Smith County Jail Inmate Search | Current Custody

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Smith County, Texas · Current jail custody, booking, bond and release help

Check Whether Someone Is in Smith County Jail Right Now

If someone was arrested in Tyler or elsewhere in Smith County, start with the county’s official Jail Search. Find the matching booking, confirm you have the right person, then save the jail identifier, charges, bond information and any custody or release status displayed.

If the arrest happened only a short time ago and nothing appears, do not assume the person was released. Processing, name differences, a transfer or a quick release can all affect what you see online. This guide shows the shortest next step for each situation.

Search current Smith County jail records Call Smith County Jail: 903-590-2800 Person not showing?
Booked legal name Date of birth if known Approximate arrest time Arresting agency Booking or cause number
EAST TEXAS CUSTODY BEACON STATUS CHECK
SMITH COUNTY JAIL SEARCH LIVE ROUTE
BOOKING / INTAKE
CURRENT CUSTODY
BOND / RELEASE
CUSTODY CHECK
VERIFY BEFORE TRAVEL
SEARCH → CONFIRM → CALL IF UNCLEAR
Custody records change quickly. A person shown in jail can later be transferred or released, and someone arrested very recently may not appear immediately. For a time-sensitive pickup, bond or visitation decision, recheck the official search and call the jail before travelling.
An arrest is not a conviction. A jail record documents custody and allegations at that stage. Charges can be rejected, changed, dismissed or resolved differently in court.
Official inmate search

Smith County Public Jail Search.

Jail phone

903-590-2800 for current jail questions.

Main jail

206 E. Elm Street in downtown Tyler.

Visitation site

2811 Public Road — not the downtown jail.

Current providers

JailATM for commissary/video; NCIC for calls.

Choose your situation

What do you need to know about the inmate?

ARRESTED RECENTLY See whether booking has posted

Search the county portal first. If no match appears and the arrest was recent, call the jail rather than repeatedly refreshing different third-party sites.

Follow the current-custody search
STILL IN CUSTODY? Confirm before driving to Tyler

Review the latest jail record, then call 903-590-2800 if pickup, bond, medication or visitation depends on the answer.

Understand the status
BOND OR RELEASE Check all charges first

A displayed bond does not guarantee immediate release. Another charge, warrant or condition can keep the person in custody.

Review release options
WANT TO VISIT Go to 2811 Public Road

Smith County conducts social inmate visitation by video link at the Low-Risk Facility, not at the downtown Main Jail.

See the schedule and rules
MAIL OR MONEY Verify the inmate ID first

Smith County has a specific off-site correspondence address and uses JailATM and NCIC for selected services.

Mail, calls and commissary
COURT CASE Jail status is not the final outcome

Use Smith County’s judicial search, then route misdemeanors to the County Clerk and felonies to the District Clerk.

Follow the case after booking

Go directly to the task you need

The urgent custody sections come first. Family services and court follow-up appear after them.

Read the result correctly

Separate “booked before” from “in jail right now”

Fields and clues worth saving from the jail record
Information
Why it matters
What it does not prove
Next step
Full booked name
Helps identify the person used by the jail system.
Identity by itself.
Compare another identifier.
Booking or jail ID
Helps staff and providers find the correct custody record.
That the person remains incarcerated.
Pair it with current status or release information.
Booking date
Shows when the displayed jail event began.
The exact offense time.
Compare the court case and arresting agency record.
Charge
Shows an allegation connected with custody.
Guilt or final filed charge.
Search the judicial case.
Bond
Shows a monetary or release condition when available.
That paying one amount clears every case.
Check all charges and holds.
Release information
Helps distinguish an old booking from current custody.
The criminal charge was dismissed.
Search the court disposition.
Cause or court number
Connects jail information with the criminal court case.
That all charges use the same cause number.
Search each cause separately.
Name matches the person you know
Date of birth or another identifier matches
Booking date fits the known arrest
Arresting agency makes sense
Every charge is reviewed
Every bond or hold is considered
Release information is checked
Court case follows the same booking
For pickup or bond decisions, an online result is not enough when it is ambiguous. Call 903-590-2800 and provide the booked name plus the jail or booking identifier you saved.
No result

Why someone arrested in Smith County may not appear

Booking is still being completed A person can be in the intake process before the public record is easy to locate.
The name is entered differently Search the surname by itself and try a former, hyphenated or alternate spelling.
The person was released quickly A citation, personal bond, cash or surety bond can result in a short jail stay.
The arrest occurred in another county The incident may have occurred near Smith County while the booking happened elsewhere.
The person was transferred A state or federal transfer requires a different inmate locator.
The event involved a juvenile Juvenile detention information is handled separately and is not treated like the adult jail search.
The person received a citation Not every criminal allegation results in a county-jail booking.
The record is restricted Juvenile, sealed and other legally confidential information may not appear publicly.
Call script when the person is missing from the roster
I am trying to confirm whether [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], is currently in Smith County custody. The arrest may have occurred around [time/date] through [agency]. Can you tell me whether the person is still processing, currently housed, released, transferred, or listed under another name or jail number?
Smith County Jail: 903-590-2800
Smith County Sheriff: 903-590-2661
Sheriff non-emergency: 903-566-6600
Where the person may be

Do not confuse the main jail with the visitation facility

Downtown Main Smith County Jail
206 E. Elm Street
Tyler, TX 75702

Jail contact: 903-590-2800

Use for main adult jail custody and booking questions.

Smith County Low/Medium Risk Facility
2811 Public Road
Tyler, Texas

Jail contact: 903-590-2800

All regular social inmate visitation is provided here by video link.

Smith County Juvenile Services
2630 Morningside Drive
Tyler, Texas

903-535-0850

Juvenile custody is separate from the adult Smith County Jail search.

Tyler Police states that a person age 17 or older arrested by its officers is incarcerated through Smith County Jail. A person age 16 or younger follows the juvenile process instead.
Verify the location before driving. Classification, court transport and custody changes can affect where a person is physically located.
Bond and release

Check every case before arranging release

Confirm the correct inmate Match the booked name and another identifier before discussing money.
Write down every charge or cause number Do not stop after finding one bond amount.
Ask whether another hold exists Another case, warrant, agency or court condition can delay release.
Ask whether personal bond review is possible Smith County operates a Pre-Trial Release and Personal Bond Office for qualifying defendants.
Understand that a judge decides Pre-Trial staff interview and investigate the applicant, but the judge determines whether to approve the personal bond.
Verify the current fee Smith County currently lists the personal-bond fee as $20 or 3% of the bond amount, whichever is greater.
Use a licensed bondsman if choosing surety bail Smith County maintains a Bail Bond Board. Do not select a company only because someone called or messaged you after the arrest.
Wait for jail release processing Court approval or bond payment does not mean the person walks out immediately.

Smith County Personal Bond

The county lists minimum requirements that include local qualifying charges and residence in Smith County or within a 50-mile radius, among other conditions.

Pre-Trial Release Office:
903-590-2620

200 E. Ferguson, Room 213
Smith County Courthouse Annex
Tyler, TX 75702

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed 12–1 p.m.

Review official personal-bond rules

Surety bail bond

Use the current Smith County Bail Bond Board information and the approved list posted for prisoners rather than relying on an unverified online directory.

Ask the company for:

  • Full legal business name
  • Current licence status
  • Total premium
  • Collateral requirements
  • Refund or forfeiture terms
  • A written receipt and contract
Open Smith County Bail Bond Board
Bond-status call script
I am calling about [booked name], jail or booking number [number if known]. Can you confirm every active charge or cause, the current bond on each one, whether there is a hold or bond restriction, and whether anything else must be cleared before release?
Smith County visitation

Go to the Low-Risk Facility for social visitation

Most important local detail: All Smith County inmate social visitation is provided by video link at the Low-Risk Facility, 2811 Public Road, Tyler.
Current Smith County Sheriff visitation schedule
Visitor situation
Published schedule
What to remember
Women
Tuesday and Sunday
Sign up at the Low-Risk Facility on the day of the visit.
Men
Monday and Saturday
Sign up at the Low-Risk Facility on the day of the visit.
Regular sign-up
12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
Registration occurs before and during the published visit block.
Regular visitation
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Visits are limited to 20 minutes.
Trustee sign-up
5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Separate from regular social-visitation hours.
Trustee visitation
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Confirm trustee status before travelling.
Bring proof of identification
No revealing or see-through clothing
Sleeves must extend at least halfway down upper arm
No spandex or tights
No dress, skirt or shorts above mid-thigh
No obscene, offensive or gang-related clothing
Recheck inmate custody before leaving home
Call if housing or eligibility is unclear
Parking: The Sheriff’s current visitation page does not publish a special visitor-parking procedure for 2811 Public Road. Use only legally marked public or visitor parking and call the Sheriff at 903-590-2661 before travelling if you need accessibility or entrance guidance.
Check current visitation rules Call Sheriff: 903-590-2661
Family support

Mail, calls, video messages and commissary

Commissary and video messaging

The Sheriff currently links to JailATM for commissary deposits, inmate email/video services and related account features.

  1. Confirm the inmate remains in Smith County custody.
  2. Open JailATM from the Sheriff’s official visitation page.
  3. Create or sign in to your account.
  4. Select the correct Smith County inmate.
  5. Review the fee before paying.
  6. Save your transaction receipt.
Open JailATM
Inmate telephone calls

Smith County currently directs families to NCIC for inmate phone service.

  1. Open the NCIC account portal.
  2. Use the telephone number the inmate will call.
  3. Add funds if required.
  4. Keep your account receipt.

NCIC support: 800-943-2189

Open NCIC
Written correspondence

Smith County currently uses an off-site Fort Worth address for inmate correspondence rather than the physical downtown jail address.

Mail format:
Inmate ID: Inmate Full Name
C/O Smith County Jail
2830 S. Hulen St. Box 809
Fort Worth, TX 76109

Verify current mailing instructions

Smith County inmate-mail rules worth checking before you buy postage

Letters may be no larger than 12 × 15 inches
Sender first and last name must be included
Include the sender’s complete home address
Use the inmate ID and full booked name
Four or fewer unframed photographs may be enclosed
Photos may be no larger than 4 × 5 inches
Self-developing photos with hard backing are not accepted
Contraband is placed into inmate property until release
Do not mail a personal letter to 206 E. Elm Street just because that is the jail’s physical address. Use the Sheriff’s current correspondence instructions immediately before mailing because mail-routing vendors and addresses can change.
Privacy reminder: Normal jail telephone calls, electronic messages and social visits should not be treated as confidential attorney-client communications. Avoid discussing evidence, witnesses, passwords or defence strategy.
After booking

Find the Smith County criminal case and next court date

Smith County’s public system provides both jail and court records. County Records Services states that criminal cases from 1995 to the present are available through the online judicial search.
Save the cause or case number from the jail result It is safer than searching a common name.
Open the Smith County Public Search Site Open Smith County Judicial / Jail Records
Search the criminal case Use the cause number first. Search by name when the number is unavailable.
Confirm the court and charge Make sure the filing date and allegation logically follow the jail booking.
Find the newest court setting Court dates can change. Use the current judicial search instead of relying on an old screenshot.
Read the final disposition Release from jail does not tell you whether the case was dismissed, pled, deferred, tried or remains pending.

Class A and B misdemeanors

The Smith County Clerk keeps Class A and B misdemeanor case records arising from Smith County offenses.

Criminal Misdemeanor Department:
903-590-4680

200 E. Ferguson, Suite 300
Tyler, TX 75702

The Clerk can provide information such as case number, court assignment, court date, attorney name or bondsman name.

Current local background-search fee: $5, plus $1 per printed page.

Felony cases

Felony case records are maintained by the Smith County District Clerk.

District Clerk:
903-590-1660

100 N. Broadway, Room 204
Tyler, TX 75702

Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; payment acceptance stops at 4:30 p.m.

District Clerk copy fees currently published

Smith County District Clerk criminal-document copy costs
Request
Current published fee
Email regular copy, 0–15 pages
$1 per page
Email regular copy, 16 pages or more
$15 per document
Paper copy
$1 per page
Certified copy
$1 per page as currently stated by the District Clerk; confirm certification requirements when ordering.
Incarcerated defendants: Smith County court pages note that jailed misdemeanor defendants are commonly handled through Thursday-morning jail-call dockets, although exact dates and times should always be confirmed through the current judicial search.
Attorney help

Find out whether counsel has already been appointed

Check the court record first

For a Class A or B misdemeanor, the Smith County Clerk’s Criminal Division can provide the attorney’s name when one is shown in the file.

Criminal Misdemeanor Department:
903-590-4680

If the person cannot afford a lawyer

The defendant should ask the court about court-appointed counsel and financial-eligibility procedures. Do not assume an attorney has been appointed merely because the person is in jail.

For a felony, contact the District Clerk or assigned court for case and counsel information.

Hiring private counsel

Verify that the lawyer is currently licensed in Texas and ask about experience with Smith County criminal courts.

Get the fee agreement in writing before paying.

State Bar Lawyer Referral Service
Information to give a lawyer
  • Booked name
  • Date of birth
  • Booking or jail ID
  • Every cause number
  • Charges
  • Bond status
  • Next court date
  • Any outside hold
Booking and Sheriff records

Request records instead of relying on a roster screenshot

A live inmate search answers “is this person listed in jail?” A records request is better when you need a preserved government record, arrest report or other identifiable Sheriff document.

Identify exactly what you need Ask for a booking record, arrest-related record, offence report or another named document rather than “everything.”
Gather identifiers Provide the person’s full name, approximate incident or booking date, report number, cause number and arresting agency when known.
Use Smith County Sheriff’s official Public Information Request link Open the Smith County public-information request form
Ask for electronic delivery when practical It can avoid an unnecessary trip to the Sheriff’s administrative office.
Do not request a city police report from the jail If Tyler Police or another agency created the offence report, request it from that agency.
Copy-ready records request
Under the Texas Public Information Act, I request the releasable booking and arrest-related records concerning [full legal name] for the incident or booking on or about [date]. Known identifiers are booking/jail number [number], cause number [number], report number [number] and arresting agency [agency]. Please provide the records electronically when available and notify me before processing if charges will exceed $[amount].
No longer in county jail

Where to search after a transfer

Texas state prison

Use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate locator after the person enters TDCJ custody.

Search TDCJ inmates
Federal custody

Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons locator when the person entered federal custody.

Search federal inmates
Another Texas county

Search the receiving county’s official sheriff or jail portal. Do not assume a Smith County booking remains the current physical location.

A person can also leave Smith County Jail because of bond, sentence completion, court order or another release—not only because of a transfer.
Urgent family questions

Medical, medication or safety concerns

Do not mail medication or bring prescription drugs to a jail entrance unless Smith County Jail specifically instructs you to do so. The Sheriff’s public inmate pages do not publish a general family medication-drop procedure.
Confirm current custody Find the inmate and save the jail identifier.
Call Smith County Jail 903-590-2800
State the concern clearly Give the booked name, jail ID if known, medical concern and any time-sensitive information.
Ask for the current facility-specific procedure Follow jail staff instructions rather than a third-party website’s medication directions.
For an immediate threat outside the jail, call 911 Do not use an administrative jail line as a replacement for emergency services.
Victim support

Get case information and victim assistance

Smith County Victim Services

The Criminal District Attorney’s Victim Services Division assists victims and families with information, support and the criminal-justice process.

903-590-1723
or
903-590-1742

Open Victim Services
Criminal District Attorney
100 N. Broadway Avenue, 4th Floor
Tyler, TX 75702

Main office: 903-590-1720

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; office closes for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

Call or visit

Smith County Jail and court contact sheet

Smith County Jail
206 E. Elm Street
Tyler, TX 75702

903-590-2800

Current custody, jail and release questions.

Low/Medium Risk Facility
2811 Public Road
Tyler, Texas

903-590-2800

Location for all regular inmate social visitation by video link.

Smith County Sheriff
227 N. Spring Avenue
Tyler, TX 75702

903-590-2661

Non-emergency: 903-566-6600

Pre-Trial Release
200 E. Ferguson, Room 213
Tyler, TX 75702

903-590-2620

County Clerk — Misdemeanors
200 E. Ferguson, Suite 300
Tyler, TX 75702

903-590-4680

District Clerk — Felonies
100 N. Broadway, Room 204
Tyler, TX 75702

903-590-1660

Victim Services

903-590-1723

903-590-1742

Juvenile Services
2630 Morningside Drive
Tyler, Texas

903-535-0850

Map: Downtown Smith County Jail

Map: Low-Risk Facility and visitation

Parking for Smith County court appearances

Smith County currently provides a public parking garage near the Courthouse and Annex. The county states that the garage is free and first-come, first-served for county employees, jurors and the public. For arraignment, Smith County directs drivers to the new garage beside the Annex at approximately 210 E. Ferguson Street rather than relying on a time-limited street meter.
That courthouse parking guidance is not a visitation-parking instruction. Social visitation takes place at 2811 Public Road. Follow posted parking signs at the Low-Risk Facility.
Avoid these Smith County mistakes

Six shortcuts that prevent wasted time

Use the new county portal

Old Odyssey Public Access links may time out. Smith County restored its public search at portal.smith-county.com.

Call 903-590-2800 for jail status

Do not call the District Clerk to ask which jail building currently houses someone.

Visit at 2811 Public Road

Regular social visitation is not conducted at the downtown 206 E. Elm jail.

Use the Fort Worth mail route

Do not address ordinary inmate correspondence to the physical jail simply because that is where the inmate is housed.

Separate misdemeanor and felony records

The County Clerk handles Class A/B misdemeanors; the District Clerk maintains felony records.

Never rely on one bond entry

Confirm every charge, warrant and hold before paying or driving to pick someone up.

10 Smith County Jail questions

Smith County inmate search and current-custody FAQs

How do I search for someone currently in Smith County Jail?

Use the official Smith County Jail Search at portal.smith-county.com/app/JailSearch/. Search the person’s booked name and open the matching jail record. Verify identity with more than the name alone and save the jail or booking identifier, charges, bond information and any custody or release status shown. If the arrest was very recent or the online record is unclear, call Smith County Jail at 903-590-2800.

What should I do if a Smith County inmate does not appear online?

Try the last name by itself, alternate spellings, a former or hyphenated name and a broader search. A recent arrestee may still be processing, may have been released quickly, transferred, cited instead of booked or held in another county. For a time-sensitive custody check, call Smith County Jail at 903-590-2800.

What is the phone number for Smith County Jail in Tyler?

The Smith County Jail contact number published by the Tyler Police Department for both the Downtown Main Jail and the Low/Medium Risk facility is 903-590-2800. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office administrative number is 903-590-2661.

Where is the main Smith County Jail?

The Downtown Main Smith County Jail is located at 206 East Elm Street in Tyler, Texas 75702. Social inmate visitation is not conducted there; Smith County provides visitation by video link at the Low-Risk Facility at 2811 Public Road in Tyler.

When can I visit an inmate in Smith County Jail?

Smith County provides social visitation by video link at the Low-Risk Facility at 2811 Public Road. Women have visitation Tuesday and Sunday, while men have visitation Monday and Saturday. Visitors sign up on the day of the visit from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and regular visitation runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visits are limited to 20 minutes. Trustee visitation is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with sign-up from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

How do I put money on a Smith County inmate’s commissary account?

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office currently links families to JailATM for commissary funds. JailATM also supports electronic messaging and video services. Confirm the inmate’s identity and current Smith County custody before sending funds, and review the provider’s current transaction fees before completing payment.

How can a Smith County inmate make phone calls?

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office currently directs users to NCIC for inmate telephone services. Funds may be added through NCIC or through JailATM. NCIC customer support is available at 800-943-2189. Ordinary inmate telephone calls should not be treated as confidential attorney-client communications.

What is the mailing address for a Smith County Jail inmate?

Current Smith County Sheriff instructions direct inmate correspondence to: Inmate ID: Inmate Full Name, C/O Smith County Jail, 2830 S. Hulen St., Box 809, Fort Worth, TX 76109. The sender’s first and last name and complete home return address must also be included. Check the Sheriff’s current correspondence page immediately before mailing.

Can someone get a personal bond from Smith County Jail?

Some defendants may qualify for Smith County’s Pre-Trial Release personal bond program. The office evaluates eligibility and a judge must approve the bond. Smith County currently lists a fee of $20 or 3% of the bond amount, whichever is greater. The Pre-Trial Release Office can be reached at 903-590-2620.

How do I find the court case after someone is booked into Smith County Jail?

Use the Smith County Public Search Site to look for the related criminal court case. Class A and B misdemeanor records are maintained by the County Clerk, whose Criminal Misdemeanor Department can be reached at 903-590-4680. Felony records are maintained by the District Clerk, whose main office number is 903-590-1660. Use the jail record’s cause or case number when available.

Official-source review

Primary Smith County sources used for this page

Smith County Sheriff
Smith County government
Other official resources
Accuracy and legal-use notice

Texas-arrest.org is an independent informational resource. It is not the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Smith County Jail, Smith County Clerk, District Clerk, Criminal District Attorney, Tyler Police Department, JailATM, NCIC, TDCJ or a law firm.

Jail custody, bond, release, visitation, provider, mail, court and office information can change. Recheck the official source before travelling, depositing money, mailing correspondence, posting bond or making a legal decision.

An arrest or jail booking is not proof of guilt. Verify identity with more than a name and use the court record to determine what ultimately happened to a criminal charge.

Last official-source review: August 20, 2026. Where Smith County did not publish a specific procedure—such as dedicated visitation parking or a general family medication-drop policy—this guide does not invent one.

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