Find Someone in Travis County Jail and Confirm Their Custody Status
If someone was just arrested in Austin or elsewhere in Travis County, start with the Sheriff’s live inmate search. Once you find the correct person, save the booked name, date of birth, Jail ID or booking number, current facility, charges and every bond line. Those details are needed again for visits, mail, money, property questions and court follow-up.
Do not assume the person will stay downtown. Arrested people are brought through Central Booking at 500 W. 10th Street, but many are later housed at the Travis County Correctional Complex in Del Valle. Recheck the current custody record before you drive, send mail or pay for an inmate service.
The next step depends on what you are worried about
Search the booked legal name. If nothing appears, the person may still be moving through intake and identification.
Search and verifyConfirm whether the result points to Central Booking or the Del Valle correctional complex before travelling.
Compare the two facilitiesRead every charge and bond line. One charge may allow bond while another has no bond set.
Check bail correctlyOnsite social visitation is administered at the Del Valle complex. Schedule first and arrive early.
See current visit rulesSave the Jail ID or booking number and verify the current facility before using either process.
Mail, phones and moneySwitch from the jail database to Travis County’s criminal docket search once you have identified the correct person.
Find court informationHow to use the Travis County Sheriff inmate search
Use the Travis County public SIPS inmate search rather than a paid people-search site or copied jail directory.
Open the live inmate lookupStart with the first and last name. Try a middle name, suffix, hyphenated surname, maiden name or alternate spelling when the first search fails.
Austin and Travis County have many similar names. Do not assume the first person listed is the person you know.
Use DOB as the first identity check before relying on charges, bond or housing information.
Travis County requires these identifiers for mail, trust-fund deposits, attorney messages and other inmate services.
Determine whether the person remains in downtown Austin or is housed at the correctional complex in Del Valle.
Bond information is charge-specific. Do not assume one displayed amount resolves every case.
The jail search answers custody questions. Use Travis County court systems for settings, attorneys and case progress.
What to do with the information after you find the inmate
Use the exact spelling shown in the Sheriff’s system for inmate mail and account-related tasks.
Do not substitute a nickname.Use it to distinguish people with similar names and when contacting the jail about an inmate.
Match DOB before sending funds.This is one of the most useful identifiers for mail, money and correctional-service questions.
Save it immediately.Tells you where mail belongs and whether you are dealing with downtown booking or Del Valle housing.
Recheck before travelling.Shows the allegation connected to custody at that stage.
A charge is not a conviction.Read the bond entry under each charge instead of looking for one total number.
No bond information may mean bond has not yet been set.A recent arrest can take a different route than you expect
New arrests are brought to the Central Booking Facility at Travis County Jail. Intake processing may occur before you have enough identifying information to find the person online.
Try the surname again, remove or add a hyphen, check suffixes and use the person’s formal legal name rather than a nickname.
A short custody event may end before a family member performs the search. Switch to the criminal docket to look for the related setting.
An arrest near the Travis County border can result in booking in another county. Confirm which agency physically took the person to jail.
If the person has moved into Texas prison custody, use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate search instead.
A citation, summons or another release process can create a criminal case without a long Travis County jail stay.
Why Central Booking and current housing are not the same thing
Travis County Jail · Central Booking
500 W. 10th StreetAustin, TX 78701
TCSO states that when an individual is arrested in Travis County, the person is brought to the Central Booking Facility located within the downtown Travis County Jail.
- Initial jail intake
- Identity and booking processing
- Initial custody entry
- Property inventory
- Movement into an appropriate housing assignment
Travis County Correctional Complex
3614 Bill Price RoadDel Valle, TX 78617
The Del Valle complex is the county’s large campus-style correctional facility and contains multiple inmate housing and support buildings.
- Longer county-jail housing
- Social visitation center
- Inmate Trust Fund window
- Commissary and support services
- Medical and mental-health services
Travis County jail locations at a glance
Location |
Main role |
Address |
Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
Travis County Jail |
Central Booking |
500 W. 10th St., Austin, TX 78701 |
Initial booking, certain bond/property matters and mail when the inmate is housed there. |
Travis County Correctional Complex |
Main correctional housing campus |
3614 Bill Price Rd., Del Valle, TX 78617 |
Housing, visitation, trust-fund window, property and inmate services. |
Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center |
Criminal courts |
509 W. 11th St., Austin, TX 78701 |
Criminal court settings and court-related business, not inmate housing. |
Read the bond line under every Travis County charge
TCSO states that the defendant may post a cash, surety or personal bond.
The charge can use cash or a surety bond; a personal bond will not be accepted for that entry.
No bond has been set for that charge yet. A bond may be set later.
Cash bond
Cash bond can be posted at the appropriate jail bonding location. TCSO recommends calling 512-854-4180 to confirm where to go.
TCSO states that cash bonds require the full bond amount. Exact cash is accepted; the jail does not make change or accept overage.
Cashier’s checks and money orders used for Travis County cash bonds should be payable to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.
Cash-bond refund handling later depends on whether the underlying case is misdemeanor or felony.
Personal bond
Visit the inmate at the Del Valle complex—not by assumption
Item |
Current rule |
What you should do |
|---|---|---|
Visit days |
Wednesday–Sunday, excluding county holidays |
Check the live schedule before choosing the day. |
Hours |
8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. |
Use your actual confirmed appointment time. |
Weekly limit |
Two visits per week, face-to-face or onsite video |
Coordinate with other family members before booking. |
Face-to-face scheduling |
At least 24 hours in advance |
Schedule through ViaPath before driving to Del Valle. |
Arrival |
Arrive at least 30 minutes early |
Check-in ends 15 minutes before the visit. |
Adults |
Visitors age 17+ need government-issued photo ID |
Bring the original ID. |
Minors |
Anyone under 17 must remain with a parent or guardian |
Do not send a minor into visitation alone. |
Visitor count |
Normally two visitors; up to three when children under 12 are included |
Do not arrive with a larger group. |
Dress and check-in problems that can cancel the visit
At-home video contact
Confirm the housing address before sending a letter
If housed at Travis County Jail
Inmate’s Full NameDate of Birth
Jail ID Number or Booking Number
Travis County Jail
500 W. 10th Street
Austin, TX 78701
If housed at TCCC
Inmate’s Full NameDate of Birth
Jail ID Number or Booking Number
Travis County Correctional Complex
3614 Bill Price Road
Del Valle, TX 78617
Books, magazines and newspapers
Paperback books, magazines and newspapers must come directly from an approved publisher, publication supplier or distributing warehouse.
TCSO states that an inmate may possess no more than two books and two magazines at one time.
Hardback and oversized books, spiral binding and many altered or prohibited materials are rejected.
Common mail mistakes
Inmate phone account
Create or fund a prepaid account through ViaPath.
Automated PIN Debit funding is available through ViaPath.
Use this number for ViaPath account or calling-system problems.
Use the booking number before sending Travis County inmate money
Option 1: in person at Del Valle
Del Valle, TX 78617
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., excluding Travis County holidays.
- No credit or debit cards at the window
- No personal checks
- Cashier’s check or money order payable to Inmate Trust Fund
- TCSO does not accept money orders over $100 for an inmate trust-account deposit
Option 2: mail a cashier’s check or money order
Inmate’s Full Name and Jail ID/Booking Number
P.O. Box 1368
Del Valle, TX 78617
Include the inmate’s full name, Jail ID or booking number, date of birth, and the sender’s name and return address.
Option 3: Western Union
Use the 7-digit booking number followed immediately by the last name, with no spaces or hyphens.
Example format: 1234567Smith
SecurePak commissary package
SecurePak allows approved commissary products to be purchased for the inmate without counting toward the inmate’s regular weekly commissary allowance.
TCSO currently states that up to $100 in SecurePak product may be purchased for an inmate each week. An inmate with a debt balance cannot receive a SecurePak.
Family members can help without bringing prohibited items to the jail
Releasing inmate property or money
Facility |
Property release |
Money release |
|---|---|---|
Travis County Jail · 500 W. 10th |
7 days a week, 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
7 days a week, 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
TCCC · 3614 Bill Price Rd. |
7 days a week, 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
Medication and medical concerns
TCSO operates an onsite pharmacy and specifically instructs families not to bring medications to Travis County Jail or TCCC unless medical staff have contacted them.
Medical team: 512-854-4182
Families can provide information to the jail mental-health team. If you cannot use the Sheriff’s online mental-health form, call 512-854-5356.
Find the Travis County court date, case and appointed lawyer
Fastest court-date search
The docket can be searched by arrested person, attorney, judge or court, cause number, and date.
Open criminal docket searchIf you have a cause number from the case, use it to reduce same-name results.
The docket can help identify whether counsel has already appeared for the defendant.
Travis County specifically advises checking the docket the day before an appearance because settings can change.
Felony versus misdemeanor court records
The Travis County District Clerk maintains adult felony criminal records.
The free online records portal includes criminal cases from 2008 to the present.
Criminal Records: 512-854-9420, option 3.
The Travis County Clerk maintains misdemeanor court records.
Its online system lists misdemeanor case data from January 1981 to the present, with some document images available online.
If the person cannot afford a lawyer
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512-854-5100
The office notes that its main public entrance is now on the south side of the building.
Open the Public Defender websiteCAPDS manages private appointed counsel for eligible Travis County defendants.
Phone: 512-774-4208
A family member should not pay someone merely because the caller claims to be a court-appointed lawyer.
Criminal courthouse and parking
Austin, TX 78701
Criminal Courts Administration: 512-854-9244
Travis County states that metered street parking is available around the courthouse, with meters accepting coins and credit/debit cards. The county also lists a public parking lot at 510 W. 11th Street, between San Antonio and Nueces.
Courthouse visitors go through security screening. Leave prohibited items behind rather than risk having them surrendered or being denied entry.
Get notified instead of repeatedly checking the jail page
Victims and other registrants can use VINE for basic jail custody information and release notifications.
Victims or witnesses in a pending felony matter can contact the assigned victim counselor or Victim Services.
If the person is no longer in Travis County custody
Use TDCJ after the person has transferred into state correctional custody.
Search TDCJUse the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator when the person has entered federal custody.
Open federal inmate locatorConfirm the agency and county where the person was actually booked rather than assuming every Austin-area arrest remains in Travis County.
Travis County jail and criminal-justice contacts
Use for custody questions and urgent inmate-status clarification.
Useful when confirming where a cash bond or property matter must be handled.
512-854-9420, option 3
Map: Travis County Jail and Central Booking
Map: Travis County Correctional Complex
Map: Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center
Five mistakes that cause the most unnecessary problems
A familiar name is not enough. Match the correct person first.
Check whether the person is currently downtown or in Del Valle.
Current TCSO social visitation is administered at the Del Valle correctional complex.
Each charge can have a different bond or release condition.
Switch to the criminal docket and court records for case settings and disposition information.
The Travis County Public Defender warns that appointed counsel will not demand money to release a family member.
Travis County Sheriff inmate search FAQs
How do I search for an inmate in Travis County?
Use the Travis County Sheriff’s official inmate search and search the person by name. Open the correct result and save the person’s booked name, date of birth, Jail ID or booking number, current housing facility, charges and bond information. Call Travis County jail information at 512-854-9889 if the person cannot be located or the custody information is unclear.
Why is someone I know not showing in the Travis County inmate search?
A newly arrested person may still be going through Central Booking, may be listed under another spelling, may already have been released, may have been taken to another county, or may not have been booked into county jail. Search the legal name carefully, check the Travis County criminal docket, and call 512-854-9889 when recent custody cannot be confirmed online.
What is the difference between Travis County Jail and the Travis County Correctional Complex?
Travis County Jail at 500 W. 10th Street in Austin contains the Central Booking Facility where people arrested in Travis County are initially processed. The Travis County Correctional Complex at 3614 Bill Price Road in Del Valle is the county’s larger housing campus. A person can be processed downtown and later housed in Del Valle, so always confirm the current location before visiting or mailing anything.
What is a Travis County Jail ID or booking number used for?
The Jail ID or booking number helps identify the correct inmate and is required for several jail services. Travis County asks for the inmate’s full name, date of birth, and Jail ID or booking number for mail, trust-fund deposits and many service questions. Save the number as soon as you locate the correct inmate.
How do I check bond for a Travis County inmate?
Bond information appears under each charge in the Travis County inmate search. Check every charge because one case can have a bond while another case has no bond set or a different release condition. Cash bonds may be posted at the appropriate Travis County bonding location, and Pretrial Services can be reached at 512-854-9381 for questions about personal-bond applications.
How do I visit someone in Travis County Jail?
Travis County social visitation is administered at the Travis County Correctional Complex in Del Valle. Current onsite visitation is Wednesday through Sunday, excluding county holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Face-to-face visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance through ViaPath. Arrive at least 30 minutes early because check-in ends 15 minutes before the visit.
Where do I mail a letter to a Travis County inmate?
Mail must be sent directly to the facility where the inmate is currently housed. Use the inmate’s full booked name, date of birth, and Jail ID or booking number, and include the sender’s return address. The two county housing addresses are Travis County Jail, 500 W. 10th Street, Austin, TX 78701, and Travis County Correctional Complex, 3614 Bill Price Road, Del Valle, TX 78617.
How do I put money on a Travis County inmate account?
Travis County accepts Inmate Trust Fund deposits in person at the Travis County Correctional Complex Finance Building #230, by mailed cashier’s check or money order, and through Western Union. Western Union requires the seven-digit booking number followed by the inmate’s last name and the code city TCSOITF TX. Verify the booking number before sending funds.
Can a Travis County inmate receive phone calls?
Ordinary incoming calls are not placed directly to inmates. Travis County uses ViaPath Technologies for prepaid inmate calling. AdvancePay can be funded by calling 800-483-8314 and PIN Debit by calling 855-706-2445. ViaPath customer support is available at 877-650-4249.
How do I find a Travis County inmate’s court date or lawyer?
Use the Travis County Criminal Docket Search to search felony and misdemeanor settings by the arrested person’s name, attorney, judge, court number or case number. If the person cannot afford a lawyer, court-appointed representation may be provided through the Travis County Public Defender, Capital Area Private Defender Service or another approved appointed-counsel program.