Follow a Bexar County Booking Through the First 24 Hours
If the arrest just happened, do not begin with an old court-record search. Bexar County has a separate Central Magistrate Search for people processed during the previous 24 hours. That is usually the quickest place to find a SID, booking number, charge and early bond information.
If the booking is older, switch to the Sheriff’s seven-day Jail Activity Reports or the county Justice Information Portal. This guide shows exactly when to use each system, how to read the booking entry, how bond and magistration work, and what families should do next if the person remains in custody.
Central Magistrate Search covers qualifying arrests processed within the last 24 hours.
BCSO keeps Jail Activity Reports online for a maximum of seven days.
Call 210-335-6201 with the person’s full name and date of birth.
Adult Detention Center, 200 N. Comal Street, San Antonio.
Local procedures checked August 8, 2026.
Choose by how long ago the arrest happened
Best first stop for a new Class B-or-higher arrest processed by Central Magistrate.
Use this routeUse BCSO’s daily jail activity reports when the arrest no longer appears in the 24-hour list.
Use this routeConfirm charges, current bond and warrant information with the inmate information line.
Check custody and bondUse the consolidated court-record portal for misdemeanor and felony case information.
Search the court caseSome eligible warrants can be magistrated and bonded without going through the jail.
Check eligibility firstThree records answer three different questions
Answers: Who was processed recently, what is the SID, booking number and charge?
The official search covers Class B-or-higher arrests and certain Justice of the Peace Class C matters processed within the previous 24 hours.
Open recent-arrest searchAnswers: What booking activity appeared during the last several days?
Reports remain online for no more than seven days. BCSO warns that an entry may be incomplete while the defendant is still moving through booking.
Open jail activityAnswers: What criminal court case exists and what happened after booking?
The newer portal consolidates court-record, fugitive and bail-bond searches. Public data does not require registration.
Open Justice PortalUse Central Magistrate for a very recent Bexar County booking
It is the county’s purpose-built recent-arrest search.
Open Central Magistrate SearchResults identify recently processed defendants and can display name, race, birth information, SID and booking number.
Compare middle names, suffixes and spelling. Do not assume the first similar name is the correct person.
Pair the name with age or birth date and another identifier before relying on the result.
The SID is important later for jail mail, deposits, calls and other inmate services.
A booking number helps distinguish this arrest event from another arrest involving the same person.
Record every charge rather than only the first one.
Bexar County updates bond amounts and special conditions after the magistrate process is completed.
The inmate/bond information line is 210-335-6201. Have the full name and date of birth ready.
Use Jail Activity Reports after the 24-hour list expires
The Central Magistrate page is intentionally short-lived. If yesterday’s arrest no longer appears there, do not assume the booking disappeared. BCSO separately publishes its Jail Activity Reports.
SID, booking number, charge and bond do different jobs
Field |
What it helps identify |
What it does not establish |
Next move |
|---|---|---|---|
SID |
The person’s local system identity. |
That every booking under that SID is the same event. |
Use it with DOB and booking number. |
Booking number |
A particular intake or booking event. |
The final criminal disposition. |
Save it when calling BCSO or researching the arrest. |
Charge |
The allegation attached to the arrest or booking stage. |
Conviction or even that prosecutors will file the same charge. |
Search the County Clerk or District Clerk case. |
Bond amount |
A release amount set for that charge or case. |
That payment clears every other charge or hold. |
Confirm all active cases at 210-335-6201. |
Special bond condition |
Additional restrictions imposed during magistration. |
That cash payment alone is enough for release. |
Read the magistrate or court condition before paying. |
Arrest date |
When the person was arrested or processed. |
The final filing date or final charge. |
Use the date to narrow the court and report search. |
Release |
The end of the jail custody event when reflected. |
Dismissal or innocence. |
Search the criminal case for the outcome. |
What to check when a Bexar County booking is missing
Have the person’s full name and date of birth ready.
The Bexar County booking-to-release sequence
Why the bond may not appear immediately
Bexar County updates bond amounts and special conditions after magistration. A family member checking very early may therefore see a booking before the final early bond information is available.
Verify what prosecutors actually filed
A jail booking is a snapshot of the arrest stage. Bexar County criminal cases split between the County Clerk for misdemeanor matters and the District Clerk for felony matters. The newer Justice Information Portal lets the public search across county justice data without registering for ordinary public access.
Misdemeanor case
County Clerk criminal records handle misdemeanor court information.
If you need help locating the SID or misdemeanor record, BCSO lists Central Filing at 210-335-2238.
Felony case
The District Clerk is the custodian for criminal felony court records.
Criminal Filing: 210-335-2591.
Bexar County states that registration is not required for normal public data.
Add available case identifiers and dates to separate common names.
Prosecutor review can change what ultimately appears in court.
One count may be pending while another has been dismissed or resolved.
A release from jail does not answer how the criminal case ended.
Felony court copies and local background checks
Service |
Published charge |
How to use it |
|---|---|---|
Felony background check |
$5 |
Available through Criminal Operations for Bexar County felony history. |
Plain felony copy |
$1 per page |
Request through the District Clerk Criminal section. |
Certified felony copy |
$1 per page |
Useful when official proof of a filed document or disposition is required. |
Paul Elizondo Tower
101 W. Nueva Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2591
Confirm every case before obtaining a cashier’s check or money order
Use 210-335-6201. Have the full name and date of birth.
A second case or warrant can keep the person in custody even when the first charge has a bond.
Use the amount after magistration rather than relying on an early screenshot.
A magistrate may attach conditions in addition to the financial bond.
Paying one case does not automatically clear a separate jurisdiction or case.
Depending on the judicial decision, release may involve cash, surety or personal recognizance.
Save the defendant’s SID, booking number, case numbers and every payment document.
Cash bond: what BCSO currently requires
Using a bail-bond company
Bexar County’s Bail Bond Board licenses and regulates companies that secure bonds for people held in a Bexar County detention facility. Do not rely on an old directory or unsolicited text message.
Paul Elizondo Tower, Suite 351
101 W. Nueva Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-3933
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding county holidays
Some active warrants can be handled without entering the Adult Detention Center
Bexar County operates a Booking and Release Satellite Office for certain people with active warrants. Eligible defendants can complete the magistrate and bonding process at the courthouse instead of going through the Adult Detention Center.
The Satellite Office may help when
- There is an active qualifying warrant.
- A bond amount is already available in the system.
- Staff confirms the warrant can be processed there.
The office cannot process
- Violent offenses
- Sexual offenses
- Crimes against children
- Out-of-county warrants
- Out-of-state warrants
Basement of the Bexar County Courthouse
100 Dolorosa Street, B10.2
San Antonio, TX 78205
210-335-2592
Published magistration windows
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m.
Monday–Friday
1:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Prepare before you arrive
Where the person goes if they remain in custody
San Antonio, TX 78207
Facility contact: 210-335-6315
Staffed 365 days a year and open 24 hours.
San Antonio, TX 78207
Contact: 210-335-1371
Used for intake and qualifying warrant processing.
Property after transfer or release
BCSO separates ordinary inmate property from items held as evidence. If a person was transferred to state prison or another facility and family needs to retrieve personal property, the Sheriff directs people to inmate clothing or inmate banking. Evidence taken during a BCSO arrest is handled through the Sheriff’s Evidence/Property Unit by appointment.
Register before trying to visit a Bexar County inmate
Do this before creating travel plans or scheduling around an old booking.
Bexar County requires an ICSolutions account to schedule visitation.
Follow the jail’s current appointment availability rather than arriving without a reservation.
The county states that its computer visitation platform is not compatible with Mac or Chromebook computers. A Windows-based computer or supported mobile application should be used.
Technical support: 888-646-9437.
Day |
Public visitation |
What to know |
|---|---|---|
Monday |
No public visits |
Professional and attorney access follows separate rules. |
Tuesday–Friday |
8:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. |
Schedule through ICSolutions. |
Saturday |
8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
Schedule in advance. |
Sunday |
Normally closed |
Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day have published 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. exceptions. |
Thanksgiving / Christmas |
Closed |
Check the official page before planning around holidays. |
Mail, phone, email, money and care packages
Personal mail
Incoming letters are opened, inspected and scanned into the inmate kiosk system. The Sheriff says scanned mail is available for viewing for up to six months; the physical mail is held for two business days before destruction.
[Inmate name + SID number REQUIRED]
[Unit location, if known]
Bexar County Adult Detention Center
200 N. Comal Street
San Antonio, TX 78207
Mailroom: 210-335-6240 or 210-335-6868
Check current mail rulesCalls and electronic communication
Bexar County directs families to ICSolutions for phone and video services.
Non-attorney jail communications should be treated as monitored communications. Do not discuss witnesses, evidence, passwords, alibis or legal strategy on ordinary calls or video sessions.
Open BCSO inmate resourcesCommissary deposits
BCSO currently uses Access Corrections Secure Deposits for commissary money.
- Online deposits
- Mobile app
- Telephone deposits
- Participating retail locations
Access Corrections: 866-345-1884
Open current deposit instructionsCare packages
BCSO uses Access SecurePak for approved care packages sent directly to inmates.
SecurePak telephone orders: 800-546-6283
Use only approved packages rather than mailing food or other unauthorized property yourself.
Sending inmate trust money by mail
Books have a different rule
Inmates may have a limited number of paperback books—BCSO currently states a maximum of three in the cell. Books must come through an approved delivery route from an established bookseller or publisher. Hardback, leather-bound and spiral-bound books are prohibited.
Request a mugshot, offense report or Sheriff record correctly
If BCSO made the arrest or created the incident record, the Sheriff’s Central Records Division is the logical starting point. If San Antonio Police or another law-enforcement agency made the arrest, request that agency’s report instead.
Record |
Current published fee |
What to provide |
|---|---|---|
Offense / incident report |
No cost |
Case number, or date + location + complainant name. |
Record check |
$3 |
Identifying details requested by Central Records. |
Criminal history |
$8 |
Confirm scope and identifying details before paying. |
Sheriff’s letter |
$2 |
Ask Central Records what information is required for the particular letter. |
Mugshot request |
Confirm when requesting |
Full name, SID number or date of birth. |
Find appointed counsel, private counsel or victim assistance
The Public Defender cannot be privately hired or selected by a family member. The office represents eligible defendants after appointment by the jail magistrate, County Court or District Court.
The office says an incarcerated client who has been assigned a Public Defender should receive a video visit from counsel within 72 hours.
101 W. Nueva Street, Suite 310San Antonio, TX 78205 Open Public Defender
Use a verified lawyer directory, check Texas licensing status and ask for a written fee agreement.
Before calling, save the defendant’s SID, booking number, exact charges, bond amount and next court information.
Search State Bar of Texas lawyersThe Bexar County District Attorney’s Victim Assistance Division can explain criminal-court procedures, provide case-status information, assist with victim-rights questions and connect victims with services.
Open Victim AssistanceWhat families should save before the jail record becomes harder to find
Custody-status notifications
Bexar County victim resources direct users to VINE for custody-status notifications involving people housed at the Bexar County Detention Center.
Bexar County booking, jail, bond and court contacts
Charges, bond amounts and warrant information. Have full name and DOB.
San Antonio, TX 78207
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
San Antonio, TX 78207
San Antonio, TX 78207
San Antonio, TX 78205
County Clerk criminal records and SID assistance.
San Antonio, TX 78205
Report and research questions.
San Antonio, TX 78205
San Antonio, TX 78205
Map: Adult Detention Center and Central Magistrate
Map: Courthouse Booking and Release Satellite Office
Before you call, pay or drive downtown
Older bookings move out of Central Magistrate. Check the seven-day jail reports next.
Keep both because they identify different parts of the record.
A second case, condition or warrant may still prevent release.
BCSO’s cash-bond instructions call for cashier’s check or money order.
Use the Inmate Trust Fund or Access Corrections route and include the SID.
Use the court portal to determine what was filed and how each count ended.
Bexar County booking-record questions answered
How do I find a recent Bexar County booking?
For a very recent arrest, start with the Bexar County Central Magistrate Search. It shows people processed by the Central Magistrate Office during the previous 24 hours for Class B or higher offenses and qualifying Justice of the Peace Class C cases. The result can show the person’s name, SID, booking number and charge information. For older booking activity, use the Sheriff’s Jail Activity Reports, which are kept online for up to seven days.
What is the difference between a Bexar County SID and booking number?
The SID is a system identification number connected with the person’s local criminal-justice identity, while the booking number identifies a particular jail booking event. Save both when available. The SID is especially useful for inmate mail and other jail services, while the booking number helps distinguish one arrest from another.
How do I check Bexar County charges and bond amounts?
Check the Central Magistrate Search after the person has been magistrated because the office updates bond amounts and special conditions. You can also call the Bexar County inmate and bond information line at 210-335-6201 with the person’s full name and date of birth.
Why is someone not showing in the Bexar County booking search yet?
The person may still be going through intake, may not yet have been processed by the Central Magistrate Office, may have been released before you searched, may be listed under a different spelling, or may have been booked outside Bexar County. The Sheriff’s Jail Activity Reports also warn that some data may not appear until the booking process is further along.
Does a Bexar County booking charge mean the person was convicted?
No. A booking charge is an accusation associated with the arrest and detention process. Prosecutors can change, add, reject or dismiss charges. Use the Bexar County Justice Information Portal and the appropriate County Clerk or District Clerk criminal case record to determine what was actually filed and how the case was resolved.
How do I post a cash bond in Bexar County?
The Sheriff’s current bond instructions state that cash bonds are posted for the full bond amount using a cashier’s check or money order payable to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Cash, personal checks and traveler’s checks are not accepted, and the person posting the bond should bring valid identification. Confirm every active case and current bond amount before obtaining the payment instrument.
Can someone with a Bexar County warrant use the Booking and Release Satellite Office?
Some defendants with active warrants can use the Booking and Release Satellite Office in the basement of the Bexar County Courthouse instead of going through the Adult Detention Center. The office cannot process violent offenses, sexual offenses, crimes against children, out-of-county warrants or out-of-state warrants. Call 210-335-2592 first to determine whether the warrant qualifies.
How do I visit someone in the Bexar County Adult Detention Center?
Register for an ICSolutions account and schedule the visit through the official Bexar County visitation process. Public visitation is currently available Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There are no normal public visits on Monday or Sunday, except certain holiday-Sunday exceptions published by the Sheriff’s Office.
What information do I need to send mail or money to a Bexar County inmate?
For personal mail, use the inmate’s booked name and SID number and include the unit location when known. Mail goes to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center at 200 N. Comal Street, San Antonio, Texas 78207. For commissary deposits, BCSO currently uses Access Corrections. Always verify the current SID before mailing or depositing.
How do I obtain a Bexar County booking photo or arrest report?
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Central Records Division handles Sheriff-created records. Its current page says mugshot requests should include the full name, SID or date of birth. Offense and incident report requests should include the case number or the date, location and complainant’s name. Sheriff offense and incident reports are currently listed as no-cost services.