Austin Booking Releases and Inmate Search
Austin booking releases are processed through the Travis County Jail system, which handles all bookings from Austin Police Department arrests. When someone is arrested in Austin, they are booked at the Travis County facility downtown. Those records are public and searchable online. This page walks through how to search Austin booking releases, what the Travis County online roster shows, how to reach the jail by phone, and what to do if you need a copy of a booking record.
Austin Overview
Which Jail Handles Austin Bookings
Austin does not operate its own jail for most criminal offenses. Arrests by the Austin Police Department and Travis County Sheriff's deputies are processed at the Travis County Central Booking Facility at 500 W. 10th St., Austin, TX 78701. After processing, most detainees are transferred to the Travis County Correctional Complex at 3614 Bill Price Road, Del Valle, TX 78617.
The Inmate Information Phone line at (512) 854-4180 is staffed 24 hours a day. You can call any time to check if someone is in custody and at which facility. Do not go to the jail without checking first, since multiple facilities exist and a person may be at any of them depending on classification.
The Travis County Sheriff's Office main office is at 5555 Airport Boulevard, Austin, TX 78751.
How to Search Austin Booking Releases Online
The Travis County Sheriff's Office provides an inmate information search at tcsheriff.org/inmate-jail-info. Enter the last name or first few letters to search. Results include the charge, location of detention, date and time of arrest, magistration status, and bond information including amount and acceptable types such as personal bond, surety bond, or cash deposit. If the case has been resolved, the record may show the disposition.
Warrant information is also searchable online. The warrant line is (512) 854-9751. For written records requests, contact the Records Division at (512) 854-9770. The public counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Mailed requests should go to: Travis County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Records Division, P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767.
| Inmate Search Online | tcsheriff.org/inmate-jail-info |
|---|---|
| Central Booking Facility | 500 W. 10th St., Austin, TX 78701 |
| Inmate Info Line | (512) 854-4180 (24/7) |
| Correctional Complex | 3614 Bill Price Road, Del Valle, TX 78617 |
| Records Division | (512) 854-9770 |
| Warrant Line | (512) 854-9751 |
| Main Jail Line | (512) 854-9889 |
Austin Police Department Arrest Records
The Austin Police Department handles arrests within Austin city limits. For Class C misdemeanor arrests, the city municipal court system handles those cases. For anything higher, the booking goes through Travis County Central Booking. APD records requests can be submitted to the department's records division.
Other Travis County contacts related to Austin arrests include: Adult Court at (512) 854-9244, Adult Probation at (512) 854-4600, District Attorney at (512) 854-9400, and Bail at (512) 854-9381. The Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center at 509 West 11th St., Austin, TX 78701 handles criminal court proceedings.
| Criminal Justice Center | 509 West 11th St., Austin, TX 78701 |
|---|---|
| Adult Court | (512) 854-9244 |
| Adult Probation | (512) 854-4600 |
| District Attorney | (512) 854-9400 |
| Bail | (512) 854-9381 |
What Austin Booking Records Contain
Every arrest processed through Travis County Central Booking creates a record that is public under the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552). The booking record includes the person's full name, date of birth, charges, location of detention, date and time of arrest, bond amount and type, and custody status.
Travis County maintains arrest records per the Texas Local Government Records Act. Arrest reports for Class A and B misdemeanors and felonies are kept for 75 years. Class C misdemeanor arrest reports are kept for 2 years. Booking records are maintained for 5 years after final disposition, and jail custody records are kept 5 years after release or transfer. Mugshots are kept 75 years for felonies and 20 years for misdemeanors.
Medical and mental health information is protected under HIPAA and is not released as part of a booking record. Security-related information may also be withheld. The fact of an arrest does not mean the person was found guilty of anything.
Travis County Criminal Court Records
Court records for Austin criminal cases are maintained at the Travis County Criminal Courts at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, 509 West 11th St., phone (512) 854-9244. Online case information is available through the court system. Felony case records are held by the District Clerk. Misdemeanor cases go through the County Courts at Law.
The Travis County criminal courts portal gives access to online case information. Court records include case filings, docket entries, court dates, and dispositions. These are separate from jail booking records and are requested through the clerk rather than the Sheriff.
State Resources for Austin Inmate Searches
For people transferred to a Texas state prison, use the TDCJ Offender Search. The TDCJ general line is (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283. The Board of Pardons and Paroles status line is (844) 512-0461. You can email pia@tdcj.texas.gov for written inquiries.
Statewide criminal history is available from the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. A name-based search costs $10. Fingerprint searches cost $25. Court records for Travis County cases can be searched through reSearchTX. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards oversees the Travis County jail system and publishes population reports.
Texas Public Information Act and Austin Records
Austin booking records are public under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. Any person can request records from the Travis County Sheriff's Records Division. The office has 10 business days to respond. Basic inmate status is available by phone at no charge. Copy fees run $0.10 per page for standard copies.
Requests can be submitted by mail, email, fax, or in person. You do not need to state a reason. If any information is exempt from release, the office will tell you and may seek a ruling from the Texas Attorney General. Court records for Travis County criminal cases are maintained separately by the District Clerk at the courthouse.
Austin Booking Records
The Austin County Sheriff's Office is one of the key resources for Austin booking release records and inmate information.
This screenshot shows the official Austin County Sheriff's Office portal for searching Austin booking releases and current inmates.
The Austin County Jail Information is one of the key resources for Austin booking release records and inmate information.
This screenshot shows the official Austin County Jail Information portal for searching Austin booking releases and current inmates.
The Austin Police Department Booking Photo Database is one of the key resources for Austin booking release records and inmate information.
This screenshot shows the official Austin Police Department Booking Photo Database portal for searching Austin booking releases and current inmates.
The Travis County Sheriff Inmate Search is one of the key resources for Austin booking release records and inmate information.
This screenshot shows the official Travis County Sheriff Inmate Search portal for searching Austin booking releases and current inmates.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the Austin metro area use county jail systems for booking releases.