Inmate Search
A Dallas County TX inmate search helps families, attorneys, employers, and other interested users determine whether a person is being held in the county jail system. This article explains how to search the official jail database, which identifying details are required, how jail records differ from criminal court records, and what information may be needed for mail, money deposits, property releases, telephone communication, and video visitation.
Official Jail Lookup
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the county jail system and its inmate information services. The primary online tool for locating a person in custody is the Dallas County Online Jail Search. This government-operated search should be the first place to look when trying to determine whether someone is currently associated with the Dallas County jail system.
The online form searches by personal identifying information rather than by a court case number. Several fields are required, so users should gather the person’s information before opening the search page. Entering incomplete or inaccurate details can prevent the system from returning a matching record.
Required Search Fields
The jail lookup form requires the following information:
Last name
First name
Race
Sex
Date of birth is optional. The date field allows the user to select a month, day, and year. Providing a date of birth can help distinguish between people with similar or identical names, especially when the name is common.
Review every field before submitting the form. A misspelled name, reversed first and last name, incorrect race selection, or incorrect sex selection may result in no match. The search page also provides a clear function that removes the existing entries so the user can begin again with corrected information.
Name Matching Tips
Enter the person’s first and last name as accurately as possible. Avoid adding titles, relationships, nicknames, or other words that are not part of the name fields. When the person commonly uses a shortened first name, try the full first name before assuming that the person is not in the system.
Hyphenated names, multiple surnames, and spacing differences may also affect a search. If the first attempt does not produce a record, review the spelling and try another reasonable version of the name. Do not change race, sex, or date-of-birth information merely to generate more results. Those fields should reflect the person being located.
What a No-Result Search Means
A no-result response means the combination of information entered did not return a matching record in the online jail search. It should not be treated as confirmation of a person’s complete criminal history, the absence of an outstanding warrant, or the status of a court case.
Begin by checking the spelling and required identity fields. If the person was recently arrested, transferred, released, or processed under a different version of a name, additional confirmation may be necessary. The Sheriff’s Office provides Jail/Inmate Information by telephone for questions that cannot be resolved through the online form.
The Sheriff’s Inmate Information section also organizes the county’s official jail services. It includes access to inmate lookup information, mail rules, court information, money procedures, property releases, telephone services, video visitation, inmate programs, voting information, health service fees, and Prison Rape Elimination Act information.
Jail Records and Court Records
An online jail search and a criminal court record search answer different questions. The jail lookup is used to locate a person associated with the Dallas County jail system. A court search is used to review felony or misdemeanor case information maintained through the Dallas County District Clerk’s Office and County Clerk’s Office.
Someone may have a court case without currently being housed in the county jail. A person may also appear in the jail system while court information is being handled through a separate record system. For that reason, one search should not be used as a substitute for the other.
The official Dallas County Criminal Background Search provides felony and misdemeanor court case information. Dallas County states that the information is provided as is, may change or be updated, and comes from multiple sources that are not independently verified. The county also states that information from that site is not for official use and that commercial use is strictly prohibited.
Numbers Serve Different Purposes
Users may encounter more than one identifying number while dealing with an arrest or criminal case. A booking or book-in number identifies the inmate within jail-related procedures. A court case number identifies a particular court proceeding. These numbers should not be treated as interchangeable.
The booking number is especially important after an inmate has been located. Dallas County requires the inmate’s name and booking number for trust fund deposits. The inmate’s name and book-in number are also required when addressing personal mail.
Keep the booking number exactly as provided. Omitting digits or substituting a court case number can delay or prevent completion of an inmate-related task.
Inmate Handbook Rules
The Dallas County inmate handbook information is the official source for rules that apply to people held in the jail system. Family members and other contacts should review the handbook and the Sheriff’s inmate information pages before mailing materials, arranging visits, attempting to release property, or using another jail service.
Jail procedures are separate from court procedures. A court order, attorney appointment, or scheduled hearing does not replace the Sheriff’s rules for property, mail, visitation, or communication. The applicable jail process must still be followed.
Mailing an Inmate
Once the inmate’s identity, booking number, and location are known, personal correspondence may be sent according to the official Dallas County inmate mail instructions. Correct addressing is essential because the mail-processing system relies on the inmate’s name and book-in number.
Personal Mail Address
Personal mail should be addressed in the following format:
Inmate’s full name and book-in number
Inmate’s location
c/o Mail Processing Center
PO Box 9226
Seminole, FL 33775-9226
The sender should place a full name and return address on the envelope. Dallas County does not forward mail after an inmate has been released. Mail received for a released inmate may be returned to the sender or sent to the dead letter department at the United States Post Office.
Letter and Card Restrictions
Letters must be written or printed on one side only. Two-sided letters are returned to the sender. Greeting cards must be signed and may not be larger than 8 by 10 inches. Cards containing padding, musical devices, metal clasps, plastic, string, ribbon, confetti, glitter, or laminated material are prohibited.
Other prohibited materials include:
Glue, staples, paperclips, clasps, magnets, stickers, or tape
Blank paper, envelopes, stamps, pens, pencils, or stationery
Polaroid photographs or photographs larger than 8 by 10 inches
Obscene, violent, pornographic, or sexually enticing photographs
Tobacco products, calling cards, bus passes, or bookmarks
Perishable items, clothing, jewelry, liquids, metal, glass, wood, or electronic devices
Writing or drawings made with crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Items with glued surfaces or adhesive backing
Books must be shipped from a publisher or bookstore. Family members and visitors may not bring reading materials directly to an inmate. Books, magazines, religious materials, and similar items are distributed through the Inmate Programs Section.
Attorney Correspondence
Mail sent to the personal mail-processing address in Seminole is not confidential. Attorneys may send correspondence to:
PO Box 660334
Dallas, TX 75266
Legal mail is opened in the inmate’s presence. Material identified as legal mail may be rejected when it contains nonlegal material.
Depositing Inmate Money
People held in the Dallas County jail may maintain an inmate trust fund account. Funds in the account are accessed through a barcode on the inmate’s armband. Cash in an inmate’s possession during the booking process is deposited into that account.
Before making a deposit, obtain both the inmate’s name and booking number. The official inmate money instructions state that cash may be deposited through a kiosk machine at each jail. A user should confirm that the name and booking number refer to the intended inmate before completing the transaction.
Dallas County does not accept the following items for an inmate trust fund account:
Personal checks
Payroll checks
Money orders
Tax refund checks
Stimulus checks
Insurance checks
Child support checks
Social Security checks
The restriction on these payment types has been effective since February 14, 2022. Sending an unacceptable payment method can prevent the funds from being deposited.
Inmate Property Releases
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office has a formal process for releasing property held for an inmate. The procedure depends partly on whether the inmate has received a housing location and whether the inmate has completed processing through the property vault.
The official inmate property release rules state that releases are processed for incoming inmates even when they have not yet been processed through the vault. If the inmate does not have a housing location, the clerk obtains the inmate’s signature. If the inmate has a housing location, the requester takes the property release form to the correct jail facility so the inmate’s signature can be obtained.
After the form is signed, it must be returned to the control center in the front lobby of the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. The property is then retrieved and provided to the requester, who signs the form to acknowledge receipt.
Release Limitations
After the inmate has been processed through the vault, the release must cover all property. Individual items cannot be selected for release. Clothing and other property cannot be released on the same form. A visitor seeking both must use separate forms.
Property release hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday through Saturday.
Accepted Identification
The person collecting property must present one of the accepted forms of identification:
A valid state driver’s license with a photograph
A paper license renewal accompanied by another form of photo identification
A Texas Department of Public Safety photo identification card
An identification card issued by the Dallas County Jail
An official government passport
An alien registration card
Another valid photo identification card issued by the United States government
Prescription Glasses and Materials
Prescription eyeglasses and reading glasses may be brought to building control at the appropriate jail facility. Other reading materials may not be delivered directly to an inmate. This distinction matters because an item that appears harmless may still be subject to jail security and distribution rules.
Anyone planning to deliver glasses should first confirm the inmate’s current location. The location determines which facility’s building control should receive the item.
Video Visitation Rules
Dallas County treats video visitation as a privilege rather than a right. The Sheriff’s Office may deny, cancel, or end a visit because of visitor or inmate misconduct. It may also restrict a visitor from participating in future sessions. The county records and electronically monitors video visits, and participation constitutes consent to that recording and monitoring.
The official video visitation rules and schedule state that visits must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance. The registering visitor must be at least 17 years old and must present valid government-issued photo identification during initial registration. Visitors younger than 17 must have a parent or guardian present during the visit.
Approvals are generally made within 72 hours. Each video visit lasts 20 minutes. On-site visits are limited to two per week. The rules do not restrict the number of off-site video visits an inmate may receive in a week.
Arrival and Scheduling Changes
The visitor and inmate are responsible for being present at the scheduled start time. A late arrival does not extend the session. The participants receive only the time remaining in the original 20-minute period.
Visits may need to be rescheduled because of court, a work assignment, a lockdown, sick call, an attorney visit, or inmate housing reassignment. Emergency conditions may result in immediate cancellation.
On-Site Visiting Hours
On-site video visitation is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There is no visitation on Wednesday. Children younger than 17 are not allowed during weekday on-site visitation.
Conduct and Clothing
Nudity, provocative clothing, and tight-fitting clothing are prohibited. The rules provide a 30-day visitation restriction for a first clothing violation, a 60-day restriction for a second violation, and permanent loss of video visitation privileges for a third violation.
A visit may also be canceled when a visitor appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, displays weapons or suspected contraband, displays gang signs or symbols, photographs the session, behaves disruptively, or damages visitation equipment.
Telephone Communication
Inmate telephone service is separate from the jail lookup. Locating an inmate does not automatically establish a telephone account or guarantee that a call can be completed. The Sheriff’s official inmate telephone page provides the current communication instructions for family members and friends.
Confirm the inmate’s name and booking information before beginning any communication setup. Using information belonging to another inmate may associate the account or request with the wrong person.
Common Search Mistakes
Most avoidable problems begin with using the wrong system or entering information that does not match the person being searched. The following mistakes can interfere with an inmate search or a related jail service:
Using a criminal court search when the goal is to locate someone currently in jail
Using the jail lookup as proof that a person has no criminal court cases
Reversing the first-name and last-name fields
Entering a nickname without also trying the person’s full first name
Selecting race or sex information that does not match the inmate’s record
Confusing a court case number with a booking number
Sending mail without the inmate’s book-in number or location
Attempting to deposit an unacceptable form of payment
Bringing reading materials directly to a jail facility
Trying to release selected property after the inmate has been processed through the vault
Arriving late for a 20-minute video visit and expecting the session to be extended
Warrant Checks Are Separate
An inmate search determines whether the entered information matches a person in the county jail lookup. It does not serve as a warrant search. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office maintains a separate Warrant Information telephone line for warrant questions.
This distinction is particularly relevant when a person appears in a criminal court record but does not appear in the jail database. A court record, jail record, and warrant inquiry involve different types of information and should be directed to the appropriate county service.
Department List
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75207
Jail/Inmate Information: (214) 761-9025
Warrant Information: (214) 761-9026
Inmate Search FAQs
Can a family health inquiry create a medical fee?
Yes. A written or verbal inquiry that results in an assessment by licensed health care staff may lead to a $10 medical care fee being charged to the inmate. Dallas County states that health services are still provided regardless of the inmate’s ability to pay. Charges may be deducted from the inmate’s trust account only when the deduction will not reduce the balance below $6. Certain services are exempt, including intake nursing assessments, prescription medications, tuberculosis testing, follow-up appointments arranged by health services, and qualifying mental health services. Details are available on the official inmate health service fee page.
Can someone vote while being held in jail?
Being confined in the Dallas County jail does not automatically remove a person’s voting rights. An eligible voter must be a United States citizen, a resident of the Texas county where registration is submitted, and at least 18 years old on Election Day. A person finally convicted of a felony generally must have fully completed the sentence, parole, supervision, or court-ordered probation unless pardoned or otherwise released from the voting disability. The official jail voting rights guidance explains the county’s eligibility rules.
How do inmates request classes and rehabilitation programs?
Dallas County offers educational, vocational, therapeutic, faith-based, parenting, recovery, and reentry programs. Available services may include GED preparation, continuing education, substance-use recovery groups, art therapy, parenting instruction, and reproductive health education. Inmates request available classes through tablets or kiosks located inside their assigned tank or pod. Program availability may depend on housing, eligibility, scheduling, and security conditions. Families can review the official inmate programs information to understand the types of services offered.
Can a private investigator interview an inmate?
A private investigator acting for an attorney must carry an original authorization letter on the attorney’s official letterhead. The letter must identify the interview date, and faxed copies are not accepted. A newly updated letter is required for each visit. The investigator must also present government-issued identification and a current investigator license.