Motley County Jail Records
Motley County recent bookings are processed through the Sheriff's Office in Matador, the county seat. This is one of the least populated counties in Texas, with fewer than 1,200 residents. Matador is the only town. The county sits in the eastern Panhandle, south of the Caprock Escarpment. Because of the tiny population, bookings are rare. The Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement and arrest processing for the county. Booking records are still public under Texas law, and you can request them the same way you would in any other county across the state.
Motley County Overview
Motley County Sheriff's Office Recent Bookings
The Motley County Sheriff's Office is the only law enforcement agency in the county. There is no city police department. The sheriff handles everything: patrol, investigations, warrant service, and arrests. When someone is arrested, they are processed through the county system in Matador.
Under the Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 14, officers can arrest without a warrant for offenses committed in their presence. Article 14.03 adds family violence, protective order violations, and certain assaults. After arrest, Article 15.17 requires the person to appear before a magistrate within 48 hours.
Motley County does not have its own jail facility. Arrested persons are typically held at a neighboring county's jail through an interlocal agreement. This is common for the smallest Texas counties. The booking still occurs under Motley County, and the records belong to the Motley County Sheriff. Dickens County or Floyd County facilities may be used for holding.
Call the Sheriff's Office in Matador to check on an arrest. With a population this small, the sheriff likely knows about every recent arrest personally. A phone call will get you the information faster than any other method.
| Office | Motley County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Matador, TX |
| District Court | 110th Judicial District Court |
Court Records Tied to Motley County Recent Bookings
If charges are filed after a booking, the case enters the court system. Motley County is part of the 110th Judicial District, which also covers Briscoe, Floyd, and Dickens counties. One district judge serves all four counties and travels between courthouses. Felonies go to district court. Misdemeanors go to the County Court under the county judge.
The re:SearchTX portal lets you search Motley County court records online. Enter a name and get case information, charges, and status. Due to the very low volume, you may not find many results. The County Clerk and District Clerk in Matador have the physical files.
Record access is protected by the Texas Public Information Act, Government Code Chapter 552. Section 552.021 gives the public the right to access records. No reason is required. Booking data is public information. The exception in Section 552.108 is narrow and only applies to active investigations.
Appeals from Motley County go to the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo. The Texas Judicial Branch website has published appellate opinions and general court information.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Records
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice handles state prison inmates. People convicted in Motley County who get prison sentences leave the county system and enter TDCJ custody.
The image below shows the TDCJ inmate search system used to find people in state prison across Texas.
Use the TDCJ inmate search if you think someone is in state prison rather than county custody. The tool lets you search by name, TDCJ number, or SID. County jail records and state prison records are completely separate databases.
How to Find Motley County Recent Bookings
Call the sheriff. In Motley County, there is no faster or simpler way. The Sheriff's Office can tell you about any recent arrest, including the charges and bond information.
For court records, search re:SearchTX by name. You can also visit the courthouse in Matador. Both the District Clerk and County Clerk are located there. In a county this small, everything is close together and easy to access in person.
- Call the Motley County Sheriff's Office for arrest information
- Search re:SearchTX for court case records
- Visit the courthouse in Matador for case files
- Use the TDCJ inmate search for state prison inmates
- Submit a public information request under Chapter 552
Written requests under the Public Information Act are an option, but in a county of 1,100 people, a phone call or visit will always be faster. The agency still has 10 business days to respond to written requests if you choose that route.
Sentencing for Motley County Cases
The Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 applies to every county. First degree felony: 5 to 99 years or life. Second degree: 2 to 20 years. Third degree: 2 to 10 years. State jail felony: 180 days to 2 years.
Misdemeanor penalties: Class A up to one year. Class B up to 180 days. Class C is fine-only. With so few residents, most cases in Motley County are misdemeanor-level. But felonies do happen, even in the smallest counties.
Court-appointed lawyers are available through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission process. Defendants fill out a financial affidavit under Article 1.051 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The judge decides eligibility. In tiny counties, one or two attorneys may handle all appointed cases. TIDC tracks the data for every county in Texas.
Arrest Patterns in Motley County
Motley County has extremely few arrests in any given year. The booking volume is among the lowest in Texas. When arrests do happen, they tend to involve DWI, drug possession, or warrant service. DWI under Penal Code Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense.
The county is mostly ranchland with very little through-traffic. State Highway 70 is the main road. DPS troopers cover the area and occasionally make stops that lead to arrests. Drug charges under Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 appear from time to time, though less often than in counties with more traffic.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards does not inspect Motley County in the same way it inspects counties with their own jails, since the county houses inmates elsewhere. But TCJS still tracks the arrangements. The Local Government Code Chapter 201 provides the legal basis for these interlocal agreements, which are vital for counties that cannot sustain their own detention facilities.
Cities in Motley County
Matador is the only incorporated community. It has a population of about 600. Roaring Springs is a small unincorporated community south of Matador. No city in Motley County has a population over 100,000. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for the entire county.
Nearby Counties
Motley County is in the eastern Panhandle. Each nearby county has its own booking system. Confirm the arrest location before you search.