Motley County Jail Mugshots
Motley County jail mugshots and inmate records are managed by the Motley County Sheriff's Office in Matador. This is a very small, remote county in West Texas. There is no online inmate search. Call (806) 347-2234 directly to ask about someone in custody or to request booking records.
Motley County Overview
Motley County Sheriff's Office
The Motley County Sheriff's Office is in Matador, Texas, which is both the county seat and the only incorporated town in the county. You can reach the Sheriff's Office at (806) 347-2234. The office serves one of the least populated counties in Texas, covering a large rural area in the South Plains region.
Because the population is so small, the jail holds very few inmates at any given time. Most people arrested in Motley County are either released on bond quickly or transferred to a larger regional facility. The small size of the operation means there is no automated phone system or online roster. A direct call to the Sheriff is the most reliable way to get current custody information.
For formal records requests, the Sheriff's Office handles all Public Information Act inquiries. A written request is required for booking photos and full arrest records. The agency will respond within 10 business days under state law. Because of the small staff, calling ahead to let them know a request is coming can help speed up the process.
Motley County Inmate Search
There is no public inmate roster for Motley County. Call the Sheriff's Office at (806) 347-2234 to find out if someone is in custody. Staff can check the jail records and give you custody status during regular office hours. This is the fastest and most reliable option for this very small county.
For people who may have been transferred to a Texas state prison, use the TDCJ Offender Search. This free tool covers all TDCJ units statewide. You can search by name or TDCJ number to find current location and release information.
The VINELink system also works with Motley County. You can search for any inmate by name and sign up for custody alerts by phone, text, or email. This service is free and runs 24 hours a day, making it a useful supplement to phone inquiries with the Sheriff's Office.
Motley County Booking Photos and Records
When someone is booked into the Motley County Jail, a record is created that includes their name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and a booking photograph. These records are public under Texas law in most circumstances. The Sheriff's Office holds all booking records and processes requests for them.
Texas Government Code Chapter 552 gives the public the right to request these records. Exceptions apply for juvenile cases, active criminal investigations, and records that have been expunged by a court. Outside these exceptions, booking records and photos must be released upon a proper written request.
Because Motley County is so small, it is rarely covered by third-party arrest websites. If you cannot find anything online, it does not mean there are no records. A direct request to the Sheriff's Office is the right path for official information about arrests in this county.
How to Request Motley County Jail Records
To request booking records or mugshots from Motley County, send a written Public Information Request to the Motley County Sheriff's Office. Call (806) 347-2234 to get the mailing address and ask about the preferred format for requests. Include the subject's name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date.
The Sheriff's Office has 10 business days to respond under the Texas Public Information Act. For very small counties with limited staff, calling ahead to give them a heads-up before mailing your request can reduce delays. Most records can be delivered digitally at no charge. Paper copies cost about $0.10 per page.
If you do not receive a response in time, a follow-up letter citing the Texas Public Information Act can help. If the request is denied and you believe it was improper, the Texas Attorney General's Open Records Division handles these disputes at no cost to you.
Texas Statewide Jail and Arrest Resources
The TDCJ Offender Search is free and covers all Texas state prisons. The Texas DPS Crime Records Division processes formal background checks and criminal history requests. The VINELink system provides free custody alerts for all Texas county jails.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards certifies and inspects the Motley County Jail and publishes basic capacity and compliance data for the facility. Their site is useful if you need to verify current facility details or check on recent inspection results for the county jail.
Removing an Arrest Record in Motley County
If your Motley County arrest was dismissed or resulted in an acquittal, you may qualify for expunction under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55. The petition is filed in the district court in Matador. Once an expunction order is granted, all agencies must destroy their copies of the record.
Eligibility depends on the charge type and the case outcome. A local attorney or a lawyer familiar with West Texas rural courts can review your situation and advise whether you qualify. The process involves a hearing where agencies holding the record are notified.
An Order of Nondisclosure is available for some deferred adjudication cases. This option seals the record from public access without destroying it. Law enforcement retains access, but the general public and most employers cannot see sealed records. Both remedies can help reduce the impact of a past arrest on your life.
Cities in Motley County
Matador is the only incorporated community in Motley County and serves as the county seat. The county is extremely rural, and no communities here meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.