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Fredericksburg Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Fredericksburg, Texas?

Arrest records are public documents in Fredericksburg, Texas, pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). This legislation establishes the public's right to access government records, including those pertaining to arrests made within the jurisdiction. The Texas Public Information Act operates under the presumption that all government information is available to the public, with certain statutory exceptions designed to protect privacy, security, and other compelling interests as defined in §§ 552.101-552.158.

The Fredericksburg Police Department maintains arrest records in accordance with state recordkeeping requirements. These records document law enforcement activities and are subject to public disclosure under the provisions of Texas law. Members of the public seeking access to arrest records must follow established procedures for requesting such information from the appropriate custodial agency.

How to Look Up Fredericksburg Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple methods exist for accessing arrest records in Fredericksburg, Texas. Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.221, governmental bodies must promptly produce public information for inspection or duplication. The following official channels are available for obtaining arrest record information:

In-Person Requests: Citizens may visit the Fredericksburg Police Department to submit formal requests for arrest records. Proper identification is required, and applicable fees may apply for document reproduction.

Fredericksburg Police Department
1601 E. Main Street
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 997-7585
Police Department | Fredericksburg, TX - Official Website

Municipal Court Records: The Fredericksburg Municipal Court maintains records related to arrests for violations of municipal ordinances and certain misdemeanors.

Fredericksburg Municipal Court
126 W. Main Street
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 997-7521
Municipal Court | Fredericksburg, TX - Official Website

County Records: For arrests processed through the county system, records may be accessed through the Gillespie County Clerk's Office.

Gillespie County Clerk's Office
101 W. Main Street, Room 108
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 997-6515

Written Requests: Pursuant to § 552.301 of the Texas Government Code, written requests may be submitted to the records custodian. Requests must reasonably identify the information sought and should include the requestor's contact information.

Contents of a Fredericksburg Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by Fredericksburg law enforcement agencies typically contain standardized information as required by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.17. These records serve as official documentation of an individual's interaction with law enforcement and generally 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
Statutory citation of alleged offense(s)
Booking photograph ("mugshot")
Fingerprint records collected during processing
Arresting officer information and badge number
Case or incident number assigned to the arrest
Custody status information
Bail or bond information, if applicable

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 maintained by the Fredericksburg Police Department adhere to the Texas Local Government Records Act (Local Government Code Chapters 201-205), which establishes retention schedules for various categories of records.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The public's right to access arrest records in Fredericksburg is governed by a complex framework of state laws and judicial precedents. The Texas Public Information Act establishes the presumption of openness while balancing privacy concerns through specific exemptions.

Under Texas Government Code § 552.108, certain law enforcement and prosecutorial records may be withheld if release would interfere with detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime. However, basic information about an arrested person, an arrest, or a crime is expressly made public under § 552.108(c).

The Texas Attorney General has consistently ruled that basic arrest information is public, including:

The arrested person's name, age, address, race, sex, occupation, and physical condition
The date and time of arrest
The place of arrest
The offense charged and the penalty
Details of the arrest process
The arresting agency and arresting officer (unless undercover)

Judicial records related to arrests are governed by separate rules established by the Texas Supreme Court, which generally favor public access while protecting sensitive information such as social security numbers, bank account information, and certain family data pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 76a.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Fredericksburg

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55 provides the statutory framework for expungement (expunction) of arrest records in Fredericksburg. Expungement is a legal process through which an arrest record may be removed from public access under specific circumstances.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Fredericksburg include:

The person was acquitted of the offense
The person was pardoned for the offense
The person was convicted and subsequently pardoned
The case was dismissed and the statute of limitations has expired
The person completed a pre-trial diversion program
The person was arrested but never charged, and the applicable waiting period has passed

The expungement process requires filing a petition in the district court in the county where the arrest occurred. Pursuant to Article 55.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the petition must include specific information about the arrest and the grounds for expungement.

If granted, an order of expungement directs all agencies possessing records of the arrest to either return those records to the court for destruction or to obliterate all portions of their records identifying the petitioner. Following expungement, the person may legally deny the occurrence of the arrest except when questioned under oath in a criminal proceeding.

For arrests not eligible for expungement, Texas Government Code Chapter 411 provides an alternative remedy through orders of nondisclosure, which seal records from public view while maintaining them for use by criminal justice agencies.

Limitations on Use of Arrest Records

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) and Texas state law impose restrictions on how arrest records may be used, particularly in employment contexts. Under Texas Business and Commerce Code § 20.05, consumer reporting agencies are prohibited from reporting arrest records that are more than seven years old unless certain exceptions apply.

The Texas Workforce Commission advises employers to exercise caution when using arrest records for employment decisions. Pursuant to guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employment policies excluding individuals based solely on arrest records may violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act if such policies disproportionately impact protected groups without business necessity justification.

Government agencies in Fredericksburg that maintain arrest records must comply with the following limitations:

Records subject to expungement orders must be removed as directed by the court
Records subject to orders of nondisclosure must be withheld from public disclosure
Juvenile records are subject to stricter confidentiality requirements under Texas Family Code Chapter 58
Information that would compromise an ongoing investigation may be temporarily withheld under § 552.108 of the Texas Public Information Act