The Texas Department of Public safety monitors crime data and compiles periodic reports. According to records published by the department for 2017, the county recorded a total of 847 offenses, Larceny-theft accounted for most crimes with 472 incidents, followed by burglary and auto theft with 243 and 62 reports. Compared to the data published for the previous year, overall crime dropped by 1.1%. Reports of murder slid from 42 to 35 cases while violent assaults dropped by 36%.
Interested parties can obtain criminal records by contacting the Texas Department of Public Safety at:
Texas Department of Public Safety
Crime Records Service
CJIS Field Auditors
P.O. Box 4143
Austin, TX 78765
The department also maintains an online conviction database with different types of public data, including class B misdemeanors, convictions, prosecutions, and arrests. Members of the public can search for criminal records using an online platform.
In addition, the Bell County Sheriff's Department, in coordination with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), provides online access to a state-wide sex offender registry. Residents of the county can search for registrants by name. Searches can also be filtered to reveal offenders within a map address or offenders enrolled or working at institutes of higher education. The public registry is also available as a downloadable file for users who wish to run statistics or perform other operations.
The Bell County Sheriff's Department maintains an online inquiry portal that members of the public can use to find persons currently held in county jail. Searches can be made using the inmate name, booking number or custody number. Bell County Inmate Searches can also be refined to reveal inmates booked with a specific date range.
Information on persons currently held in state correctional inmate facilities can be obtained by contacting the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). It provides an online search service that interested parties can use to locate inmates. Searches can be conducted using the subject's name, SID (State Identification) number, or TDCJ number.
Bell County is home to district courts, constitutional courts, county courts, justice courts, and municipal courts. Each of these courts has different jurisdictions over different cases. District courts preside over civil and criminal cases, while constitutional courts have jurisdiction over most probate cases. They also share jurisdiction with Justice Courts in civil cases where the amount in controversy is up to $10,000. Residents can view district court records by visiting the courthouse at:
Bell County Justice Center
1201 Huey Rd, P.O. Box 909
Belton, TX 76513
Phone: (254) 933-5197 (Civil)
Fax: (254) 933-5292 (Civil)
Phone: (254) 933-5200 (Criminal)
Bell County Court Records can also be found using the court's online case search platform or by submitting a request in writing using the court's copy request form. Submitted applications must include the case number, type of case, the names of the parties involved, and the requester's contact details. Requests for case records filed at the district court should be sent to:
Attn: Copy Clerk
Bell County District Clerk
P.O. Box 909,
Belton, TX 76513
Bell County is also home to multiple municipal courts which have exclusive jurisdiction over ordinance and misdemeanors. Members of the public can obtain municipal court records by visiting the respective courthouse location where the case was tried.
Troy Municipal Court
201 E Main St
Troy, TX 76579
Phone: (254) 938-2505
Fax: (254) 938-2258
Temple Municipal Court
401 N 3rd St
Temple, TX 76501
Phone: 254-298-5
Salado Municipal Court
301 N Stagecoach Rd,
P.O. Box 219
Salado, TX 76571
Phone: (254) 947-5060
Fax: (254) 947-5061
Nolanville Municipal Court
101 N 5th St
Nolanville, TX 76559
Phone: (254) 698-6093
Fax: (254) 698-2540
Rogers Municipal Court
2 W Mesquite Ave,
P.O. Box 250
Rogers, TX 76569
Phone: (254) 642-3312
Fax: (254) 642-3102
Little River - Academy Municipal Court
P.O. Box 521
Little River, TX 76554
Phone: (254) 982-4248
Little River - Academy Municipal Court
P.O. Box 521
Little River, TX 76554
Phone: (254) 982-4248
Holland Municipal Court
102 W Travis,
P.O. Box 157
Holland, TX 76534
Phone: (254) 657-2460
Harker Heights Municipal Court
305 Miller's Crossing
Harker Heights, TX 76548
Phone: (254) 953-5620
Belton Municipal Court
100 S Davis Street,
P.O. Box 120
Belton, TX 76513
Phone: 254-933-583
Bartlett Municipal Court
PO Drawer H
Bartlett, TX 76511
Phone: (254) 527-3219
Bell County provides access to vital records at the county and state level. Applicants may be required to present a valid government-issued photo I.D, such as a driver's license or passport.
How to Obtain Divorce Records
Residents can obtain copies of divorce decrees granted in Bell County by contacting the district clerk's office located on the first floor of the Bell County Justice Complex at 1201 Huey Road in Belton. Records may also be available via mail. Interested parties must send a request in writing using the court's copy request form. Submitted applications must include the case number, names of the parties involved, and the requester's contact details. Requests should be sent to:
Attn: Copy Clerk
Bell County District Clerk
P.O. Box 909,
Belton, TX 76513
Obtaining Divorce Verifications
The Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit maintains records of divorces in Bell County and other parts of the state. However, it only issues divorce verifications and not copies of the actual decree. To request divorce records, interested parties must send a completed application form to the:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
The department charges a $20.00 fee for divorce verifications. Requests must include the date of the divorce, the name of the spouses at the time of divorce, and the requester's contact information.
How to Find Birth/Death Records
Qualified applicants can obtain birth/death records from the Bell County Clerk. The office processes in-person and mail requests. All applications must include proof of identification, the appropriate fee, and duly completed records request form. Residents can submit walk-in requests between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the following locations:
Main Office
Bell County Clerk's Office
Justice Courts Complex
1201 Huey Road
Belton, TX 76513
Killeen Satellite Office
Killeen
Killeen Annex
301 Priest Drive
Killeen, TX 76541
City of Temple
2 North Main
Temple, TX 76502
Mail requests should be sent to:
Bell County Clerk
Attn: Vital Records Department
P.O. Box 480,
Belton, TX 76513
The office charges a $23.00 fee for each certified copy of a birth record. Death records cost $21.00 for a certified copy and $4.00 for each additional copy.
In addition, the Texas Department of State Health Services processes requests for births and deaths records from 1903 till date. Requests can be made in person or by mail at:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
How to Obtain Marriage Records
Certified copies of a marriage record can be obtained by contacting the Bell County clerk's office at:
Bell County Clerk's Office
Attn: Vital Records
P.O. Box 480
Belton, TX 76513
The office charges $3.00 for each copy. Similarly, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics Unit issues marriage verifications for events in the state. To request marriage records, interested parties must send a completed application form to the:
Texas Vital Records
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 12040
Austin, TX 78711-2040
Part of the Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Statistical Area, Bell County provides online and physical access to a variety of records, ranging from police reports and crime statistics to regularly updated sex offender information. The county also provides vital records, including divorce, birth, and marriage records. Some of these records are available for free online while others require paying fees or completing applications forms. Compared to other counties, court records in the county are slightly more difficult to find while vital records are moderately easy. For records that prove elusive, the search tool provided at Texas.StateRecords.org may help.
COURT HOUSESBell County court
Address: 3078, 101 W Central Ave, Belton, TX 76513
Phone: (254) 939-3521
Bell County Sheriff's Office
Address: 104 S Main St, Belton, TX 76513