ABILENE PUBLIC RECORDS

What are Abilene Public Records?

Based on the provisions of the TPRA, Abilene public records include any document, either physical or electronic, that is produced, preserved, distributed, or obtained, in connection with the carrying out of official public business. They include paper, video, electronic signal storage devices, tape, mylar, and any material upon which information can be documented or stored. It may also be a book, letter, document, file, e-mail, photo, sound recording, map, and recording. However, some documents and records are excluded from public access. These documents include:

• Birth and death records;
• Certain legal matters, such as where a court prohibits the public disclosure of certain information;
• Certain legislative documents, such as a draft or working paper about proposed legislation or an internal bill analysis or working paper for the purpose of evaluating proposed legislation;
• Confidential information;
• Confidentiality of certain personnel information;
• Information about student records;
• Information related to competition or bidding;
• Information related to the location or price of the property for public purpose prior to the public announcement of the project or the formal award of the contract;
• Information relating to the confidentiality of sensitive crime scene image;
• Information that the disclosure will infringe the privacy of a person;
• Litigation or settlement negotiations involving the state or a political subdivision;
• Records or documents exempted from public disclosure by law.

Abilene Crime Statistics

The Abilene Police Department is the city’s local law enforcement agency that gives reports about the rate of crime in Abilene City. In 2019, it reported that there were 3,549 crimes in the city, including 468 violent crimes and 3,081 property crimes. The violent crimes consist of nine murders, 80 rapes, 69 robberies, and 313 aggravated assaults. The property crimes include 567 burglaries, 2,313 larcenies, and 201 auto thefts. The 2019 crime statistics is a 15.4% drop in total crimes from the previous year within the city. A breakdown of this reveals a 27.1% and 15.4% drop in violent crime and property crime respectively. There was a decline in all seven major crimes reported. For the violent crimes, murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault rates declined by 25%, 43%, 33%, and 19.3% respectively. At the same time, the rates of burglary, larceny, and auto theft declined by 22.6%, 10.7%, and 13%.

Are Abilene Criminal Records Public?

Criminal records of individuals charged with Class B misdemeanor or gross violations are considered public records. These documents include the disposition of lawsuits, prosecutions, and deferred adjudication. Asides from these, access to other criminal records is limited to the owner of the record by means of a personal review system. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) offers interested parties access to criminal records in Texas. It conducts background checks and provides applicants with copies of the criminal history reports.

How to Obtain Abilene Police Reports and Arrest Records?

The Abilene Police Department produces and distributes copies of Abilene arrest records and police reports. Access to police reports in Abilene is subject to the Texas Public Information for the Freedom of Information Act. The Police Department only accepts requests in writing. This can be done by mail or in person. Requesters can get copies of Abilene police reports at the records window of the Police Department from Monday to Friday. It is open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. The location and contact details of the Abilene Police Department is below:

Abilene Police Department
4565 South First Street
P.O. Box 174
Abilene, TX 79604-0174
Phone: (325) 673-8331
Phone: 325) 676-6500 (Records)
Fax: (325) 676-6606
Email: apd@abilenetx.gov

To get copies of traffic or accident reports, requesters can check out the front counter of the Police Department or use the Texas Crash Records Information System (CRIS) to purchase Amarillo traffic crash reports online. To make inquiries, call (806) 378-9452.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Abilene?

The Texas Department of Public Safety provides public access to sex offender information via its sex offender registry. Abilene residents can check the registry by name, location, or proximity to specific locations, especially higher institutions. They can also download a list of sex offenders from the registry. There is an added opportunity to get updates on the location and actions of sex offenders in particular cities. Residents can sign up for the Public Sex Offenders Subscription Program to access this service.

How to Find Abilene Inmate Records?

Persons apprehended in Abilene are usually detained in either Jones County Jail or Taylor County Adult Detention Center. To obtain information about inmates incarcerated in Jones County Jail, call the Sheriff’s Office at (325) 823-3201. For information on inmates in Taylor County Adult Detention Center, call (325) 691-7423 or use the Jail Records portal to carry out an online search. The portal can be searched by the defendant's name or by booking number. If it is a defendant search, the researcher will be required to provide the first name, last name, date of birth, as well as booking date, and release date. Where it booking number search, provide the booking number of the inmate, booking date, and release date.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Abilene Jail?

To visit an inmate at the Jones County Jail or obtain information about inmate visitation, contact or visit the jail facility with the details below:

Jones County Jail
1100 11th Street
P.O. Box 821
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3201
Fax: (325) 823-2099

Visitation days at the Taylor County Adult Detention Center are from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Inmates can receive visitors twice every week. Visitors can schedule visits in person, by phone, or online. The address and contact information of the detention center is below:

Taylor County Adult Detention Center
910 South 27th Street
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 691-7423

Court Records

Abilene is part of the Jones County court system and the Taylor County court system. The structure of the court system is similar to that of other counties in the state. Jones County courts include one District Court, one Constitutional Court, one Justice Court, and four Municipal Courts. Taylor County courts include four District Courts, one Constitutional Court, two County Courts at Law, five Justice Courts, and three Municipal Courts.

The District Courts have general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases in their respective counties. They also handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts in the county. The Constitutional Courts have jurisdiction over civil cases where $200 and $10,000 is in controversy. They also have jurisdiction over probate cases, misdemeanors, juvenile cases, domestic violence, and sexual assault protective orders. The County Courts at Law handle misdemeanor and felony cases. It also handles a variety of civil cases and claims, such as cases involving eminent domain or workers compensation, wills, trusts, mental health proceedings, guardianships, divorce, child custody, child support, juvenile matters, and domestic violence or sexual assault protective orders.

Justice Courts have jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. The criminal cases include preliminary hearings and misdemeanors. The civil cases they handle include civil claims within financial limits, small claims, foreclosure of mortgages, enforcement of liens on personal property. Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction over certain civil, criminal, and municipal ordinance violation cases.

The records from these cases are kept by the courts or their respective clerks. They disseminate copies of these court records to interested persons upon request.

Location of Courts in Abilene

Jones County District Court

Jones County 259th District Court
P.O. Box 308
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3731
Fax: (325) 823-3289

Jones County Constitutional Court

Jones County Constitutional Court
P.O. Box 552
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3762
Fax: (325) 823-3979

Jones County Justice Courts

Jones County Justice of the Peace
P.O. Box 345
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3761
Fax: (325) 823-4205

Jones County Municipal Courts

Anson Municipal Court
1314 Commercial Avenue
Anson, TX 79501

Phone: (325) 823-2412
Hamlin Municipal Court
P.O. Box 157
Hamlin, TX 79520
Phone: (325) 576-3212

Hawley Municipal Court
P.O. Box 649
Hawley, TX 79525
Phone: (325) 537-9528

Stamford Municipal Court
P.O. Drawer 191
Stamford, TX 79553
Phone: (325) 773-2723

Taylor County District Courts

Taylor County 42nd District Court
300 Oak Street, #400
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1316
Fax: (325) 674-1307

Taylor County 104th District Court
300 Oak Street, #400
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1316
Fax: (325) 674-1307

Taylor County 326th District Court
300 Oak Street, #400
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1316
Fax: (325) 674-1307

Taylor County 350th District Court
300 Oak Street, #400
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1316
Fax: (325) 674-1307

Taylor County Constitutional Court

Taylor County Constitutional Court
300 Oak Street, #100
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1202
Fax: (325) 674-1279

Taylor County Courts at Law

Taylor County Court at Law No. 1
300 Oak Street, #100
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1202
Fax: (325) 674-1279

Taylor County Court at Law No. 2
300 Oak Street, #100
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1202
Fax: (325) 674-1279

Taylor County Justice Courts

Taylor County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Place 1
301 Oak Street, #611
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1338
Fax: (325) 674-1250

Taylor County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Place 2
301 Oak Street, #612
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1267
Fax: (325) 738-8514

Taylor County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
301 Kent Street
P.O. Box 225
Merkel, TX 79536
Phone: (325) 928-5114
Fax: (325) 928-1119

Taylor County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
442 Graham Street
P.O. Box 361
Tuscola, TX 79562
Phone: (325) 554-7893
Fax: (325) 554-7384

Taylor County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
155 Main Street
P.O. Box 5
Lawn, TX 79530
Phone: (325) 583-2341
Fax: (325) 583-2634

Taylor County Municipal Courts

Abilene Municipal Court
555 Walnut Street
Abilene, TX 79601
Phone: (325) 676-6333
Fax: (325) 676-6286

Merkel Municipal Court
100 Kent Street
Merkel, TX 79536
Phone: (325) 928-4911
Fax: (325) 928-3171

Tye Municipal Court
P.O. Box 369
Tye, TX 79563
Phone: (325) 692-9581

Are Abilene Court Records Public?

The court records of Abilene are open to the public under Texas law. However, where an order restricting access to a specific record is provided by the court, the record shall be excluded from public disclosure. Jones County District Court records and Taylor County District Court records are in the custody of the Jones County District Court Clerk and Taylor County District Court Clerk, respectively. Jones County Clerk and Taylor County Clerk maintain copies of the County Law records in their respective counties. The City of Abilene Municipal Court also provides residents with access to court records.

Can you look up an Abilene Court Case Online?

Jones County courts or their clerks do not provide online access to court records of cases decided by the courts.

For Taylor County, the County Clerk and District Court Clerk provides the public with access to court case information, including Abilene court cases through the Taylor County Court Records Inquiry portal. This portal has criminal case records as well as civil, family, and probate case records from September 1994 to date.

Users can search criminal case records by case, defendant, citation, and attorney. To carry out a case search, provide the case number or cross-reference number. For defendant searches, provide party information (name, business, another agency number, or SID) and date of birth. Provide a citation number for citation searches. Where it is an attorney search, provide attorney information (either the attorney’s name or bar number). Requesters will have to provide the case status and the date the case was filed for all searches. All searches can be sorted by filed date, case number, case status, and defendant’s name.

Civil, family, and probate case records can be searched by case, party, and attorney. The process is similar to that of criminal case records search.

How to Obtain Abilene Civil Court Case Records?

Abilene civil court case records are in the custody of the County Clerk and District Clerk of the Jones and Taylor County. To obtain copies of civil case records in the custody of either clerk in Jones County, make an in-person or mail request to the appropriate address and contact information below:

Jones County District Clerk
1100 12th Street
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3731
Fax: (325) 823-3289

Jones County Clerk
P.O. Box 552
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3762
Fax: (325) 823-3979

To obtain copies of Abilene civil court case records kept by the Taylor County Clerk, fill out the Request for Copy of Document form, include payment, and submit it in person or by mail to:

Taylor County Clerk
300 Oak Street
Suite 100
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 674-1202

Where the civil case record is at the Taylor County District Clerk’s Office, complete the Request for Civil Case Records form or write a letter stating interest in a particular record. Submit either of them with payment in person or by mail to:

Civil Records Division
Taylor County District Clerk’s Office
300 Oak Street
Suite 400
Abilene, TX 79602
(325) 674-1316

Each request must present the case number. Where it is without a case number the requester will pay $5 for the records research fee. A page of a civil case record costs $1.

How to Obtain Abilene Criminal Court Records?

Abilene criminal court records are maintained by the Jones County District Clerk and the Taylor County District Clerk. To get Abilene criminal court records at the office of the Jones County District Clerk, make an in-person or mail request to:

Jones County District Clerk
1100 12th Street
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3731
Fax: (325) 823-3289

For criminal court records at the Taylor County District Clerk’s Office, prepare a written request with the case number and other relevant details of the case. Visit the Clerk’s Office or submit a mail request to:

Taylor County District Clerk’s Office
Attn: Criminal Felony Court Records
300 Oak Street
Suite 400
Abilene, TX 79602
(325) 674-1316

If a requester provides the case number, the record costs $1 per page. Where the case number is not provided, an extra $5 will be charged.

What are Abilene Vital Records?

Abilene vital records are official files that document the occurrence of certain life events within the city. Abilene's vital records include birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Abilene divorce records are kept by the District Clerk in Jones and Taylor County. Abilene marriage, birth, and death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Jones and Taylor County. The Vital Statistics Office of the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District is the main repository of Abilene birth and death records. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is the state custodian of vital records.

Where and How to Obtain Abilene Divorce Records?

Abilene divorce records are in the custody of the District Clerk in Jones and Taylor County. To request Abilene divorce records from the Jones County District Clerk, make an in-person or mail request to:

Jones County District Clerk
1100 12th Street
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3731
Fax: (325) 823-3289

To obtain copies of Abilene divorce records in the custody of the Taylor County District Clerk, complete the Request for Divorce Decree. Submit the completed form with payment in person or by mail:

Family Records Division
Taylor County District Clerk
300 Oak Street
Suite 400
Abilene, TX 79602

Where and How to Get Public Abilene Marriage Records?

Abilene marriage records are maintained in Jones and Taylor County by the County Clerks. To order Abilene marriage certificates from Jones County Clerk, make mail application by submitting a written request with $20 payment to:

Jones County Clerk
P.O. Box 552
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3762
Fax: (325) 823-3979

Interested persons can make mail requests for Abilene marriage records from the Taylor County Clerk. Complete the Request for Copy of Marriage License, include payment ($12 per copy) and mail them to:

Taylor County Clerk’s Office
Marriage License
300 Oak Street
Suite 100
Abilene, TX 79602-1581
(325) 674-1202

Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Abilene?

All marriage records in Abilene are considered public.

Where and How to Find Abilene Birth Records?

Abilene birth records can be obtained at the city, county, and state levels. It costs $23 per copy. In Texas, birth records are considered closed records until after 75 years. Access to birth records is restricted to the following persons:

• The registrant
• An immediate family member
• A person with a direct and tangible interest in the record
• A person that has a significant legal relationship to the registrant
• A legal representative
• A personal representative or agent

Abilene birth records at the city level are in the custody of the Vital Statistics Office of the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District. Residents can make in-person or mail requests for Abilene birth certificates. To make a mail request, complete the Birth Certificate Mail Request Form. Enclose check or money order payment to the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District and a valid ID and mail them to:

Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District
Vital Statistics Office
P.O. Box 60
Abilene, TX 79604

To make an in-person request, complete the Birth Certificate Request Form and take it in person to:

850 North 6th Street
Abilene, TX 79601
(325) 692-5600

At the county level, the County Clerks of Jones and Taylor County manage copies of Abilene birth records. To obtain an Abilene birth certificate, fill out the Birth Certificate Application by Mail (Jones County Clerk) or the Birth Certificate Application (Taylor County Clerk). Attach payment and a copy of a valid ID and forward them by mail to the appropriate County Clerk at:

Jones County Clerk
P.O. Box 552
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3762
Fax: (325) 823-3979

Taylor County Clerk’s Office
300 Oak Street
Suite 100
Abilene, TX 79602-1581
(325) 674-1202

In-person requests can also be made to the office of the Taylor County Clerk by filling out the Birth Certificate Application (in person) and submitting it to the address above.

Where and How to Find Abilene Death Records?

Abilene death records are kept at the city, county, and state levels. An Abilene death certificate costs $21 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy requested at the same time. Death records in Texas are closed records until after 25 years. Only the following persons can access or request death records:

• An immediate family member of the deceased
• A person with a direct and tangible interest in the record
• A person that has a significant legal relationship with the deceased
• A legal representative of the deceased
• A personal representative or agent of the deceased

At the city level, the Vital Statistics Office of the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District maintains death records. It accepts walk-in and mail requests. To order a death record by mail, fill out the Death Certificate Mail Request Form. The filled-out form, a valid ID, and payment should be submitted by mail to:

Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District
Vital Statistics Office
P.O. Box 60
Abilene, TX 79604

To make a walk-in application, complete the Death Certificate Request Form, and submit it in-person to:

850 North 6th Street
Abilene, TX 79601
(325) 692-5600

The County Clerks of Jones and Taylor County keep copies of Abilene death records at the county level. To get copies of an Abilene death record, requesters must complete the Application for Death Certificate (Jones County Clerk) or the Death Certificate Application form (Taylor County Clerk). Provide payment and a copy of a valid ID, mail them to the appropriate County Clerk at:

Jones County Clerk
P.O. Box 552
Anson, TX 79501
Phone: (325) 823-3762
Fax: (325) 823-3979

Taylor County Clerk’s Office
300 Oak Street
Suite 100
Abilene, TX 79602-1581
(325) 674-1202