Arrest files are part of public records, and under Texas Laws, they are to be provided to whoever wishes to obtain them upon request. Arrest files are only a part of what completes a criminal record but they are valuable in their own right. That is why they are the most requested amongst criminal records. However, if a case is still heard on court, the files may not be available for request.
A person can apply to access the arrest records of other people but will be provided with limited information. Although they are deemed as public records, the right to privacy of a person still needs to be protected even though he is convicted or not. The names of the victims and juveniles are kept away from the public to protect their identities. Requesting for your own records is also allowed for a number of reasons. You never know if there is an arrest or warrant issued against you so you might want to check it out. Also if you have been arrested in the past, you want to check for any wrong information or inaccuracies on the records so it does not further damage your reputation. Having an arrest filed against you will make it harder for you to land a job, and having more wrong information will only make it worse.
There are many criminals roaming around the streets and you never know when they will make their next move. So it always comes in handy to be equipped with information especially about the people you are suspicious about. Employers request for arrest records when they conduct background checks on job applicants. They do not want to put their business at risk by hiring the wrong person. Landlords also turn on the records for information so they can protect their business and other tenants as well.
The Department of Public Safety accepts requests for the records for a corresponding fee. Local police departments and other law enforcement agencies also accept requests. It is also possible to obtain copies of the records through online records providers. There are a good number of websites that offer this kind of service. Although they are not owned by the government, they have permission from the court to provide access to the records.
You can search through online search engines if you want to know more about how to find arrest records. This method saves you both time and effort. You can head the state’s official website so you can locate which office you need to approach so you can request for the records. Or you can get the records directly online. You just need to provide basic but important information like the full name of the person and his address, and in just a few clicks the records will be displayed on your computer screen. An online search has gained more popularity because it is easier and more convenient.