Arrest records are public documents in Springtown, Texas, pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). This legislation establishes that government records, including those documenting arrests, shall be accessible to members of the public upon proper request. The statute serves to maintain transparency in governmental operations and accountability within law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Texas, including the City of Springtown.
The Texas Public Information Act specifically designates that records created, collected, or maintained by governmental bodies in the course of official business are presumed to be open to public inspection. This includes documentation generated by the Springtown Police Department during arrest procedures. Exceptions to disclosure exist for certain protected information, such as ongoing investigations or juvenile records, as outlined in § 552.101 through § 552.158 of the Texas Government Code.
Individuals seeking arrest records may submit requests to the appropriate custodian of records, typically the arresting agency or the municipal court. The governmental body must respond to such requests promptly, generally within 10 business days, as mandated by § 552.221 of the Texas Government Code.
Multiple official channels exist through which members of the public may access arrest records in Springtown, Texas. Individuals seeking such documentation should consider the following authorized methods:
Springtown Police Department
200 North Main Street
Springtown, TX 76082
(817) 220-4834
Official Website
Springtown Municipal Court
102 East Second Street
Springtown, TX 76082
(817) 220-4834
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Official Website
Parker County District Clerk
117 Fort Worth Highway
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 594-7455
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Requestors should be prepared to provide identifying information about the subject of the record search, including full legal name, approximate date of arrest, and, if available, date of birth. Pursuant to § 552.261 of the Texas Government Code, governmental bodies may charge reasonable fees for copies of public information.
Standard arrest records maintained by the Springtown Police Department and associated judicial entities typically contain the following categories of information as prescribed by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.17:
It should be noted that certain elements within arrest records may be redacted prior to public disclosure in accordance with privacy provisions outlined in § 552.130 through § 552.158 of the Texas Government Code. Such protected information may include social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and medical information.
The State of Texas provides statutory mechanisms through which qualifying individuals may petition for the expungement (expunction) of arrest records maintained by governmental entities in Springtown. The legal process of expungement is governed by Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, which establishes specific eligibility criteria and procedural requirements.
Individuals may qualify for expungement under the following circumstances as specified in Article 55.01:
The expungement process requires the filing of a petition in the district court of the county in which the arrest occurred. For Springtown arrests, petitions are typically filed with the Parker County District Court. The petition must comply with the formal requirements set forth in Article 55.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
Upon granting of an expunction order, all agencies maintaining records of the arrest, including the Springtown Police Department, Springtown Municipal Court, and any state repositories, are directed to delete all references to the arrest and return or destroy physical documentation. Following successful 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 involves complex legal requirements. The filing fee for an expunction petition in Parker County is approximately $300, with additional costs potentially applying for service of process on all agencies possessing records.