Criminal records database is managed by the Texas Department of Public Safety – TxDPS. The particular department provides services to general public for performing criminal background check by accessing criminal records. The criminal records database contains information on arrests, prosecutions as well as the nature of the case for which person is arrested. Due to large number of population, the crime rate in the State of Texas is also higher.
The computerized criminal history (CCH) is the criminal database for Texas which is run by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Crime Records Service. The Computerized Criminal History System (CCH) is a component of Texas Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) which is defined by the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP). CCH is a repository of history of criminals provided by Department of Public Safety (DPS). In the State of Texas, the Criminal history data is reported to DPS by local criminal justice agencies.
If the arresting agencies of Texas arrest a potential criminal of Class B misdemeanor or a higher violation of the Texas statue, they are required to submit the complete details of criminal within seven days of the criminal arrest .The arresting agencies of the state of Texas include Sheriff’s Offices, Police Departments and other criminal justice agencies. While arresting a criminal, their fingerprints are run through the criminal database via a live scan fingerprint devices. This facilitates by providing a near real time response while providing the criminals records or during the submission of the criminal details.
The prosecution agencies and court clerks are also abided by law to submit all the prosecution and court details to the CCH database. Through this service the Department of Public Safety confirms the records by adding, deleting, changing or accepting the charges upon a criminal. Only 60% of the proceedings in the courts are recorded and submitted in the Computerized Criminal History Records per the analysis conducted by Criminal Justice Policy Council in May, 2002. The two major reasons for missing records is either the arresting agency did not report the arrest or the court has not reported of it.
There are numerous ways for obtaining criminal records details. One can view one’s own criminal history by completing and sending a complete authorized fingerprint card along with appropriate fee to the TxDPS. One should visit any DPS FAST location in order to initiate a criminal background check.
Texas Department of Public Safety, Crime Records Service
5805 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78752-4422
(512) 424-2000
It is the legal responsibility of the arresting agencies, prosecuting agencies and court clerks to file and submit all the details that are available about the criminal to the Department of Public Security.
There are two methods for the maintenance of this information. One is to maintain a paper file which will enclose forms and reports approved by the Department of Public Security. These reports include fingerprints, incident tracking number etcetera. The other method is to submit the data in Computerized Criminal History Records. Detailed information about any criminal or a crime event can be obtained by visiting the office or writing a letter to the Department of Public Safety. The mailing address is
Texas Department of Public Safety
Crime Records Service
CJIS Field Representatives
P.O. Box 4143
Austin, Texas 78765
Phone: (512) 424-2478
The Department of Public Safety can also be contacted by e-mail. Their email address is afis_cjis@txdps.state.tx.us.