Finding someone in jail
The first job is confirming where the person is. Jail is set by where the arrest happened, not where they live — so start with the right county.
How do I find out if someone was arrested?
If you can't reach the person and suspect an arrest, start with the jail in the county where you think it happened. Most DFW-area sheriff's offices publish an online inmate or booking search you can use any time of day. If the booking is very recent, it may not appear yet — wait a few hours and check again, or call the jail's booking line. Not sure which county? Work outward from where the person was last known to be; in Frisco, that can mean Collin or Denton County.
How do I find which jail someone is in?
Which jail holds someone depends on where the arrest occurred. City police often hold an arrestee at a small city jail briefly, then transfer them to that county's main detention facility. Pick the county where the arrest happened and use that county's inmate search. If they don't show up there, check the neighboring county — several DFW cities straddle a county line. Our jails & inmate-search hub and the individual county pages list the correct facility and the exact search link for each of the nine DFW-area counties.
What's an inmate or SO number, and why do I need it?
An SO (Sheriff's Office) number — sometimes called a booking or inmate number — is the unique ID a jail assigns when a person is booked in. It's the most reliable way to look someone up, because names are often misspelled or shared by more than one person. You'll also need it to put money on their books, schedule a visit, and address mail correctly. You can usually find it in the online inmate search once the booking posts.
How long after arrest can I find them in the system?
Booking takes time — fingerprints, photos, property logging, and a medical screening all come first — so a fresh arrest may not appear in the online search for several hours. If you're sure someone was arrested but can't find them, wait a few hours and search again, or call the jail's booking or detention line to confirm they're in custody before you make a longer trip. The official search links for each county are on our jails hub.
Visiting & contact
You usually can see and contact someone in jail — but almost everything is scheduled in advance and rule-bound. Confirm the specifics with the facility before you travel.
Can I visit someone in jail?
Usually yes, but visits are scheduled ahead of time and you generally must be on the inmate's approved visitor list first. Most DFW-area jails require you to register with a vendor, book a time slot, bring a valid government photo ID, arrive early, and follow a dress code. Rules differ by facility and can tighten during lockdowns or county disaster declarations, so confirm the current schedule on the official county page before you go.
How does video visitation work?
Most county jails have moved to video visits through a vendor such as ViaPath/GettingOut, Securus, or ICSolutions. You create an account, get added to the inmate's approved list, and reserve a session — either on-site at a kiosk in the jail lobby or remotely from your own device, sometimes for a per-minute fee. Sessions are typically short, often 20–30 minutes. Check the specific jail's page on our jails hub for which vendor it uses and how to register.
Can I bring my kids?
Often yes, but the rules vary. Many jails require a minor to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, count children toward the visitor limit, and ask for the child's ID or birth certificate; some admit children on a space-available basis only. Because policies differ by county and can be strict, confirm the child-visitor rules on the official jail page before you go, so a child isn't turned away at the door.
How do I send mail?
Many jails no longer accept physical mail at the facility. Personal letters are often scanned by an outside vendor and delivered electronically, which means you mail them to an out-of-state processing address — not the jail — with the inmate's name and SO number. Legal mail still goes directly to the facility and is handled differently. Allowed items, photo limits, and the correct address vary widely, so check the specific jail's mail rules on our jails hub first.
Money on the books & commissary
"Money on the books" is spending money for the inmate's stay — separate from bond. Most jails take it only through an online vendor, not cash by mail.
How do I put money on someone's books?
Jails use a deposit vendor — commonly Access Corrections, Securus, or TouchPay — and most no longer take cash or checks by mail. You can usually deposit online, through the vendor's mobile app, by phone, at a kiosk in the jail lobby, or with cash at participating retail stores. You'll need the inmate's name and SO number. Check the county's jail page on our jails hub for which vendor it uses and any per-transaction fee.
What is commissary?
Commissary is the jail store. The money you put on an inmate's books lets them buy snacks, hygiene items, writing supplies, and phone or messaging time. It isn't held cash they get back at release the way a cash bond is — it's spending money for their stay. Inmate calls and messaging usually run on a separate prepaid account through the jail's communications vendor.
How much should I send?
There's no required amount. A modest starting deposit usually covers basic hygiene, a few snacks, and some phone time, and you can always add more later. Keep in mind deposit vendors charge a fee per transaction, so one larger deposit can be cheaper than several small ones. Many jails also cap how much an inmate may hold at once — check the facility's limits before sending a large sum.
Posting bond & getting out
Getting someone out means confirming the bond amount, then choosing how to post it. New to bail? Start with our plain-English guide to how bail works in Texas.
How do I bail someone out?
First confirm a bond amount has been set — a magistrate sets it after arrest, and it appears in the inmate search. Then you can post a cash bond for the full amount at the jail's bond window, hire a licensed bail bondsman who posts a surety bond for a non-refundable fee, or ask whether the person qualifies for a personal (PR) bond that requires no money up front but needs a judge's approval. Once the bond is posted and processed, the person is released. Our bail page walks through each option.
How much is bail?
It depends on the charge and the person's history. Some counties use a bond schedule with preset amounts for common offenses; others have a magistrate set every bond individually, in which case there's no published number until after the first appearance. The amount shows up in the inmate search once it's set, and a judge can later raise, lower, or add conditions to it at a hearing.
What's the difference between cash, surety, and PR bonds?
A cash bond means you pay the full bail amount to the court; it's refundable at the end of the case if the defendant made every appearance. A surety bond is posted by a licensed bondsman who charges a non-refundable fee — often around 10% — to guarantee the full amount. A personal recognizance (PR) bond requires no payment up front and releases the person on a written promise to appear, but only if a judge approves it.
How long does release take after bond is posted?
Posting the bond is quick; the release itself can take anywhere from a couple of hours to most of a day. After payment, the jail still has to process paperwork, clear any other holds or warrants, and complete out-processing — and timing depends on how busy the facility is. There's no fixed guarantee. If the person has an unrelated hold or warrant in another county, they won't be released until that's resolved too.
Court dates & what's next
After release, the case moves to court. Here's how to find the date, the courtroom, and what happens if a setting is missed.
How do I find someone's court date?
Each county runs an online case-search or court-records portal where you can look up a setting by name or cause number. You can also call the clerk who handles the case — the District Clerk for felonies or the County Clerk for misdemeanors — and ask for the next date. Always reconfirm the date and courtroom shortly before, since settings can be reset. Our court directory links the right portal and clerk for each county.
Which court will the case be in?
It depends on the level of the charge. Felonies are heard in district courts, misdemeanors in county courts at law, and Class C tickets and city-ordinance matters in justice-of-the-peace or municipal courts. The case stays in the county where the charge was filed. If you're not sure which court has it, the county clerk or the online case search can point you to the right courtroom by cause number — see the court directory.
Can I go to court with them?
Yes — criminal court settings are generally open to the public, and showing up to support a family member is allowed and often appreciated by the court. Arrive early to clear security, silence your phone, dress neatly, and sit in the gallery. You won't be able to speak for the defendant; only the defendant and their lawyer address the court. If you're unsure what a particular setting means, ask the court coordinator or the defendant's attorney.
What if they miss a court date?
A missed court setting is serious. An unexcused absence can lead the judge to issue a bench warrant for the person's arrest and, if they were out on bond, to forfeit that bond. If a date was missed — or is about to be — contact the court clerk right away; sometimes a setting can be reset before a warrant issues, especially with a documented reason. Anyone with an outstanding warrant should understand their options before walking into a court or jail — see how to check for and clear a Texas warrant at liftmywarrant.com.
Getting a lawyer
Even a "small" charge is still a criminal case. A short, free consultation early on can protect important rights and clarify your options.
Do we need a lawyer for a misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor is still a criminal charge that can carry jail time, fines, and a permanent record — so it's worth taking seriously rather than pleading just to be done with it. A lawyer can explain the real consequences, whether a plea would create a lasting record, and what alternatives (like deferred adjudication) might exist. Whether to hire counsel is your decision, but talking to one before entering any plea is generally wise.
Court-appointed vs. hired attorney?
If a person can't afford a lawyer and faces possible jail time, the court can appoint one at little or no cost after they apply and qualify based on income. A hired (retained) attorney is one you choose and pay directly. Court-appointed lawyers are licensed attorneys, but they typically carry large caseloads; many families consult or hire private counsel for more time and direct access. Either way, the right to a lawyer is constitutional.
When should we call a lawyer?
As early as possible — ideally before the person speaks to police beyond identifying themselves, and before anyone enters a plea or makes a decision at a first court setting. Early advice can protect important rights and clarify your options at the bond and charging stage, and a short consultation is usually free. If you'd like a starting point, L and L Law Group, PLLC offers a free, confidential case review for families across the DFW area.
Talk to L and L Law Group, PLLC
If you or a loved one is facing charges anywhere in the DFW area, our team can review the case — free and confidential. Call (972) 370-5060 or reach us online.