Primary public records

Sources

The Ledger starts with government records and keeps the links close to every claim. Readers can open the same files we used.

Texas DPS county arrest statistics

The source workbook contains county and offense arrest counts for 2023 through 2025. The file was published in 2026; that publication date does not make it a full year of 2026 arrests. Open the DPS workbook.

U.S. Census Bureau population estimates

Vintage 2025 annual county estimates provide the population denominator for each rate per 100,000. Open the Census workbook.

Texas statutory context

Health and Safety Code Chapter 481 contains the state's controlled-substances provisions, including marijuana possession. The statute gives legal context; it is not used to alter the arrest counts. Read Chapter 481.