Andrews County Booking Records

Andrews County recent bookings are handled by the Sheriff's Office in Andrews, the county seat and only incorporated city in this West Texas oil country. The county sits in the Permian Basin, and most arrests here stem from traffic stops along US 385, drug offenses, and oil field-related incidents. Booking records are public under Texas law. This page walks you through how to find recent bookings, where to search court records, and what legal resources exist for people booked into the Andrews County Jail.

Andrews County Recent Bookings Search

The Andrews County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and processes all bookings in the county. When law enforcement makes an arrest, the person is brought to the county jail in Andrews for intake. Deputies and jail staff record the person's name, date of birth, charges, and other identifying details. They take a photograph and fingerprints. All of this goes into the booking log, which is a public record.

You can call the Sheriff's Office to ask about a specific person's booking status. Staff will confirm if someone is in custody and share their charges and bond amount. For a broader search, the re:SearchTX portal lets you look up court cases linked to Andrews County arrests. This free tool is run by the Texas Judicial Branch and covers every county in the state.

The Texas Public Information Act screenshot below shows the statute that governs access to booking records in Andrews County and across the state.

Under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552, anyone can request booking records. You do not need to state a reason. The law applies to all Texas counties, including Andrews.

What Happens After Recent Bookings

Once someone is booked into the Andrews County Jail, they must see a magistrate within 48 hours. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure requires this. At the hearing, the magistrate explains the charges and sets bond. The defendant also learns about their right to an attorney. If they can not afford one, the court must appoint a lawyer.

Bond works the same way in Andrews County as anywhere else in Texas. A cash bond means the full amount goes to the court. A surety bond goes through a bail bondsman who charges a fee, usually around 10 percent. Personal recognizance bonds let the person go on their promise to return for court dates. The type of bond depends on the charge, the person's record, and how the judge views the risk. More serious charges mean higher bonds. Some violent felonies can lead to bond being denied.

Andrews County shares its district court with other Permian Basin counties in the 109th Judicial District. Felony cases go to district court. Misdemeanors are handled in the county court. The District Clerk keeps all case records once charges are filed, and those records are searchable through the clerk's office or through the statewide re:SearchTX system.

Court Records and Recent Bookings in Andrews County

Booking records cover the arrest. Court records show what happened next. The Andrews County District Clerk maintains all criminal and civil case files. You can search by defendant name or case number, either in person at the courthouse in Andrews or by phone during business hours.

The re:SearchTX tool from the Texas Judicial Branch is shown below. It provides free access to court records from all Texas counties, including Andrews.

Use re:SearchTX to look up case details like charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes without visiting the courthouse.

If someone booked in Andrews County ends up sentenced to state prison, the TDCJ offender search tracks them from that point forward. It shows their assigned unit, offense, and release date information. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards also maintains data on county jail populations and inspection results.

Requesting Andrews County Booking Records

You have the right to get copies of booking records from the Andrews County Sheriff's Office. The Texas Public Information Act says government records are open to the public. Submit a request in writing or in person. Include the person's full name and the approximate date of arrest. Add any other details you have, like a date of birth, to help staff find the right record.

Standard copy fees are $0.10 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page. The agency has 10 business days to respond. Most booking record requests are straightforward and get filled quickly. Under Section 552.108 of the Government Code, some details can be held back if releasing them would interfere with an active investigation. But basic information like the person's name, charges, arrest date, and bond amount is almost always disclosed.

If the Sheriff's Office wants to withhold any part of a record, it must ask the attorney general for a ruling. This process takes time and rarely happens with routine booking requests. The law strongly favors disclosure.

Charge Types in Andrews County Bookings

The Texas Penal Code defines every criminal offense and its penalty range. Andrews County bookings reflect the types of crimes common in rural West Texas oil communities. DWI arrests are frequent, as are drug possession charges, theft, and assault. Warrant arrests also make up a good share of bookings when people miss court dates or violate probation terms.

Texas felonies break down into categories. First degree carries 5 to 99 years. Second degree means 2 to 20 years. Third degree is 2 to 10 years. State jail felonies run from 180 days to 2 years. All can include fines up to $10,000. On the misdemeanor side, Class A is up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Class B tops out at 180 days and $2,000. Class C is fine-only, capped at $500. You will not see many Class C offenses in booking records since those do not carry jail time.

Jail Oversight in Andrews County

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards inspects the Andrews County Jail to make sure it meets state requirements. Inspectors check intake procedures, housing conditions, medical care, staffing levels, and record keeping. These inspection reports are available to the public. If the jail falls short of any standard, the commission requires fixes.

The Local Government Code puts the sheriff in charge of running the jail and keeping custody records. This duty works alongside the Public Information Act. One law says the sheriff must maintain the records. The other says anyone can access them. This creates a system where booking data is both properly kept and open for review.

Legal Help After an Andrews County Booking

If someone booked into the Andrews County Jail can not pay for a lawyer, they can ask for a court-appointed attorney. The right to counsel kicks in at the magistrate hearing. The defendant fills out a financial form, and the judge decides if they qualify. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission monitors how counties handle these appointments, including wait times and spending.

Andrews County is a small county, so the pool of local attorneys is limited. Court-appointed lawyers may come from the area or from nearby counties in the 109th Judicial District. For civil legal matters, low-income residents can reach out to Legal Aid of Northwest Texas or call the State Bar referral line.

• Andrews County court-appointed attorneys for qualifying defendants
• Legal Aid of Northwest Texas at (888) 534-5243
• State Bar of Texas lawyer referral at (800) 252-9690
• Andrews County Law Library at the courthouse

Nearby Counties

These counties border Andrews County. Each has its own jail and booking process. Make sure you know where the arrest took place to search the right county.