilty plea · Reduced to Indecent Exposure (Class B) · 180 days confinement · $298 costs
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
Arrest Date 02/17/2024 · Charge A002 · Final Disposition: Convicted
No contest plea · Convicted · 90 days confinement · $221 costs
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
Convicted
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 04/22/2025 · Charge A001 · Final Disposition: Convicted
No contest plea · Convicted · 30 days confinement · $221 costs
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
Convicted
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 03/12/2026 · Charge A002 · Final Disposition: Convicted
No contest plea · Convicted · 71 days confinement · $214 costs
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
Convicted – lesser charge
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 03/13/2026 · Charge A001 · Final Disposition: Convicted – lesser charge
Guilty plea · Reduced to Class A misdemeanor · 90 days confinement · $199 costs
Offense Record
Court Status A
Convicted
Arrest Detail
Arrest Date 06/29/2026 · Charge A001 · Final Disposition: Convicted
No contest plea · Convicted · 51 days confinement · $200 fine · $249 costs
Offense Record
Prosecution Detail
Court Status A
CCH · SOR
- CCH (Computerized Criminal History Database) · A database of records supported by fingerprints.
- SOR (Sex Offender Registry) · The Public Sex Offender Registry.
Reference: Computerized Criminal History (CCH) Specifications and CCH Offense Codes, Texas Department of Public Safety (texas.gov). Copyright © Texas Department of Public Safety. All rights reserved.
This sample uses a fictitious person. Names, identifiers, dates, and case numbers are invented for illustration.
Fictitious sample. Any resemblance to a real person or case is coincidental.
How to Order a Texas Criminal Background Check
Ordering takes only a few minutes. Just follow these four steps.
- 1
Open an Account
Create your free business account online.
- 2
Get Consent
For employment, give the applicant a standalone FCRA disclosure.
Then, collect a signed authorization.
- 3
Submit the Search
Enter the full name and date of birth.
Next, select the Texas statewide criminal search.
- 4
Review Results
Most reports complete the same day.
After that, review each record against your applicant’s identifiers.
Texas Criminal Background Check FAQs
What does a Texas statewide criminal background check include?
Our Texas statewide criminal background check searches the Texas DPS Computerized Criminal History (CCH) database.
It returns convictions and deferred adjudications reported by agencies across all 254 counties.
Each record shows the arrest, offense level, prosecution action, and court disposition.
We also check the Texas public Sex Offender Registry.
How much does a Texas criminal background check cost?
The search costs $20 plus a $3.45 Texas DPS fee, for a total of $23.45 per name.
There is no subscription and no monthly minimum.
Instead, you pay only for the searches you order.
How fast do I get Texas DPS criminal records?
The search runs in real time against the DPS database.
As a result, most reports complete the same day, and nearly all return within 24 hours.
You can track status in your secure account.
How far back does a Texas criminal records search go?
The DPS database holds records for a person’s entire adult history.
However, Texas Business and Commerce Code §20.05 limits what a screening company may report.
Generally, convictions older than seven years from disposition, release, or parole are not reported.
That limit does not apply when the job pays $75,000 or more per year.
Does a Texas DPS search show deferred adjudication?
Yes.
Texas law treats deferred adjudication records as public information.
So a DPS report can show a deferred case, even after the court dismisses it.
The record stays public unless a court grants an order of nondisclosure or an expunction.
Will expunged or sealed Texas records appear?
No.
An expunction removes the record from the DPS database.
Likewise, an order of nondisclosure blocks public release of that record.
Therefore, those records do not appear in a Texas statewide criminal background check.
Should I add a Texas county criminal search?
Often, yes.
DPS relies on local agencies and courts to report arrests and outcomes.
Consequently, recent or pending cases may not appear yet.
A county court search fills that gap for the counties where the person lived or worked.
Can Texas employers ask about criminal history on a job application?
Texas has no statewide ban-the-box law for private employers.
Even so, some cities set fair-chance rules, and federal law still applies.
You must follow the FCRA disclosure, authorization, and adverse action steps.
Review our Texas background screening laws guide before you make a decision.
Run Your Texas Criminal Background Check Today
Open a free account with BCS Background Screening LLC. Then, order real-time Texas criminal records in minutes.
$20 + $3.45 Texas DPS fee per name searched.
Every user account also offers optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) for added login security.
BCS Background Screening LLC is a consumer reporting agency. This page offers general information, not legal advice. Please consult an attorney about your hiring practices. The sample report uses a fictitious subject and case.