Texas Inmate Lookup: Find the Right Jail, Prison, Court or Release Route
Use this guide when you need to find someone arrested in Texas, confirm whether the person is in a county jail or TDCJ custody, check bond or case routing, prepare before calling a jail, or register for custody-change notifications.
Most same-day arrests start with the county jail. TDCJ search is for people in state custody. Federal cases go through BOP. Victim-release alerts now use Texas IVSS-Counties for many county cases, while TDCJ Victim Services handles TDCJ inmate notifications.
Start Here: Which Texas Inmate Search Do You Need?
A Texas jail lookup is fastest when you choose the correct custody system first. Do not start with a paid mugshot page.
| Searcher’s situation | Official place to check first | Search by | What the result can answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Someone was arrested today or yesterday | County sheriff / county jail where the arrest happened | Last name, first name, DOB, booking date, SPN/SID/booking number if known | Booking status, charge, bond, housing facility, court, release or transfer status. |
| Person may be serving a Texas state sentence | TDCJ Online Inmate Search | TDCJ number, SID number, exact name, race, gender, DOB if calling | Location, offense, projected release date and state-custody information when available. |
| Person disappeared from county jail after sentencing | Check TDCJ after transfer; call county jail if transfer is recent | Full name, DOB, county, sentencing date, cause/case number | County-to-state transfers can create a short information gap. |
| Need TDCJ location by phone | TDCJ Inmate Locator / General Information | TDCJ number or SID; exact DOB if you do not know the number | Call 936-295-6371 or 800-535-0283, Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM. |
| Need parole review status before BPP vote | Board of Pardons and Paroles status line | TDCJ/SID or DOB | Call 844-512-0461. |
| Need parole release status after BPP vote | Parole Division status line in Austin | TDCJ/SID or DOB | Call 512-406-5202. |
| Need county custody notifications | Texas IVSS-Counties | Name, county, case/custody information, registration preferences | Texas moved from VINE to IVSS-Counties effective September 1, 2025. |
| Need TDCJ victim notifications | TDCJ IVSS / Victim Services | Victim registration details, offender identifying details | Call 800-848-4284 or email victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov. |
| Need sex offender registry information | Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry | Name, address, city, county, ZIP | Registry details are separate from jail custody and must be verified through DPS/local law enforcement. |
| Person may be federal | Federal BOP Inmate Locator | BOP register number or name, age, sex, race | Federal custody from 1982 to present; release dates may change. |
Identity warning: Texas counties and TDCJ can have similar names, delayed updates, transfer gaps and record disclaimers. Verify with DOB, SID, TDCJ number, booking number, SPN, cause number, county and facility before sending money, posting bond or visiting.
Texas State-Level Inmate Lookup Routes
Use these when the person is in TDCJ custody, has a Texas prison sentence, is waiting for release/parole information, or you need state-prison family services.
TDCJ Inmate Information
Use for: location, offenses, projected release date and state inmate info.
Phone: 936-295-6371 or 800-535-0283
Address: PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342-0099
TDCJ Inmate InfoTDCJ Unit Directory
Use for: unit address, phone, region, facility type and visitation confirmation before travel.
Call the assigned unit before visiting because TDCJ says visitation schedules/cancellations should be verified.
Find a TDCJ UnitVictim Notifications
County cases: Texas IVSS-Counties.
TDCJ inmates: TDCJ Victim Services, 800-848-4284, victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov.
Texas Victim NotificationHow to Search a Texas Inmate Without Wasting Time
Start with county jail for new arrests
For arrests today, this week, or before sentencing, search the county where the arrest happened. Texas has 254 counties, and most booking/bond data is local.
Use TDCJ only when state custody is likely
TDCJ is the right route for prison custody, projected release, TDCJ ID, SID-based lookup, parole review/release questions and unit assignment after transfer.
Search exact name, then variations
Try last name only, first initial, middle name, hyphenated name, maiden name, nickname spelling, Spanish surname order and common spelling mistakes.
Write down every identifier
Save booking number, SPN, SID, TDCJ number, cause number, court, facility, charge, bond, hold/detainer, projected release, and next appearance date.
Call before paying or travelling
Bond, release, visitation and mail rules can change by county, judge, charge, hold, facility, vendor and security status. Confirm with the official jail/unit.
Texas County Jail Router by Metro Area
Use this when someone says “Houston,” “Dallas,” “Austin” or “San Antonio” but you need the exact county jail.
| Texas area / city | Start with this county jail | Why it matters | If no result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Humble, Spring, Cypress | Harris County Jail | Houston-area arrests often route to Harris County, but suburbs may cross county lines. | Check Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, Brazoria or Waller depending on arrest location. |
| Dallas, Garland, Irving, Mesquite, Richardson | Dallas County Jail / Dallas Sheriff | Dallas County uses inmate information and criminal court/bond routing at Frank Crowley. | Check Collin, Denton, Tarrant, Rockwall or Kaufman for suburb arrests. |
| Fort Worth, Arlington, Grapevine, North Richland Hills | Tarrant County inmate search | Tarrant County provides a dedicated inmate-search page and county operator route. | Check Dallas, Johnson, Parker, Denton or Wise depending on location. |
| San Antonio, Alamo Heights, Leon Valley, Converse | Bexar County Adult Detention / Central Magistrate | Bexar’s Central Magistrate processes many arrests and posts bond conditions after magistration. | Check Guadalupe, Comal, Kendall, Medina or Wilson if arrest was outside Bexar. |
| Austin, Pflugerville, Manor, Del Valle | Travis County Jail / Travis County Correctional Complex | Travis County Sheriff operates the county jail and inmate search. | Check Williamson, Hays, Bastrop or Caldwell depending on arrest location. |
| Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Allen | Collin County Detention Facility | Collin inmate search includes current inmates and those released within the past 24 hours. | Check Denton, Dallas or Tarrant for split-city arrests. |
| Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, The Colony | Denton County Jail | Denton provides jail information, jail records, visitation and mail routing. | Check Collin, Tarrant or Dallas for nearby city edges. |
| Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City | Fort Bend County Detention | Fort Bend has Jail Public Information Inquiry and a dedicated bonding office. | Check Harris, Brazoria, Wharton or Waller if outside Fort Bend. |
| McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr | Hidalgo County Detention | Hidalgo provides inmate search, commissary, communications and visitation schedules. | Check Starr, Cameron or federal/immigration routes if applicable. |
| El Paso | El Paso County Jail / sheriff route | Border-area custody may involve county, municipal, state, federal or immigration holds. | Check federal BOP, ICE/immigration attorney guidance, or court paperwork if no county result. |
Texas metro trap: large cities cross or border multiple counties. Always use the arresting agency, citation, bond paperwork, warrant county, or court/cause number to pick the right jail.
Major Texas County Jail Contacts and Lookup Notes
Use these official county starting points for high-volume Texas jail searches. Confirm live custody, bond, mail, visits and release details before acting.
| County / jail route | Official address / facility | Phone / lookup | Best user action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County Jail | 1200 Baker St, Houston, TX 77002; plus 700 N. San Jacinto, 701/711 N. San Jacinto, 1307 Baker, 1200 Baker facilities | Inmate Information 713-755-5300; non-emergency 713-221-6000; IVSS 866-268-8959 | Search Harris inmate/case info. Search by SPN, SSN, last name, first name or DOB. |
| Dallas County Jail / Sheriff | Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207 | Jail/Inmate Info 214-761-9025; Warrant Info 214-761-9026; Detentions Admin 214-653-2901 | Open Dallas inmate information. Use Frank Crowley for court/bond/criminal routing. |
| Tarrant County Jail | Tarrant County, Fort Worth area; county listing uses 100 E. Weatherford, Fort Worth, TX 76196 for county contact | County operator 817-884-1111 | Open Tarrant inmate search. Tarrant warns to consult official records when legal reliance is required. |
| Bexar County Adult Detention Center | 200 North Comal Street, San Antonio, TX 78207 | Adult Detention 210-335-6315; Inmate/Bond Info 210-335-6201; suicidal ideation concern 210-335-5670 | Open Bexar inmate/bond info. Have full name and DOB. Bexar warns against scam payment calls, gift cards and crypto. |
| Bexar Central Magistrate | 200 N. Comal, South Tower, San Antonio, TX 78207 | Main 210-335-6111 | Use Central Magistrate for recent arrests, bond amounts and special bond conditions after magistration. |
| Travis County Jail / Sheriff | Travis County Jail, 500 W. 10th St, Austin, TX 78701; Travis County Correctional Complex, 3614 Bill Price Rd, Del Valle, TX 78617 | Jail / inmate search support 512-854-9889; District Clerk Criminal 512-854-9420 option 3 | Open Travis inmate contact info. Mail must include full name, DOB, jail ID or booking number. |
| Collin County Detention Facility | Collin County Detention Facility, McKinney area | Detention Bureau 972-547-5100 | Open Collin inmate information. Search includes current inmates and those released within the past 24 hours. |
| Denton County Jail | 127 N. Woodrow Lane, Denton, TX 76205 | Jail Info 940-349-1700; Jail Records 940-349-1630; Warrants 940-349-1560 | Open Denton inmate services. Denton uses Smart Communications for non-legal mail and HomeWav for video visitation. |
| Fort Bend County Detention | 1410 Richmond Parkway, Richmond, TX 77469 | Detention office 281-341-4735; Bonding Office 281-341-4619; non-emergency 281-341-4665 | Search Fort Bend Jail Public Inquiry. Search by first and/or last name. |
| Williamson County Corrections Bureau | Williamson County Jail / Corrections Bureau, Georgetown area | Inmate trust deposits listed through 866-345-1884; phone deposits 800-943-2189 | Open Williamson corrections info. Visits last 20 minutes; visitors should arrive 15 minutes early with valid ID. |
| Hidalgo County Detention | Hidalgo County Detention, Edinburg/McAllen area | Use county detention page and inmate search route | Open Hidalgo Detention. Page links inmate search, commissary, communications and weekly visitation schedule. |
Bond, Holds, Release and “Why Are They Still in Jail?”
Visits, Phone, Mail and Money: County Jail vs TDCJ
TDCJ visitation
- Confirm the inmate is assigned to the unit you plan to visit.
- Confirm the inmate has visitation privileges.
- Confirm the unit schedule and whether visitation has been cancelled.
- TDCJ says the inmate, not the visitor, requests names for the visitor list.
- The inmate may submit no more than 10 proposed visitor names/addresses during intake.
TDCJ phone / technology
- TDCJ Inmate Technology Services handles telephone, e-messaging, tablets and Securus video visitation.
- Before receiving calls, you must register your phone number.
- You need the inmate’s TDCJ ID number to register for telephone calls.
- Office phone-call hours listed effective February 2, 2026: Monday-Friday 8 AM-3 PM except state holidays.
- Email: offenderphones@tdcj.texas.gov.
County jail mail changes by county
Denton sends non-privileged/non-legal mail to Smart Communications in Seminole, FL, while privileged/legal mail goes to Denton County Jail at 127 N. Woodrow Lane. Bexar requires inmate name and SID, and scans incoming mail into the kiosk.
Rule: never copy an address from another county. Use the current facility page.
Commissary / deposits
County deposit vendors vary: Denton references CorrectPay and SmartInmate; Williamson lists phone, web and kiosk options; Fort Bend lists bonding-office/kiosk deposits. TDCJ eCommDirect is separate from county jail commissary.
Rule: confirm inmate ID, vendor, limit, fee and refund policy before adding funds.
eCommDirect note: TDCJ says friends and family may purchase up to $60 of eligible commissary items per calendar quarter for eligible inmates. County jail commissary systems are different.
What the Texas Inmate Search Result Means
Booking number / SPN / SID
Use the identifier when calling, posting bond, sending money, checking court, sending mail or registering for alerts.
Charge is not conviction
A jail charge may be an arrest allegation, warrant, hold, probation issue or pending case. Use court records for final outcome.
Bond can change
Bond may update after magistration, judge review, new charges, warrant checks or bond-condition changes.
Transfer gap
County-to-county, county-to-TDCJ, hospital, court, federal or ICE-related movement can create a temporary “not found” result.
Hold / detainer
A person can have bond on one charge but remain held because of another warrant, detainer, parole, probation or federal issue.
Court date
Jail rosters may not show complete court information. Use the county clerk, district clerk or court portal for cause numbers and settings.
Court Records, Warrants, Sex Offender Registry and Jail Standards
| Need | Official route | Use when | Prepare |
|---|---|---|---|
| County criminal case / court date | County clerk, district clerk, justice court or county court page | Need cause number, hearing, disposition, judge, court, filing, bond order. | County, full legal name, DOB, cause number, court number if known. |
| Dallas criminal courts | Dallas County Criminal Courts / Frank Crowley | Dallas County case or bond/court questions. | Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207; criminal records phone 214-653-5954. |
| Travis felony / district clerk | Travis County District Clerk Criminal Division | Felony records, cash bond refund, expunction/non-disclosure routing. | Call 512-854-9420 option 3. |
| Texas sex offender registry | Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry | Need registry status, location-based search or public notification data. | Name, city, county, address or ZIP. |
| Jail complaint / standards concern | Texas Commission on Jail Standards | Need county jail standards contact or complaint/inquiry route. | TCJS phone 512-463-5505; physical address 300 W. 15th Street, Suite 503, Austin, TX 78711. |
| TDCJ inmate issue / ombudsman | TDCJ Directory | Need TDCJ inmate problem route, independent ombudsman, parole question or victim services. | Use correct division email/phone; include TDCJ/SID and unit if available. |
Texas Inmate Lookup Map and Key State Addresses
Use the map for the TDCJ Huntsville central mailing/location reference. County jail map addresses are different and must be checked by county.
| Agency / office | Address | Phone / email | Use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Department of Criminal Justice | PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342-0099 | 936-295-6371; 800-535-0283 | TDCJ inmate location/general information. |
| Texas Board of Criminal Justice | PO Box 13084, Austin, TX 78711 | 512-475-3250 | TDCJ governance/board reference, not county jail roster lookup. |
| TDCJ Victim Services Division | 8712 Shoal Creek Blvd., Suite 265, Austin, TX 78757-6899 | 800-848-4284; victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov | TDCJ inmate victim notification, release/discharge notifications, victim services. |
| Texas Commission on Jail Standards | 300 W. 15th Street, Suite 503, Austin, TX 78711 | 512-463-5505; info@tcjs.state.tx.us | Texas county jail standards, complaints/inquiries, compliance resources. |
| Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry | Texas Department of Public Safety / Crime Records route | Use DPS online registry and DPS Crime Records guidance | Public sex offender registry search, separate from jail custody. |
Common Texas Inmate Lookup Mistakes
Searching TDCJ too early
New arrests are usually in county jail first. TDCJ search is not the first stop for most same-day arrests.
Confusing jail and prison
County jail handles booking, bond, pretrial holds and local sentences. TDCJ handles state prison/state jail custody after transfer.
Paying a scammer
Do not pay by gift card, crypto, money app or phone demand. Verify bond through the jail, court or official bonding office.
Using the wrong county
Texas cities and suburbs can cross county lines. Use the arresting agency and paperwork, not just the nearest big city.
Sending mail to old addresses
Many jails use scanning vendors. Legal mail and personal mail may use different addresses.
Assuming release after bond
Another hold, warrant, parole/probation issue, detainer, or court order can keep a person in custody.
Copy-Paste Call Scripts
Custody confirmation
Bond question
TDCJ location call
No result / transfer
Texas Jail Inmate Search FAQ
What is the official Texas inmate search?
The official state-prison search is TDCJ Inmate Search. It is for TDCJ custody. For new arrests and county jail inmates, use the county sheriff or county jail search.
How do I find someone arrested today in Texas?
Start with the county jail where the arrest happened. Search by name and DOB. If no result appears, call the jail because booking data may not post immediately.
What is the TDCJ inmate information phone number?
TDCJ lists the inmate locator/general information line at 936-295-6371 or 800-535-0283. The office is listed as open Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5 PM.
What information do I need when calling TDCJ?
Use the TDCJ number or SID number. If you do not know those numbers, TDCJ says you must provide the inmate’s exact date of birth for telephone requests.
How do I check Texas parole review status?
For parole review status before a Board of Pardons and Paroles vote, call 844-512-0461. For parole release status after a vote, call 512-406-5202.
What happened to VINE in Texas?
Texas moved from VINE to Texas IVSS-Counties effective September 1, 2025 for county victim notifications. TDCJ Victim Services remains a separate TDCJ notification route.
How do I get notified when a TDCJ inmate is released?
Register with TDCJ Victim Services / IVSS or contact TDCJ Victim Services at 800-848-4284 or victim.svc@tdcj.texas.gov.
Why can’t I find someone in TDCJ?
They may be in county jail, federal custody, recently released, not yet transferred, booked under a different name, or not in TDCJ custody.
How do I find bond amount in Texas?
Use the county jail or county court/bond office. Bond information is local and can change after magistration, judge review, new charges or holds.
Can I send money to a Texas jail inmate online?
Usually, but the approved vendor depends on the county. TDCJ eCommDirect is for eligible TDCJ inmates and is not the same as county jail commissary.
How much can I send through TDCJ eCommDirect?
TDCJ says friends and family may purchase up to $60 of certain commissary items per calendar quarter for eligible inmates.
How do I visit a TDCJ inmate?
Confirm the unit, schedule, privileges and cancellations before travelling. TDCJ says the inmate requests names for the visitor list, not the visitor.
How do I search the Texas sex offender registry?
Use the Texas DPS Public Sex Offender Registry. This is separate from jail custody and includes registry information submitted through local law enforcement.
Who oversees county jail standards in Texas?
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards handles jail standards resources and complaints/inquiries. Its phone number is 512-463-5505.
Is this an official Texas government website?
No. This is an informational guide. Use official county sheriff, TDCJ, court, DPS, TCJS, IVSS and BOP pages for live custody, court, bond, release and safety decisions.
30-Second Texas Inmate Lookup Checklist
Recent arrest: county jail first → name/DOB → booking number/SPN/SID → bond/court call.
State custody: TDCJ Inmate Search → TDCJ/SID → unit → visitation/phone/eComm rules.
No result: try name variants → nearby county → court/clerk → IVSS → TDCJ → BOP.
Before paying: verify bond, holds, payee, method, receipt and release eligibility through official jail/court channels.
Before visiting/mail: confirm facility, ID, schedule, vendor, mail address, legal-mail rules and current restrictions.