DFW court · jail · bond help
Find your court. Post a bond. Know what to expect.
Look up any DFW court or jail, see how bail works, and find out what to bring — all free, no login required. Covering 9 counties across the Metroplex. If you need a lawyer, L&L is one tap away.
Pick your county
Select the county where the arrest happened to get the jail's inmate search, bond window hours, visitation rules, and courthouse address.
What do you need?
Jump straight to the guide that answers your question right now.
Find your court
Courthouse addresses, court-date lookups, and what happens at each hearing across all 9 DFW counties.
Post a bond / how bail works
Plain-English guide to cash bonds, surety bonds, PR bonds — and how to get someone released tonight.
Jail & inmate lookup
Find someone in any DFW county jail — direct links to every county inmate search portal.
What to bring to court
ID, paperwork, dress code, arrival tips — everything you need for a first court appearance.
First court date
What arraignment, plea settings, and pretrial conferences actually mean — and how to find your date.
Missed court / warrant
Check for and understand your options on a Texas bench warrant before walking into a courthouse or jail.
Counties we cover
All 13 DFW-area counties — each page covers the main detention facility, inmate search, bond window, visitation rules, and courthouse locations.
Collin County
Dallas County
Denton County
Tarrant County
Rockwall County
Kaufman County
Ellis County
Johnson County
Hunt County
Wise County
Parker County
Hood County
Grayson County
How the DFW jail, bond & court process works
If someone was just arrested in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, here's the sequence that follows — and where this site helps at each step.
A criminal case in Texas moves through a predictable set of stages, and the first few happen fast. Knowing the order helps you act at the right moment instead of waiting by the phone.
- Arrest & booking. The person is taken to the jail for the county where the offense happened — not where they live. Booking (fingerprints, photo, property inventory) usually takes a few hours, after which they appear in that county's online inmate search.
- Magistration. A magistrate reads the charges, sets a bond amount, and informs the person of their rights. Texas law (Code of Criminal Procedure article 15.17) requires this within 48 hours of arrest.
- Bond & release. Once a bond is set, you can post it — cash, a surety bond through a licensed bondsman, or a personal (PR) bond the court approves. See how bail works for the options and costs.
- First court setting. The case is assigned to a court based on the charge level, and a first date is set. Bring your paperwork and a photo ID — the court directory has addresses and what to expect.
How bail & bonds work in Texas
After magistration, you usually have three ways to get someone out. Here's what each one costs and what comes back to you.
"Bail" is the amount the court requires to release a defendant while the case is pending; a "bond" is how that amount is actually posted. Texas does not use a fixed statewide bail schedule for most charges — a magistrate sets each amount based on the offense, criminal history, and flight risk. These are the common paths:
| Type of bond | What you pay | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| Cash bond | The full bail amount, paid to the court or jail | Yes — returned after the case if every court date was made (fees may be deducted) |
| Surety bond | A non-refundable fee to a licensed bail bondsman — commonly around 10% of the bail | No — the fee is the bondsman's payment for guaranteeing the full amount |
| Personal (PR) bond | Little or nothing up front; the defendant promises to appear | N/A — granted at the court's discretion, often with conditions |
| Attorney bond | Arranged through the defendant's lawyer in counties that allow them | No — similar to a surety bond, set by the attorney |
Whatever the path, missing a court date can forfeit the bond and trigger a warrant, so calendar every setting. Each county page lists its jail's bond-window hours and which bonds that facility accepts.
Which DFW court will handle the case?
Texas sorts criminal cases by the level of the charge — that determines the courthouse, the judge, and the stakes.
The court a case lands in depends on whether the charge is a felony, a misdemeanor, or a fine-only offense. All three exist in every DFW county, just under different court names:
| Court | Handles | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
| District court | Felonies (state-jail through first-degree) and the most serious cases | Larger drug-possession amounts, robbery, serious assault, DWI with a child passenger |
| County court at law | Class A and Class B misdemeanors | First-offense DWI, theft under $2,500, simple assault, small-amount possession |
| Justice & municipal courts | Class C misdemeanors — fine-only offenses | Traffic tickets, public intoxication, minor theft, city-ordinance violations |
A case is filed in the county where the offense occurred, not where the defendant lives. Use the DFW court directory to find the right courthouse, and check the glossary if a term on your paperwork is unfamiliar.
Common questions
Quick answers for the most urgent situations — click any question for details.
How do I find someone in a DFW jail?
Go to the county page for where the arrest happened and follow the direct link to that county's inmate search portal. Results update around the clock and show charges, bond amounts, and custody status. If you are not sure which county, start with the city where the arrest occurred — Frisco, for example, spans both Collin and Denton counties.
How does bail work in Texas?
After an arrest, a Texas magistrate sets a bond amount — by law, not later than 48 hours after the arrest. You can pay the full amount in cash (refundable after the case if the defendant appeared), use a licensed bail bondsman who charges a non-refundable fee (often around 10%), or ask the court about a personal recognizance bond that requires no payment upfront. Texas does not use a fixed bail schedule for most charges — each bond is set case-by-case based on the charge, history, and the magistrate's assessment.
What should I bring to my first court date?
Bring a government photo ID, your citation or charging paperwork, any court notice you received, and proof of conditions the court may have already set (insurance card, class completion, etc.). Dress in business casual — no hats, shorts, or tank tops. Arrive early to clear security. If you are unsure what a setting means (arraignment, plea, pretrial conference), speak with a lawyer before you go.
Which county handles my case?
Your case is filed in the county where the offense occurred. The arresting agency's jurisdiction usually matches: Collin County for McKinney, Allen, Plano, and most of Frisco; Denton County for Denton, Lewisville, and parts of Frisco; Dallas County for Dallas, Garland, and Irving; Tarrant County for Fort Worth and Arlington. Class C misdemeanors (tickets) stay in city municipal court; felonies and Class A/B misdemeanors go to county district or county courts at law.
How do I put money on an inmate's books?
Most DFW jails use Access Corrections or a similar third-party service. You can deposit online, through a mobile app, by phone, at a lobby kiosk, or at retail cash locations like Dollar General or CVS. The jail itself typically does not accept cash, checks, or money orders by mail. See the specific county page for that jail's deposit provider and current instructions.
I may have a warrant — what do I do?
Do not walk into a courthouse or jail with an active warrant before you understand your options. Many Texas counties allow public warrant searches online, and you can also call the county clerk or sheriff directly to confirm. Speak with a criminal defense attorney before taking any step that might trigger an arrest.
How long before someone sees a judge after a DFW arrest?
Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 15.17, a person must be brought before a magistrate without unnecessary delay and no later than 48 hours after arrest. At that hearing the magistrate reads the charges, sets bond, and explains the person's rights. In practice many DFW counties magistrate within a few hours, often by video from the jail.
Can I visit someone in a DFW county jail?
Yes, but rules vary by county and most DFW jails now use scheduled video visitation rather than in-person visits. You typically register online, verify your ID, and book a time slot. Some facilities still offer limited on-site visits. Check the county page for that jail's current visitation provider, schedule, and dress code before you go.
What is the difference between jail and prison in Texas?
A jail is run by the county (or a city) and holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences, generally under two years. Prison is run by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and holds people serving longer felony sentences. The people you look up in this site's inmate searches are in county jails, not TDCJ prisons.
Arrested in DFW? You may need a defense attorney.
This site is a free public utility. If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, L&L Law Group offers confidential consultations — no obligation.