Howard County Texas Inmate Jail Records

Jail Records Expunging

The information on jail records in Howard County, Texas can be obtained from the county courthouse in this jurisdiction. The information is retained on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis and is quite comprehensive. It is also available to any member of the public who requests the information. This is done by filling out an online form requesting access to the jail records database. There is no charge for obtaining this information.

Jail records are considered public information and are readily available through a wide network of contacts, including state government agencies, courts, public libraries, universities and others. Generally, if the person has had his or her jail record expunged (removed), the record is considered “out of sight”. However, if the same person has been convicted of a crime, the expungement process cannot occur without the person’s consent.

The time period for which a search is conducted is referred to as the “misdemeanors” or “felonies”. Some states allow searches beyond these periods at the discretion of the applicant. For instance, in Texas, a person can have his or her jail records expunged or sealed after a certain amount of time. But, in Maryland, a felony conviction is the only instance during which a record can be expunged. And, in Florida, a sex offense is the only instance in which jail records are retained. Jail records can only be removed from the records after a seven-year waiting period.

In many states, law enforcement agencies maintain the public arrest records. These include the date and location of each arrest, the name of the arresting officer involved, the charges made against the person and the reasons for the arrest. This information is also included in the states’ electronic crime databases. For instance, in Florida, if a registered sex offender wants to obtain certain information regarding his or her conviction, he or she can visit an approved website that provides information on each state’s sex offender registries.

In some instances, a person can obtain his or her own criminal history report online. In Michigan, to conduct an investigation, a person has to submit a written request to the Department of Health and Human Services. He or she can request information such as conviction records, pending court proceedings, the person’s employment, educational information and more. Of course, a fee is required.

In general, once a person is arrested and booked in jail, his or her jail records are kept by the jail. It is possible for someone to get his or her jail record expunged if he or she requests it. In Michigan, a person’s arrest records are automatically expunged upon his or her release from jail if the charges against the person have been dropped. A judge may also grant a temporary expungement if the case has been dismissed. However, if the charges remain pending trial, then the person’s criminal record will still be available to the public. Therefore, if you want to find out the background of an individual, you should look into his or her jail records.