Warrant records in Rains County, Texas are considered public records pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). This legislation establishes that government records are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law. The Texas Public Information Act serves to promote transparency in government operations and ensures citizens' right to access information about warrants issued within county jurisdiction.
Public access to warrant information is maintained in accordance with Texas Government Code § 552.021, which states that public information is available to the public during normal business hours of the governmental body. This transparency mechanism serves multiple purposes:
The Rains County Sheriff's Office and District Clerk maintain these records in compliance with state regulations governing public information accessibility.
Warrant records maintained by the Rains County District Clerk typically contain the following information as required by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.02:
Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of warrant records in accordance with Texas Government Code § 552.1175, which protects personal information of certain officials, including law enforcement personnel.
Members of the public may verify warrant status in Rains County through several no-cost methods established under Texas Government Code § 552.221:
In-person inquiries at the Rains County District Clerk's Office Rains County Courthouse Annex 220 W. Quitman Street, Suite C Emory, TX 75440 Phone: (903) 473-5000 ext. 118 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Direct contact with the Rains County Sheriff's Office Rains County Sheriff's Office 240 West Highway 69 Emory, TX 75440 Phone: (903) 473-3181 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Utilization of public access terminals located at the Rains County Courthouse Annex 220 W. Quitman Street Emory, TX 75440 Available during regular business hours
Requestors should be prepared to provide identifying information such as full name and date of birth to facilitate accurate record searches. Pursuant to Texas Administrative Code Title 1, Part 3, Chapter 70, Rule § 70.13, government agencies may require proper identification when providing access to records containing sensitive personal information.
The Rains County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for executing warrants within county jurisdiction. Sheriff warrants are official documents issued by judicial authorities in accordance with Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 15.
Sheriff warrants in Rains County are categorized as follows:
The execution of warrants falls under the authority of the Sheriff as established by Texas Local Government Code § 85.021, which designates the sheriff as the county's chief law enforcement officer. Deputies are authorized to serve warrants throughout Rains County and, under certain circumstances, in adjacent jurisdictions through mutual aid agreements.
Individuals seeking to determine warrant status in Rains County in 2025 may utilize several official channels established by the county government:
Direct verification through the Rains County District Clerk's Office Rains County Courthouse Annex 220 W. Quitman Street, Suite C Emory, TX 75440 Phone: (903) 473-5000 ext. 118 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Contact the Rains County Sheriff's Office Records Division 240 West Highway 69 Emory, TX 75440 Phone: (903) 473-3181 Email: records@rainscounty.org (for general inquiries only) Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Access the Rains County official website for potential online search capabilities (Note: Online availability of warrant information may be subject to system upgrades and policy changes)
Consult with the Justice of the Peace offices for Class C misdemeanor warrants Rains County Justice of the Peace 220 W. Quitman Street Emory, TX 75440 Phone: (903) 473-5000 ext. 109
Pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.26, individuals with active warrants may be subject to immediate arrest. Therefore, addressing warrant issues promptly through proper legal channels is advisable.
The verification of outstanding warrants in Rains County is facilitated through established procedures in compliance with Texas Government Code § 552.021. Members of the public may utilize the following methods:
Submit a Public Information Request to the Rains County Clerk Rains County Courthouse Annex 220 W. Quitman St., Suite B Emory, TX 75440 Phone: (903) 473-5000 ext. 103 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Contact the Rains County Sheriff's Office Warrants Division 240 West Highway 69 Emory, TX 75440 Phone: (903) 473-3181 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Utilize the public access computer terminals at the Rains County Courthouse 220 W. Quitman Street Emory, TX 75440 Available during regular business hours
Consult with the Municipal Court for city ordinance violations Emory Municipal Court 399 N. Texas Street Emory, TX 75440 Phone: (903) 473-2465
Requestors should note that pursuant to Texas Administrative Code Title 1, Part 3, Chapter 70, Rule § 70.13, proper identification may be required when requesting information that contains personally identifiable data. Additionally, certain fees may apply for document copies in accordance with the fee schedule established by the Rains County Commissioners Court.