What are Garland Public Records?
Garland public records consist of documents generated, collected, and assembled by govt agencies while conducting public business. The Texas Public Information Act empowers any person, not just citizens, with the right to request any general information. Record seekers do not need to give a purpose for which they need the record. In compliance with the Act, record custodians are required to supply requested documents within ten days from when applications are received. However, custodians have the power to prevent the disclosure of records that are adjudged to be confidential. This category of documents include:
- Trade secrets
- Photos from sensitive crime scenes
- Records of attorney consultations
- Records of real estate transactions
- Records of students examination reports
- Records of personnel files
- Records of participants in an execution procedure
In addition to official sources, public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. Record seekers may opt to use these non-governmental platforms to search for a specific document or multiple city records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The name of the subject involved in the record (not juvenile)
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Government agencies do not sponsor third-party sites. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
City of Garland Crime Statistics.
The Garland Police Department GPD is responsible for crime response and management. It also generates crime trends, traffic offense statistics, and other data connected with local crime management. These crime reports are published every year in the accounts of the Federal Bureau of Intelligence-Uniform Crime Reporting Program. In 2019, the FBI-UCR published a total of 6311 reported cases of property crime, 738 total cases of violent crimes, and 9 cases of arson. Larceny-thefts and burglary were the most recurring crimes, with 4337 cases and 1,003 cases, respectively. These were followed by motor vehicle thefts, aggravated assaults, and robbery with 971 cases, 338 cases, and 250 cases respectively. The crime cases were observed to be on the decline when compared with the published reports of 2017. Property crimes slid by 12%, while total cases of violent crime declined by 1.3%. Cases of arson reduced from 15 to 9 cases, reflecting a 40% decline. In contrast, cases of motor vehicle theft, aggravated assaults, rape, and murder were observed to increase in incidence by 19.9%, 15.8%, 7.8%, and 37.5% respectively within the two-year period.
Are Garland Criminal Records Public?
Although most of Garland's criminal records fall under the umbrella of public records, information that is considered sensitive, confidential, or containing personal records may not be released to the public. Residents may obtain some types of criminal records, such as records of prosecution, records of arrest, the pronouncement of convictions, adjudications, and probations. The Texas Department of Public Safety operates a Crime Records Service portal. Similarly, the Department of Criminal Justice provides access to limited supervision data through its Computerized Criminal History System.
How to Obtain City of Garland Police Reports and Arrest Records
Members of the public who are interested in police reports and arrest records in the City of Garland can obtain the records from the Garland Police Department or the Dallas County Sheriff Department. Requests for a police report may be made by contacting the record custodian at the:
Garland Police Department
1891 Forest Lane Garland,
TX 75042.
(972) 205-2018
Alternatively, record seekers can contact the records custodian at the Dallas County Sheriff Department at the:
Dallas County Sheriff Department
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75207
Phone Inquiry: (214) 653-3419
How to Find Sex Offender Information in the City of Garland
The Garland Police Department provides information on registered sex offenders via an Offenders Interactive Map operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas state laws compel every convicted sex offender to register with local law enforcement agencies in whichever county, city, or municipality they reside. Law enforcement agencies are mandated to notify the public of any newly registered sex offender in the community. This may be printed in the local newspapers. In the City of Garland, law enforcement agencies sometimes publish notifications about newly registered sex offenders in the legal notice section of the Garland Morning News. Members of the public may also contact the Garland Police Department for sex offenders information at:
Garland Police Department
200 N. Fifth St.
Garland, TX 75040
Convicted Sex offenders in the City of Garland who fail to register with local law enforcement agencies are published on the Wanted Sex Offenders List by the Garland Police Department. The Wanted Sex Offenders List publishes identifying information about the convicted sex offenders and the phone number to contacts in case they are found. Another option to obtain sex offender information is to use the statewide online Public Sex Offenders Registry Search operated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
How to Find City of Garland Inmate Records
Records of inmates housed in correctional facilities within the city can be obtained through the Garland Jail Texas Inmate Roster. Users will need to provide the first name and the last name of the suspected inmate. A searcher may find out if someone is in the Garland Detention Center (Jail) by contacting the jail facility on Phone: (972) 485-4890 or in-person using the following contact address:
Garland Detention Center (Jail)
1900 W State Street
Garland, TX 75042
How Do I Visit an inmate in the City of Garland Jail?
The City of Garland Detention Center (Jail) allows inmates to receive visitors on Sundays, between the hours of 8.00 a.m and 10.00 a.m., and on Wednesdays between the hours of 7.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. An intending visitor is expected to know the name of the person they wish to visit in the detention. Visitors must be above 17 years of age or be accompanied by their parents or spouse to the inmate. Visitors must also present a valid government-issued photo identity card. The Garland Detention Center is a temporary holding facility. Inmates may be detained for not more than 72 hours prior to being transferred to other facilities or they are discharged. The visitation period does not exceed 10 minutes per session. It should be noted that a visit is only allowed subject to the willingness of the inmate to speak with the visitor. The Garland Detention Center (Jail) is located at
1900 W State Street,
Garland, TX 75042
What are City of Garland Vital Records?
Vital Records of the City of Garland are records of critical life events that occurred in the city, such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees. These records are mostly compiled from the scenes of the event by officials of government agencies in charge of such events. Members of the public can obtain copies of vital records by requesting from the record custodian in the agency that maintains the specific type of record.
Where and How to Obtain City of Garland Divorce Records
Garland's divorce records are public records. They are maintained both by the Clerk of the District Court in Dallas County and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Persons eligible to request for a divorce record are limited to the immediate family members of the registrant or one authorized by a court order. Requesters will be required to provide a government-issued I.D card and a completed Civil and Family Record Request Form. Records seekers may also apply to the Clerk in person using the following address:
Dallas County District Clerk
Attn: Civil & Family Court Records
George Allen Courts Building
600 Commerce St. Ste. B-30
Dallas, Texas 75202
Requestors applying through the Texas Department of State Health Services will complete a Divorce Record Application form. They will also be required to pay $20 for each divorce record search, and $20 for each printed copy. Payments are accepted in credit cards and personal checks.
Where and How to get Public City of Garland Marriage Records
Records of Public Marriages in the City of Garland are obtainable from the Dallas County Clerk and the Texas Department of Health Services. These are released on-demand to members of the immediate family of either of the couples. Other categories of requestors for public marriage records will need to provide a justifying legal document to prove their right to request the document. The Texas Department of Health Services requires a requestor to complete a Mail Application for Marriage Verification online. A fee of $20 is charged for each search for public marriage, and another $20 for each printed copy of the record requested. The Clerk of the Dallas County District Court can also be contacted for records of public marriage by email on dcrecords@dallascounty.org. Or physically, at:
George Allen Courts Building
600 Commerce Street
Basement “B” Floor West
Dallas, TX 75202
The requestor will need to attach a completed Civil and Family Records Request Form to the email or take the completed form physically to the District Court Clerk
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in the City of Garland
Records of confidential marriages are not public information. The couples and anyone they have authorized are the only persons who may request copies of confidential marriage records. Either of the couples may make a request for the records of their confidential marriage in person at the Texas Vital Records office using the following address:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
They may also apply in person at the office of the Dallas County District Court at the following address:
George Allen Courts Building
600 Commerce Street
Basement “B” Floor West
Dallas, TX 75202
Where and How to Find City of Garland Birth Records
Records of birth in the City of Garland within the first 75 years are not public information. However, they are allowed to be requested by the registrant and members of their immediate family. Texas state law recognizes the children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and spouse. Any other person may need to be authorized by the registrant or member of their immediate family by a written, notarized letter for the application. A birth certificate request through the office of the Dallas County Clerk requires the requestor to supply the full name of the registrant as it appears on the birth record. Other information required to be submitted include:
- Date and county of the birth
- Parent(s) name, including mother's maiden name
- Relationship of the requestor to the registrant
- The mailing address of the requestor
- The purpose for which the birth certificate is needed
- The name of the hospital where the birth took place
- Money order of $23.03 for each copy of birth record requested, made payable to John F. Warren, Dallas County Clerk's Office.
In-person requestors are allowed to pay in cash at the office but payment through credit card is not allowed. The Dallas County Clerk can be contacted from Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 8:00 a.m to 4.30 p.m. at:
Renaissance Tower
1201 Elm Street, 21st Floor, Suite 2100A,
Dallas, TX 75270
Phone: (214) 653-7099
Fax: (214) 653-7176
Where and How to Find City of Garland Death Records
Death records in the City of Garland are not public records for 25 years after the demise of the registrant. During this period, custodians may release existing records to members of the immediate family of the deceased. Texas statutes recognize members of the immediate family of a deceased are the children, parents, grandparents, siblings, spouse, or persons with legal representation with the deceased. Anyone can request a death record after 25 years of the demise of the registrant. Requestors are required to complete a Texas Death Certificate Application form and mail it with a request to the Texas office Vital Statistics. They are also required to present a government-issued identification card, payment of $20 for the first copy of the death certificate requested, and $3 for additional copies. These are to be mailed to:
Texas Vital Statistics
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
Records seekers may also complete an Application For A Death Certificate Form and submit it with payments and identification documents at the Dallas County Clerk's Office at:
Renaissance Tower
1201 Elm Street, 21st Floor, Suite 2100A,
Dallas, TX 75270
Phone: (214) 653-7099
Fax: (214) 653-7176
A non-refundable search fee of $21 is required for the first copy of the requested death record and $4 for each additional copy.
