Decode Dallas County Jail Charges Before Paying Bond
Start with the official Dallas County Jail Lookup System. Search by name and date of birth, or use the book-in number or case number when you already have one. Open the possible match and first confirm the jail location, tank location, book-in number and booking date.
Then read every charge, bond amount, warrant number and hold separately. The total bond at the bottom of the page is useful, but it does not prove that payment will cause release. Another case, a zero-dollar no-bond entry, an outside hold or unfinished release processing may still keep the person in custody.
Name and DOB, book-in number or case number.
Call Dallas County Jail Information at 214-761-9025.
111 W. Commerce Street; open 24 hours.
Use the warrant number in the Dallas County Courts Portal.
Local details checked August 5, 2026.
What do you need from the booking record?
Search by last and first name, then add the date of birth, race or sex to reduce same-name results.
Run the booking searchA person may have several felony, misdemeanor, hold or insufficient-bond entries under one book-in number.
Decode the charge listConfirm every individual amount, zero-dollar entry, warrant and hold before paying anything.
Review bond paymentPosted bond does not clear another case, outside hold, no-bond entry or unfinished release process.
Find the release blockerUse the Courts Portal to find the filed case, court settings, bond orders and final disposition.
Verify the court recordJail location and book-in number are needed for visitation, mail, telephone and trust deposits.
Visit, call or send moneyFind the correct booking without relying on a name alone
Understand what the Dallas County booking page is showing
Field |
What it usually means |
What it does not prove |
Best next action |
|---|---|---|---|
Name |
The name under which the person is displayed in the jail system. |
Identity when several people share that name. |
Match DOB and book-in number. |
Race and sex |
Demographic descriptors currently displayed by the jail system. |
Identity without stronger matching information. |
Use only as supporting comparison fields. |
Date of birth |
A strong identity detail connected to the displayed booking. |
That every same-name record with that DOB is the event you need. |
Also match booking date or warrant number. |
Jail location |
The Dallas County detention facility where the person is currently shown. |
That the person will remain there. |
Recheck before visiting or collecting property. |
Tank location |
The person’s current housing area inside the displayed jail. |
Public access to the housing unit. |
Use it when jail staff request the housing location. |
Book-in number |
The identifier for the displayed Dallas County jail intake. |
The final court result. |
Use it for mail, money and jail-service questions. |
Book-in date |
When the person entered the displayed Dallas County booking process. |
The exact incident or offense time. |
Compare it with the arrest report and filing date. |
Charge |
The allegation or case status currently attached to that line. |
Guilt or final prosecution. |
Search the warrant number in the Courts Portal. |
Bond amount |
The most recent bond shown as set by a magistrate, District Judge or County Criminal Judge. |
That paying it clears every charge or hold. |
Verify all entries with the Bond Desk. |
Warrant number |
The number Dallas County uses to connect the booking entry with a criminal matter. |
That the warrant remains active. |
Run it through the Courts Portal. |
Magistrate |
The judicial officer associated with the displayed bond decision. |
That the bond has not changed since the result was viewed. |
Read the newest court order. |
Hold |
Another agency, case or legal authority may have placed a restriction on release. |
The reason has been fully explained on the public page. |
Ask jail information which agency controls the hold. |
Total bond |
The total of the displayed monetary bond amounts. |
Immediate eligibility for release. |
Check zero-dollar entries, holds and court restrictions. |
Read the full charge stack instead of the first line
Ordinary charge line
A charge line may display an allegation, bond amount, warrant number and magistrate.
Use the warrant number to find the court case and current judicial orders.
“Insufficient bond” label
This indicates that the displayed case has a bond-related status requiring closer review.
Do not assume the older amount, a prior payment or another case satisfies the current requirement.
Zero-dollar entry
The jail result explains that $0.00 means the magistrate did not permit a bond to be set for that entry.
Ask the assigned court or a lawyer what must occur next.
Hold entry
A hold may be connected to another county, municipal case, state agency, federal authority or separate legal process.
Ask which agency owns it and what event clears it.
Example: one total bond, four different problems
The amount may be payable, but only for that cause.
The current court order must be checked before payment.
No bond was permitted to be set by the magistrate for that entry.
Dallas County may not control when the hold is removed.
Why a Dallas County booking may not appear
Communications and dispatch: 214-749-8641
Detentions Administration: 214-653-2902
Use the warrant number to find the filed criminal case
Which clerk maintains the criminal record?
Felony and magistrate records
The Dallas County District Clerk maintains felony criminal court records and Magistrate Court records associated with the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
Online criminal information dates back to 1975, and documents are available for most felony cases filed after 2009.
Class A and B misdemeanors
The Dallas County Clerk maintains records for the county criminal courts handling Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases.
Plain misdemeanor documents from 2011 forward are generally available through the Courts Portal.
District-court portal questions: DC-Inquiry@dallascounty.org
Get the correct felony or misdemeanor document
Document needed |
Office |
Current public guidance |
Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
Online felony information |
District Clerk |
Case information dates back to 1975; documents for most felony cases after 2009. |
Search the Courts Portal. |
Certified felony disposition |
District Clerk Felony Records Desk |
Request in person or by email with the Criminal Records Request Form. |
Contact the Records Desk before paying. |
Plain misdemeanor document, 2011–current |
County Clerk |
Available to view online without charge when the document is public and digitized. |
Use the Courts Portal. |
Certified misdemeanor copy |
County Clerk |
$1 per page plus $5 per case when certification is required. |
Obtain it in person under the current temporary service notice. |
Misdemeanor record search |
County Clerk Criminal Courts |
$5 record-search fee. |
Provide full name and date of birth. |
Older misdemeanor file |
County Clerk |
Pre-2011 cases may be stored offsite and can require retrieval time. |
Check current access instructions before travelling. |
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Dallas, TX 75207
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Phone: 214-653-5950
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Room A-1
Dallas, TX 75207
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Phone: 214-653-7099
Post bond without using an unverified payment request
Lew Sterrett Justice Center
111 W. Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75202
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Why posted bond may not produce immediate release
Every separate warrant number must be reviewed.
The magistrate did not permit a bond to be set for that entry.
Dallas County may have to wait for pickup or clearance.
Staff must verify every cause, payment and restriction.
A later order may supersede the amount initially displayed.
Check the current court order before paying more.
Some questions require clarification about who the inmate is released to.
Another county, state or federal agency may assume custody.
Confirm the jail location and tank before travelling
Dallas, TX 75202
The jail lookup may display “North Tower” followed by a tank location.
Dallas, TX 75202
The lookup may display “West Tower” for a person housed in that building.
Dallas, TX 75202
The lookup may display “Kays Tower” for this direct-supervision facility.
Use the inmate’s last name to choose the visit day
Inmate surname |
Visit days |
Published hours |
Final processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
A through L |
Monday and Thursday |
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. |
Visitors are not processed after 8:30 p.m. |
M through Z |
Tuesday and Friday |
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. |
Visitors are not processed after 8:30 p.m. |
All inmates |
Saturday and Sunday |
8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. |
Visitors are not processed after 1:30 p.m. |
Verify the confirmation because Dallas County posts conflicting details
Day |
Availability |
Important rule |
|---|---|---|
Monday |
8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
No children under 17 during weekday on-site visits. |
Tuesday |
8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
No children under 17 during weekday on-site visits. |
Wednesday |
No video visitation |
Do not schedule travel for Wednesday. |
Thursday |
8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
No children under 17 during weekday on-site visits. |
Friday |
8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
No children under 17 during weekday on-site visits. |
Saturday and Sunday |
8:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. |
A parent or guardian must be present for visitors under 17. |
Use the booked name and book-in number for every service
Personal inmate mail
Address ordinary personal mail as follows:
c/o Mail Processing Center
P.O. Box 9226
Seminole, FL 33775-9226
- Include the sender’s full name and return address.
- Mail is not forwarded after release.
- Released-inmate mail is returned or sent to the postal dead-letter department.
- Mail sent to the Florida processing address is not confidential legal mail.
Legal correspondence
Attorneys should not send confidential legal mail to the ordinary Florida processing address.
P.O. Box 660334
Dallas, TX 75266
Dallas County also encourages attorneys to use SmartInmate for secure legal communication.
Trust deposits
- Use the inmate’s booked name and booking number.
- Cash kiosks are available at each jail.
- CashPayToday walk-in deposits list a $5 flat fee.
- Access Corrections online fees start as low as $2.95.
- Telephone deposits through 866-345-1884 start as low as $3.95.
Telephone and tablet communication
Dallas County’s current communication pages direct families to SmartInmate for telephone, tablet, messaging and video services.
Ordinary communications may be recorded or monitored. Do not discuss witnesses, evidence, passwords, alibis or defence strategy.
Mail items likely to be rejected
Handle property release and medical concerns correctly
- The requester begins at the front lobby or control centre.
- The inmate must sign the property-release form.
- After vault processing, the release must cover all property rather than individual items.
- Clothing and other property require separate forms.
- Bring acceptable government-issued photo identification.
Published hours: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m., every day.
Call Jail Information at 214-761-9025 for a wellness-check question.
Dallas County states that health services are provided regardless of ability to pay, although eligible medical fees may be deducted from the inmate trust account.
A family or public inquiry that causes a licensed medical assessment can result in a $10 medical-service fee charged to the inmate account, subject to published exceptions.
Request the narrative from the arresting agency
Dallas County Sheriff report
- Use the Dallas County GovQA Public Records Center.
- Select the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office as the department.
- Provide the full name, DOB, arrest date, location and report number.
- Describe the exact record: arrest report, offense report, incident report or identified supplement.
Dallas Police arrest report
- Provide the arrested person’s name, date of birth, sex, race and arrest date.
- The Dallas Police Records Section states that only the first page of an arrest report is generally available through this route.
- Some restrictions may apply.
- Police will not provide arrest-report details over the telephone.
Records assistance: 214-671-3345
Read Dallas Police report instructionsDallas County Sheriff’s Office, Attention: Legal
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, LB-31
Dallas, TX 75207-4313
Use the wanted search as a lead, not a legal conclusion
Find the right legal help after the booking is confirmed
The office represents qualifying people after court appointment in misdemeanor, felony, capital, appellate and related criminal matters.
Tell the judge at the first court appearance that private counsel cannot be afforded. The court decides financial eligibility.
Frank Crowley Courts Building133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, 9th Floor
Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: 214-653-3550
Open the Public Defender websiteThe Dallas County Court/Attorney Liaison helps with appointed-attorney information, indigent applications and court documents requiring an inmate’s signature.
Email: CourtAttorneyLiaison@dallascounty.org
Non-attorneys should continue directing release and custody questions to Jail Information.
133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, LB-19
Dallas, TX 75207
General information: 214-653-3600
Open the District Attorney websiteDallas County victim coordinators can help with prosecution information, court accompaniment, compensation resources, restitution and notification.
Frank Crowley victim coordinator: 214-653-3838
Texas VINE: 877-894-8463
Open victim-services resourcesSeparate correction, expunction and nondisclosure
Texas DPS criminal history
Use the Texas DPS public name search when you need a broader statewide record rather than one Dallas County booking.
A name-based possible match is not fingerprint confirmation.
Open Texas DPS criminal-history searchTDCJ inmate search
Use TDCJ after the person enters Texas state-prison custody or when you need the state location, offense or projected release date.
Open TDCJ Inmate InformationAn eligible Texas expunction can require covered arrest records to be destroyed or removed. Not every dismissal or old arrest qualifies.
Review current expunction guidanceA nondisclosure order restricts public disclosure of an eligible record but does not erase it from every government or authorised-agency system.
Open official nondisclosure formsJail, bond, court and records offices
Custody, release, bond-posting and wellness questions.
Dallas, TX 75207
Dispatch: 214-749-8641
111 W. Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75202
Open 24 hours.
Bond acceptance and Dallas County warrant confirmation.
Dallas, TX 75207
Dallas, TX 75207
Dallas, TX 75207
Dallas, TX 75207
Dallas, TX 75215
County-building security information.
Parking near Lew Sterrett and Frank Crowley
Dallas, TX 75207
Published facility hours: 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Located across from the courthouse.
Published facility hours: 7:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Dallas, TX 75207
Published as open 24 hours.
Map to the Lew Sterrett Justice Center
Map to the Frank Crowley Courts Building
Details that prevent wasted time or lost money
The official portal spells it “Bookin Number.” Save the number exactly as displayed.
Dallas County’s booking result directs users to that number for the related court case.
The official result says no bond was permitted to be set by the magistrate for that entry.
The Bond Desk accepts cash, cashier’s check or money order—not debit or credit cards.
This includes visitors who need a phone to operate an electric vehicle.
Dallas County currently posts conflicting video-visit timing and duration instructions.
Ordinary inmate correspondence uses the Smart Communications processing address, not the downtown jail.
A Dallas Police report is not requested from the Dallas County Sheriff merely because the person entered county jail.
County Clerk criminal-copy access changed during the 2026 Central Records move.
Dallas County booking, bond and release questions
How do I search Dallas County booking records?
Open the official Dallas County Jail Lookup System. Search by the person’s last name and first name, add the date of birth, race or sex when needed, or search directly by book-in number or case number. Open the possible match and verify the name, date of birth, jail location, tank location, book-in number and booking date before reviewing charges or sending money.
Can I search the Dallas County jail by book-in number or case number?
Yes. The official lookup provides separate searches for prisoner information, book-in number and case number. A book-in number identifies the displayed jail intake, while the case or warrant number can be used to locate the related Dallas County court record.
What information appears in a Dallas County booking result?
A Dallas County booking result can show the person’s name, race, sex, date of birth, jail location, tank location, book-in number, booking date, charge, bond amount, warrant number, magistrate, holds and total bond. The result may also display a booking photograph for a person currently in custody.
What does a zero-dollar bond mean in the Dallas County jail lookup?
The official Dallas County result explains that a bond amount of zero dollars means no bond was permitted to be set by the magistrate judge for that entry. A zero-dollar hold or charge should not be interpreted as a free release. Contact Jail Information, Bond Administration or the assigned court for the current status.
Why can someone remain in Dallas County Jail after the listed bond is paid?
The person may have another charge, an insufficient-bond entry, a zero-dollar no-bond entry, an outside-agency hold, a warrant, a court restriction or unfinished release processing. Review every charge and hold in the lookup and confirm the complete release status with Dallas County Jail Information before paying.
Where can I post a Dallas County jail bond?
An adult with acceptable identification may post an eligible bond at the Dallas County Bond Desk in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 West Commerce Street, Dallas, Texas 75202. The desk operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dallas County accepts cash, cashier’s check or money order for cash bonds and does not accept debit or credit cards.
How can I check whether a Dallas County inmate was released?
Search the official jail lookup again and review whether the person remains listed with a current jail and tank location. Because release processing can continue after bond is posted, call the Dallas County Inmate General Information Line at 214-761-9025 to ask about release status, who the inmate must be released to, whether bond has posted or whether another hold remains.
How do I visit someone in Dallas County Jail?
For in-person visitation, check the inmate’s last name and current facility. Last names A through L generally visit Monday and Thursday evenings, while M through Z visit Tuesday and Friday evenings. All inmates may receive visits on weekends during published hours. Video visits are scheduled through SmartInmate, but Dallas County currently publishes conflicting advance-notice and duration details, so use the confirmation shown in SmartInmate as the controlling instruction.
How do I send mail or money to a Dallas County inmate?
Address personal mail with the inmate’s booked name and book-in number, followed by c/o Mail Processing Center, P.O. Box 9226, Seminole, Florida 33775-9226. For trust deposits, use the inmate’s name and booking number. Dallas County lists jail kiosks, CashPayToday, Access Corrections and the Access Corrections telephone line at 866-345-1884.
How do I find the final court outcome after a Dallas County booking?
Use the warrant or case number from the jail result in the Dallas County Courts Portal. The District Clerk maintains felony and magistrate records, while the County Clerk maintains Class A and B misdemeanor court records. Review every count and locate the actual dismissal, plea, deferred adjudication, judgment, acquittal or sentence rather than relying only on the booking charge.