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San Antonio Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in San Antonio, Texas?

Arrest records are public in San Antonio, Texas, pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). This legislation establishes that government records, including arrest records, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law. The Texas Public Information Act promotes transparency in governmental operations and accountability in law enforcement activities. Members of the public may request and obtain arrest records from various San Antonio law enforcement agencies in accordance with established procedures and applicable fees.

How to Look Up San Antonio Arrest Records in 2025

San Antonio residents and interested parties seeking arrest records in 2025 have multiple official channels through which such information may be obtained. The following methods are available for accessing arrest record information:

In-Person Requests at Police Headquarters: Individuals may visit the San Antonio Police Department Records Office to submit requests for arrest records.

San Antonio Police Department Records Office
315 S. Santa Rosa Ave.
San Antonio, TX 78207
210-207-7273
San Antonio Police Department
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Bexar County Sheriff's Office: The Sheriff's Office maintains records of arrests conducted by county law enforcement.

Bexar County Sheriff's Office
200 N. Comal St.
San Antonio, TX 78207
210-335-6000
Bexar County Sheriff's Office
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Bexar County Clerk's Office: Court records related to arrests may be accessed through the County Clerk.

Bexar County Clerk's Office
100 Dolorosa St., Suite 104
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2216
Bexar County Clerk
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Online Public Access Systems: The Bexar County Justice Information System provides online access to certain arrest records and case information.
Written Requests: Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, individuals may submit Freedom of Information Act requests for specific arrest records.

Contents of a San Antonio Arrest Record

San Antonio arrest records contain standardized information as required by Texas law and departmental policies. The San Antonio Police Department's Automated Field Reporting system ensures consistent documentation of arrests. Standard arrest records typically include:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Date of birth and demographic information
Physical description including height, weight, and identifying marks
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Specific charges filed, including applicable Texas Penal Code sections
Arresting agency and officer information
Booking number and processing details
Fingerprint records and mugshot photographs
Bond amount and conditions as determined by the magistrate
Criminal history information, if applicable
Disposition of the case, if available

Pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 15.26, arresting officers must document the time and place of arrest, which becomes part of the official arrest record.

Legal Restrictions on Arrest Record Access

While arrest records are generally public in San Antonio, certain restrictions apply to their dissemination. The following limitations are established by Texas law:

Juvenile Records: Pursuant to Texas Family Code § 58.007, records pertaining to juvenile arrests (under age 17) are subject to stricter confidentiality requirements.
Expunged Records: Records that have been legally expunged under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 are removed from public access and treated as if the arrest never occurred.
Orders of Nondisclosure: Under Texas Government Code Chapter 411, certain records may be sealed by court order, restricting public access while remaining available to law enforcement agencies.
Ongoing Investigations: Information related to pending investigations may be temporarily withheld under Texas Government Code § 552.108.
Privacy Protections: Personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and certain medical information is redacted from public versions of arrest records in accordance with Texas Government Code § 552.147.

Law enforcement agencies in San Antonio are required to balance public access rights with privacy protections when responding to arrest record requests.

Fees for Obtaining Arrest Records

The San Antonio Police Department and other agencies charge standardized fees for providing arrest record information. These fees are established pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.261, which authorizes reasonable charges for document reproduction. Current fee schedules include:

Basic arrest report: $6.00 for the first 10 pages, $0.10 per additional page
Certified copies: Additional $5.00 certification fee
Accident reports: $8.00 per report (as established by Texas Transportation Code § 550.065)
Research fee: $15.00 per hour for requests requiring more than one hour of staff time

Payment methods accepted include cash, credit card, money order, or cashier's check made payable to the City of San Antonio. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.267.

The San Antonio Municipal Court fee schedule provides additional information about costs related to criminal cases resulting from arrests.

Expungement of Arrest Records in San Antonio

Under Texas law, certain individuals may petition for the expungement (expunction) of arrest records in San Antonio. The expungement process is governed by Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Eligibility criteria include:

Cases resulting in acquittal or dismissal
Arrests that did not lead to formal charges
Certain successfully completed deferred adjudication cases
Arrests for misidentification or wrongful arrests
Convictions that have been pardoned or overturned on appeal

The expungement process requires filing a Petition for Expunction with the district court in Bexar County. Upon approval, all agencies maintaining records of the arrest are ordered to destroy or return all documentation related to the case. After expungement, the individual may legally deny the occurrence of the arrest except when questioned under oath in a criminal proceeding.

Individuals seeking expungement are advised that the process typically requires legal representation and filing fees of approximately $300-$500, depending on case complexity. The Bexar County District Clerk's Office processes expungement petitions at:

Bexar County District Clerk
101 W. Nueva St., Suite 217
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2113
Bexar County District Clerk
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Impact of Arrest Records on Employment in San Antonio

Arrest records in San Antonio may affect employment opportunities under certain circumstances. Texas law provides the following framework regarding the use of arrest records in employment decisions:

Under Texas Labor Code § 21.051, employers may not discriminate based solely on an arrest record that did not result in conviction.
The Texas Workforce Commission guidelines state that employers should consider the nature of the alleged offense, the time elapsed, and the relationship between the charge and the job duties.
Certain regulated industries, including healthcare, education, and security services, have statutory requirements for background checks that include arrest record reviews.
Public employers in San Antonio, including the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, typically conduct background checks that include arrest record reviews for positions involving public safety or financial responsibility.

Individuals with arrest records seeking employment in San Antonio should be aware of their rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which requires employer disclosure when adverse actions are taken based on background check information.