Angelina County Public Records /Angelina County Warrant Search

Angelina County Warrant Search

What Is a Search Warrant In Angelina County?

A search warrant in Angelina County is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement officers to search a specifically designated location and seize particular items or evidence described in the warrant. Search warrants are fundamental legal instruments that balance the government's need to investigate crimes against citizens' constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.01, a search warrant is "a written order, issued by a magistrate and directed to a peace officer, commanding him to search for any property or thing and to seize the same and bring it before such magistrate." For a search warrant to be valid in Angelina County, it must:

Be based on probable cause
Be supported by a sworn affidavit
Particularly describe the place to be searched and items to be seized
Be executed within specified time limits

Search warrants differ significantly from other types of warrants used in Angelina County's criminal justice system. An arrest warrant authorizes law enforcement to take a specific person into custody, while a bench warrant is issued by a judge when someone fails to appear for a scheduled court hearing or violates court orders. Unlike these person-directed warrants, search warrants focus on locations and evidence rather than individuals.

Are Warrants Public Records In Angelina County?

The public record status of warrants in Angelina County follows a nuanced framework governed by Texas law. Under the Texas Public Information Act, government records are presumed to be open to public inspection unless specifically exempted by law.

For warrants in Angelina County, public accessibility depends on several factors:

Active warrants: Generally not public records while unexecuted to prevent interference with ongoing investigations and law enforcement activities
Executed search warrants: Typically become public records after execution and return to the court, pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.01(b)
Sealed warrants: May remain confidential by court order for specified periods
Arrest warrants: Often become public after service, though information may be limited if related to ongoing investigations

The Angelina County District Clerk maintains court records, including executed warrants that have been returned and filed with the court. However, access may be restricted for warrants related to certain sensitive cases, such as those involving juveniles, sexual assault victims, or matters where disclosure could compromise public safety.

How to Find Out if I Have a Warrant In Angelina County?

Individuals seeking to determine if they have an active warrant in Angelina County may utilize several official channels. The most direct methods include:

Contact the Angelina County Sheriff's Office:

Angelina County Sheriff's Office
217 E Lufkin Ave
Lufkin, TX 75901
(936) 634-3331
Angelina County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office maintains warrant information and can verify if a warrant exists in your name.
Check with Angelina County District Clerk:

Angelina County District Clerk
P.O. Box 908
Lufkin, TX 75902
(936) 634-8181
Angelina County District Clerk

The District Clerk maintains court records that may include warrant information for cases filed in district courts.
Contact Angelina County Clerk:

Angelina County Clerk
P.O. Box 908
Lufkin, TX 75902
(936) 634-8181
Angelina County Clerk

The County Clerk maintains records for misdemeanor cases that may include warrant information.
Consult with an attorney: Legal counsel can make inquiries on your behalf while providing legal advice about how to proceed if a warrant exists.

When making inquiries, be prepared to provide personal identifying information, including full legal name, date of birth, and possibly a driver's license number or social security number for accurate verification.

How To Check for Warrants in Angelina County for Free in 2026

Members of the public may check for warrants in Angelina County without incurring fees through several official channels currently available:

Online Warrant Search: The Angelina County Sheriff's Office maintains a searchable database of active warrants. Individuals may access this resource through the county's official website and search by name.
In-Person Inquiry at Law Enforcement Agencies:

Angelina County Sheriff's Office
217 E Lufkin Ave
Lufkin, TX 75901
(936) 634-3331
Public Counter Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Lufkin Police Department
300 E Shepherd Ave
Lufkin, TX 75901
(936) 633-0356
Public Counter Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Telephone Verification: Call the Angelina County Sheriff's Office warrant division directly at (936) 634-3331 during business hours. Provide your full name and date of birth for verification.
Court Records Search:

Angelina County District Clerk
P.O. Box 908
Lufkin, TX 75902
(936) 634-8181
Public Counter Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Visit the clerk's office to search public court records that may contain warrant information.
Public Access Terminals: Computer terminals available at the courthouse provide free access to certain court records that may include warrant information.

When conducting warrant searches, individuals should be aware that pursuant to Texas Government Code § 552.108, some law enforcement records may be withheld if release would interfere with detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime.

What Types of Warrants In Angelina County

Angelina County's judicial system issues several distinct types of warrants, each serving specific legal purposes:

Arrest Warrants: Issued when probable cause exists that an individual has committed a crime. These warrants authorize law enforcement to take the named person into custody.
Bench Warrants: Issued directly by a judge when an individual fails to appear for a scheduled court hearing or violates court orders. These warrants direct law enforcement to bring the person before the court.
Search Warrants: Authorize law enforcement to search specified premises and seize particular items described in the warrant. In Angelina County, these must comply with Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.02, which enumerates permissible objects of search.
Capias Warrants: Issued after formal charges have been filed, directing officers to arrest and bring the named individual before the court.
Alias Warrants: Reissued warrants that replace original warrants that have expired without being executed.
Capias Pro Fine Warrants: Issued when an individual fails to pay court-ordered fines or costs.
Blue Warrants: Issued for parole violations, authorizing the arrest and detention of individuals who have violated terms of parole.
Governor's Warrants: Used in extradition cases to authorize the arrest and transfer of fugitives to other states.

Each warrant type follows specific procedural requirements under Texas law and serves distinct functions within Angelina County's criminal justice system.

What Warrants in Angelina County Contain

Warrants issued in Angelina County contain specific information mandated by Texas law to ensure legal validity and proper execution. Pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.04, search warrants must include:

The name of the issuing judge or magistrate
Date and time of issuance
Name of the affiant (person providing sworn testimony supporting the warrant)
Specific description of the place, person, or thing to be searched
Particular description of items to be seized
Command to peace officers to conduct the search within specified parameters
Time limit for execution (typically three days from issuance unless otherwise specified)
Direction to return the warrant to the issuing court after execution

Arrest warrants in Angelina County typically contain:

Name of the person to be arrested (or description if name unknown)
Specific offense charged
Date of alleged offense
Command to any peace officer to arrest the named individual
Amount of bail if applicable
Signature of the issuing judicial officer

All warrants must be based on probable cause established through sworn affidavits or testimony. The specificity requirements for warrants stem from Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, ensuring that warrants are not overly broad or vague in their scope.

Who Issues Warrants In Angelina County

In Angelina County, the authority to issue warrants is vested in specific judicial officers as prescribed by Texas law. The following officials possess the legal authority to issue warrants:

District Court Judges: Preside over the 159th and 217th Judicial District Courts in Angelina County and have authority to issue all types of warrants throughout the county.
County Court at Law Judges: Angelina County has two County Courts at Law whose judges may issue warrants for matters within their jurisdiction.
Justices of the Peace: Angelina County has four Justice of the Peace precincts, and these judges may issue arrest and search warrants within their jurisdictional boundaries.
Municipal Court Judges: May issue warrants for violations of municipal ordinances and certain state laws within their city limits.
Magistrates: Specially appointed judicial officers who may be authorized to issue warrants under specific circumstances.

The issuance of warrants follows strict procedural requirements. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.01(b), only a neutral and detached magistrate may issue a search warrant after reviewing an affidavit establishing probable cause. The judicial officer must independently evaluate the evidence presented and determine if it meets the legal threshold for warrant issuance.

For arrest warrants, the standard remains probable cause that a specific person has committed a particular offense, as required by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 15.03.

How To Find for Outstanding Warrants In Angelina County

Individuals seeking information about outstanding warrants in Angelina County may utilize several official resources:

Angelina County Sheriff's Office Warrant Division:

Angelina County Sheriff's Office
217 E Lufkin Ave
Lufkin, TX 75901
(936) 634-3331
Angelina County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office maintains the most comprehensive database of active warrants in the county. Individuals may contact the warrant division directly during business hours.
Online Warrant Search:

The Angelina County Sheriff's Office website provides a searchable database of active warrants. This resource allows members of the public to search by name and verify warrant status.
Municipal Police Departments:

Lufkin Police Department
300 E Shepherd Ave
Lufkin, TX 75901
(936) 633-0356

Diboll Police Department
400 Kenley St
Diboll, TX 75941
(936) 829-5586

Local police departments maintain information about warrants issued within their jurisdictions.
Justice of the Peace Courts:

Angelina County has four Justice of the Peace precincts, each maintaining records of warrants issued by that court:

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
P.O. Box 908
Lufkin, TX 75902
(936) 634-8181

Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
P.O. Box 908
Lufkin, TX 75902
(936) 634-8181
Texas Department of Public Safety:

For statewide warrant information, individuals may contact:

Texas Department of Public Safety
1922 S John Redditt Dr
Lufkin, TX 75904
(936) 699-7310
Texas Department of Public Safety

When conducting warrant searches, be prepared to provide full legal name, date of birth, and possibly additional identifying information for accurate verification.

How To Check Federal Warrants In Angelina County

Federal warrants operate under a separate system from county or state warrants and require different search methods. To check for federal warrants that may be executable in Angelina County:

Contact the U.S. Marshals Service:

U.S. Marshals Service - Eastern District of Texas
300 Willow Street, Suite 102
Beaumont, TX 77701
(409) 839-2581
U.S. Marshals Service

The U.S. Marshals Service is the primary federal agency responsible for executing federal arrest warrants.
Federal Bureau of Investigation:

FBI - Houston Division (covers Angelina County)
1 Justice Park Drive
Houston, TX 77092
(713) 693-5000
Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI may have information regarding federal warrants related to their investigations.
U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Texas:

U.S. District Court - Lufkin Division
101 East Judicial Street, Room 300
Lufkin, TX 75901
(936) 634-5054
U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Texas

The federal court clerk's office maintains records of federal cases, though information about active warrants may be restricted.
Federal Public Defender's Office:

Federal Public Defender - Eastern District of Texas
110 North College Avenue, Suite 1122
Tyler, TX 75702
(903) 531-9233
Federal Public Defender's Office

Legal counsel may be able to make inquiries about federal warrants on behalf of clients.

Federal warrants differ from county warrants in several important ways:

They are issued by federal magistrate judges or district court judges
They typically involve violations of federal law rather than state law
They can be executed anywhere in the United States
They often involve coordination between federal and local law enforcement agencies

Information about active federal warrants may be limited due to 18 U.S.C. § 3103a, which allows for delayed notice of search warrants under certain circumstances.

How Long Do Warrants Last In Angelina County?

The duration of warrants in Angelina County varies by warrant type and is governed by Texas state law:

Arrest Warrants and Bench Warrants: These generally remain active until executed, regardless of time elapsed. Under Texas law, there is no expiration date for most arrest warrants, meaning they remain valid until the wanted person is apprehended or the warrant is recalled by the issuing court. This principle is established in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 15.08.
Search Warrants: Pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.07, search warrants must be executed within three days from the time of issuance. The day of issuance is excluded from this calculation. If not executed within this timeframe, the warrant becomes invalid and must be returned to the issuing magistrate. Under certain circumstances, a magistrate may authorize a longer period for execution.
Capias Pro Fine Warrants: These warrants for unpaid fines typically remain active until the fine is paid or the individual appears before the court.
Juvenile Warrants: May have different rules regarding duration and execution based on the nature of the case and the age of the subject.

The statute of limitations for the underlying offense does not affect the validity of an issued warrant. Even if the statute of limitations expires for prosecuting the offense, an active warrant remains enforceable for the purpose of bringing the individual before the court.

How Long Does It Take To Get a Search Warrant In Angelina County?

The timeframe for obtaining a search warrant in Angelina County varies based on circumstances, but the process generally follows these steps and timelines:

Preparation of Affidavit: Law enforcement officers must first prepare a detailed affidavit establishing probable cause. This typically takes several hours to complete properly, depending on case complexity.
Judicial Review: Once submitted, a magistrate or judge reviews the affidavit to determine if probable cause exists. Under normal circumstances, this review may take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
Emergency Circumstances: In urgent situations involving imminent danger or risk of evidence destruction, the process can be expedited. Angelina County has procedures for after-hours warrant requests, allowing judges to review and sign warrants outside normal court hours.
Electronic Warrants: Texas law under Code of Criminal Procedure § 18.01(b-1) permits the issuance of search warrants based on electronic affidavits, which can significantly reduce processing time. This system allows officers to submit warrant applications electronically and receive signed warrants without physically appearing before a judge.
Telephonic Warrants: In certain emergency situations, officers may provide sworn testimony by telephone to establish probable cause, further expediting the process.

For standard, non-emergency situations during business hours, the complete process typically takes between 2-6 hours from initial preparation to issuance. For after-hours emergency warrants, the process may be completed in as little as 1-2 hours, depending on judge availability and the nature of the emergency.

Once issued, search warrants in Angelina County must be executed within three days, as specified by Texas law.