What are Plano City Public Records?
Per the Texas Public Information Act, public records consist of all documents and information assembled, collected, and maintained by government agencies within the city during the course of official business. Residents have the right to inspect or obtain copies of these records. However, the information in some records may be redacted or restricted if it contains:
- Information that includes educational records
- Information protected by client-attorney privilege
- Information that contains trade secrets or financial information
- Information that contains records that may constitute an invasion of privacy
- Information sealed by the court or considered confidential
- Information that may endanger the life of a security guard or officer
- Information that contains trade secrets
- Information that may be associated with a proposed legislation
Plano City Crime Statistics
The Plano Police Department complies, classifies, and reports annual crime statistics as part of the FBI uniform crime report. According to results published for 2019, the city recorded a total of 5,339 reported incidents. Property crimes made up most of the reported crimes, with 4,908 incidents versus 431 reports of violent crime. A further breakdown of figures reveals that larceny-theft was the most recurring crime with 3,831 reported incidents followed by burglary and vehicle theft with 630 and 447 cases. The city recorded 194 cases of aggravated assault, 144 incidences of robbery, and 3 homicides. Compared to the rest of the country, Plano was safer than nearly 59% of other major cities. Residents had a 1 in 60 chance of being the victim of a property crime and 1 in 677 chance of being the victim of a violent crime.
Are Plano Criminal Records Public?
Some records fall under the umbrella of public records while others are restricted from public view. The Plano Police Department processes requests for a wide variety of open records, including accident reports, arrest records and criminal reports. Requests can be made by victims of a crime, witnesses, or legal representatives of victims.
How to Obtain Plano Police Reports and Arrest Records?
Members of the public can submit requests for public criminal records using the Plano public records center. Requests must be submitted in writing. Requests are not accepted by telephone or via email. Individuals looking to obtain more records will find repositories online managed by the Collins County clerk and Denton County clerk in the Plano City Area. In-person requests can be made by visiting any of the offices below:
Police Headquarters
909 14th Street,
Plano, TX 75074
Or
Plano Police Department
Open Records Unit
P.O. Box 860358
Plano, TX 75086
Walk-in requests and in-person payments can also be made by visiting the:
East Side
Raymond Robinson Justice Center
900 E 15th St
Plano, TX 75074
Tel: (972) 941-2199
West Side Location:
7501 Independence Parkway
Plano, TX 75025
For residents in Denton County, additional information can be accessed by contacting the Sheriff’s Office Records (Denton County). The processing time for records typically takes ten working days from the date of receipt.
How to Obtain Information on Sex Offenders
The Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) provides an online platform that houses records of registered sex offenders residing in Plano and other parts of the state. Residents can conduct searches by name or location. Results can also be filtered to reveal registered offenders residing in close proximity to any institution of higher learning. The department also provides a free downloadable version of the public sex offender registry. Sex offender information can also be accessed through the judicial record section of both Denton and Collin Counties. They form part of a shared repository for the combined storage and administration of records and information relating to sex offenders in Plano City and Texas as a whole.
How to Find Plano City Inmate Records
The Plano City Jail is a short-term facility that only holds inmates for a maximum of 72 hours before a transfer. Residents may be able to obtain information on detained inmates by visiting the jail at:
Plano City Jail, City Jail.
909 East 14th St., Plano, TX 75074
(972) 424-5678
Inmates moved from the Plano City Jail may either be transferred to the Denton County Jail or Collin County Detention Facility. Records of inmates held in correctional facilities maintained under Denton County can be found using the county’s online jail records search. Users can search for defendants by booking date, defendant's name, or booking number. Similarly, the Collin County Sheriff’s office provides public access to inmate records via an online search tool. Interested parties can search through the index by name.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Plano City Jail?
Approved persons may visit an inmate housed in the Plano Jail between the hours of 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. daily. Visitors will need to contact the detention supervisor to verify approval. Inmates are restricted to two visitors each day and a maximum of 30 minutes per visit. Visitors are also required to provide a valid government-issued I.D such as a driver’s license.
How to Visit an Inmate in Denton County Jail
Inmates at the Denton County Jail may only receive remote visits via video. Inmates are allowed a maximum of two free visits each week. On-site public visits are scheduled on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, while remote home visits occur on Sunday through Saturday. Interested persons will need to register for video visitation at least 24 hours in advance. All visits must be initiated and approved by the inmate.
How to Visit an Inmate in Collin County Detention Facility
Visitors to the Collin County Detention Facility are required to submit a completed visitor registration form before their visit. All visitors must be at least 18 years old. Visitors are also expected to provide a valid government-issued ID, which will be presented at check-in. The list of persons who may be approved for a visit include:
- Immediate family members
- Friends
- Sponsors
- Attorneys
- Employers
- Other relatives
While walk-in visits are possible, the detention facility treats visits on a first-come-first-serve basis. Friends and families can schedule visits in advance by contacting the facility at
Note: Visits are rarely permitted for parolees, individuals with an outstanding warrant, or persons deemed to be a security risk.
Court Records
The city of Plano is home to multiple courts, including two justice of the peace precinct courts and a municipal court. The peace courts have jurisdiction over a variety of criminal and civil cases, such as traffic misdemeanors, financial limits, foreclosure of mortgages, and small claims. The Plano Texas public records center provides online access to court records covering the municipal area. However, records in this portal only consist of Class C crimes, which are destroyed five years from the disposition date. Members of the public can also obtain more records by conducting online searches on repositories managed by the Denton County clerk and Collins County. Similarly, court records can be obtained by submitting a request to the clerk at the courthouses where the case was filed.
Location of Courts
Collin County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 - Place 1
920 E Park Blvd, #220, Plano, TX 75074
(972) 881-3001
(972) 881-3157
Collin County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 - Place 2
920 E Park Blvd, #210, Plano, TX 75074
(972) 424-1460 ext. 3051
(972) 881-3098
Plano Municipal Court
East Side location:
Raymond Robinson Justice Center
900 E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074
(972) 941-2199
West Side Location:
7501 Independence Parkway
Plano, TX 75025
Vital Records
Plano vital records can be obtained at the county and state levels. This includes birth certificates, death certificates, and records of domestic partnerships or dissolutions. In line with the state's code, only authorized persons may receive certified copies of a report. Proof of relationship is often required. Applicants may be restricted from obtaining certified records depending on their eligibility. Certain vital records, such as birth and death records only become public after a fixed period has elapsed.
How to Obtain Divorce Records
Access to copies of divorce decrees filed within Plano city can be obtained by contacting the district clerk's office where the case was filed. Records for divorces filed within Denton county can be obtained by submitting a completed request form to the district clerk's office located at
1450 East McKinney Street
1st Floor
Denton, TX 76209-4524
Or mailed to:
P.O. Box 2146
Denton, TX 76202-2146
Applications must include the full names of the spouses, the city where the divorce was granted, and the date of the event (or a range of years).
How to Obtain Divorce Verification Letters
The Texas Department of State Health Services also manages records of divorces issued in the state since 1968. The office maintains an online divorce index, which includes a compilation of divorce decrees or marriage annulments sent by the clerk's office. The office doesn’t provide certified copies of divorce decrees. Instead, it provides divorce verification letters on request.
To request a divorce verification letter online, requesters must complete an online application. Interested parties can also request a divorce verification letter by filling out a request form and mailing it to:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756-3191
How to Obtain Birth and Death Certificates
The Vital Statistics Unit of the Texas Department of State Health Services is responsible for issuing certified copies of birth and death certificates. The department does not maintain an online searchable index. Instead, it accepts requests made online or sent by mail.
To search for a record online, interested parties must complete a vital records application. The application can also be used to obtain other vital records, including divorce verification, marriage verification, death certificate, or birth certificates. Payments for online requests can only be made via a major debit card (MasterCard or Visa) or a credit card. Confirmed requests cannot be canceled. In the event that the requested record isn’t found, payments are non-transferable and non-refundable. Processing time for most orders ranges from 20 to 25 business.
How to Obtain a Birth or Death Verification By Mail
To obtain a death or birth verification by mail, download an application form for death records or birth records and send the completed form to the:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th St.
Austin, TX 78756
Applications should include a photocopy of a valid ID. Requests made by mail take an average of six to eight weeks to process. However, searches can be fast-tracked by paying an expedited fee and using an overnight mail service like UPS, Lonestar, and FedEx.
The Texas Department of State Health Services charges a $22.00 fee for birth records, $20.00 for death records, and $5.00 for expedited searches. An extra $8.00 is required for return delivery via Lonestar or FedEx (or $22.95 for express mail). Payments should be made either with a check or money order.
Note: W_alk-in requests for death and birth records cost the same. They also have the shortest processing time, ranging from 5 to 30 minutes. Payments can be made with cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card._
How to Obtain Marriage Records
Parties looking to obtain Marriage records will find them at offices of the county clerk of courts within the Plano municipal area. For requesters within Collin County, a record requests form can be downloaded from the Collin County website or a request made in person at the County Clerk's Office located at, 900 E Park Suite, 140-C Plano, Texas 75074. Requests for records of marriages filed in Denton County should be directed to the District Clerk's office located at:
1450 East McKinney Street
1st Floor
Denton, TX 76209-4524
Or mailed to:
P.O. Box 2146
Denton, TX 76202-2146
All requests should include a duly filled application form, a government-issued photo identification, and applicable fees.
