Hardin County Sex Offender Registry
Hardin County sex offender records are available through the Texas DPS public registry, which collects registration data from the Hardin County Sheriff's Office and city agencies throughout the county. The Sheriff registers people who live in unincorporated areas, while police departments in Kountze, Lumberton, Silsbee, and other cities handle registration within their boundaries. The statewide database at sor.dps.texas.gov gives anyone free access to search for registered sex offenders in Hardin County.
Hardin County Sex Offender Registry
Hardin County Sheriff's Office
The Hardin County Sheriff's Office is located at 300 Monroe Street, Kountze, Texas 77625. The Sheriff's Office handles sex offender registration for people who live in unincorporated parts of Hardin County. You can reach them at (409) 246-5171. Registration is processed during normal business hours. Call ahead before your visit to confirm hours and what documents to bring.
At registration, you must provide your current home address, a photo, and documentation related to your conviction. That data is forwarded to the Texas DPS and appears in the statewide public registry. Hardin County is in Southeast Texas, bordering Jasper, Jefferson, and Orange counties. Much of the county is forested, and the population is spread across Kountze, Lumberton, Silsbee, Sour Lake, and surrounding communities.
Anyone moving into Hardin County must register within seven days of establishing a new address. This rule applies whether you are coming from another Texas county or from out of state.
City Police Registration in Hardin County
Hardin County has several cities with their own police departments. Lumberton and Silsbee are the most populous after the county seat. People who live inside any of these city limits register with the city police, not the Sheriff's Office. The Lumberton Police Department and the Silsbee Police Department both handle registration for their respective residents and send that data to DPS.
Kountze, as the county seat, also has a local police presence. Residents inside Kountze city limits should confirm with the local police department whether they handle registration separately from the Sheriff. If you are not sure which agency serves your address, call the Hardin County Sheriff's Office and they can direct you. Being registered with the wrong agency leaves you in violation of Chapter 62.
Search Hardin County Offender Records
The Texas DPS public sex offender registry is at sor.dps.texas.gov. No fee is required and no account is needed. You can search by the offender's name, by street address, or by zip code. Each result includes the offender's registered address, a photo, the offense of record, and risk level information when available. Data from all Hardin County agencies feeds into this single DPS database.
The registry is updated as local agencies submit new registrations and verifications. For searches near specific locations in Hardin County, the map view in the DPS portal is helpful. You can zoom into Silsbee, Lumberton, or any other part of the county. DPS recommends including as much identifying information as possible in name searches to reduce false matches.
The image below shows the DPS public sex offender registry, the official database covering Hardin County.
This DPS portal provides the official public view of Hardin County sex offender registrations.
Texas Registration Law: Chapter 62
Sex offender registration in Texas is governed by Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The law defines who must register, what must be reported, and when verification is required. The standard deadline is seven days from establishing a new Texas address.
Registration is done in person. You must provide your address, a photo, and details of the conviction. Annual verification applies to most registrants. Higher-risk offenders verify every 90 days. Any move within Hardin County, including between a city and an unincorporated area, triggers the seven-day re-registration window. Violating Chapter 62 can lead to new criminal charges, including potential felony charges for repeat violations.
- Register within 7 days of any new address
- Appear in person at the correct agency
- Provide address, photo, and offense information
- Verify registration annually at minimum
- High-risk offenders verify every 90 days
- Notify registration authority before moving
Note: Your specific obligations under Chapter 62 depend on your conviction and any conditions set by the court.
Court Records and State Resources
The Hardin County District Clerk holds public court records for felony cases tried in the county. The courthouse is at 300 Monroe Street, Kountze, TX 77625. Records can be requested in person or in writing and include the full legal history of a case from filing through sentencing. These records are separate from the DPS registry.
The Texas Attorney General provides statewide guidance on sex offender laws and resources for victims. The National Sex Offender Public Website supports searches across multiple states. To report a registration violation in Hardin County, contact the Sheriff's Office at (409) 246-5171 or the relevant city police department.