Fort Bend County Inmate Search
The incarceration process of Fort Bend County law enforcement agencies is governed by the laws established in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Administrative Code. These laws set out the rules and procedures for arrests and criminal proceedings in the state of Texas.
According to texas state laws, a peace officer has the authority to arrest an individual if they committed a crime in their presence or if a magistrate or judge issues a warrant for the individual’s arrest. Furthermore, an officer can also make an arrest even if the arrestee did not commit the crime in their presence without a warrant under certain conditions. These situations include when someone is thought to have committed a felony, is a flight risk, or might hurt oneself or others.
The Texas Administrative Code Title 37, Part 9, and Chapter 265 provide details on the incarceration process in Fort Bend County. The process begins with the initial arrest, where the receiving officer confirms the authorization of the arresting officer. Afterward, the arrestee is thoroughly searched upon entry into the holding facility and before booking. The inmate is then informed about their right to contact an attorney and the opportunity to secure their release using bonding procedures available in the county or district.
Fort Bend County inmates are not all the same. The Sheriff develops a classification plan containing principles, procedures, instruments, and explanations for classifying inmates, assigning them to housing, reassessing them, and meeting their needs. The classification system considers various factors such as the inmate's current conviction, offense history, escape history, institutional disciplinary history, prior convictions, alcohol or drug abuse, and stability factors. Race, ethnicity, and religious preference are not part of the criteria.
The Fort Bend County Jail holds pre-trial inmates without bail, while sentenced inmates may be held in either the Fort Bend County Jail or the Fort Bend County Detention Center. Inmates with medical or mental health needs are kept in a specialized unit, while protective custody inmates are housed separately. Individuals convicted of a misdemeanor may be held for up to one year in the county jail, while those serving a sentence for a felony may be held longer in the detention center.
The Fort Bend County Jail is the sole correctional facility in Fort Bend County. The facility is managed by the Detention Division of the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. To find information about inmates in the Fort Bend County Jail, you can use the inmate search tool on the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office website and look up inmates.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Fort Bend County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting statistics reveal that property crimes such as larceny theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft are the most common types of crimes in Fort Bend County.
In contrast, violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault are less frequent. In 2020, there were 10 reported incidents of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, 100 incidents of rape, 198 incidents of robbery, and 404 incidents of aggravated assault.
There were reportedly 1,055 arrests for drug offenses and 872 arrests for property crimes, while violent crimes accounted for 431 arrests in Fort Bend County in 2019.
Fort Bend County Prison System
Fort Bend County has one jail facility, the Fort Bend County Jail, located in Richmond, Texas. The jail has a daily average population of approximately 1,100 inmates and a capacity of 1,267 inmates. The jail is operated by the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of inmates, staff, and visitors, as well as managing the daily operations of the jail. The Sheriff's Office also provides inmates with rehabilitation and reentry programs to help them successfully transition into society.
Texas also has an extensive prison system that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) oversees. The TDCJ's primary duties include managing state correctional facilities such as prisons and jails across Texas.
In tandem with the TDJC, the County Sheriff's Office is tasked with maintaining peace and order in Fort Bend County, serving legal documents, and providing security for public events and county buildings. Their other responsibilities include managing the county jail system, conducting investigations, and providing community services like crime prevention education and victim assistance.
How to Find an Inmate in Fort Bend County
Interested persons can find an inmate in Fort Bend County by utilizing the public inmate search tools maintained by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Interested persons can find these search tools on the official websites of these agencies. Inquirers can use these tools to search for an inmate by providing the inmate’s name or other details about the inmate, such as their SID and TDCJ number. Interested persons can also query the jail by phone or email to find an inmate. Alternatively, an inquirer can visit the jail in-person during specified visiting hours to make an inmate inquiry.
How Does a Fort Bend County Inmate Search Work?
As previously stated, interested persons can conduct a Fort bend county inmate search by querying the County Sheriff’s Office. Queries to obtain inmate information through the County Sheriff’s Office may be made in person, by phone, or by mail. Inquirers can also make queries through the online inmate search tool the County Sheriff’s Office provides. Typical information about an inmate inquirers can expect to get from the County Sheriff’s Office includes:
- Inmate's full name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and age
- Gender and race
- Booking number and arrest date
- Details about the inmate's charges and criminal history
- Mugshot and physical description
- Housing location within the jail
- Release date or next court appearance
- Visitation rules and schedule for the inmate's housing unit
- Bond amount, if applicable.
- Current status
The laws and policies governing the dissemination of inmate information in Fort Bend County are primarily based on state and federal laws, such as The Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). Under the TPIA, certain information about inmates can be released to the general public. However, TPIA also considers certain information about inmates as confidential or privileged information. As such, these informations are protected from public disclosure. Some examples include inmates’ medical records or records of ongoing criminal investigations.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office also has its own policies and procedures for releasing information about inmates. The Sheriff's Office typically follows the guidelines set in the Texas Administrative Code, which includes provisions for access to information by the public, media, and legal professionals.
Where to Find a Fort Bend County Inmate Locator
There are different inmate locators interested persons can use in Fort Bend County. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Locator, can be found on the "Inmate Information" section of the County’s Sheriff's Office website. As the name implies, this inmate locator is maintained by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. This inmate locator allows users to look up inmates by either their first name or last name, or a combination of both.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) also maintains an inmate locator that can be used in Fort Bend. This inmate locator covers all state-run correctional facilities in Texas. This inmate locator can be found on the inmate information page on the TDCJ official website. Interested persons can conduct an inmate search on the locator by providing an inmate name, TDCJ number, or SID number. To further narrow down the search result, inquirers can select the inmate’s gender and race.
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) also maintains an inmate locator. This inmate locater can be used to find information on inmates held in any federal correctional facility in the United States. However, Fort Bend County does not have any of the federal correctional facilities that can be found throughout Texas. Interested persons can use the BOP inmate locator to search for federal inmates by their BOP register number, DCDC number, FBI number, or INS number. Alternatively, inquirers can use an inmate’s name to conduct a search.
Third-party inmate locator services are another viable option. Several third-party inmate locator services are available online, offering more comprehensive inmate search options. Users should note that they may need to create an account and pay a fee to access certain information through some third-party inmate locator providers.
How to Send Money to a Fort Bend County Inmate
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office provides inmates access to a trust fund accounts system at the County Jail, which can be used for commissary purchases such as phone calls or eMessaging. Individuals can send money to an inmate by depositing cash or using debit or credit cards at the JPay kiosk in the main lobby of the Ford County Sheriff’s Office at:
1840 Richmond Pkwy,
Richmond, TX.
Depositors can also opt to make deposit online through the JPay website that has been provided for Fort Bend County. To facilitate a deposit through the website would need to know the ID of the inmate. Another alternative is making out money orders or cashier's checks to the Inmate Trust Fund and mailing them to the Fort Bend County Jail. The money order or cashier's check should include the inmate's name and, if possible, their jail identification number. They can also be submitted in person at the bonding window in the main lobby.
How to Visit a Fort Bend County Inmate
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office Detention Division provides inmates with visitation opportunities. The Division provides two types of visitation: on-site and off-site video visitation. Visitors must create an account on the Securus Technologies website and schedule their visit twenty-four hours in advance.
On-site visitation is available at the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office Jail facility, and inmates are allocated two free on-site visits weekly. Visitors must arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of their scheduled visitation time and must present a valid, government-issued photo ID. Visitors are subject to a search before being allowed to visit the inmate.
On-site visitation is available from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM from Sunday through Friday. Inmates are unavailable during meal times, which are from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM and from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Visitors can contact Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office at (281) 341-4744 for more information.
Off-site video visitation, also known as “From Home” Remote visitation, is available from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Sundays to Fridays. Off-site visitation can be scheduled and purchased through a third-party site website used by the county sheriff’s office. interested persons can access off-site visits through any device with internet access and a web camera. There are several visitation rules and prohibited items that visitors need to know before visiting an inmate.
- An adult must accompany visitors aged 16 or under.
- Visitors over 16 must provide a valid state ID with a photo.
- Unrestricted inmates have two visits per week starting on Mondays
- Visits will be thirty minutes long, and the use of cell phones and cameras is prohibited.
- Sexual acts, nudity, language that may constitute a security concern, illegal drugs, drug-related signs, gang-related signs, and remote visits while operating a motor vehicle are not allowed during visits.
- Inappropriate clothing, weapons, food, drinks, and gum are also prohibited.
Any violation of the rules may result in the loss of an inmate’s visitation privileges. All visits except validated professional visits are monitored and recorded by correctional officers.
How to Send Jail Mail in Fort Bend County
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office provides a way for family and friends to communicate with inmates through eMessaging and mail.
eMessaging allows users to send and receive electronic messages, while mail allows for physical letters and photographs. Individuals must create an account on the Securus website or their smartphone app and purchase messaging credits to access the eMessaging services, which include:
- Sending messages
- Sharing photos and eCards for Birthdays, Celebrations, or “Missing you” moments
- “Snap n’ Send” photos
- Prepaying messages for loved ones to reply
Law enforcement staff are allowed to read all eMessages that are sent and received. Once an eMessage user and an inmate have successfully exchanged one eMessage, the inmate can use their account to purchase eMessages and send them to the approved user.
Mails are generally sent to the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. They must contain the sender's full name and complete return address, along with the inmate's full name and jail identification number. The mail will be returned to its sender if this information is not included. Mail that doesn't have a return address or has the wrong location will be forwarded to the US Postal Service for a final decision.
Except for legal mail (mail between an inmate and their legal representative), all postal mail sent to inmates will be checked. If approved, the mail will be scanned and made available to the inmate through Securus Technologies. This digital mail center can be accessed through Securus Video Terminals or Tablets. Legal mail envelopes must include the label "Legal Mail-Open only in the presence of the inmate" on the front of the envelope. If a mail can contain photographs, it must not be offensive, sexual, or contain gang references to be accepted. They must also be unaltered and free of depictions of guns, drugs, or drug paraphernalia, and be no larger than 8” x 10”. Mail that contains perfume, fluids, makeup, or any other substances may be returned to the sender.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office Inmate Services accepts paperback books and magazine donations through their Chaplain Ministry. Hardbound books are not permitted, and all books and magazines become the property of the Sheriff's Office upon receipt. The publications will be distributed to inmates after being reviewed to ensure they contain appropriate content.
The mail should only be sent through the United States Postal Service (USPS). If mail is sent with a "Signature Required," the package will be returned to the sender. The Sheriff's Office is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or destroyed publications. The Fort Bend County Jail prohibits the following items from being sent to inmates:
- Musical Greeting Cards
- Blank Paper And Envelopes
- Writing Instruments
- Obscene Pictures
- Packages
- Stickers
- Cash
- Food
- Contraband
- Stamps
- Computer-Generated Materials From The Internet
- Medicine
These unauthorized items are considered contraband and may be confiscated or returned to the sender. The jail will not store any unauthorized items in its property room.
Fort Bend County Jails and Prisons
The Fort Bend County Jail is the sole detention facility in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County Jail
1410 Richmond Parkway,
Richmond, Texas 77469
Phone: (281) 341-4735
Fax: (281) 341-4733
