Search Castro County Sex Offenders

Castro County is a Panhandle county in West Texas with Dimmit as its county seat. The Castro County Sheriff's Office handles sex offender registration for residents in unincorporated areas of the county, and all registration data is submitted to the Texas DPS for public access. This page explains how to search for registered sex offenders in Castro County and what the registration process entails under Texas law.

Castro County Sheriff's Office

The Castro County Sheriff's Office in Dimmit is the registration authority for sex offenders who live in the unincorporated parts of Castro County. Sex offenders residing within the boundaries of an incorporated city must register with the applicable city police department instead. Registration at the Sheriff's Office is conducted in person during normal business hours.

When a registrant comes in, the Sheriff's Office collects their personal information, documents their current address and vehicle, takes a photograph if required, and may collect a DNA sample. All of that information is submitted to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which enters it into the statewide registry. This process ensures that anyone in Texas can look up sex offenders in Castro County through the DPS database without needing to contact the local office directly.

The Sheriff's Office also oversees compliance among existing registrants. Officers check on individuals who miss required verification appointments and investigate reports of address discrepancies. Non-compliance cases are referred to the local district attorney for prosecution under Texas law.

Castro County Sex Offender Database

To search for registered sex offenders in Castro County, go to the Texas DPS registry at records.txdps.state.tx.us/sexoffender. You can search by name, zip code, or address. The database includes all registrations in the county, whether they were handled by the Sheriff or a city police department. Results are free to view and show current registration data including the offender's address and photograph.

The registry is updated as local registration authorities submit new or changed information. If you are checking on a specific person and their information seems out of date, contact the Castro County Sheriff's Office to verify what is on file locally. The DPS database reflects the data as reported; if a registrant recently moved and has not yet updated their address, there may be a short delay before the new address appears.

You can also set up community notifications through the DPS portal. This free service sends email alerts when a registered sex offender moves within a set distance of an address you provide. It is a helpful tool for parents and residents in rural Panhandle counties like Castro.

Note: Use the official DPS registry as your primary source. Unofficial listing sites may have outdated or inaccurate data.

Chapter 62 and Castro County Registration

All sex offender registration in Texas is governed by Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. This applies statewide, including Castro County. The law defines what offenses trigger a registration requirement and what obligations registrants must meet on an ongoing basis.

A person must register within seven days of being released from custody or within seven days of moving to Castro County. They must go in person to the Sheriff's Office (or city police department if they live in an incorporated area) and provide their full legal name, all aliases, current address, phone number, employer details, vehicle information, and a physical description. Depending on the nature of their conviction, they may also need to provide a DNA sample and a current photograph.

After initial registration, the person must verify their information periodically. Some are required to check in every 90 days. Others must do so once per year. Any address change or other update to registration information must be reported within seven days. Failure to register or keep registration current is a criminal offense. Violations are prosecuted in the Castro County district court, and penalties can be severe depending on the history of non-compliance.

• Register within 7 days of moving to the county or being released
• Must register in person at the Sheriff's Office or city police
• Provide complete personal, address, employment, and vehicle data
• Report changes to any registered information within 7 days
• Periodic verification required based on risk classification
• Non-compliance prosecuted under Chapter 62

Castro County Clerk and Court Records

The Castro County Clerk maintains official court records for the county, including criminal case files. The clerk's office is located in Dimmit at the Castro County Courthouse. You can request records from sex offense cases filed in Castro County courts by contacting the clerk directly. The Castro County Clerk page may have more details about the records request process and any associated fees.

Court records from sex offense cases include the original criminal charges, plea information, judgment and sentence, and any conditions the court imposed. This level of detail complements the DPS registry data, which focuses on current registration status and address rather than the full case history.

For information about which district court handles Castro County cases, the Texas Courts website is a useful resource. Many West Texas counties share judicial districts, and knowing which court has jurisdiction can make it easier to locate and request specific case records.