Another type of genealogy record that provides tremendous value is criminal records. Some of our ancestors unfortunately got in trouble with the law. And records were kept from arrests through court cases to prison documents. Now, more and more of these records are being digitized or transcribed and are being made available online.
Types of Records
- Criminal court proceedings
- Police reports
- Prison and jail admission registers
- Arrest records
- Mug books
- Pardon and discharge information
- Hospital record books
- Workhouse records
Types of Information
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Height
- Weight
- Complexion
- Eye color
- Hair color
- Nationality
- Occupation
- Education
- Habits (alcohol use)
- Relations (parents living)
- Date incarcerated
- Court where charged
- Recommitments
- How and when discharged
Note: Some of the links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage, please make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Listed below are links to criminal records that are available for free online for the state; the first list is for multi-state collections:
United States
- Before the Needles, Executions in America Database
- Death Penalty USA, Executions 1607-1976 (by state)
- Federal Bureau of Prisons, Inmate Search 1982-
- Freedmen’s Bureau Records Relating to Murders and Outrages
Texas
- Blanco County, Civil Minutes, 1877-1932; Index to Civil Minutes, 1876-1959; Civil Case Papers, 1877-1930
- Brown County, General Index, 1884-1933; Court Records, 1884-1913
- Caldwell County, Civil Case Papers, 1854-1940; Index 1848-1990; Civil and Criminal Minutes, 1855-1940; divorce Records, 1896-1944
- Caldwell County, Index, 1876-1904; Minutes, 1876-1890
- Cass County, Jail Census, 1930
- CB Smith Convict Farm, Lines 8 – 71, 1900 Index of Prisoners
- Comanche County, Court Records, 1858-1933
- Cooke County, Convict Labor Record, 1878-1891
- Cooke County, Criminal Minutes
- Cooke County, Jail Register, 1897-1910
- Cooke County, Civil and probate Minutes, 1849-1936; probate Papers, 1849-1880; Index, 1849-1972
- Dallas County, Civil and Criminal Minutes, 1876-1899
- Dallas County, District Court Civil Minutes, 1846-1940; Indexes, 1846-1939
- Eastland County, Civil Court Minutes
- Ellis County, Court Minutes, 1850-1931; Civil file Docket and fee books, 1912-1928; general Index, 1900-1935
- Executions in Texas
- Fayette County, Court Minutes, 1838-1958
- Gonzales County, Criminal Dockets, District Court, 1866-1930
- Hamilton County, Civil Minutes, 1871-1936
- Hardin County, Hardin County, Criminal and Inquest Records, 1854-1973
- Hardin County, Hardin County, District Court Criminal Records, 1879-1900
- Hays County, Civil Minutes, 1850-1939
- Hood County Court Papers, 1875-1957
- Hunt County, Register of Prisoners, 1876-1892
- Johnson County, Court Records, 1867-1920
- Lampasas County, Civil Minutes, 1873-1930
- List of All Inmates on Death Row 1923-1973
- Llano County, Civil Case Papers, 1881-1930; Civil Minutes, 1910-1940; Index to Criminal Minutes, 1912-1971; Index to Civil Minutes, 1913-1952
- Montague County, Minutes, 1876-1985
- Records of the Assistant Commissioner for Texas, 1865-1869
- Smith County, Index to District Court Civil Minutes, 1846-1910; District Court Index to Dockets, 1910-1931; District Court Index to Civil Cases, 1931-1941
- Texas, Death Row Information, 1982-2021
- Texas, List of fugitives from justice for 1900
- Travis County Clerk Records, Criminal Minutes
- Van Zandt County, Court Minutes, 1848-1932; Civil packets, 1864-1930; Index, 1848-1935; divorce Minutes, 1899-1935
- Van Zandt County, Court Minutes, 1867-1924; Index, 1885-1966
- Winkler County, Register of Prisoners in County Jail, 1928-1936
- Wood County, Civil and Criminal Minutes, 1881-1936
- Wood County, Civil packets, 1878-1885; Index, 1879-1936
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
