Ellis County, Texas · Live jail roster, current custody, bond and family help
Check Who Is in the Wayne McCollum Detention Center Right Now
If someone was arrested in Ellis County, start with the Sheriff-linked inmate roster. Find the person under the name used at booking, open the matching record, and save the booking number and any charge or bond details before calling the jail.
If the person does not appear immediately, that does not automatically mean they were released. Booking, classification and housing assignment take time. Ellis County says assignment to a housing unit can take up to 24 hours after arrest.
Below you can also check what to do about bond, release, video visitation, TouchPay, inmate calls, the new scanned-mail process, court records and appointed counsel.
Full booked name
Date of birth
Approximate arrest time
Booking number if known
Arresting agency
ELLIS COUNTY CUSTODY BOARD
LIVE STATUS ROUTE
01 · BOOKING / INTAKE
02 · CLASSIFICATION / HOUSING
03 · CURRENT CUSTODY
BOOKED
CURRENT CUSTODY CHECK COMPLETE
Custody does not equal guilt.
A jail roster shows detention and booking information. It does not establish guilt or tell you the final result of the criminal case.
Current roster
Use the inmate search linked by the Ellis County Sheriff.
Jail phone
972-825-4931 for routine inmate and custody questions.
Detention center
300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie, TX 75165.
Video visits
Tuesday–Saturday, 12 p.m.–8 p.m.; last sign-in 7:30.
Source check
Official procedures reviewed August 21, 2026.
Start with your immediate problem
What do you need to know about the inmate?
ARRESTED RECENTLY
See whether the booking has appeared
Open the Sheriff-linked roster and search the booked name. If there is no match, do not assume release.
Use the current custody steps
NOT SHOWING
Check whether intake is still underway
Housing assignment can take up to 24 hours. Call the jail if you need to confirm whether the person is still processing.
Troubleshoot a missing inmate
BOND / RELEASE
Check every charge before paying
A visible bond on one charge does not prove that every case or hold is cleared for release.
Check bond and release
VISIT TODAY?
Make sure housing is assigned first
Ellis County uses video visits. Same-day appointments are not guaranteed.
See visitation rules
MONEY / PHONE
Use the county’s current providers
TouchPay handles deposits. Correct Solutions provides inmate telephone support.
Money and phone help
RELEASED / TRANSFERRED
Move from the jail roster to court records
Search County Clerk or District Clerk records depending on whether the case is a misdemeanor or felony.
What to check after custody
Live inmate lookup
How to search Ellis County current jail custody
Why the roster opens on a different domain:
the Ellis County Sheriff’s website currently redirects its Inmate Search link to a separately hosted roster at ecso.llhostings.com. Use the Sheriff website or the Sheriff-linked roster rather than an unrelated commercial inmate database.
Search the person’s booked name
Start with the legal surname. Try the first name or alternate spelling if several people have similar names.
Do not identify someone from the name alone
Compare any age, birth date, booking details, photograph, arrest date or other identifiers displayed.
Open the individual record
Note the booking number or Sheriff’s identifier if displayed. It can be important for mail, records requests and custody calls.
Review every listed charge
One inmate can have multiple allegations, cases or holds. Do not stop after reading the first line.
Check each bond amount
An inmate may have a bond on one matter but still remain in custody because of another case or hold.
Save the arresting agency
This matters if you later need an offense report or arrest narrative.
Call when the roster does not answer the custody question
Use Jail Information rather than relying on an old screenshot.
Call 972-825-4931
The roster carries its own accuracy warning.
The Sheriff-linked service says the information is provided for public convenience and does not warrant that every item is complete, current or error-free. Reconfirm important custody or release information by phone.
Before closing the inmate record
Save the details that make every next step easier
Exact booked name
Booking or jail identifier
Booking date and time if shown
Every charge listed
Bond amount for every charge
Arresting agency
Court or disposition field when shown
Photograph only as an identity aid—not proof of guilt
Best habit:
write down the booking number before calling the jail. Saying “I am calling about John Smith” is much less precise than giving the booked name and booking identifier.
Short custody-verification call
I am trying to confirm the current custody status of [full booked name]. The date of birth is [DOB], and the booking number is [number, if known]. Can you confirm whether the person is still in the Wayne McCollum Detention Center, still processing, assigned to housing, released or transferred?
Arrested but not listed
What a missing Ellis County inmate result can mean
Booking is still being completed
An arrest can occur before the full jail intake record is available to the public.
Housing has not been assigned
Ellis County says assignment to a housing unit can take up to 24 hours after arrest.
The name is entered differently
Try a maiden name, former name, hyphenated surname, suffix or alternate spelling.
The person was released quickly
A short custody event may disappear from a current-inmate-focused roster before family members search.
Another county made the booking
The alleged offense can involve Ellis County while the person is actually confined elsewhere.
The arresting agency has not transferred custody
A municipal or other agency may still be completing its own process.
The person was transferred
State-prison, federal or another-county custody requires a different locator.
The record is not publicly available
Juvenile, restricted or legally confidential information may not appear in the public roster.
Important distinction:
Ellis County’s “up to 24 hours” statement concerns housing assignment for visitation. It should not be presented as a guaranteed 24-hour delay for the public inmate roster.
What happens after arrest
Booking, classification and housing at Wayne McCollum
Processing begins
The inmate enters the booking area where identity, property, financial and release-related processing occurs.
Property and account records are established
Ellis County maintains inmate property and financial accounts through the detention process.
Classification is completed
Staff review criminal history plus physical, mental and social conditions and behaviour to determine appropriate housing.
Housing is assigned
Visitation cannot begin until the inmate has an assigned housing unit. Ellis County says this can take up to 24 hours after arrest.
Normal jail services become available
Phone access, account use, visitation and other services follow the facility’s current rules.
Wayne McCollum Detention Center uses a direct-supervision model and has medical, mental-health, dental, commissary, education, counselling, religious and library services within the detention operation.
For family members:
the most useful early question is often not “What cell is he in?” but “Has housing been assigned yet?” If the answer is no, a visit may not be possible even though the person is already in county custody.
Bond and release
Before paying bond, confirm what is actually keeping the inmate in custody
The Wayne McCollum Detention Center’s booking area includes bond and release areas accessible to the public. The Sheriff does not publish one universal bond amount because the amount and release conditions depend on the individual cases and judicial orders.
Verify the correct inmate
Use the booked name and booking number.
Write down every charge
A person may be held under more than one criminal allegation or case.
Record the bond shown for each charge
Do not add money or contact a bonding company based on only the first displayed amount.
Call Jail Information
Confirm that the bond information is current and ask whether another case, detainer or hold affects release.
972-825-4931
Ask what type of bond is permitted
Depending on the court order, the route may involve cash, surety, personal bond or another condition.
Verify a commercial bondsman before paying
Ellis County operates a Bail Bond Board that licenses and regulates applicable bail-bond companies.
Get the full agreement in writing
Preserve the premium, collateral terms, refund rules and company information.
Do not expect immediate physical release
Release processing still must be completed after the legal conditions have been satisfied.
Release scam warning:
do not send money because someone calls claiming an Ellis County inmate will be released after an immediate electronic payment. Verify custody and bond directly with 972-825-4931 first.
Ellis County video visitation
Schedule the visit after the inmate reaches housing
All ordinary Ellis County inmate visits are conducted by video, whether the visit is on-site or remote.
Confirm the inmate is assigned to a housing unit
The inmate cannot receive visitation until housing has been assigned.
Open Ellis County Video Visitation
First-time users should create a video-visitation account and select the video-call option.
Open official visitation page
Schedule the visit
Same-day visits are not guaranteed. Booking in advance reduces the risk of arriving without an available visit.
Use the Tuesday–Saturday schedule
Current general hours are 12 p.m.–8 p.m., with last sign-in at 7:30 p.m.
Arrive on time
Ellis County warns that arriving late will shorten the scheduled visit.
Bring approved photo identification
Adult visitors must show an accepted ID to the visitation officer.
Leave prohibited property outside
Phones, purses, packages, umbrellas, handbags, food and drinks are not allowed in the visiting area.
Current Ellis County video-visitation rules
Item |
Published rule |
What it means for you |
Days |
Tuesday–Saturday |
Do not rely on an older website showing different days or hours. |
Hours |
12 p.m.–8 p.m. |
Last sign-in is 7:30 p.m. |
Visit format |
Video only |
Both on-site and remote social visits use video. |
Inmate limit |
Two 20-minute visits per week |
Another family visit may use one of the inmate’s weekly visits. |
Visitor limit |
One visit per visitor per day |
Plan the visitor list before scheduling. |
Adults |
Maximum two adults |
Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. |
Children |
One child per adult in visitation area |
Larger family groups may need different arrangements. |
Same-day scheduling |
Not guaranteed |
Schedule before driving to Waxahachie. |
Accepted adult identification
Current DPS-issued driver’s license
Current DPS-issued state ID
Official passport
Accepted immigration identification
Mexican Consulate green card listed by the jail
Military identification
The Sheriff’s current rule says a DPS driver’s license cannot be expired by more than six months. Because ID rules can change, check the live visitation page before travelling.
Money and telephone service
Add inmate money or handle a jail phone call correctly
TouchPay deposits
Ellis County currently uses TouchPay for inmate money deposits.
- Cash, credit or debit card may be used at the Sheriff’s Office lobby deposit service.
- Credit or debit card deposits are available online.
- Telephone deposits are available at 866-232-1899.
- Verify the correct inmate before completing the payment.
Open TouchPay
New booking account delay
Ellis County’s visitation rules state that the inmate’s financial account may take approximately 24–48 hours after book-in to become active.
That does not mean every deposit takes 24–48 hours. It describes the possible account-activation period after booking.
Booking phone calls
During booking, an inmate can make free local calls to arrange bail, notify family or reach an attorney.
The Sheriff notes that many cell phones are not considered local. Booking phones can make collect calls outside the local calling area.
Calls after housing
Once in the general jail population, the Sheriff’s current phone page lists collect-call access:
- Weekdays: 10 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
- Weekends: 10 a.m.–12:30 a.m.
Correct Solutions support:
877-618-3516
Detention officers do not pass routine messages.
The Sheriff’s phone policy says officers cannot deliver written or verbal messages to inmates. Use approved correspondence instead.
Case-safety reminder:
ordinary jail phone calls and social video visits should not be treated as confidential attorney-client communications. Avoid discussing witnesses, evidence, passwords, alibis or legal strategy.
Current Ellis County mail process
Do not send ordinary inmate letters to the jail building
Ellis County changed its inmate mail routing.
Ordinary personal mail now goes to an off-site JailATM processing address where it is scanned for electronic delivery.
Personal inmate mail:
JailATM.com – Ellis County Jail
Inmate ID: [Inmate full name and booking number]
2830 S. Hulen St. Box 809
Fort Worth, TX 76109
Use the inmate’s exact booked name
Match the current roster.
Add the booking number
Ellis County requires the inmate’s name and Sheriff’s booking number.
Include your return address
Mail without the required sender information can be rejected.
Keep ordinary mail to five pages or fewer
Mail over five pages is not scanned and is returned.
Write on the front side only
The processing system scans the front side of pages. Writing on the back can cause the mail to be returned.
Send no more than one photo per mailing
More than one photo causes the complete mailing to be returned.
Do not send anything you expect back
Material accepted at the processing centre is destroyed after electronic delivery and is not returned or released.
Legal, medical and publisher mail uses a different address
Wayne McCollum Detention Center mail:
[Inmate full name]
[Inmate Book-In Number]
c/o Wayne McCollum Detention Center
300 S. Jackson St.
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Send directly to 300 S. Jackson
- Legal mail
- Medical mail
- Publisher-direct magazines
- Publisher-direct newspapers
- Qualifying publisher-direct softback books
Publisher rules worth checking
- Books and periodicals must come from the publisher.
- Retail vendors such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble are not accepted for this route.
- Subscriptions are limited.
- Items containing staples are returned.
Do not copy an older Ellis County mailing address from another jail directory.
Use the Sheriff’s current inmate-correspondence page immediately before mailing because the county has changed its processing procedure.
Health and urgent family concerns
What to do when the inmate has a medical or mental-health concern
Services are provided inside the detention center
Ellis County states that medical, basic clinical, mental-health and dental services are available within the Wayne McCollum Detention Center.
Family member with important information
Call Jail Information at 972-825-4931 and ask for the correct current procedure for relaying a legitimate medical concern.
Do not mail medication or medical items through ordinary scanned inmate mail unless the facility specifically instructs you to do so.
Contact the jail first.
When calling about a health concern, have the inmate’s exact booked name and booking number ready. Explain the concern clearly rather than asking a detention officer to pass a general message.
Attorney and appointed counsel
How an Ellis County inmate can get legal representation
Court-appointed attorney
Ellis County publishes an Application for Court Appointed Attorney for people who cannot afford counsel.
The application requires complete financial and personal information and is reviewed for eligibility.
Private lawyer
Family members looking for private counsel should verify the lawyer’s Texas licence and ask specifically about experience with Ellis County criminal courts.
A commercial bail-bond company is not legal counsel.
Verify a Texas lawyer
Ellis County’s 443rd District Court instructions specifically tell a defendant who posts bond after requesting appointed counsel to contact the Indigent Defense Coordinator for the appointed lawyer’s name and contact information.
After release or when the jail record is not enough
Use the right Ellis County clerk for the criminal case
Ellis County’s online records system can be searched without a paid subscription. A guest login can view index information; registered users may have additional image-purchase options.
Misdemeanor criminal case
The Ellis County Clerk serves as clerk for county-level misdemeanor criminal cases.
109 S. Jackson St.
Second Floor / Ground Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Criminal Division:
972-825-5062
Main Line:
972-825-5070
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Felony district-court case
The Ellis County District Clerk maintains felony district-court records.
109 S. Jackson St.
Second Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Phone:
972-825-5091
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
How to search the online court system
Use Guest Login for basic index research
A paid subscription is not required just to search the index.
Select the correct office
Choose County Clerk for applicable misdemeanor cases or District Clerk for felony district-court records.
Select Criminal as the record type
Do not search property or civil records for a criminal charge.
Search the exact name or cause number
Use the cause number when it appears in the jail or court paperwork.
Open More Information
Review available case detail and public images.
Read the final court activity
Release from jail does not tell you whether the charge remained pending, was dismissed, resulted in a plea or ended another way.
Jail release and case dismissal are different events.
A person can leave jail while the criminal case continues for months.
Older booking or arrest information
When the person is no longer on the current roster
The Sheriff’s Public Information page says a booking photograph for someone who is still in custody can be accessed through the inmate search. When the person is no longer in custody, the Sheriff directs users to submit an open-records request.
Identify exactly what you need
Ask for a booking record, booking photograph, offense report or another specific document instead of “all records.”
Provide the identifying information
Include name, date, approximate time, location, report or service number and booking number when known.
Use the Sheriff’s current open-records instructions
The Sheriff’s newer Public Information page states that open-records requests are accepted by email under the county’s designated process.
Use the live page for the current email address
The Sheriff’s website renders the email address through browser scripting, so check the current page rather than copying an old address from another website.
Open current Sheriff records instructions
An older Sheriff open-records page also displays in-person, mail and fax instructions. The newer Sheriff Public Information notice dated November 13, 2023 says requests are accepted by email. Follow the newer live instruction when the pages conflict.
Short booking-record request
Under the Texas Public Information Act, I request the releasable booking record and booking photograph for [full legal name], date of birth [DOB], relating to the Ellis County booking on or about [date]. The booking number is [number], if known. Please advise of any applicable cost before processing if required.
Victim and protective-order help
When the inmate search involves a safety concern
Ellis County Victim Assistance
109 S. Jackson St.
4th Floor
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Phone:
972-825-5035
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Protective-order assistance
Ellis County District Attorney Victim Assistance also handles protective-order inquiries.
If a crime or immediate threat is happening now, use 911 rather than attempting to resolve the situation through the jail.
Do not confront someone because an online record shows a warrant, charge or release.
If your safety depends on the person’s custody status, confirm it directly with law enforcement or victim-assistance personnel.
Before driving to Waxahachie
Map to Wayne McCollum Detention Center
Correct jail address
300 S. Jackson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165.
Do not go to the LEC by mistake
The Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Center is at 2272 FM 878 and is a separate location.
Parking information
The Sheriff pages reviewed do not publish a dedicated visitor-parking guarantee. If parking, mobility or accessibility arrangements matter, call 972-825-4931 before leaving.
Useful downtown distinction:
the jail is at 300 S. Jackson, while the County Clerk, District Clerk, criminal courts and District Attorney are nearby at 109 S. Jackson. Check which building you actually need before parking.
If the inmate leaves county custody
Where to search next after an Ellis County transfer
Transferred to Texas prison
Use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate locator after the person enters TDCJ custody.
Search TDCJ inmates
Released but criminal case continues
Use Ellis County Online Records Search and choose the County Clerk or District Clerk based on the case type.
Search Ellis County court records
Do not use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice search as the first place to look for someone arrested in Ellis County today. A newly arrested person normally begins in local custody, not state prison.
10 Ellis County custody questions
Ellis County Jail inmate search questions answered
How do I search the Ellis County Texas jail roster?
Use the inmate roster linked by the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s website redirects users to the current separately hosted Ellis County inmate search. Search the roster for the person’s booked name, open the matching record, and save the booking number, booking date, charges, bond information and other identifiers shown. Call Ellis County Jail Information at 972-825-4931 if current custody is unclear.
Why is someone arrested in Ellis County not showing in the inmate search yet?
The person may still be going through booking, may be listed under another spelling, may have been released quickly, or may be held by another agency. Ellis County states that it can take up to 24 hours after arrest for an inmate to be assigned to a housing unit. That is a housing-assignment timeframe, not a guaranteed roster publication time. Call Jail Information at 972-825-4931 when the person cannot be located.
What is the phone number for Ellis County Jail inmate information?
The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office lists 972-825-4931 for Jail Information. The Sheriff’s administration number is 972-825-4901, and 24-hour communications and dispatch is 972-937-6060. Use the jail information number for routine custody, booking, housing and release questions.
Where is the Ellis County Jail located?
The Wayne McCollum Detention Center and Ellis County Sheriff’s Office are located at 300 South Jackson Street, Waxahachie, Texas 75165. Do not confuse the jail with the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Center at 2272 FM 878.
How do I visit an inmate at the Wayne McCollum Detention Center?
Ellis County uses video visitation for both on-site and remote visits. The current general schedule is Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., with last sign-in at 7:30 p.m. Visits must be scheduled, same-day visits are not guaranteed, and the inmate must first be assigned to a housing unit. Ellis County allows two 20-minute visits per inmate per week.
How do I put money on an Ellis County inmate account?
Ellis County uses TouchPay for inmate deposits. Money may be deposited by cash, credit or debit card through the Sheriff’s Office lobby, online at TouchPay, or by calling 866-232-1899. The Sheriff’s visitation rules state that an inmate account may take approximately 24 to 48 hours after book-in to become active.
What is the Ellis County inmate mailing address?
Ordinary personal mail is currently sent to JailATM.com – Ellis County Jail, with the inmate’s full name and booking number, at 2830 S. Hulen St. Box 809, Fort Worth, TX 76109. Legal mail, medical mail and qualifying publisher-direct books, magazines or newspapers must instead be addressed to the inmate at Wayne McCollum Detention Center, 300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie, TX 75165.
Can an Ellis County inmate receive phone calls?
Inmates cannot receive ordinary messages through detention officers. During booking, inmates can make free local calls and collect calls outside the local dialing area. After entering the general jail population, collect calls are permitted during the hours published by the Sheriff’s Office. Correct Solutions provides inmate phone support at 877-618-3516.
How do I check the bond for an Ellis County jail inmate?
Start with the live inmate roster and review the bond information shown for every charge. Then call Jail Information at 972-825-4931 before paying to confirm the current bond, all active charges and any other hold affecting release. The Wayne McCollum Detention Center has bond and release areas accessible to the public. Use the Ellis County Bail Bond Board when you need to verify county bail-bond licensing.
How do I find an Ellis County inmate after release or transfer?
If the person no longer appears in current custody, search Ellis County court records using the person’s name or cause number. Misdemeanor cases are maintained by the Ellis County Clerk and felony district-court cases by the Ellis County District Clerk. If the person was transferred to state prison, use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate search. Older Sheriff booking records or booking photographs may require an open-records request.
Official resources checked
Primary Ellis County sources for this page