Jail

The Dallas County TX Jail is operated by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and houses people awaiting court proceedings, serving certain court-related detention periods, or waiting for transfer to another correctional facility. This article explains the county jail facilities, inmate information services, bond procedures, visitation schedules, property releases, attorney access, inmate programs, and common restrictions that families and other visitors should understand before contacting or traveling to the jail.

County Jail Responsibilities

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the care, control, and custody of people held in the county detention system. Charges involving people in custody can range from Class C misdemeanor matters, including outstanding traffic citations, to serious felony offenses.

People held in the Dallas County Jail generally fall into three categories:

Individuals who have not posted bail and are waiting for court proceedings.

Individuals who have completed a court appearance and are waiting to be transferred to a state or federal prison.

Individuals brought from another detention facility after being summoned by a judge to appear in court.

A person’s presence in the county jail does not establish guilt. Some inmates are awaiting hearings or trial, while others may be held temporarily during a transfer or court appearance. Release decisions, court dates, bond conditions, and case outcomes are handled through the appropriate courts and justice agencies rather than decided by detention staff.

The Sheriff’s Office operates the detention system continuously, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. The county reports an average jail population of more than 6,000 inmates. Readers can review the county’s official detention center information for descriptions of the facilities within the system.

Detention Facilities and Housing

The main Dallas County detention facilities are concentrated at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center complex in downtown Dallas, adjacent to the Frank Crowley Courts Building. The complex includes several separately identified detention towers. An inmate’s assigned facility or housing unit can affect where property is delivered, where a visitor reports, and how staff process certain requests.

North Tower Detention Facility

The North Tower Detention Facility was constructed in 1993 and is designed to hold maximum-security inmates. Its reported capacity is 3,292 inmates, including 188 single cells. Approximately 350 employees are required to operate the facility.

West Tower Detention Facility

The West Tower is located within the Lew Sterrett Justice Center and has a reported capacity of 1,530 male inmates. It contains 132 tanks and 25 single cells.

The county identifies the West Tower as a mental housing facility that also accommodates several custody and housing classifications. These may include medium- and maximum-custody inmates, Class C inmates, trustees, people assigned to infirmary housing, inmates with lower-bunk medical restrictions, people under close behavioral observation, and inmates placed in protective, administrative, psychological assessment, substance-abuse, or crisis-stabilization housing.

Housing assignments are made by jail officials according to classification, medical, behavioral, security, and operational considerations. Family members should not assume that a person will remain in the same tower or housing area throughout the detention period.

Suzanne Lee Kays Facility

The Suzanne Lee Kays Detention Facility is also known as the South Tower. It was completed in 2008 and has a reported capacity of 2,304 inmates. It operates as a direct-supervision facility, meaning detention officers work inside the housing units with inmates.

The facility is named for Deputy Suzanne Lee Kays, who was killed in the line of duty on January 4, 1989, six days after graduating from the sheriff’s academy.

Older Jail Locations

Some older county records and historical references may mention the George Allen Jail or the “Old Jail.” These locations are no longer active detention facilities.

The George Allen Jail, located in the George Allen Courthouse, is depopulated. It began housing inmates in 1966 and served as the county’s main jail before the Lew Sterrett Justice Center was completed.

The former jail on the upper floors of the Dallas County Criminal Courts Building is also closed. People seeking a current inmate, attempting to post bond, or reporting for visitation should rely on current Sheriff’s Office information rather than traveling to one of these former jail locations.

Inmate Information and Status

The Sheriff’s Office maintains an official inmate information section covering inmate lookup, court information, mail, money, property, telephone access, visitation, programs, voting, and related detention services.

An inmate lookup should be used to confirm that the person is in Dallas County custody and to review the available booking or housing information. This step is especially useful before visiting, attempting a property release, or asking about bond because a person may be transferred between facilities, released, sent to court, or moved to another agency.

Families should distinguish jail status from court status. Jail records describe custody and housing, while a court record may contain the case number, charge, hearing schedule, bond order, or other case activity. A detention employee does not replace the court clerk, judge, or attorney when the question concerns legal filings, court rulings, or case strategy.

Non-attorneys with questions about an inmate’s release date, the person or agency to whom the inmate will be released, whether bond has been posted, a wellness check, or a warrant check are directed to the jail information service. Because custody information can change, checking the official system before traveling may prevent a visit to the wrong facility or an attempt to complete a transaction after an inmate has been transferred.

Posting a Jail Bond

The Dallas County Bond Desk accepts bonds in person 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. The Sheriff’s Office advises the public to use the county bond desk or a legitimate bail bond company and warns against requests to send bond money through services such as Cash App.

The county’s official bond instructions identify the accepted forms of payment and restrictions that apply at the bond desk.

Accepted Bond Payments

Debit cards and credit cards are not accepted for posting a cash bond. The accepted payment forms are:

Cash.
A cashier’s check payable to Dallas County.
A money order payable to Dallas County.

When a cash bond is paid by cashier’s check or money order, the payment instrument must be issued by a local bank or financial institution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The person posting the bond must also provide proof of purchase to the bond unit clerk.

Western Union is unavailable for this purpose. An adult posting a bond in person must present valid, acceptable identification.

Bond Refund Responsibility

The Sheriff’s Office does not process or handle bond refunds. Refund questions fall under the responsibility of the County Clerk or District Clerk, depending on the court and case. A person seeking a refund should identify which clerk maintains the applicable case rather than returning to the jail bond desk for refund processing.

Posting a bond also does not always produce an immediate release. Jail staff may still need to confirm the bond, complete release processing, review other holds, and determine whether another agency or case prevents release. The available reference material does not establish a standard release time.

In-Person Visitation Schedule

All Dallas County detention facilities use the same general in-person visitation schedule. Visitors should consult the Sheriff’s current jail visitation rules before arriving because entry can be denied for late arrival, unacceptable identification, prohibited clothing, recent incarceration, or possession of restricted items.

Weekday Visiting Hours

Weekday visitation is organized according to the inmate’s last name:

Last names beginning with A through L: Mondays and Thursdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Last names beginning with M through Z: Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Visitor registration begins 30 minutes before the visitation period. Visitors are not processed after 8:30 p.m. on weekday visitation nights.

Weekend Visiting Hours

Visitation for all inmates is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visitors are not processed after 1:30 p.m.

Arriving before the final processing time does not eliminate other entry requirements. Visitors must still complete registration, present acceptable identification, comply with the dress code, and pass the facility’s security procedures.

Visit Length and Frequency

Each inmate is limited to one 20-minute visit per day and a maximum of two visits per week. Attorney, law-enforcement, and professional visits are not included in that weekly limit unless a supervisor determines otherwise.

No more than four people may visit one inmate at the same time. The group may include no more than two adults and two minor children.

Out-of-town visitors who live more than 75 miles from the Dallas city limits may receive one 40-minute visit. Residence is verified at the time of the visit. Later visits return to the standard 20-minute limit.

Children and Adult Supervision

A visitor who is 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18. Children under 17 are not placed on the inmate’s visitor card but may visit on weekends when accompanied by an adult parent or legal guardian who is on the visitor card.

The accompanying adults are responsible for the children’s behavior. A visit may be terminated if the conduct of an adult, child, or inmate threatens facility safety, security, or orderly operations.

Recent Incarceration Restriction

A person who has been incarcerated in a Dallas County detention facility during the preceding six months is not authorized to visit. This restriction should be considered before the person travels to the jail or accompanies other visitors.

Visitor Identification Rules

Visitors who are 18 or older must present acceptable photo identification. Approved identification may include:

A valid driver’s license issued by any state.
A current temporary paper license accompanied by another form of photo identification.
A valid state identification card.
A valid passport.
A photo immigration identification card issued by the United States government.
A Mexican Consulate card.
A qualifying military identification card.

A Mexican voter registration card showing a United States residential address is not accepted as identification for jail visitation.

Jail Visitation Cards

The Sheriff’s Office also describes a process for obtaining a Dallas County Jail Visitation Card. This card is available to United States citizens who are at least 18 years old and is used only for visitation at the Dallas County Jail.

The card costs $5 and may be obtained Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the probation check office within the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. Applicants must provide three original documents from the county’s approved list. Scanned copies are not accepted.

The listed documents include a Social Security card, school identification, work identification, birth certificate, expired Texas Department of Public Safety identification card, or a Texas Department of Public Safety renewal slip.

Dress and Conduct Standards

The jail enforces a conservative dress code. Clothing considered provocative, revealing, excessively tight, or similar to institutional or military clothing can result in denied entry.

Items identified as unacceptable include revealing shorts, sundresses, halter tops, bathing suits, open-toed shoes, see-through garments, ripped clothing with holes, low-cut clothing, leotards, spandex, miniskirts, backless tops, pajamas, sleeveless garments, and skirts two inches or more above the knee. Nonreligious hats and caps are also prohibited.

Visitors may not leave and reenter the building during a visit. Everyone must behave in an orderly manner, and detention personnel may terminate a visit when conduct interferes with safety or jail operations.

Items Prohibited During Visits

Cellphones are prohibited. The Sheriff’s Office specifically advises visitors with electric vehicles to plan for this restriction because phones will not be allowed inside.

Other prohibited items include:

Tobacco, cigarettes, matches, lighters, and electronic cigarettes.
Cameras and electronic recording devices.
Smart watches, including iPhone watches.
Backpacks, bags, purses, handbags, packages, and paper sacks.
Umbrellas, pagers, mace, knives, sharp objects, and weapons.
Glass or metal containers.
Unlabeled prescription medication.
Food and drinks, except permitted infant supplies.

A visitor bringing an infant may bring one diaper bag, which will be searched for contraband. A blanket and bottles must fit inside the diaper bag. An infant carrier is subject to visual inspection.

Hospital Visit Restrictions

Hospital visits are not normally allowed. A one-time family visit may be approved when medical professionals determine that the inmate’s condition is declining to the point that a family visit is warranted.

Approval must come from the Chief Deputy of Detention Services or a designee. Prohibited-item rules also apply to approved hospital visits.

Video Visitation Rules

The Sheriff’s video visitation information covers both on-site and off-site video sessions. Participation is treated as a privilege rather than a right, and the Sheriff’s Office may deny, cancel, or terminate a session because of visitor or inmate misconduct.

All video visits must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance. Visitor approvals are generally made within 72 hours. The registering visitor must be at least 17 and must present valid government-issued photo identification during initial registration. A visitor under 17 must have a parent or guardian present during the session.

Each video visit lasts 20 minutes. On-site video visits are limited to two per week, while the county does not restrict the number of off-site video visits an inmate may receive during a week.

Visitors and inmates must be present when the scheduled visit begins. A late participant receives only the remaining portion of the reserved time.

A session may be rescheduled because of court, a work assignment, a lockdown, sick call, an attorney visit, or an inmate housing reassignment. Emergency conditions may cause immediate cancellation. The Sheriff’s Office does not assume financial or other liability when a scheduled session cannot be completed.

On-Site Video Hours

On-site video visitation is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Video visitation is not available on Wednesdays. Children under 17 are not allowed during weekday on-site sessions.

Recorded Sessions and Conduct

Video visits are recorded and electronically monitored by county personnel. Participating in a video visit constitutes consent to that recording and monitoring.

Nudity, provocative clothing, tight-fitting clothing, disruptive conduct, gang signs, weapons, drugs, drug paraphernalia, and photographs are prohibited. A first clothing-related violation can result in a 30-day bar from on-site and off-site video visitation. A second violation can produce a 60-day bar, and a third can lead to permanent loss of video visitation privileges.

Inmate Property Releases

Property releases are processed for incoming inmates. The procedure depends on whether the inmate has a housing location and whether the inmate’s property has been processed through the jail vault.

If the inmate does not yet have a housing location, a clerk obtains the inmate’s signature. If the inmate has been assigned housing, the person requesting the property release must take the release form to the appropriate housing location to obtain the inmate’s signature.

The signed form must then be returned to the control center in the front lobby of the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.

All-Property Requirement

After an inmate’s belongings have 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 person seeking both must use separate forms.

After the property is retrieved, the recipient signs the release form to confirm receipt.

Identification for Property Pickup

The property recipient must present an accepted form of photo identification. Examples include a valid state driver’s license, a paper license renewal accompanied by another photo ID, a Texas Department of Public Safety identification card, a Dallas County Jail identification card, an official government passport, an alien registration card, or another valid United States government photo identification card.

Glasses and Reading Materials

Prescription glasses and reading glasses may be brought to the building control area of the appropriate jail facility.

Visitors may not bring books, magazines, religious materials, or other reading materials directly to an inmate. Reading materials are distributed through the Inmate Programs Section.

Attorney and Professional Visits

Attorneys may visit clients through in-person or video visitation. Both methods are handled under attorney-client privilege. Attorneys must provide a bar card and state-issued identification or a driver’s license.

The county’s attorney visitation instructions also describe assistance available for appointed-attorney information, court documents that must be received or signed by an inmate, and requests from outside agencies concerning indigent information.

Courts and inmates have access to a court-call kiosk system for expedited proceedings such as bail hearings and pleas. An attorney interested in that option should work through the coordinator for the court handling the client’s case.

Private Investigator Access

An attorney sending a private investigator to interview an inmate must provide an original authorization letter. The letter must be on the attorney’s official letterhead and must include the date of the interview.

Faxed copies are not accepted. The investigator needs a new, updated letter for each visit and must also present government-issued identification and a current investigator license.

Inmate Programs and Classes

The Inmate Programs Division provides educational, vocational, therapeutic, rehabilitation, and reentry-related services. The program is intended to address issues that may contribute to criminal behavior, including substance use, mental health challenges, limited education, and lack of employment skills.

The county’s inmate programs page identifies services that may be available within the detention facilities, including:

Alcoholics Anonymous.
Art therapy.
Battering Intervention and Prevention Program classes.
GED preparation and continuing education.
Drug Addicts Anonymous.
Faith-based classes.
Forgiveness classes.
Narcotics Anonymous.
Opioid recovery services.
Parenting instruction.
Spiritual growth programs.
Sex education and vaccinations.
Reproductive health services.

Inmates can request classes through tablets or kiosks located inside their assigned tank or pod. Families generally cannot enroll an inmate directly in a class by bringing outside materials to the facility.

Jail Operations and Volume

The Dallas County Jail is a large detention operation. According to the county’s published jail facts, approximately 51,000 inmates were booked during 2023, and the average daily population that year was 6,222.

The county reports maximum inmate housing capacity of more than 7,000. Jail operations include preparing and serving an average of approximately 23,400 meals each day, washing about one million pounds of laundry per year, and processing more than 275,000 pieces of inmate mail annually.

The size of the detention system helps explain why an inmate’s housing assignment, release processing, visitation availability, or access to a requested service can be affected by court movement, classification decisions, medical needs, lockdowns, and facility operations.

Common Jail Service Mistakes

Going to an Old Facility

The George Allen Jail and the former jail in the Criminal Courts Building are closed or depopulated. Current detention, bond, visitation, and property-release matters are associated with the active Sheriff’s Office detention system, primarily the Lew Sterrett Justice Center complex.

Using an Unapproved Bond Payment

Credit cards, debit cards, Cash App payments, and Western Union are not accepted for posting a cash bond through the county bond desk. Cashier’s checks and money orders are subject to local-issuer and proof-of-purchase requirements.

Arriving After Processing Closes

Weekday visitation processing ends at 8:30 p.m., and weekend processing ends at 1:30 p.m. Arriving during the final minutes of the published visiting period may be too late for admission.

Bringing a Cellphone Inside

Cellphones, smart watches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited. Visitors should make arrangements before entering the building rather than expecting to store or use a phone in the visitation area.

Wearing Restricted Clothing

Open-toed shoes, sleeveless garments, revealing clothing, tight-fitting clothing, ripped garments, short skirts, and institutional-style colors can result in denied visitation.

Requesting Selected Property

Once property has been processed through the vault, a release must cover all property. Clothing and other belongings require separate forms.

Confusing Jail and Court Records

The jail maintains custody and inmate information. Court clerks and courts maintain case filings, court dates, judicial orders, and bond-related case records. Bond refunds are handled through the County Clerk or District Clerk rather than the Sheriff’s Office.

Dallas County Jail Departments

Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
Frank Crowley Courts Building
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 749-8641

Lew Sterrett Justice Center
111 West Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 761-9025

Jail FAQs

Can someone get married while in Dallas County Jail?

Yes, but the process is tightly controlled. A family member must submit an Affidavit of Absent Application for a Marriage License to Inmate Services. A detention officer presents the form to the incarcerated person for signing, notarizes it, and sends it back through the jail mailroom. The ceremony may include only the bride, groom, officiating officer, and a licensed and ordained minister affiliated with a local church. Other relatives, friends, photographers, and witnesses are not permitted inside the jail for the ceremony. Review the Sheriff’s official frequently asked questions before beginning the marriage-license process.

Can an inmate attend a family funeral?

Dallas County does not provide inmate escorts to funerals, including services for immediate family members. The Sheriff’s Office attributes this restriction to staffing limitations. Families should not schedule transportation, make ceremonial arrangements, or assume that a judge’s involvement automatically means the jail can provide an escort. Questions involving temporary release orders must be addressed through the inmate’s attorney and the court handling the criminal case, but jail transportation remains subject to detention policies and available resources.

How can a charitable organization post bail?

A charitable bail organization must be registered with the Dallas County Clerk before posting bonds in the county. The person presenting the bond must be identified as an authorized representative on the organization’s filed affidavit and must show acceptable identification. State law also requires qualifying organizations to submit a monthly report to the Sheriff by the tenth day of each month, listing required case and defendant information. Failure to file the reports may result in suspension of the organization’s ability to post bonds. The Sheriff’s official bond requirements explain the current documentation and reporting rules.