McLennan County Booking Records | Charges, Bond and Release

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McLennan County, Texas · Hourly jail roster, charges, bond and release

Read the McLennan County Booking Roster Before You Call or Pay

If someone was arrested in Waco or elsewhere in McLennan County, the county’s Current Inmate Listing is usually the quickest place to confirm the booking. It is a PDF rather than a normal search screen, and the Sheriff says it is refreshed once every hour.

Once you find the person, write down the inmate identifier, book-in information, charge, arresting agency, case or warrant information and every bond entry. Those details tell you whether to call the jail, contact a bonding company, wait for court filing or check for another hold.

Open the current inmate PDF Open Sheriff jail resources Bond or release problem?
Full booked name Approximate arrest date Inmate / SO identifier Case or warrant number Arresting agency
BRAZOS HOURLY BOOKING BOARD ROSTER REFRESH
:00
CURRENT INMATE LISTING PDF
FIND SURNAME CTRL / CMD + F
1 · CHARGE
2 · BOND / HOLD
3 · RELEASE
BOOKING
ILLUSTRATION · NOT LIVE JAIL DATA
Booking does not mean conviction. A jail roster records custody and charge information available at that stage. A prosecutor may later reject, change or file different charges, and a person can be released while the criminal case remains pending.
If the arrest just happened

Do these five things before making calls

1 Open the roster

Use the current county PDF, not an old screenshot or third-party page.

2 Find the surname

Use Find in Page on a phone or Ctrl+F / Command+F on a computer.

3 Save every charge

One booking can carry several offenses, cases or warrants.

4 Read every bond line

Do not assume the first dollar amount clears the entire booking.

5 Recheck before paying

The roster refreshes hourly and court or hold information can change.

Why this order matters: Calling a bondsman before you know every charge, case and hold can waste time. Calling a court before a new case has been filed can produce no result. The roster gives you the identifiers needed for the next call.
Three questions the roster should answer

Separate the charge, the bond and the release question

STEP 1 What is the person booked on?

Read every offense line and note the arresting agency, warrant or cause information. A booking label describes the current allegation; it is not the final court disposition.

STEP 2 Can the person bond out?

Read the amount and bond type for every active matter. A second charge, hold or warrant can keep the person in custody even when one bond has been satisfied.

STEP 3 Has release actually happened?

A bond payment is not the same as walking out of jail. Staff still must clear active cases, holds and release paperwork. Recheck the roster and call when timing matters.

Jump to the part you need

Use the shortest route instead of reading the page from top to bottom.

Current inmate listing

How to search the McLennan County booking PDF

The Sheriff’s Office links directly to a Current Inmate Listing PDF and states that the list is updated once every hour. Because it is a document rather than a database search form, using the browser’s text-find feature is usually faster than scrolling.
Open the live county PDF Do not rely on a roster downloaded yesterday because bookings and releases change. Open Current Inmate Listing
Search the last name first On a computer use Ctrl+F or Command+F. On a phone, use the browser or PDF viewer’s Find in Page / Find in Document option.
Check every matching name Common names can produce several people. Compare the inmate identifier, booking date and known arrest circumstances before assuming you found the right person.
Read the entire line or record Do not stop after seeing one offense. The roster can contain multiple charge, warrant, case, bond, fine or release-related entries.
Save the inmate identifier The jail identifier shown with the person is useful when calling the jail, arranging visitation or addressing inmate mail.
Write down the arresting agency That tells you who is more likely to hold the underlying arrest or offense report.
Copy the case, cause or warrant number It can be more reliable than a name-only search when you move from the jail roster to the court system.
Save every bond amount and type One bond does not necessarily resolve the entire booking.
Reopen the PDF before taking action Since the roster updates hourly, verify it again before travelling, paying a bond or assuming release has occurred.
Phone users: If the PDF opens tiny or sideways, do not pinch-zoom through hundreds of rows. Use the viewer’s search icon or browser menu and enter the surname. If your browser downloads the file instead, open it in the phone’s PDF reader and use its search function.
Hourly is not real time. A person arrested minutes ago may not appear yet. A person who has just bonded out may remain on the current snapshot until the roster refreshes.
Read before calling

How to interpret the booking information without overreading it

What common jail-roster information can and cannot tell you
Information
What it helps answer
What it does not prove
Best next move
Inmate identifier
Which jail record belongs to the person you are asking about.
The final outcome of any criminal case.
Use it when calling, visiting or addressing mail.
Book-in date
When the person entered the displayed jail custody event.
The exact time the alleged offense occurred.
Compare it with the arrest report and court filing.
Offense / charge
The allegation associated with the booking or case entry.
That a prosecutor filed or proved that exact charge.
Check the appropriate County or District Clerk.
Arresting agency
Which law-enforcement office made or processed the arrest.
That the Sheriff created the offense narrative.
Request the report from the agency that created it.
Case / cause / warrant number
Which court or warrant record may connect to the booking.
That the case has already been filed with a clerk.
Search the correct clerk by offense level.
Bond amount
A monetary condition associated with a particular matter.
That payment alone will produce release.
Confirm every charge and hold with the Bond Office.
Bond type
Whether the displayed matter uses a particular release form or bond category.
That another charge has the same release condition.
Ask the jail what is currently acceptable for each case.
Fine / court-cost information
Whether money is displayed in connection with a case or warrant.
That paying the displayed total clears all custody reasons.
Confirm the controlling court or jail instruction.
Release indicator
Whether the roster reflects release-related activity.
Dismissal or acquittal.
Verify custody and then check the court disposition.
Identity rule: Match more than a name before sending money or publicly attributing an arrest. Use the inmate identifier, booking date, court number or another independent detail whenever possible.
No result or confusing result

If the person is not in the hourly roster

The arrest is too new The public PDF refreshes hourly, so an intake can exist before the next version of the roster is posted.
The person already released A short jail stay can disappear from a current-inmate list. Check the court index, mugshot application or arresting agency.
The name is entered differently Try another spelling, maiden name, hyphenation, suffix or the name actually used during booking.
The person was booked elsewhere An arrest near Waco does not automatically mean McLennan County jail custody.
The event did not require county-jail custody A citation, summons or lower-court matter can exist without a current jail listing.
The person transferred A later transfer to state, federal or another local system changes where you should search.
What to say when you call
I am trying to confirm the current custody or release status of [full legal name], who may have been arrested on [date] by [agency]. The person is not appearing clearly in the current inmate PDF. Can you confirm whether the person is still processing, housed, released, transferred or listed under a different identifier?
Jail Intake / Reception: 254-757-5120
McLennan County Jail – Highway 6: 254-757-2555
Separate official tool

The county mugshot application is not the same as the current inmate roster

Current inmate PDF

Use it when the immediate question is: “Is this person currently in the county jail and what charges or bonds are showing?”

Open Current Inmate Listing
McLennan County mugshots application

Use the separate county application when a booking photograph or older booking context is relevant.

Open official McLennan mugshots
A booking photograph is not evidence of guilt. Match the photograph to the booking identifiers and then verify the later court record before drawing conclusions about what happened to the charge.
This county has two criminal-record routes

Check whether the booking became a misdemeanor or felony court case

McLennan County does not use one clerk for every criminal case. This distinction matters because a person can be in the jail roster while you are searching the wrong court system.

Class A or B misdemeanor

Start with the McLennan County Clerk Criminal Division. The County Clerk handles Class A and Class B misdemeanors and Class C cases only when they are appealed from a lower court.

215 N. 5th Street, Room 201
Waco, TX 76701

Phone: 254-757-5185

Open County Clerk Court Index Search

Felony

Start with the McLennan County District Clerk Criminal Division. The District Clerk maintains felony criminal court records.

501 Washington Avenue, Suite 300
Waco, TX 76701

Criminal Division: 254-757-5054

Open District Clerk Case Index

How to use the County Clerk misdemeanor search

Open the County Clerk Court Index Search The first screen contains an access statement.
Select “Yes, I accept the above statement” This takes you into the public index.
Search the defendant’s name or known case information Compare the filing information with the booking date and offense.
Do not expect an unfiled case to appear County Court at Law hearing lists contain cases that have been filed by the Criminal District Attorney.
Call Court Administration for a court-date question Current County Clerk guidance directs court-date questions to 254-757-5030.

How to use the District Clerk felony index

Open the District Clerk web index Online public access is index information rather than a promise that every scanned court document can be viewed from home.
Search by case information when available A specific cause number from the booking is more useful than a broad name search.
Check the filing date and case style Make sure the result follows the same booking event.
Request the actual document when needed The District Clerk states that court documents can be viewed at the office or copies can be requested.
Odd date in an older index? The District Clerk warns that 01/01/1900 can appear as a default when an actual date was not captured in a converted digital record. Do not interpret that date literally without checking the file.
Current published criminal-record search and copy charges
Office
Service
Published charge
Useful when
County Clerk
Criminal name search
$5 per name
You need a misdemeanor search performed by staff.
County Clerk
Criminal search letter
$5
You need a written misdemeanor search result.
County Clerk
Copies
$1 per page
You need a document from a misdemeanor file.
County Clerk
Certification
Additional $5 per case
Official certification is required.
District Clerk
Name / DOB criminal record search
$5
You do not have a specific felony cause number.
District Clerk
Walk-in criminal research letter
$5
You need a non-certified research letter.
District Clerk
Certified criminal research letter
$10
A certified search result is required.
District Clerk
Document copy
$1 per page
You need a copy of the felony court record.
Local courthouse tip: County security information says visitors to the Courthouse Annex can enter through the main courthouse at 501 Washington Avenue, ground floor or through the Jury Entrance in the alleyway. Expect a metal detector and screening of carried items.
Do not pay from one roster line alone

Confirm charges, warrants and holds before posting bond

The number beside one charge is not necessarily the total cost of release. McLennan County’s bail rules contemplate separate charges, warrant or cause numbers, offense levels and possible 24- or 48-hour holds.

Confirm the person and inmate identifier Use the same identity shown on the current roster.
List every charge Write down every offense instead of asking only about “the bond.”
List each bond amount and type A person can have different release conditions for different matters.
Ask whether a warrant or hold remains A paid bond may not clear another custody reason.
Confirm that a bond amount has been entered McLennan County’s published rules state that bonds are not accepted before the bond amount has been entered into the computer system.
If using a bondsman, verify the agency Use the current McLennan County Bail Bond Board list rather than an unsolicited advertisement or caller.
Keep every receipt and contract Save the defendant name, amount, case or warrant number, premium, collateral terms and company name.
Recheck custody after the bond is accepted Bond acceptance begins release processing; it does not guarantee immediate physical release.
McLennan County Jail – Bond Office questions: 254-757-2555
Check Bail Bond Board Review county bond guidance
Bond scam protection: Do not send money because someone calls claiming a relative “must be bonded out immediately.” Verify the booking in the official roster and confirm the active charges and bond with the jail first.
Bond-verification call script
I am calling about [full booked name], inmate identifier [number]. I see [number] charge or case entries on the current roster. Can you confirm the current bond for each matter, whether any warrant, 24- or 48-hour hold or other restriction remains, and what bond method is currently acceptable?
McLennan-specific release requirement

If the person was released on a personal bond, the obligations continue

$20 PR bond fee

The McLennan County PR Bond Office currently lists a one-time $20 personal-bond fee.

Weekly reporting

The defendant must report by telephone every week until the case is disposed.

Call-in number

Weekly PR Bond reporting: 254-757-5177

Call every week as directed
Keep the case and defendant information available
Pay the required PR bond fee
Do not assume release ended the criminal case
Keep contact information current
Contact Pretrial Services when unsure what is due
PR Bond / Pretrial Services
501 Washington Avenue, Suite 110
Waco, TX 76701
Phone: 254-757-5004
Weekly call-in: 254-757-5177
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Closed noon–1:00 p.m.
The county says the $20 fee can be paid by cash or money order payable to McLennan County; personal checks are not accepted. Confirm current payment instructions before mailing money.
Do not ignore weekly reporting. The county warns that failure to report or satisfy PR bond requirements is a bond violation and may result in a warrant.
Open official PR Bond Office
After the criminal case ends

A cash bond refund follows the court that handled the case

If cash was posted rather than using a surety company, do not assume the money is refunded when the person leaves jail. The criminal case generally must conclude and the court must authorize the refund.

Misdemeanor cash bond

County Clerk guidance says the case must be finalized and a judge must sign the order releasing the cash bond.

For questions about return of a misdemeanor cash bond, contact the County Clerk Civil Department: 254-757-5189.

Bring current valid photo identification when instructed.

Felony cash bond

After the defendant complies with bond conditions and the criminal case concludes, the judge can sign an order authorizing the refund.

The District Clerk instructs the person who made the bond to bring identification, the jail receipt and the actual bond received from the jail.

District Clerk
501 Washington Avenue, Suite 300
Waco, TX 76701
Read felony cash-bond refund steps Review cash-bond assignment rules
Important 2026 change

McLennan County visitation moved to the Jail Bond Office Lobby

Do not drive to an old visitation location. The Sheriff’s Office states that effective April 5, 2026, visitation moved from the Shepherd Mullens Correctional Visitation Center to the McLennan County Jail – Bond Office Lobby.
Current visitation schedule published by McLennan County
Visit type
Day
Published hours
Important detail
In-person
Sunday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Registration ends at 4:30 p.m.
In-person
Monday
12:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Registration ends at 7:30 p.m.
Remote
Tuesday–Saturday
1:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
Use GettingOut / Go Visit process.
Confirm the inmate is still housed in McLennan County Reopen the current inmate PDF before making the trip.
Make sure you are on the visitation list The county requires visitors to be on the inmate’s approved visitation list.
Create the required GettingOut account Use the current county visitation instructions rather than an old vendor link.
Check the day and registration cutoff Arriving near closing after registration has ended can mean losing the visit.
Bring proper identification Verify the current ID requirements before leaving home.
Do not assume parking instructions The current Sheriff page does not publish a specific visitor-parking procedure for the new Bond Office Lobby location. Follow posted signs and call the jail if unsure.
The Sheriff currently states that inmates are allowed two visits of 30 minutes each. Confirm the live visitation page before scheduling because housing, restrictions or disciplinary status can affect actual availability.
Check current Sheriff visitation Open GettingOut
Digital personal mail

Do not send an ordinary letter directly to the jail

McLennan County states that, effective November 1, 2022, ordinary personal mail is delivered digitally to inmates through the GettingOut tablet system. Physical personal correspondence is routed through an off-site mail-processing address.

County example for ordinary personal mail:

McLennan County Jail, TX
[Inmate Full Name] SO#[inmate identifier]
PO Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Use the complete facility name and state
Use the inmate’s full booked name
Include the inmate identifier
Include the sender’s full name
Include the sender’s physical address
Use the current county example before mailing
Do not send everything to the Phoenix address. The Sheriff says checks, money orders and attorney-client privileged mail should not be sent through the ordinary digital-mail route. Legal mail and permitted packages follow separate procedures.
McLennan County links to TextBehind support for problems involving the physical-to-digital mail process. If a letter is rejected or never reaches the inmate, start with the current Sheriff mail instructions before resending it.
Verify current inmate-mail instructions
Calls, messages and inmate funds

Confirm the current provider before adding money

The county clearly confirms GettingOut for visitation and tablet-based personal mail. However, the current Sheriff information reviewed for this article does not publish a sufficiently clear county-specific phone-rate or inmate trust-deposit table that justifies guessing which payment route a family should use.
Before funding a phone or communication account
  • Confirm the person is still in McLennan County custody.
  • Have the inmate identifier ready.
  • Ask which current service applies to phone calls or messaging.
  • Ask about current fees before entering card information.
  • Use the provider linked or confirmed by the jail.
Before placing money on an inmate account
  • Ask the jail which trust or commissary method is currently accepted.
  • Confirm whether the payment follows the inmate after a transfer.
  • Verify the inmate identifier before submitting.
  • Save the receipt and confirmation number.
  • Do not use a third-party site simply because it appears in search results.
Highway 6 Jail: 254-757-2555
Jail Intake / Reception: 254-757-5120
Case-communication warning: Ordinary jail calls, social visits and electronic messages should not be treated as confidential legal communications. Avoid discussing evidence, witnesses, passwords, alibis or defense strategy outside privileged attorney communication.
Booking record vs arrest report

The jail roster does not contain the complete police narrative

McLennan County Sheriff arrest

Contact the Sheriff’s Records function when HCSO created the report.

Sheriff Records: 254-757-5108

901 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701

The county also provides Sheriff Office forms online.

Open Sheriff forms

Another agency made the arrest

If the roster names Waco Police, another municipal police department, DPS or another agency, contact that agency for its offense or arrest narrative.

The jail can hold the person without being the office that created the police report.

Information to include in a report request
I am requesting the releasable arrest or offense report concerning [full name] for an incident on or about [date] at [location]. Known identifiers are inmate/SO number [number], agency case or report number [number], cause or warrant number [number], and arresting agency [agency]. Please advise of any copy charge before processing if the cost will exceed $[amount].
After local jail custody

If the person is no longer in the county roster

Released locally

Search the appropriate County or District Clerk case to see whether prosecution is pending and when the next court setting occurs.

Transferred to Texas prison

Use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate-information search after a state-prison transfer.

Search TDCJ
Booking was dismissed later

Obtain the court disposition before trying to correct a private background report or asking whether the record may qualify for expunction or nondisclosure.

Save these before you need them

McLennan County booking, jail, court and bond contacts

McLennan County Sheriff’s Office
901 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701

Phone: 254-757-5095

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Jail Intake / Reception
901 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701

254-757-5120

McLennan County Jail – Highway 6
3201 Marlin Highway
Waco, TX 76705

254-757-2555

Sheriff Records

254-757-5108

Use for Sheriff-created records and report questions.

Sheriff Warrant Division

254-757-5107

McLennan County Clerk – Criminal
215 N. 5th Street, Room 201
Waco, TX 76701

254-757-5185

County Court Administration

254-757-5030

County Court at Law setting and docket questions.

McLennan County District Clerk – Criminal
501 Washington Avenue, Suite 300
Waco, TX 76701

254-757-5054

PR Bond / Pretrial Services
501 Washington Avenue, Suite 110
Waco, TX 76701

Office: 254-757-5004

Weekly reporting: 254-757-5177

Office for Appointed Criminal Attorney
501 Washington Avenue, Suite 109
Waco, TX 76701

254-759-7540

McLennan County District Attorney
219 N. 6th Street, Suite 200
Waco, TX 76701

254-757-5084

Bail Bond Board
501 Washington Avenue, Suite 110
Waco, TX 76701

254-757-5004

Directions without loading heavy maps

Sheriff / Jail Intake
901 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701
Open directions
Highway 6 Jail
3201 Marlin Highway
Waco, TX 76705
Open directions
District Clerk / Courthouse Annex
501 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701
Open directions
Parking: Current county pages reviewed for this article do not publish a specific visitor-parking instruction for the newly relocated Jail Bond Office Lobby visitation site. Follow posted parking signs and call 254-757-2555 before leaving home if you are unsure where visitors should park.
Things that commonly waste time

McLennan County mistakes to avoid

Using yesterday’s downloaded PDF

The live county roster refreshes hourly. Reopen the official link instead of trusting a saved copy.

Calling a bondsman after reading only one line

Check all charges, warrants, bond amounts and holds first.

Searching one clerk for every case

Misdemeanors and felonies use different McLennan County clerk systems.

Driving to the former visit location

In-person visitation moved to the Jail Bond Office Lobby on April 5, 2026.

Mailing a personal letter to the jail street address

Ordinary personal mail uses the county’s digital-mail route through the Phoenix, Maryland processing address.

Assuming release ended the case

Bond or release ends custody, not necessarily prosecution. Check the appropriate court record next.

10 booking-specific questions

McLennan County booking, bond and release FAQs

How do I find current McLennan County booking records?

Use the Current Inmate Listing linked by the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office. It opens as a PDF roster and the county states that it is updated once every hour. Search the PDF for the person’s surname, confirm the identifying details, then save the inmate identifier, book-in information, offense, arresting agency, case information and every bond entry shown before calling the jail or a bonding company.

How often is the McLennan County inmate list updated?

The McLennan County Sheriff’s Office states that the Current Inmate Listing is updated once every hour. Treat it as an hourly snapshot rather than a minute-by-minute release system. A very recent booking, transfer, bond payment or release may not be reflected until the next update.

What does a bond amount on the McLennan County booking roster mean?

A displayed bond amount is a release condition associated with a particular charge or case. It does not guarantee release. The person may have additional charges, a warrant, another bond, a 24- or 48-hour hold or another restriction. Confirm every active case with the McLennan County Jail Bond Office before paying.

Why is someone in the McLennan County jail roster but not in court records yet?

Booking can occur before the prosecutor files a case with the appropriate clerk. For a Class A or B misdemeanor, search the McLennan County Clerk criminal index. For a felony, search the McLennan County District Clerk index. The County Courts at Law also warn that hearing lists contain filed cases, so a newly booked case may not appear there immediately.

Which McLennan County office handles misdemeanor and felony criminal records?

The McLennan County Clerk Criminal Division handles Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases, plus Class C matters appealed from lower courts. The McLennan County District Clerk handles felony criminal cases. Use the correct clerk after reading the offense level or court information connected with the booking.

How can I confirm that someone was released from the McLennan County Jail?

Recheck the hourly Current Inmate Listing and then call the jail when the timing matters. The roster is not a real-time release board, so a person can be in release processing or have left before the next hourly refresh. Use 254-757-2555 for the Highway 6 Jail or 254-757-5120 for jail intake and reception.

Where do I verify or post a bond in McLennan County?

Start with the McLennan County Jail Bond Office and verify the defendant, charge, bond amount, warrant or cause number and any hold before paying. The county’s bail rules direct bonding questions to the jail at 254-757-2555. If using a surety company, verify that it appears on the McLennan County Bail Bond Board’s current active-agency list.

What happens after someone receives a McLennan County personal bond?

The McLennan County PR Bond Office currently lists a one-time 20 dollar personal-bond fee and requires the defendant to report by telephone every week until the case is disposed. The weekly call-in number is 254-757-5177. Failure to report or satisfy bond requirements can be treated as a bond violation.

What are McLennan County jail visitation hours in 2026?

The Sheriff’s Office states that in-person visitation moved to the McLennan County Jail Bond Office Lobby on April 5, 2026. Sunday visitation is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with registration ending at 4:30 p.m. Monday visitation is noon to 8:00 p.m., with registration ending at 7:30 p.m. Remote visitation is available Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. through the county’s GettingOut and Go Visit process.

How do I send personal mail to someone in the McLennan County Jail?

McLennan County routes ordinary personal mail through its digital-mail process rather than directly to the jail. The county’s example uses McLennan County Jail, TX, the inmate’s full name and identifier, PO Box 247, Phoenix, MD 21131. Include the sender’s full name and physical return address. Legal mail, checks, money orders and packages follow different rules, so verify the current Sheriff mail page before sending anything.

Official resources used

Primary McLennan County sources for live actions

Sheriff and jail
Criminal court records
Help after booking
Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource. It is not the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, County Clerk, District Clerk, Bail Bond Board, Criminal District Attorney, Texas Department of Criminal Justice or a law firm.

Jail rosters, charges, bond amounts, holds, visitation rules, mail procedures, court filings, fees and office hours can change. Use the live county source and verify the person with more than a name before sending money, travelling or relying on a record.

An arrest or booking is not proof of guilt. For a final legal outcome, review the filed criminal case and disposition through the appropriate McLennan County clerk.

Last official-source review: August 19, 2026. Where the county did not publish a sufficiently clear current parking, inmate-phone-rate or trust-deposit instruction, this article intentionally tells readers to verify with the jail rather than inventing a provider, price or procedure.

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