The Automated Registry (AR) system is a secure browser-based system, which allows authorized individuals to submit a query for a person appearing before the court. The query is submitted to multiple state agency databases and all results are returned to the user in real-time. The user is able to view the results in a consolidated format. Once the user has completed their review, the data is released from the system. The AR system does not retain any agency data after the user has viewed the data. The only data stored in the AR system is a history of the query requests, for audit purposes.
AR Data Sources
| Agency | Description | Who may use | Permitted Uses |
Approvals to access data* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) | Information related to state and national criminal history, state and national warrants, concealed handgun licenses, citizenship status, state and national driver's history, vehicle registration, sex offender alerts, probation violators, protection order status, and threat to law enforcement alerts. | Must be a Criminal Justice agency as defined in Section 60.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures or be employed by a Criminal Justice Agency. | For criminal case purposes only. |
Each user must be approved by DPS. Non-judges must have a criminal background check performed, if not already an approved TLETS user. All users must either have a current TCIC certification or agree to complete a TCIC class within 6 months of receiving access. |
| Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) | Information on probation, parole, and incarceration for an individual. (Texas only) | Must be a Criminal Justice agency as defined in Section 60.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures or be employed by a Criminal Justice Agency. | For criminal case purposes only. | Not specific to TDCJ, but must have been approved to use the DPS systems. |
| Texas Department of State Health Services – Mental Health (DSHS) | Information about an individual who has had mental health care services provided by the State of Texas mental health system. | Must be an Agency as defined in Section 614.017 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, or be employed by such an Agency. | Limited to continuity of care purposes in criminal cases. | None |
| Texas Department of Family and Protective Service (DFPS) | Information on child protection cases. (Texas only) | Must be a judge who has jurisdiction over child protection cases under Title 5, Subtitle E of the Texas Family Code, or a member of such a judge’s staff | Limited to adjudicating child protection cases | Each user must be approved by DFPS |
| Texas Department of State Health Services – Court of Continuing Jurisdiction (DSHS) | Identifies the court of continuing jurisdiction for suits affecting the parent/child relationship. (Texas only) | Must be a judge who has jurisdiction over child support and/or child protection cases, or a member of such a judge’s staff | Limited to family law cases | None |
*Each person requesting access to AR must submit a completed AR User Agreement form to OCA.
OCA will use the user agreement form to request the necessary approvals from the other state agencies.
What do I need to access AR?
There is no cost to gain access to the AR system. However, each user must have a computer that is connected to the internet, and a security token.
Each user will need to complete an AR User Agreement and submit the signed agreement to OCA for approval. Once the user’s request has been approved, OCA will provide the user with a security token, AR user-id and AR password.
Users, if not a judge, requesting access to DPS and TDCJ data will need a criminal background check performed. All users accessing the DPS data will be required to take a TCIC (Texas Crime Information Center) Certification class, if not already TCIC certified. OCA will provide more details about the background check and TCIC certification in the new user packet sent to each new AR user.
Requesting AR Access
If you are interesting in receiving access to the AR system,
- Complete the appropriate AR User Agreement. See the AR User Agreement Instructions for important details on filling out the form correctly. This will help ensure your request is completed promptly.
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Select the appropriate AR User Agreement form below, based on your court's jurisdiction.
AR User Agreement for Child Support Jurisdiction Judges and Staff
AR User Agreement for Child Protection Jurisdiction Judges and Staff
AR User Agreement for Criminal Jurisdiction Judges and Staff
AR User Agreement for General Jurisdiction Judges and Staff
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Mail or fax the completed, signed agreement to OCA.
Mailing Address: Office of Court Administration, Service Desk, PO Box 12066, Austin, TX 78711-2066
Fax Number: 512.475.3450. Please mark to the attention of the OCA Service Desk - Allow up to four weeks for the user agreement to be processed.
AR Training Files
To review how to use the Automated Registry, please click and review the training files below. Depending on your court, you may not have access to all AR queries.
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Contact Information
If you would like more information about AR or are having problems with the AR Training files, email the Automated Registry administrator , or call Jeannette McGowan at (512) 936-1806.
To view or print PDF files you must have the Adobe Acrobat® reader. This software may be obtained without charge from Adobe. Download the reader from the Adobe Web site.
Updated: 30-Sep-2010
