Title 4 of the Government Code contains a section on the responsibilities of the State Bureau of Identification and Records. A subchapter on criminal history record information defines what criminal history record information is covered under the act and specifies the parameters for the dissemination of criminal history record information as well as its use. A number of sections address the right of access to criminal history record information by various governmental and private agencies/institutions. Each of these sections focuses on a particular agency or type of organization. Chapter 55 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure pertains to the expunction of criminal records. Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code has a section that indicates the conditions under which school districts can have access to police records of employment applicants. Another act included in this compendium relates to criminal history checks of employees and applicants for jobs in certain facilities that serve the elderly or persons with disabilities. Chapter 60 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure addresses the Criminal History Record System. Some of the articles focus on confidentiality in interagency cooperation, the compatibility of data, types of information collected, reporting procedures, and local data advisory boards. Other laws included in the compendium pertain to the circumstances under which appropriate persons can access any criminal records of job applicants and applicants for licenses. Other laws included pertain to identification and criminal records and access to "public records." A few opinions by the Texas Attorney General on the application of some of the aforementioned laws are also included.
Compendium of State Privacy and Security Legislation: 1997 Overview - Texas
NCJ Number
170078
Date Published
March 1991
Annotation
This is a 1997 overview of Texas law pertinent to the privacy and security of criminal justice information.
Abstract
Date Published: March 1, 1991