Finding an inmate in Texas can be difficult. Texas has over 100 prisons, including state prisons, state jails, and private prisons. Texas also has 18 federal prisons and nine federal prison camps. In addition, the state has 252 jails in 254 counties.

If you’re trying to locate someone – or have filed charges against someone and want to be certain they’re in custody – there are hundreds of places to search. And that’s not even counting the websites that allow you to enter the search information, then try to charge you a fee. Legitimate government sites will not ask for payment.

Where you start will depend on whether they’re being imprisoned or jailed. The two aren’t the same. Once you know that, narrowing your search becomes easier.

Statewide: TDCJ Inmate Search

Jails house defendants awaiting trial and those sentenced to low-level crimes, like misdemeanors.

Prisons house inmates convicted of more serious crimes, typically felonies.

If you’re looking for someone in prison, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) maintains a searchable database of everyone in the prison system at https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/.

The minimum information for searching is any of the following:

• Last name and at least the first initial of the first name
• TDCJ number
• SID (state identification) number

The database will show you the facility, projected release date, parole eligibility date, offense, offense date, and conviction date, as well as personal information including age and gender. This includes anyone on Texas’ death row.

If you’re trying to find out whether someone is on the list of registered sex offenders, there’s a separate database: https://sor.dps.texas.gov/PublicSite/

If you don’t have enough information to use the search function, you can call (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283.

Federal Prison

If someone is in a federal facility outside of Texas, you must use the U.S. Bureau of Prisons website. you can search using a first and last name. It will show you the register number, race, sex, facility, estimated release date, and date of death, when applicable.  https://www.bop.gov/mobile/find_inmate/byname.jsp

County Jails

Finding someone in a county jail can be a bit more complicated. Texas has 252 jails in 254 counties. If you know the county where the defendant was charged, use that county’s database (when available). We have provided links to all of them below. However, many smaller counties don’t maintain a searchable database. In those cases, we have provided a phone number.

Additionally, even when you know where someone was arrested or charged, some counties transfer inmates to facilities in other counties or even out of state.

If you aren’t sure which county to search, there is a generic searchable database at https://www.vinelink.com/classic/#/home/state/TX, but it isn’t as comprehensive or user-friendly as some of the individual county sites. However, finding someone this way will be easier than randomly calling county jails or sheriff’s departments.

Here is the information to find inmates in Texas’ five largest counties:

Bexar County

To find someone who is currently in custody in the San Antonio area, start with https://search.bexar.org/.

You can find a list of anyone arrested within the past 24 hours here: https://centralmagistrate.bexar.org/. You can also use that site to find an inmate’s System Identification Number (SID)

To find court dates, visit https://www.bexar.org/3856/New-Justice-Information-Portal

READ MORE: How to find an inmate in Bexar County

Dallas County

In Dallas County, to be able to search, you’ll need to have the inmate’s first and last name, race, and gender. https://www.dallascounty.org/jaillookup/search.jsp

You can also find docket schedules for defendants, though you must have their full names to search. https://www.dallascounty.org/government/criminal-courts-docket-information

READ MORE: How to find an inmate in Dallas County

Harris County

You can search with the inmate’s first and last name, last name, and date of birth, at least two characters of the last name, the Social Security number, or the SPN only. https://harriscountyso.org/JailInfo/FindSomeoneInJail

You can search trial dockets by date and court: https://jpwebsite.harriscountytx.gov/courts/DocketInquiry.do?pageid=Trial%20Docket%20Inquiry&pagecode=TR&clr=Y

READ MORE: How to find an inmate in Harris County

Tarrant County

You will need to have the inmate’s first and last name. The site allows you to choose “all” for race and “both” for gender. https://inmatesearch.tarrantcounty.com/

You can also view who is on the magistration docket each day. The site provides each defendant’s name and the charges they face: https://inmatesearch.tarrantcounty.com/Home/Docket

READ MORE: How to find an inmate in Tarrant County

Travis County

You will need the inmate’s last name to search: https://www.tcsheriff.org/inmate-jail-info/inmate-info/find-an-inmate#/sip

You can also use a last name to search the criminal court docket: https://publiccourts.traviscountytx.gov/dsa/#/

READ MORE: How to find an inmate in Travis County

Other Texas Counties

Here is a list of how to check inmate lists in Texas’ remaining counties, listed alphabetically:

Anderson: https://anderson-so-sc.zuercherportal.com/#/inmates

Andrews: https://www.co.andrews.tx.us/242/Sheriffs-Office

Angelina: https://www.angelinacounty.net/jailinfo/

Aransas: https://www.aransascounty.org/detentioncenter/inmates.php

Archer: https://archercountyjail.org/

Armstrong: Call (806) 537-3511

Atascosa: https://atascosacountyjail.org/

Austin: Call (979) 865-5321; Female inmates are currently being housed in Fort Bend County. To learn about access and visitation, you must call the jail at 979-865-5321 on Monday or Tuesday only.  Visitation hours are only on Fridays and Sundays.

Bailey: https://baileycountyjail.org/

Bandera: https://banderacountyjail.org/

Bastrop: https://www.co.bastrop.tx.us/page/lec.faq

Baylor: Call (940) 889-3333

Bee: Call (361) 362-3221

Bell: http://nwweb.co.bell.tx.us/NewWorld.InmateInquiry/TX0140000

Blanco: Call (830) 868-7104

Borden: Call (806) 756-4311

Bosque: Call  (254) 435-2362

Bowie: https://portal-txbowie.tylertech.cloud/PublicAccess/default.aspx

Brazoria: https://pubweb.brazoriacountytx.gov/PublicAccess/default.aspx

Brazos: https://brazoscountytx.gov/276/Brazos-County-Detention-Center

Brewster: Call (432) 837-5541

Briscoe: Call (806) 823-2131

Brooks: Call  (361) 325-5604

Brown: https://www.inmatesearchtexas.org/Brown_County.html

Burleson: https://www.burlesontx.com/2605/Jail-Information

Burnet: https://www.burnetsheriff.com/jail/

Caldwell: Call (512) 398-6777

Calhoun: http://dcn.calhouncotx.org/dcn/

Callahan: Call (325) 854-1444 

Cameron: https://cameroncountytx.gov/incoming/inmates/site/

Camp: Call (903) 856-6651

Carson: Call (806) 537-3511

Cass: Call (903) 756-7511

Castro: Call (806) 647-3311 

Chambers: Call (409) 267-2500

Cherokee: Call (903) 683-2271

Childress: (940) 937-2535

Clay: Call (940) 538-5611

Cochran: Call (806) 266-5211

Coke: Call (325) 453-2717

Coleman: https://netweb.netdatacorp.net/NDLEC/bok/cgibokcole.html

Collin: https://apps2.collincountytx.gov/JudicialOnlineSearch2/global

Collingsworth: Call (806) 447-2588

Colorado: Call (979) 732-2388

Comal: http://public.co.comal.tx.us/default.aspx

Comanche: https://www.co.comanche.tx.us/upload/page/9417/12162025.pdf

Concho: Call (325) 732-4312

Cooke: Call (940) 665-3471; The sheriff’s department says an inmate search is coming soon. Check https://www.co.cooke.tx.us/page/cooke.detentionctr for updates.

Coryell: http://107.178.5.46:90/currentinmates.aspx

Cottle: Call (806) 492-3131

Crane: Call (432) 558-3571

Crockett: Call (325) 392-2661

Crosby: Call (806) 675-7301

Culberson: Call (432) 283-2060

Dallam: Call (806) 244-2541

Dawson: Call (806) 872-7560

Deaf Smith: http://www.dscso.org/uploads/2/0/0/8/20082443/jailroster.pdf

Delta: Call (903) 395-2146

Denton: https://justice1.dentoncounty.gov/PublicAccess/default.aspx

DeWitt: Call (361) 275.0034

Dickens: Call (806) 623-5533

Dimmit: Call (830) 876-3508

Donley: Call (806) 874-3533

Duval: Call (361) 279-6209

Eastland: Call (254) 629-1774

Ector: https://portal-txector.tylertech.cloud/JailSearch/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Edwards: Call (830) 683-4104

Ellis: https://ecso.llhostings.com/

El Paso: https://www.epcsheriffsoffice.com/inmate-search#!/search

Erath: https://portal-txerath.tylertech.cloud/PublicAccess/default.aspx

Falls: Call (254) 883-1431

Fannin: Call (903) 583.2143

Fayette: https://www.co.fayette.tx.us/page/fayette.Sheriff.Corrections

Fisher: Call (325) 776-2273

Floyd: Call (806) 983-4901

Foard: Call (940) 684-1501

Fort Bend: https://jailinq.fortbendcountytx.gov

Franklin: Call (903) 537-4539

Freestone: Call (903) 389-3335

Frio: Call (830) 334-4169

Gaines: Call (432) 758-4023

Galveston: https://p2c.galvestoncountytx.gov/jailinmates.aspx

Garza: Call (806) 990-9974

Gillespie: https://www.gillespiecounty.org/page/gcso_homepage

Glasscock: Call (432) 354-2361

Goliad: Call (361) 645-8259

Gonzales: Call (830) 672-6362

Gray: Call (806) 669-8022

Grayson: https://judicialsearch.co.grayson.tx.us:8443/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Gregg: https://www.greggcountytxsheriff.org/divisions/jail-division/

Grimes: http://grimescountyso.org/divisions/jail-division/

Guadalupe: https://portal-txguadalupe.tylertech.cloud/PublicAccess/default.aspx

Hale: https://www.halecounty.org/county_offices/jail/jail_roster.php

Hall: Call (806) 259-2151

Hamilton: https://www.hcso.org/justice-center-services/inmate-search/

Hansford: Call (806) 659-4140

Hardeman: Call (940) 663-5374

Hardin: https://hardincountysheriff.com/jail-info

Harrison: Call (903) 923-4003

Hartley: Call (806) 235.3142

Haskell: Call (940) 864-2345

Hays: https://public.co.hays.tx.us/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Hemphill: Call (806) 323-6212

Henderson: Call (903) 675-5128

Hidalgo: https://pa.co.hidalgo.tx.us/default.aspx

Hill: https://www.co.hill.tx.us/page/hill.CountyJail

Hockley: https://interopweb.com/hockleysotx/

Hood: https://webapps.co.hood.tx.us/bond/Default.asp?

Hopkins: http://www.interopweb.com/hopkinssotx/CurrentInmates.aspx

Houston: Call (936) 544-2862

Howard: Call (432) 264-6051

Hudspeth: Call  (915) 369-2161

Hunt: https://www.huntcounty.net/page/hunt.sheriff

Hutchinson: https://www.hutchinsonsherifftx.org/roster.php

Irion: Call (325) 835-2551

Jack: https://klag-pr-app-jailroster.azurewebsites.us/?_TX1190000

Jackson: Call (361) 782-5407

Jasper: Call (409) 384-5417

Jeff Davis: https://co.jefferson.tx.us/sheriff/content/documents/inmate/currentinmates.pdf

Jefferson: https://co.jefferson.tx.us/sheriff/content/documents/inmate/currentinmates.pdf

Jim Hogg: Call (361) 527-4140

Jim Wells: http://jwcs.mvl-dev.com/

Johnson: https://jcportal.johnsoncountytx.org/jail/

Jones: Call (325) 823-3762

Karnes: Call (830) 780-3931

Kaufman: https://portal-txkaufman.tylertech.cloud/Portal

Kendall: https://www.kendallcountysheriff.com/roster.php

Kenedy: Call (361) 294-5205

Kent: Call (806) 237-3373

Kerr: https://courts.co.kerr.tx.us/CaseManagement/PublicAccess/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Kimble: Call (325) 446-2766

King: Call (806) 596-4413

Kinney: Call (830) 563-2788

Kleberg: https://www.klebergcoso.org/roster.php

Knox: Call  (940) 459-2041

Lamar: Call (903) 737-2400

Lamb: Call (806) 385-7900

Lampasas: Call (512) 556-8255

La Salle: Call (830) 879-3044

Lavaca: Call (361) 798-2121

Lee: Call (979) 542-2800

Leon: https://www.leoncountyso.com/departments/detention-facility/inmate-search

Liberty: https://portal-txliberty.tylertech.cloud/PublicAccess/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Limestone: Call (254) 729-3278

Lipscomb: Call (806) 862-2611

Live Oak: Call (361) 449-2271

Llano: Call (325) 247-5767

Loving: Call (432) 377-2411

Lubbock: https://lubbocksheriff.com/active-jail-rosterhttps://lubbocksheriff.com/active-jail-roster

Lynn: Call (806) 561-4505

Madison: Call (936) 348-2755

Marion: Call (903) 665-7201

Martin: https://findtheinmate.com/gsapdfs/173714285696217.VERIFY.20837.70857172.html

Mason: Call (325) 347-6937

Matagorda: https://portal-txmatagorda.tylertech.cloud/Matagorda/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Maverick: Call (830) 773-2321

McCulloch: https://klag-pr-app-jailroster.azurewebsites.us/?_tx1540000

McLennan: https://apps.co.mclennan.tx.us/apps/injail.pdf

McMullen: Call (361) 274-3311

Medina: Call (830) 741-6058

Menard: Call (325) 396-4705

Midland: https://www.co.midland.tx.us/201/Current-Detainees

Milam: https://www.milamcountysherifftx.org/roster.php

Mills: https://findtheinmate.com/gsapdfs/173714323477317.VERIFY.20837.71234971.html

Mitchell: Call (325) 728-5261

Montague: Call (940) 894-2871

Montgomery: https://jailroster.mctx.org/

Moore: Call (806) 935-4145

Morris: Call (903) 645-2232

Motley: Call (806) 347-2234

Nacogdoches: https://www.nac-sheriff.com/CountyJail/InmateSearch.asp

Navarro: http://jailroster.ncsotx.org/

Newton: Call (409) 379-3636

Nolan: Call (325) 235-5471

Nueces: Call (361) 887-2222

Ochiltree: Call (806) 435-8000

Oldham: Call (806) 639-2174

Orange: https://mrc.co.orange.tx.us:8672/mrcjava/servlet/CJLILESO.M00510s

Palo Pinto: https://www.palopintocountysheriff.com/inmate-search/

Panola: https://portal-txpanola.tylertech.cloud/PublicAccess/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Parker: https://portal-txparker.tylertech.cloud/PublicAccess/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Parmer: Call (806) 481-3303

Pecos: https://www.reevescounty.org/home/

Polk: https://cc.southernsoftware.com/bookingsearch/

Potter: http://public.pottercountysheriff.org/pottersheriff/PrisonerAndTheirOffensesReport.pdf

Presidio: Call (432) 729-4911

Rains: Call (903) 473-3181

Randall: https://www.randallso.gov/inmates

Reagan: Call (325) 884-2424 

Real: Call (830) 232-5201

Red River: https://netweb.netdatacorp.net/REDR/bok/cgibok108todate.html

Reeves: https://www.reevescounty.org/home/

Refugio: Call (361) 526-169

Roberts: Call (806) 868-3121

Robertson: https://www.robertsoncountysherifftx.org/roster.php

Rockwall: https://portal-txrockwall.tylertech.cloud/JailPublicAccess/default.aspx

Runnels: Call (325) 365-2121

Rusk: Call (903) 655-3000

Sabine: Call (409) 787-2266

San Augustine: Call (936) 275-2424

San Jacinto: Call (936) 653-4367

San Patricio: Call (361) 364-9600

San Saba: Call (325) 372-5551

Schleicher: Call (325) 853-2737

Scurry: Call (325) 573-3551

Shackelford: https://findtheinmate.com/gsapdfs/

Shelby: Call (936) 598-5600

Sherman: Call (806) 366-5551

Smith: Call (903) 590-2800

Somervell: Call (254) 897-2242

Starr: Call (956) 487-5571

Stephens: http://104.54.177.249/bok/cgibok108.html

Sterling: Call (325) 378-4771

Stonewall: Call (940) 989-3333

Sutton: Call (325) 387-2288

Swisher: Call (806) 995-3326

Taylor: Call (325) 691-7423

Terrell: Call (432) 345-2525 

Terry: https://www.terrycountysherifftx.org/roster.php

Throckmorton: Call (940) 849.8855

Titus: Call (903) 577-7200

Tom Green: https://www.tomgreencountysheriff.org/inmate-roster/

Trinity: https://www.co.trinity.tx.us/page/trinity.Sheriff.Inmates

Tyler: Call (409) 283-2172

Upshur: https://upshur-so-tx.zuercherportal.com/#/inmates

Upton: https://www.inmateaid.com/prisons/upton-county-tx-jail

Uvalde: Call (830) 278-4111

Val Verde: Call (830) 778-0096

Van Zandt: http://167.89.238.48/dcn/

Victoria: https://dcn.vctx.org/dcn/

Walker: https://portal-txwalker.tylertech.cloud/Walker/default.aspx

Waller: https://www.wallercountytexassheriff.org/inmateSearch/

Ward: Call (432) 943-6703

Washington: https://washington-911-tx.zuercherportal.com/#/

Webb: https://publicaccess.webbcountytx.gov/BondSearch/default.aspx

Wharton: Call (979) 532-1550

Wheeler: https://www.wheelercountysheriffsoffice.com/inmateSearch

Wichita: https://portal-txwichita.tylertech.cloud/PublicAccess/default.aspx

Wilbarger: Call (940) 552-6205

Willacy: Call (956) 689-5576

Williamson: https://judicialrecords.wilco.org/PublicAccess/JailingSearch.aspx?ID=400

Wilson: Call (830) 393-2535

Winkler: Call (432) 586-3461

Wise: https://jail.co.wise.tx.us/PublicAccess/default.aspx

Wood: https://portal-txwood.tylertech.cloud/PublicAccess/default.aspx

Yoakum: Call (806) 456-2377

Young: https://netweb.netdatacorp.net/NDLEC/bok/cgibokyoun.html

Zapata: Call (956) 765-9961

Zavala: Call (830) 374-3615

How to Search for an Inmate

• Identify the facility: If you’re searching by county, you’ll need to have an idea of where the inmate is being held. The county where the arrest occurred is a good starting point.
• Enter the required information: You’ll need details such as the inmate’s name or ID. You should not be required to pay for this information. There are plenty of sites that look official but aren’t official government sites.
• Review the results: The search tool will display results, often including the inmate’s location, charges, booking number, arrest records, release date, and other relevant details.
• Keep checking: If you don’t find results on the first try, wait a few days and try again. Records are regularly updated due to transfers, releases, bonds, and changes in legal status, but they may not always have the current information.