Yes, arrest records are public in Farmers Branch, Texas. This accessibility is governed by the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552), which establishes that information collected, assembled, or maintained by or for governmental entities is public unless expressly exempted by law. Arrest records, as official documentation of law enforcement activities, fall under this provision and are therefore accessible to members of the public. The maintenance of public access to these records serves multiple governmental and civic purposes:
Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.021, public information is available to the public during normal business hours of the governmental body. Certain information within arrest records may be redacted if it falls under specific statutory exemptions, such as information related to ongoing investigations or juvenile records.
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Farmers Branch have multiple official channels through which such information may be obtained. The City of Farmers Branch maintains several access points for public records requests in compliance with state transparency laws. The following methods are available for obtaining arrest records:
The Farmers Branch Police Department Records Division processes requests for arrest records and other police documentation. Requestors may visit:
Farmers Branch Police Department
3723 Valley View Lane
Farmers Branch, TX 75234
(972) 919-1406
Official Website
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Requestors must complete a Public Information Request form and provide proper identification. Processing times vary depending on the complexity of the request and the age of the records sought.
As Farmers Branch is located within Dallas County, arrest records may also be accessed through:
Dallas County Clerk's Office
Records Building
509 Main Street, Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 653-7099
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
The City of Farmers Branch provides limited online access to certain public safety information through the following resources:
Pursuant to Texas Administrative Code Title 1, Part 3, Chapter 70, Rule § 70.13, governmental bodies may charge reasonable fees for copies of public information.
Arrest records maintained by the Farmers Branch Police Department typically contain standardized information as required by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.17. These records serve as official documentation of law enforcement actions and typically include:
The comprehensiveness of arrest records may vary based on the nature of the offense, the arresting agency's protocols, and the stage of the criminal justice process. Records related to arrests for Class C misdemeanors processed through the Farmers Branch Municipal Court may contain different elements than those for more serious offenses.
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55, certain individuals may petition for the expungement (expunction) of arrest records in Farmers Branch. Expungement is a legal process that, when granted, removes arrest information from public access and allows the individual to legally deny the occurrence of the arrest in most circumstances.
Eligibility for expungement in Farmers Branch is determined by state law and typically requires one of the following conditions:
Individuals with multiple arrests may find that only certain arrests qualify for expungement, as each case is evaluated independently based on its specific circumstances and disposition.
The expungement process requires filing a Petition for Expunction with the district court in Dallas County. This legal procedure involves:
Pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 55.02, once an expungement order is granted, all agencies must comply by destroying or returning all records and files related to the arrest. The Online Case Review system may provide preliminary information about case eligibility, but cannot process expungement requests directly.
For cases ineligible for complete expungement, an Order of Nondisclosure under Texas Government Code Chapter 411 may be an alternative. This does not remove the record but restricts public access, allowing only criminal justice agencies to view the information. Eligibility requirements and procedures differ from those for expungement.