About Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Use this website for informational purposes only.
The correctional system in Texas is overseen by several organizations, each responsible for a different aspect of the process. The key organizations are:
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ): This is the agency responsible for state prison facilities. It oversees all aspects of the Texas state correctional system, including state prisons, parole, and probation.
- County Sheriff’s Departments: These agencies manage county jails. Every county in Texas has a Sheriff's Department responsible for operating the county jail.
- City Police Departments: They manage city jails, which are typically used for short-term incarceration, usually for persons awaiting trial or serving sentences for misdemeanor offenses.
Types of Correctional Institutions in Texas
There are several types of correctional facilities in Texas, reflecting the diversity of the state's approach to corrections.
State Prisons
State prisons in Texas are overseen by the TDCJ. These facilities house individuals who have been sentenced to serve time for felony offenses. State prisons include:
- State Jails: These facilities house individuals serving sentences for state jail felony offenses, which are the least serious type of felony in Texas.
- Transfer Facilities: These are temporary holding facilities for inmates being transferred between locations.
- Prison Units: These facilities house inmates serving time for third-degree, second-degree, first-degree, and capital felonies.
- Medical and Psychiatric Units: These facilities are equipped to provide specialized medical or psychiatric care for inmates.
County Jails
County jails are operated by County Sheriff's Departments. These facilities typically house individuals who are awaiting trial or serving sentences for misdemeanor offenses.
City Jails
City jails, managed by City Police Departments, typically hold individuals for short periods, usually following an arrest, before transferring them to a county jail or releasing them.
Federal Prisons
Federal prisons in Texas house individuals who have been convicted of federal crimes. These facilities are managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
Inmate Search Options for Texas Correctional Facilities
For individuals seeking to find someone in a Texas correctional facility, there are a variety of online and offline search options available:
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
- Online: The TDCJ Offender Online Search allows anyone to search for an individual in a state prison, state jail, or transfer facility.
- Offline: You may also call the TDCJ's offender locator line at (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283.
County Jails
- Online: Many County Sheriff's Departments in Texas offer online inmate search options. You would need to visit the website of the specific county's Sheriff’s Department. For example, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office provides an online search for county jail inmates.
- Offline: If an online search is not available or if you prefer, you can call the county jail directly. Phone numbers can be found on the respective County Sheriff's Department websites.
City Jails
- Online: Some City Police Departments offer online inmate lookup systems, but this varies by city.
- Offline: You can call the city jail directly. Contact information can be found on the respective City Police Department websites.
Federal Prisons
- Online: The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator allows searches for inmates in federal prisons.
- Offline: For more information about a federal inmate, you may contact the Federal Bureau of Prisons directly at (202) 307-3198.
In addition to these resources, third-party websites such as VINELink offer nationwide offender search capabilities. Always verify information obtained from third-party websites with the relevant authorities to ensure accuracy.
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