Find Comal County Bookings
Comal County recent bookings are processed by the Sheriff's Office at the county jail in New Braunfels. The jail handles arrests from local police, county deputies, and state troopers working in the area. Each booking creates a public record with the person's name, charges, bond information, and arrest date. Comal County has grown rapidly as part of the San Antonio and Austin corridor along Interstate 35. New Braunfels is the county seat and the largest city. You can search for recent bookings through the Sheriff's inmate search tool, the District Clerk's office, and statewide court record databases.
Comal County Overview
Comal County Sheriff's Office Recent Bookings
The Comal County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and handles all bookings. When someone is arrested in the county, they go through intake at the detention facility. Staff log the person's name, date of birth, charges, arresting agency, and bond amount. The booking record becomes public once intake is done.
The Sheriff's Office provides an online inmate search tool at co.comal.tx.us/sheriff/inmate-search. You can look up people who are currently in custody. Search by name and the system shows charges, bond status, and booking date. This only covers people who are in jail right now. If someone has been released, they will not appear on the roster.
The Comal County inmate search page lets you look up current inmates by name. Results show charges, bond amounts, and booking dates for people in custody.
Under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, officers can make arrests with or without a warrant. Article 14.01 allows warrantless arrest for felonies or breaches of the peace seen by an officer. Article 14.03 covers warrantless arrests for family violence and other specific offenses. After arrest, Article 15.17 says the person must appear before a magistrate within 48 hours. The magistrate sets bond and advises the person of their rights.
| Office | Comal County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Inmate Search | co.comal.tx.us/sheriff/inmate-search |
Comal County District Clerk Court Records
The Comal County District Clerk maintains court records for felony cases tied to recent bookings. You can find information about the office at co.comal.tx.us/district-clerk. Once someone is booked and charged with a felony, the case moves to one of the district courts. The District Clerk files documents, tracks hearing dates, and records case outcomes.
The District Clerk page provides office contact information and details about court record services for felony cases in Comal County.
Misdemeanor cases go through the County Clerk's office and the county courts at law. Both offices keep records on file for years. Felony records are maintained for 25 years after case closure. Misdemeanor records last 12 years. Capital felony records are permanent. These retention periods come from schedules set by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
You can also pull up Comal County court records through re:SearchTX. This statewide portal covers all 254 counties. Search by name or case number to get charges, court dates, and case status. Criminal e-filing is mandatory, so new filings show up in the system quickly. Public users pay about $0.10 per page to view filed documents.
Public Records and the Texas Open Records Law
Booking records from the Comal County jail are public under the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Section 552.021 states that every person has the right to get public information from a government body. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
To get booking records, send a written request to the Comal County Sheriff's Office. Include the person's name and approximate arrest date. The office must respond within 10 business days under Section 552.261. Paper copies cost about $0.10 per page. If the request is large, they may estimate the cost and ask you to pay before they produce the records.
Some records can be withheld. Section 552.108 lets law enforcement hold back details that could compromise an active investigation. Juvenile booking records are not public under the Texas Family Code. For adult bookings, the basic information is nearly always released. Booking photos are public under current Texas law, though agency practices about online posting vary.
Offense Levels in Comal County Recent Bookings
Comal County bookings cover charges from minor misdemeanors to serious felonies. The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 sorts offenses by severity. Capital felonies are the most serious, carrying life without parole. First degree felonies mean 5 to 99 years. Second degree is 2 to 20 years. Third degree brings 2 to 10 years. State jail felonies carry 180 days to 2 years.
For misdemeanors, Class A is up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Class B is up to 180 days and $2,000. Class C is fine only and rarely involves a booking. DWI is one of the most common charges in Comal County due to heavy traffic on I-35 and events that draw large crowds to New Braunfels. Drug possession, theft, assault, and warrant arrests round out the frequent bookings. The county's fast population growth has pushed arrest and booking numbers higher over the past decade.
Bond amounts depend on the charge level and the defendant's record. Felonies carry higher bonds. Capital murder charges may have no bond. A magistrate sets bond at the initial hearing after booking. Some defendants can post bond quickly, while others wait days or weeks for a bond hearing on more serious charges.
Appointed Counsel and Jail Oversight
People booked into the Comal County jail who cannot afford an attorney have the right to ask for one. Under Article 1.051 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, anyone facing possible jail time can request appointed counsel. A magistrate reviews a financial affidavit and decides if the person qualifies. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission tracks how each county handles this process and sets standards for appointed attorneys.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards inspects the Comal County jail annually. They check capacity, staffing, health care, and compliance with state rules. TCJS publishes monthly population reports that show how many people are in custody. If a jail fails inspection, the commission requires corrective action. All of this information is public.
For inmates who are convicted and sentenced to state prison, records transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. TDCJ's inmate search tool shows current facility, sentence length, offense details, and projected release date. This covers people who started with a Comal County booking and received a prison sentence.
How to Search Comal County Recent Bookings
The easiest way to check current inmates is the online search tool at co.comal.tx.us/sheriff/inmate-search. Type in a name and see who is in custody. Results show charges, bond amounts, and booking dates. This only works for people who are currently in the jail.
For older cases or people who have been released, use court records. Search re:SearchTX by defendant name or case number. The District Clerk's office can also help with felony case lookups. A DPS Crime Records search costs $3.00 per name and pulls criminal history for Class B misdemeanors and above reported statewide. Here is a quick guide to sources:
- Sheriff inmate search: current inmates with charges, bond, and booking date
- District Clerk: felony case records, court dates, and documents
- re:SearchTX: statewide court records including Comal County criminal cases
- TDCJ: state prison records for convicted offenders
- DPS Crime Records: criminal history search for $3.00 per name
For a formal records request, write to the Sheriff's Office. Include the full name and approximate arrest date. You will get a response within 10 business days under the Public Information Act. Fees are small for typical requests.
Cities in Comal County
Comal County is home to New Braunfels, the county seat and largest city. The area has grown quickly due to its location between San Antonio and Austin on I-35. All arrests within Comal County go through the county jail for booking.
Other communities in the county include Bulverde, Garden Ridge, and Schertz (shared with Guadalupe County). Arrests in all of these areas are processed at the Comal County jail. New Braunfels does not currently have a dedicated city page on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Comal County. If you need to check a different booking location, each county maintains its own jail and records system.