How do I find someone in the Ellis County jail?
The ECSO runs an online inmate roster that updates continuously — you can search by name and see charges, bond, and booking date.
- Inmate roster
- ecso.llhostings.com — open in a browser; returns 403 to automated fetchers. Searchable by full name; shows photo, SO number, booking date, charges, bond amount, arrest agency, and days in custody.
- Case search
- LGS Online Records Search — covers both District and County Clerk records (account required)
- By phone
- Jail information line: (972) 825-4931 (24-hour operations)
- Sheriff's site link
- ECSO inmate list page
You'll usually need the person's full name and, if you have it, their date of birth. Results show charges, bond amount (once set at magistration), and whether they remain in custody. If a booking is very recent, allow a few hours for the record to appear. If the person was arrested in a neighboring county, our directory of all 9 county inmate searches links every DFW-area roster in one place.
Where is the Ellis County jail and what happens after booking?
Full Wayne McCollum Detention Center visitor guide — inmate search, visitation, money & bond →
All county arrests are processed at the Wayne McCollum Detention Center in Waxahachie. Here's the address and the timeline from arrest to release.
- Facility
- Wayne McCollum Detention Center (WMDC)
- Address
- 300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie, TX 75165
- Jail information
- (972) 825-4931
- Sheriff's Office
- Ellis County Sheriff's Office · Admin (972) 825-4901
- Arrest & bookingThe person is booked into WMDC; property is logged in the processing area and held for release.
- MagistrationTexas law requires a magistrate appearance without unnecessary delay, and no later than 48 hours after arrest (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17). The magistrate reviews charges and sets a bond amount. Ellis County does not publish a fixed magistration schedule — call (972) 825-4931 for current timing.
- Bond postedOnce the bond amount is set, it can be posted at the WMDC bond counter. Call ahead to confirm hours.
- ReleaseThe defendant is released through the WMDC processing area after the bond clears.
How does visitation work at the Ellis County jail?
All visits at WMDC — both on-site and remote — are video only. There are no in-person contact visits. Schedule through JailATM.
- Visit format
- VIDEO ONLY — no in-person contact visits at WMDC
- Schedule a visit
- deposits.jailatm.com (JailATM scheduling portal)
- Days & hours
- Tuesday – Saturday, 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. · Last sign-in: 7:30 p.m.
- Frequency
- One visit per day; inmates receive two 20-minute visits per week
- Accepted IDs
- Current TX DPS driver's license (no more than 6 months expired); TX DPS state ID; valid passport or Mexican Consulate immigration card; military ID
- Official rules
- ECSO visitation rules page
Dress code & on-site rules
- Must be completely and properly dressed. Prohibited: mini-skirts, tank tops, biker shorts, any spandex.
- Shorts must be no shorter than 1–2 inches above the knee.
- No cell phones, purses, packages, or containers in visit areas.
- No food or drinks in the lobby or visiting areas.
- Maximum two adults per visit; visitors under 18 must be supervised by an adult.
How do I put money on an inmate's books in Ellis County?
Ellis County uses TouchPay for commissary deposits. There are three ways to add funds — but note the 24–48-hour activation delay after initial book-in.
| Method | How |
|---|---|
| In-person kiosk | Cash, credit card, or debit card at the kiosk in the Sheriff's Office lobby, 300 S. Jackson St. |
| Online | touchpayonline.com — credit or debit card |
| Phone | (866) 232-1899 |
Allow 24–48 hours after initial book-in for the inmate's account to become active. Commissary runs seven days a week with immediate delivery via mobile cart inside the facility; inmates can purchase hygiene products, snacks, and other approved items.
What are the mail rules for Ellis County inmates?
General mail routes through JailATM's Fort Worth P.O. Box — not directly to the jail. Legal and medical mail goes directly to WMDC.
- General mail (via JailATM)
- JailATM.com – Ellis County Jail
2830 S. Hulen St. Box 809
Fort Worth, TX 76109 - Legal / medical mail (direct)
- [Inmate Full & Last Name]
[Inmate Book-In Number]
c/o Wayne McCollum Detention Center
300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie, TX 75165
JailATM general mail rules
- Max dimensions: 8.5 in. × 11 in.; max 5 pages, single-sided only; no writing on back.
- Maximum 1 photo per mailing.
- Must include inmate's full name, booking number, and your return address.
- Once processed, the original is destroyed — the inmate receives it electronically.
- NOT accepted via JailATM: legal mail, medical mail, magazines, newspapers, books, or bulk mail.
Direct-to-facility published materials
- Soft-backed books, magazines, and newspapers accepted by subscription only.
- Maximum 2 subscriptions at a time; no more than 1 newspaper and 3 magazines.
- No items with staples (returned to sender).
How do I bond someone out of the Ellis County jail?
The bond counter is inside WMDC's processing area. New to bail? Start with our plain-English guide to how bail works in Texas, then come back for the local specifics.
| Bond type | Cost | Refundable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full bond amount (exact change) | Yes, after case ends if defendant appeared | Paid at WMDC bond counter |
| Surety (bondsman) | Non-refundable premium, typically 10–15% of bail | No | Agent may require collateral |
| Personal / PR | No payment | n/a | Judge decides eligibility |
- Bond counter
- WMDC processing area, 300 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie — call (972) 825-4931 to confirm hours ⚠️
- Accepted
- Cash (exact amount), cashier's checks, money orders payable to Wayne McCollum Detention Center / Ellis County Sheriff's Office / Ellis County Court. Personal checks: NOT accepted.
- Credit cards
- ⚠️ Not confirmed from primary ECSO source — call (972) 825-4931 to verify
- Bondsmen
- Must be licensed; verify any company in the Texas Dept. of Insurance database
Where are the Ellis County courts and how do I find my court date?
Criminal cases are heard at the Ellis County Courts & Administration Building at 109 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie. Felonies go to district courts; misdemeanors to the county court at law.
- Courthouse
- Ellis County Courts & Administration Building · 109 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie, TX 75165 · (972) 825-5000
- Felony courts
- 40th JDC (Judge Bob Carroll) · (972) 825-5060
443rd JDC (Judge Grace Pandithurai) · (972) 825-5284
504th JDC (Judge Greg Wilhelm, appointed effective Dec. 1, 2025; previously judge of County Court at Law No. 1) · no direct line published yet — call (972) 825-5000 ⚠️ - Misdemeanor courts
- Class A & B misdemeanors (DWI, theft, assault) are heard in County Court at Law No. 2 (Judge A. Gene Calvert, Jr.) and County Court at Law No. 3 (Judge Joseph R. Gallo) · Criminal Misdemeanor Division (972) 825-5070 / (972) 825-5062 · misdemeanors@co.ellis.tx.us
- Case search / court dates
- LGS Online Records Search — District and County Clerk records; account required ⚠️
- District Clerk
- Melanie Reed · (972) 825-5091 · district.clerk@elliscountytx.gov (felony records)
- County Clerk
- Krystal Valdez · (972) 825-5062 (misdemeanor records) · misdemeanors@co.ellis.tx.us
To find a court date, search the LGS Online Records portal by name or cause number. If you can't locate a setting online, call the District Clerk (felony) or County Clerk (misdemeanor) directly, or dial the main courthouse line at (972) 825-5000. For courts outside Ellis County, see our full DFW court directory.
DA's Office
Lindy Beaty serves as Ellis County & District Attorney (the county and district attorney functions are combined in Ellis County). Office: 109 S. Jackson St., Waxahachie · (972) 825-5035 · M–F 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Worried about a warrant?
Missing a court date or an unpaid fine can trigger a bench warrant.
Checking for and clearing a warrant in Ellis County — bench, traffic, capias, or failure-to-appear — is covered in depth by our sister site. Don't walk into a court or jail with an active warrant before you understand your options.
City courts & jails in Ellis County
Class C tickets and city-ordinance cases are handled by municipal courts. Some cities hold arrestees briefly before transferring to WMDC.
All Ellis County city pages — municipal court, city jail, ticket payment & how to find someone in custody:
Ennis · Ferris · Italy · Maypearl · Midlothian · Palmer · Red Oak · Waxahachie
"Which county am I in?" — adjacent-county note
Ellis County borders several North Texas counties, which can affect which jail and court you're dealing with.
Ellis County is bordered by Dallas (northeast), Tarrant (northwest), Johnson (west), and Navarro (south/southeast) counties. If an arrest happens near a county line, double-check the jurisdiction. Grand Prairie is a notable cross-county city — it spans Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis counties. If you cannot find someone in the Ellis County roster, check Dallas County and Tarrant County next.
What to bring to court (and how to act)
- Bring: a photo ID, your citation or paperwork, any court notice, and proof of anything the court asked for (insurance, classes, payment).
- Dress: business casual — no hats, tank tops, shorts, or offensive graphics. Phones silenced.
- Arrive early: security and parking take time; being late can mean a warrant or a reset.
- Don't guess: if you're unsure what a setting means (arraignment, plea, pretrial), ask the coordinator or talk to a lawyer first.
Quick glossary
- Magistration
- The first appearance before a magistrate after arrest, where you're read your rights and bond is set — required by Texas law within 48 hours of arrest.
- Surety bond
- A bond posted by a licensed bondsman for a non-refundable fee (typically 10–15%), instead of paying the full amount in cash.
- Personal (PR) bond
- Release on your written promise to appear, with no money up front, if a judge approves.
- Commissary
- The jail store; "money on the books" funds an inmate's TouchPay account for snacks, hygiene, and phone time.
- SO number
- The Sheriff's Office booking ID assigned to a person in custody — useful for roster searches, mail, and deposits.
- JailATM
- The vendor Ellis County uses for scheduling video visits and routing general inmate mail through a Fort Worth P.O. Box.
For more terms, see our complete jail, bond & court glossary.
Ellis County jail & court FAQ
How do I find out if someone is in the Ellis County jail?
Use the ECSO inmate roster at ecso.llhostings.com — open it in a browser (not an automated tool, which gets a 403 error). Search by full name to see photo, charges, bond, and booking date. If the site is down, call (972) 825-4931.
Are visits in-person or video only?
Video only — WMDC does not offer in-person contact visits. On-site video visits run Tuesday–Saturday, 12–8 p.m. (last sign-in 7:30 p.m.). Schedule through JailATM at deposits.jailatm.com.
How fast can someone bond out?
Once a bond amount is set at magistration (Texas law requires this within 48 hours of arrest), you can post it at the WMDC bond counter. Call (972) 825-4931 to confirm the counter is currently open and to get the bond amount. Actual release timing depends on how busy the facility is.
How do I put money on the books?
Ellis County uses TouchPay. Deposit at the kiosk in the Sheriff's lobby (cash/credit/debit), online at touchpayonline.com, or by phone at (866) 232-1899. Allow 24–48 hours after initial book-in for the account to activate.
Is there a bail schedule for Ellis County?
No published schedule was found — a magistrate sets each bond individually based on the charge, criminal history, flight risk, and other factors. The amount appears in the inmate roster once set.
How do I look up a court date or case record?
Search the LGS Online Records portal by name or cause number. The portal requires account creation — ⚠️ whether free public access is available without a paid subscription has not been independently confirmed. You can also call the courthouse at (972) 825-5000, the District Clerk at (972) 825-5091 (felony), or the County Clerk at (972) 825-5062 (misdemeanor).
My arrest happened near Grand Prairie — which county?
Grand Prairie spans Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis counties. Which jail and court apply depends on where in Grand Prairie the arrest occurred. If you can't find someone in the Ellis County roster, check Dallas County and Tarrant County searches as well.
Have a question this page didn't answer? See more DFW jail, bond & court FAQs.
Talk to an Ellis County defense lawyer
If you or a loved one is facing charges in Waxahachie or anywhere in Ellis County, L&L Law Group can review the case — free and confidential.