Austin County Sex Offender Registry

Austin County, located in Southeast Texas with Bellville as its county seat, maintains sex offender registration through the Sheriff's Office and reports all records to the Texas DPS public registry. This page is about Austin County, the county, not the city of Austin. You can search for registered sex offenders in Bellville and throughout Austin County using the DPS online portal at no cost.

Austin County Sheriff's Office

The Austin County Sheriff's Office is located at 417 N. Chesley Street, Bellville, Texas 77418. The main phone number is (979) 865-3111. The fax number is (979) 865-8271. The Sheriff's Office also operates a Crime Stoppers line at (979) 865-2949. The Sheriff handles sex offender registration for residents in unincorporated areas of Austin County. Registration is conducted Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

The Sheriff's Office forwards all sex offender registration information to the Texas Department of Public Safety for inclusion in the statewide public registry. Residents who live within the city limits of Bellville or other incorporated cities in Austin County must register with the applicable city police department rather than the Sheriff. If you are unsure which agency covers your address, call the Sheriff's Office before your registration deadline.

The official Austin County Sheriff's Office website provides information about law enforcement services and public records in the county. The screenshot below is from that site.

The Sheriff's Office site is the starting point for registration questions and local law enforcement contact information in Austin County.

Public Information and Registry Access

The Austin County Sheriff's Office maintains a public information section at austincountyso.org/public-information. That page provides general access to records and registration services available through the Sheriff. The image below was captured from the public information page of the Austin County Sheriff's Office website.

Use the public information section of the Sheriff's site for record requests and other public access tools specific to Austin County.

To search for registered sex offenders in Austin County using the statewide tool, visit the Texas DPS registry at sor.dps.texas.gov. The search is free and lets you look up offenders by name, address, or zip code. Results show each person's photo, address, and offense details.

Austin County Government and Court Records

The Austin County government website at austincounty.com provides access to information about elected officials and county services. The image below comes from that site.

The county government site links to the County Clerk and District Clerk offices, which maintain criminal court records for sex offense cases. Those records are public information and can be requested through the clerk's offices.

Court records from the District Clerk can show conviction details, sentencing, and registration orders tied to specific cases. These records and the DPS registry are separate systems. The registry shows current registration status, while court records reflect the full history of a criminal case from filing to final judgment.

Texas Law on Sex Offender Registration

Texas sex offender registration is governed by Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The law applies to anyone convicted of a qualifying sex offense who establishes a residence in Texas. In Austin County, that means registering with the Sheriff for rural addresses or with local police for city addresses.

Offenders must register within seven days of moving to a new address. Annual in-person verification is required. Higher-risk offenders may be required to verify every 90 days. Any change of address must be reported to local law enforcement within seven days. Failing to register or missing a verification is a felony in Texas. Most offenders remain on the registry for life unless a court grants a removal petition.

• Register within 7 days of moving to Austin County
• Report in person to the Sheriff or local police
• Provide current address, photo, and offense information
• Annual in-person verification at minimum
• Report address changes within 7 days