Travis County Inmate Search
Per Section 55.22 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, a person is arrested in Travis County, Texas, when placed under restraint or taken into custody by an officer. Typically, a person can be arrested after the court issues an arrest warrant. However, there are instances where officers can arrest without warrants. For example, Section 14.01 of the state Criminal Procedure permits peace officers to arrest offenders without warrants when the offense is committed in their presence.
Following an arrest, the individual is taken to the Central Booking Facility within the Travis County Jail System. The arrested person will be asked to take an intake questionnaire that includes their medical, mental, and physical health history. Subsequently, they are booked, photographed, fingerprinted at the facility, and seen by a judge who reads formal charge(s) and advises if bail is applicable. It typically takes about 48 hours to see the judge after being arrested. Arrested individuals will be asked to turn in all personal property and will be given their booking numbers and uniforms. Depending on the offense, an individual may be sentenced to incarceration in any of the two Travis County jail facilities.
The public can review the Arrest & Booking Flowchart for more information on arrests and bookings in Travis County. Inmate information is deemed part of Travis County public records unless a court order is issued to the contrary.
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.
Travis County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
As of April 7, 2022, there were 2,034 inmates in custody in Travis County, Texas. 90% (1,826) of them were arrested for felonies and 10% (208) for misdemeanors. About 74 persons were booked into the county jail system, and 68 were released. The crimes committed by inmates included homicide, sexual assault, robbery, assault, kidnapping, burglary, theft, stolen vehicle, and DWI/DUI.
For more current Travis County incarceration statistics, the public should endeavor to review the county sheriff's Jail Population Dashboard.
Travis County Prison System
The Travis County Prison System is the correctional branch of government that provides a safe and secure place for the confinement of individuals who have committed serious crimes. The Travis County Sheriff's Department runs this jail system, which consists of the following facilities.
- Travis County Jail | Central Booking Facility
- Travis County Correctional Complex
These facilities have a housing capacity of 2,908 inmates. The Travis County Jail and the Central Booking Facility accepted approximately 23,000 individuals into the system in 2021. That same year, the Travis County Correctional Complex had an average daily inmate population of 1,929, with the majority awaiting trial.
How to Find an Inmate in Travis County
The best way to find an inmate in Travis County is by going to the Find an Inmate page on the county sheriff's website. An inquirer must provide an inmate's full name to search.
How Does a Travis County Inmate Search Work?
The Texas Public Information Act allows for the dissemination of inmate information to interested members of the public. Residents of Travis County can inspect or copy any information about an inmate from law enforcement agencies in the county. The following information can be found during an inmate search:
- Inmate's full name and age
- Booking information (booking number, date, and time; arresting agency; offense number; and housing facility)
- Charge details (cause number, charge, bond amount, sentence, and disposition)
Where to Find a Travis County Inmate Locator
An inmate locator is a tool that allows people to search for an inmate confined in a jail or facility. With this tool, individuals can access inmates' personal, arrest, and incarceration details.
Individuals can access the Travis County Inmate Locator on the county sheriff's website. However, this locator is only useful to persons searching for an inmate confined within the county jail system. Inquirers must be able to provide the inmate's last name to retrieve search results.
Suppose a person was arraigned in Travis County but sent to a state correctional facility. In that case, the public can search using the Inmate Information Search tool provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). To successfully conduct a search using this tool, an individual must input the inmate's last name and at least the first initial of the first name, TDCJ number, or SID (state identification) number.
Individuals can also access inmate information using third-party sites. These non-government sites offer search tools where interested persons can obtain inmate records. The search criteria typically include the inmate's full name and state. Be aware that a search fee may be required to conduct this search.
How to Send Money to a Travis County Inmate
Individuals can send money to a Travis County inmate's trust fund. However, the inmate's full name, date of birth, jail ID number, or booking number is required. Any deposit above $100 is not acceptable.
Besides sending money online, below are some ways to send money to an inmate's trust fund:
- In-person: Individuals can visit the Travis County Correctional Complex during business hours to deposit the money. Only money orders or cashier's checks are accepted.
- Mail: An individual can send a money order or cashier's checks to an Inmate's Trust Fund. The mail must include the sender's name and return address. The money should be sent to:
Inmate Trust Fund
(Inmate's Full Name and Jail ID/Booking Number)
P.O. Box 1368
Del Valle, TX 78617
Individuals can review the county sheriff's Send Money/Commissary page for more information on sending money to a Travis County inmate.
How to Visit a Travis County Inmate
Inmates can initiate an at-home video visitation using wireless tablets to communicate with family members and friends. Alternatively, visitors can visit inmates onsite face-to-face or via video at the kiosk. All face-to-face visitations must be scheduled 24 hours in advance using the Travis County Visitation Scheduling System. Video visits can also be scheduled in advance using the same method or the kiosk in the TCCC Visitation Center.
Onsite visitors are only allowed two visits per week. Therefore, visitors should arrive at the facility 30 minutes before check-in time. Visitors can visit the facility from Tuesday to Saturday (excluding county holidays). General visitation guidelines that all onsite visitors must comply with are:
- Only two adults will be allowed in the face-to-face visitation area. The number can increase to three if there is a child under the age of 12 with the adults.
- All visitors 17 years and older must carry a government-issued photo ID.
- A parent or guardian must accompany a minor under 17 years.
- All onsite visitors must be appropriately dressed. Transparent clothing, strapless tops, pajamas, dresses with high-cut splits, and backless tops are unacceptable.
Individuals can review the Visit an Inmate page on the sheriff's office website for more information.
How to Send Jail Mail in Travis County
Family members, friends, and other members of the public can send mail to Travis County inmates. In addition, inmates can receive letters, cards, and other correspondence. However, only publishers and distributing warehouses can send paperback books, magazines, or newspapers to inmates. However, inmates cannot possess more than two books and two magazines at a time.
All mail sent to a Travis County jail facility must have the inmate's full name, date of birth, Jail ID number, or booking number. Additionally, all mailed items must have a return address. Mail packages should be delivered to the following housing locations:
Travis County Jail
500 West 10th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Travis County Correctional Complex
3614 Bill Price Road
Del Valle, TX 78617
The Travis County Sheriff's Department provides a long list of contraband items that will be rejected at the facility:
- Stationary: Blank paper, stamped envelope, cardboard items, tape, sticky notes, glue, flash drives, and greeting cards with music devices.
- Hazards: Lipsticks, perfume, food, shoes, flowers, shoes, staples, and hair.
- Letters, literature & books: Hardback books, maps, coded books, and calendars.
- Photographs & drawings: Framed photos, drawings depicting gang-related signs, photographs or photos depicting nude persons, and polaroid photos.
Individuals can obtain the complete list of contraband items from the sheriff's website.
Travis County Jails and Prisons
The following are the names, contact information, and addresses of the jail and prison facilities in Travis County, Texas:
Travis County Jail | Central Booking Facility (map)
500 West 10th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 854-4180
Travis County Correctional Complex (map)
3614 Bill Price Road
Del Valle, TX 78617
Phone: (512) 854-4180
Travis County State Jail (state-run jail facility)
8101 FM 969
Austin, TX 78724
Phone: (512) 926-4482
