McAllen Arrest Records and Booking Reports
McAllen booking reports come from the McAllen Police Department's Crime Records Bureau, which serves as the main records office for arrest data in the city. McAllen is in Hidalgo County, so county-level detention and jail records go through the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office in Edinburg. You can search McAllen arrest records online through the city's records portal or contact the Crime Records Unit directly. For inmates currently held at Hidalgo County facilities, the sheriff's office maintains an online inmate search as well.
McAllen Overview
McAllen Police Crime Records Bureau
The McAllen Police Department operates a Crime Records Bureau at 1601 N. Bicentennial Blvd. That office handles case report requests, accident report requests, criminal history requests, alarm permits, fingerprinting, and other records services. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The bureau is closed on weekends and holidays. The direct line for the Crime Records Unit is (956) 681-2080.
The city of McAllen provides online access to some records through their public site at mcallen.net. The records bureau page at mcallen.net/departments/pd/records-bureau has information on what you can request and how to submit. Online requests are available for some record types. Others require an in-person visit or a written request by mail.
| Agency | McAllen Police Department - Crime Records Bureau |
|---|---|
| Address | 1601 N. Bicentennial Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501 |
| Mailing Address | Attn: Crime Records Unit, P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX 78505-0220 |
| Phone | (956) 681-2080 |
| Main Department | (956) 681-2000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Website | mcallen.net/departments/pd/records-bureau |
One important rule: civil subpoenas are not accepted by email, fax, or regular mail per Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. If you need to serve the department with a subpoena, contact the department directly to find out the proper procedure. For most booking report requests, a written request by mail to the P.O. Box address works fine.
The McAllen city website at mcallen.net serves as the central hub for all city department services, including police records access.
You can find links to the Crime Records Bureau and other public safety resources directly from the main city site.
Hidalgo County Jail and Inmate Search
McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County. After a McAllen arrest, inmates who need longer-term detention transfer to the Hidalgo County Jail operated by the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office in Edinburg. The sheriff's office maintains an online inmate search tool so you can check whether someone is currently in custody.
You can reach the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office at (956) 383-8114. Their address is 711 E. Cibolo Road, Edinburg, TX 78542. They also accept public information requests by email at public.info@hidalgoso.org. The fax number is (956) 393-6179. If you need inmate status for someone recently arrested in McAllen, the sheriff's office is the right place to check after the initial Pasadena PD booking period.
Note: Inmate search results from the Hidalgo County Sheriff reflect current custody status and may not include everyone recently arrested and quickly released on bond.
The McAllen Police Records Bureau page at mcallen.net outlines what types of records are available and how to submit a request.
The bureau accepts requests for case reports, accident reports, criminal history, and other police records during regular business hours.
How to Request McAllen Booking Records
The Texas Public Information Act, found in Texas Government Code Chapter 552, gives you the right to request booking reports and arrest records from McAllen PD. The department must respond within 10 business days. If your request is large or complex, they may ask the Texas Attorney General for a ruling on whether certain parts can be withheld, and that process can take up to 45 days.
To request records, you can go in person to the Crime Records Bureau at 1601 N. Bicentennial Blvd during business hours, call (956) 681-2080, or mail a written request to P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX 78505-0220 addressed to the Crime Records Unit. Online requests may also be available through the city's public records portal. The department handles case reports, criminal history checks, and accident reports through this same office.
Fees for records fall under Texas Administrative Code rules. Standard paper copies are typically 10 cents per page. There may be additional charges for computer resources or staff time if a request requires extensive research. Accident reports cost a small fee through the TxDOT system as well.
What McAllen Booking Reports Contain
McAllen booking reports include the standard set of information that Texas agencies record at the time of an arrest. The specific data elements logged at booking are:
- Full name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Physical description including height, weight, and hair and eye color
- Arrest date, time, and location
- Arresting officer and agency
- Charges filed and applicable statutes
- Bond amount and type
- Booking number and facility
Mugshot photos are part of the booking process but may be withheld in some cases depending on agency policy and whether any Public Information Act exemptions apply. Criminal history requests through the McAllen Crime Records Bureau can include prior records in addition to the most recent arrest. Fingerprinting services are also available at the bureau for background check purposes.
State Resources for McAllen Records
Beyond local McAllen and Hidalgo County sources, several state-level resources can help you find booking and arrest information. The Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Division maintains a statewide criminal history database. You can request certified criminal history records through their online system at dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records. That database pulls from law enforcement agencies across all Texas counties, not just Hidalgo County.
The statewide court search tool re:SearchTX can show case records if a McAllen arrest moved into the Hidalgo County court system. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards at tcjs.state.tx.us has oversight data on local jails including Hidalgo County facilities. If someone's sentence resulted in a transfer to state prison, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at tdcj.texas.gov has an offender search tool.
Hidalgo County Booking Records
McAllen is in Hidalgo County, and county-level jail records go through the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office. For broader county coverage including arrests from other Hidalgo County cities, the county page has information on how the county manages booking data and how to contact county agencies directly.