How to Find Someone in Custody in Texas

Three separate systems hold people in custody in Texas, and they don't share one search. State prison inmates are in Texas Department of Criminal Justice custody. People awaiting trial or serving short sentences sit in county jails. Federal defendants are a third system entirely. Here's how to check each, free.

  • State custody: start with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice locator (tdcj.texas.gov) — name or ID number searches, current facility, and in most cases projected release dates.
  • County jails: 75 Texas counties post their own jail rosters, linked below — that's where you'll find anyone arrested recently or serving under a year.
  • Federal custody: the Bureau of Prisons locator (bop.gov) covers federal defendants and anyone sentenced in US District Court — a separate population people forget to check.
  • Stay notified: VINELink sends automatic alerts when someone's custody status changes — transfer, release, or escape — in nearly every state.

TDCJ's search covers the country's largest state system; Harris, Dallas, Bexar, and Travis county jails all run separate high-volume rosters. Content reviewed July 29, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.

Official Texas Custody Lookups

Texas Department of Criminal Justice — Inmate Locator
Official Free
The official Texas state-custody search. Current facility, custody status, and release information for people serving state sentences.
🌐 tdcj.texas.gov
VINELink — Texas Custody Alerts
Official Free
Search custody status and register for automatic notification when someone is moved or released. Free, run for victims but open to anyone.
🌐 vinelink.com
Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
Official Free
Everyone in federal custody since 1982, searchable by name or register number. Covers federal sentences, which no state system lists.
🌐 bop.gov

Texas Counties With Online Jail Rosters

These counties publish their own booking or in-custody lists — click through for each county records page.

Angelina Aransas Archer Bastrop Bell Bexar Blanco Brazoria Brazos Brown Cameron Carson Chambers Coleman Collin Comal Concho Dallas Denton Ector Erath Floyd Freestone Galveston Gillespie Gregg Grimes Guadalupe Hale Hardin Harris Hutchinson Jackson Kerr Kimble Knox Lamar Llano Loving Lubbock Madison Marion Martin Matagorda Mc Mullen Midland Milam Mills Montague Nolan Nueces Ochiltree Orange Parker Polk Potter Reeves Roberts Rockwall Runnels Sabine Shackelford Shelby Smith Tarrant Terry Trinity Tyler Victoria Walker Waller Webb Wise Wood Young

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Texas inmate locator free?
Yes. Every official source on this page is free to search. Sites that charge for 'inmate reports' are reselling public data.
Why can't I find someone arrested yesterday?
Fresh arrests appear in the county jail's booking system first, sometimes hours later. State locators only list people after sentencing and transfer to state custody.
Does a locator listing mean the person was convicted?
No. Jail rosters include people awaiting trial who are presumed innocent. Check the court docket for the case outcome.
How do I send money or arrange a visit?
Each facility sets its own rules — the Texas Department of Criminal Justice site covers state facilities, and each county sheriff posts local jail policies.

Related Texas Records

Custody is one piece: the Texas criminal records page covers official background checks, wants & warrants lists who's being looked for, and Texas court records hold the cases behind every custody entry.