Howard County Booking Releases
Howard County booking releases are public records kept by the Howard County Sheriff's Office in Big Spring, Texas. This page covers how to search the jail roster, what booking records contain, and where to get additional records under the Texas Public Information Act.
Howard County Overview
Search Howard County Booking Releases Online
Howard County uses the Odyssey Public Access system for judicial and jail record searches. This platform lets you look up custody and bond records by entering a full legal name or booking number. Odyssey is a widely used court records system that shows case status, bond amounts, charge details, and custody information in one place.
To search Howard County jail records online, go to the county's Odyssey portal and enter the name of the person you are looking for. Results show current custody status, charges filed, bond set, and the court handling the case. The system is linked to both the jail and the courts, so information updates as cases move through the system.
Big Spring City Jail information is also available through bigspringcityjailtx.org, which covers city-level arrests in addition to the county jail. If someone was arrested by Big Spring Police Department rather than the county sheriff, their records may show under the city jail. Both resources pull from the same Odyssey database used by Howard County courts.
For current inmate status by phone, contact the Howard County Sheriff's Office directly. Staff can confirm whether a named person is in custody and provide basic booking information at no charge. For full records including incident reports and arrest affidavits, a written Public Information Act request is required.
Howard County Sheriff's Office Records Department
The Howard County Sheriff's Office in Big Spring is the main custodian of booking and arrest records for the county. The office handles public records requests under the Texas Public Information Act and must respond to written requests within 10 business days. Basic custody checks can be done by phone during business hours.
| Office | Howard County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Location | Big Spring, TX |
| County Seat | Big Spring, Howard County, TX |
| Records System | Odyssey Public Access |
| District Court | 118th Judicial District |
Written records requests should cite the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) and include the subject's full name, date of birth if known, and the type of record you need. Mail your request to the Howard County Sheriff's Office Records Division in Big Spring. Fees for copies follow state standards: $0.10 per page for standard copies, with additional costs for certified copies.
Note: Howard County uses the Odyssey court records platform. Some records may be viewed directly through the online portal without a written request. For arrest affidavits, incident reports, or records not in Odyssey, submit a written Public Information Act request to the sheriff's office.
What Howard County Booking Records Contain
When someone is booked into the Howard County Jail, a booking record is created. That record is public under the Texas Public Information Act. Howard County booking releases typically include the person's full legal name, date of birth, physical description, booking date and time, arresting agency, charges filed, and bond amount. Release dates are added once the person leaves custody.
The Odyssey system shows linked court case information, so you can often see the charge, case number, and next court date all in the same search. Bond type is also shown, including personal recognizance bonds, cash bonds, and surety bonds.
Some records are not public. Active criminal investigation files, juvenile records, mental health records, and records subject to a sealed order from a judge are exempt from disclosure. If the Howard County Sheriff's Office withholds records, they must tell you which exemption applies. You may then seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General if you believe the exemption is improper.
An arrest record does not mean guilt. Howard County booking records show when a person was taken into custody and what charges were filed at that time. Charges may later be dismissed, reduced, or result in a not-guilty verdict. These records are separate from conviction records maintained by the Texas DPS Crime Records Division.
State Resources for Howard County Inmate Searches
If the person you need to find is serving time in a Texas state prison rather than the county jail, use the TDCJ Offender Search. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice runs this free tool, which covers all state prison units across Texas. You can search by last name and first initial, TDCJ number, or SID number.
State-level criminal history records are available from the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. A name-based search costs $10 and takes about 10 business days. A fingerprint search costs $15 plus a $10 fingerprinting fee and returns more complete results. These records cover arrests across Texas, not just Howard County.
For court case records tied to Howard County arrests, use reSearchTX, the Texas court records portal. This system covers district and county courts and is maintained by the Office of Court Administration. It shows case numbers, charge details, disposition data, and hearing dates.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards oversees all county jails in Texas including Howard County. Their site has inspection records and population reports for every county jail in the state.
Texas Public Information Act and Booking Records
Booking records in Texas are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Any person can request them. You do not need to say why you want the records. The Howard County Sheriff's Office must respond within 10 business days of receiving a written request.
Requests can be submitted in writing by mail, email, fax, or in person. Basic custody status can be checked by phone at no charge. If the office needs to charge fees for copies or labor, they must notify you before filling the request. You can then decide whether to proceed.
For court case records related to Howard County arrests, contact the Howard County District Clerk. Court filings, judgments, and case histories are separate from jail booking records and are kept by the clerk rather than the sheriff.
If you believe a records request was improperly denied, you can seek a ruling from the Office of the Texas Attorney General. The AG's office has authority to review whether an agency correctly applied a Public Information Act exemption. This process is free and open to any person.
Howard County Booking Records
The Howard County Sheriff's Office is one of the key resources for Howard County booking release records and inmate information.
This screenshot shows the official Howard County Sheriff's Office portal for searching Howard County booking releases and current inmates.
Nearby Counties
Howard County sits in West Texas and borders several other counties in the Permian Basin region.