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Decatur Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Decatur, Texas?

Arrest records are public documents in Decatur, Texas, pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). This legislation establishes the presumption that all government information, including arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies within Decatur and Wise County, is available to the public. The Texas Public Information Act serves to promote governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens have access to records documenting official activities, including arrests.

The Decatur Police Department maintains arrest records as part of its official duties. While these records are generally accessible to the public, certain information may be redacted in accordance with state privacy laws. Trained staff members remove confidential data prior to releasing reports, as mandated by Texas Government Code § 552.101, which protects information considered confidential by law.

How to Look Up Decatur Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Decatur have multiple methods available to obtain this information:

Submit an open records request directly to the Decatur Police Department. Requests must be submitted in writing and may be delivered in person, by mail, or electronically.
Visit the Decatur Municipal Court of Record for cases involving Class C misdemeanors filed by the Decatur Police Department.
Contact the Wise County District Clerk's Office for records pertaining to felony arrests and more serious misdemeanors.
Utilize the online search portal available through the Decatur Municipal Court's website for citation and violation information.
Submit a request to the Texas Department of Public Safety for statewide criminal history information.

Decatur Police Department
1601 S. State Street
Decatur, TX 76234
(940) 393-0300
Official Website

Decatur Municipal Court of Record
201 E. Walnut Street
Decatur, TX 76234
(940) 393-0318
Official Website

Wise County District Clerk
Wise County Courthouse
101 N. Trinity Street
Decatur, TX 76234
(940) 627-5743

Pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.221, governmental bodies must promptly produce public information in response to proper requests. The standard timeframe for response is within 10 business days, though complex requests may require additional time.

Contents of a Decatur Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Decatur Police Department typically contain the following information as required by Texas law:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known 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 citation of applicable statutes
Booking photographs (commonly known as mugshots)
Fingerprint information
Arresting officer's name and badge number
Incident report number
Booking details including date, time, and location
Bail or bond information, if applicable

The comprehensiveness of arrest records may vary depending on the nature of the offense and the arresting agency's protocols. Records pertaining to juvenile arrests are subject to additional confidentiality protections under Texas Family Code Chapter 58.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The accessibility of arrest records in Decatur is governed by a comprehensive legal framework:

The Texas Public Information Act establishes the fundamental right of access to government records, including those documenting arrests. Under this Act, all government information is presumed to be available to the public unless specifically excepted by law.

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 62.005 requires certain information about registered sex offenders to be publicly accessible, including arrest data related to qualifying offenses.

The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552) may apply to federal arrests occurring within Decatur city limits.

Exceptions to disclosure exist for:

Ongoing investigations where release would interfere with detection or prosecution of crime
Information related to juvenile offenders (under 17 years of age)
Records ordered sealed or expunged by court order
Information that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy

Government agencies in Decatur may charge reasonable fees for providing copies of arrest records in accordance with Texas Administrative Code Title 1, Part 3, Chapter 70.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Decatur

Texas law provides mechanisms for the expungement (complete removal) or non-disclosure (sealing) of arrest records under specific circumstances. The process is governed by Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Individuals may qualify for expungement of Decatur arrest records if:

They were arrested but never formally charged with a crime
The case was dismissed or they were acquitted at trial
They were convicted but subsequently pardoned
They successfully completed certain pretrial diversion programs
The statute of limitations for the offense has expired without charges being filed

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the district court in Wise County. The petition must include specific information as outlined in Article 55.02 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, including:

Full name, sex, race, date of birth, driver's license number, and social security number
The offense charged and the date of arrest
The county where the arrest occurred
The name of the agency that made the arrest
The case number and court of offense
A list of all law enforcement agencies, jails, and other entities believed to have records subject to expunction

If the court grants the expungement, all records and files pertaining to the arrest are removed from public access and may be destroyed. Following expungement, the individual may legally deny the occurrence of the arrest except when questioned under oath in a criminal proceeding.

For arrests not eligible for expungement, individuals may seek an order of non-disclosure under Texas Government Code Chapter 411, which seals records from public view while maintaining them for law enforcement purposes.

Accessing Juvenile Arrest Records in Decatur

Juvenile arrest records in Decatur are subject to heightened confidentiality protections under Texas Family Code Chapter 58. These records are not generally available to the public and are maintained separately from adult criminal records.

Access to juvenile records is restricted to:

Law enforcement agencies
Criminal justice agencies
The juvenile and their legal representatives
The Texas Juvenile Justice Department
Other individuals or agencies as specifically authorized by statute

Juvenile records may be sealed automatically or by petition depending on the circumstances of the case and the juvenile's subsequent behavior. Once sealed, these records are removed from public access and the juvenile may legally deny the existence of the record except in limited circumstances.

Parents or legal guardians seeking information about a juvenile's arrest must present proper identification and documentation of their relationship to the juvenile when requesting records from the Decatur Police Department.