Dallas Jail Records and Booking Releases
Dallas booking releases are processed at Lew Sterrett Justice Center, the Dallas County Jail that handles one of the highest volumes of bookings in Texas. When Dallas Police make an arrest, the person is booked into this facility. Those records are public and searchable online through the county's inmate lookup system. This page covers how to search Dallas booking releases, what the records show, how to reach the jail by phone, and your rights under the Texas Public Information Act.
Dallas Overview
Which Jail Handles Dallas Bookings
The primary detention facility for Dallas arrests is the Lew Sterrett Justice Center at 111 W. Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202. This is the Dallas County Jail, operated by the Dallas County Sheriff's Office. It has a capacity of over 7,100 inmates and is the central hub for pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates in the county.
The facility includes the North Tower, South Tower, and Suzanne Lee Kays Detention Facility. The Dallas Police Department also operates the Dallas City Detention Center at 1600 Chestnut Street for short-term holds, primarily for Class C misdemeanor and public intoxication arrests. Those held at the city facility are typically transferred to Lew Sterrett within 24 to 72 hours for higher-level offenses.
The 24-hour Inmate Information Line at (214) 761-9025 can tell you whether someone is in custody and at which facility. The Dallas County Sheriff headquarters is at 133 N. Riverfront Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75207.
How to Search Dallas Booking Releases Online
The Dallas County Jail Lookup System is available at dallascounty.org/jaillookup. You can search by last name (required), first name, date of birth, race, or booking number. Results show a mugshot, physical description, current charges, booking number, booking date, and the jail location and housing assignment. The system covers all three main Dallas County jail facilities.
Each entry also shows bond information. The bond desk at Lew Sterrett is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Accepted payments are cash, cashier's checks, and money orders from DFW-area banks. Bail bondsmen typically charge a 10 percent non-refundable premium.
| Jail Lookup Online | dallascounty.org/jaillookup |
|---|---|
| Lew Sterrett Justice Center | 111 W. Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75202 |
| 24-Hour Inmate Info | (214) 761-9025 |
| Sheriff Headquarters | 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207 |
| Main Office Line | (214) 653-3450 |
| Non-Emergency Dispatch | (214) 749-8641 |
Dallas Police Department Arrest Records
The Dallas Police Department makes arrests within Dallas city limits. For Class A and B misdemeanors and felony arrests, DPD processes the person and transfers them to Lew Sterrett. The Dallas City Detention Center at 1600 Chestnut Street, phone (214) 670-3999, handles short-term city holds. Class C misdemeanor arrests may stay at the city level.
Police reports for Dallas incidents can be requested through DPD's records division. The department accepts written requests under the Texas Public Information Act. Annual arrests in Dallas County total approximately 51,000 per year, with drug, property, and public order offenses leading the charge categories. About 75 to 80 percent of those arrested are male, and the most common age range is 18 to 35.
| City Detention Center | 1600 Chestnut Street, Dallas, TX 75226 |
|---|---|
| City Detention Phone | (214) 670-3999 |
What Dallas Booking Records Contain
When someone is booked into the Dallas County Jail after an arrest in Dallas, a booking record is created. That record is public under the Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552).
A Dallas County booking release typically contains the person's full name, booking number, date and time of intake, charges, bond amounts, arresting agency, physical description, and custody status. The mugshot is part of the booking record. Release information is added once the person leaves custody.
The recidivism rate for Dallas County is roughly 46.5 percent within three years of release, and about 14.7 percent of former inmates are reincarcerated within three years. The daily cost per inmate runs about $77.49, and the jail budget exceeds $100 million annually. These figures reflect the scale of the jail system, not the legal status of any individual in it. A booking record does not mean a person was convicted.
Dallas County Court Records
Criminal court records for Dallas arrests are maintained by the Dallas County District Clerk at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75202. For felony criminal records, email dcrecordscriminal@dallascounty.org. For civil and family records, email dcrecords@dallascounty.org. Court records include docket entries, filings, and case dispositions, and an online criminal docket search is available through the District Clerk website.
Payment at the clerk's office can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Processing timelines vary based on how complex the request is.
State Resources for Dallas Inmate Searches
For people sentenced to state prison rather than held in county jail, use the TDCJ Offender Search. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice system covers all state prison units. General TDCJ information is available at (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283. The Parole Division status line is (512) 406-5202.
The Texas DPS Crime Records Division handles name-based criminal history searches ($10) and fingerprint searches ($25). Court records can be searched statewide through reSearchTX. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards maintains inspection and population reports for Dallas County facilities.
Texas Public Information Act and Dallas Records
Booking and arrest records in Texas are public information under Texas Government Code Chapter 552. You can request records from the Dallas County Sheriff's Office without giving a reason. The office has 10 business days to respond. Basic inmate status information is available by phone at no cost at (214) 761-9025.
Written requests to the Sheriff's Records Division can be submitted by mail, email, fax, or in person at 133 N. Riverfront Blvd. For criminal court records tied to Dallas cases, contact the District Clerk separately. Booking records and court case records are maintained by different offices, and each has its own request process.
Dallas Booking Records
The Dallas County Jail Lookup System is one of the key resources for Dallas booking release records and inmate information.
This screenshot shows the official Dallas County Jail Lookup System portal for searching Dallas booking releases and current inmates.
Nearby Cities
Several major cities near Dallas use the Dallas County or other North Texas county jail systems for bookings.