Harris County TX Jail Details & Overview

Do you have a loved one or friend being detained in the Harris County Jail? If so, you likely have many questions and need answers quickly. We have worked to compile information to answer most of the common questions about the jail. 

This information will allow you to learn how to send mail to an inmate, schedule a visitation, or fund an inmate’s account. Having this information at your fingertips will make interacting with an inmate much less stressful. 

About Harris County Jail

The Harris County Jail is located in downtown Houston, Texas. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office operates the jail. The jail is also home to the Sheriff’s Department Headquarters. 

The Harris County Jail contains seven floors and houses up to 4,144 inmates. This jail houses both male and female inmates and has a mixed security level that ranges from minimum to maximum, depending on the inmate's classification. 

Contact Information for Harris County Jail

The phone number for the Harris County Jail is (713) 755-5000, and the physical address the facilities are located at is:

200 Baker St. 

Houston, TX 77002

How to Search for an Inmate in Harris County Jail

To perform a Harris County Jail inmate search online, you will need to know their name, social security number, or SPN number. This website is available 24 hours a day. You can also view jail mugshots in Harris County.

How to Send a Letter to an Inmate in Harris County Jail

If you would like to send mail to an inmate, you need to be aware of the rules. Please address your envelope in the following way:

Inmate Full Name and Full SPN

701 N. San Jacinto, Visitor Control Center

Attention: Mail Room

Houston, Texas 77002

The following rules and information apply to all incoming inmate mail.

• All incoming mail must include the inmate’s full name, full SPN number, the sender’s full name, and the sender’s return address. Mail that does not contain the above information will be returned to the sender or U.S. Postal Service.
• All mail is opened and inspected for contraband. 
• All incoming mail that contains body fluids, lipstick, makeup, or perfume will be returned to the sender. 
• You may mail softback books and publications to inmates, but they must be shipped directly from the publisher. Inmates are allowed to have two paperbacks and four magazines in their possession at a time. 
• The Harris County Sheriff’s Department will not be held responsible for lost or damaged mail. 

Do NOT mail the following to inmates. 

• Greeting cards
• Envelopes
• Writing materials
• Perfumed letters
• Markers, pens, or art supplies
• Packages 
• Stickers or mail that contains tape or glue
• Cash or money orders
• Contraband
• Photocopied images or text
• Medication
• Legal documents
• Bulk or spam mail

Photographs may be sent, but they cannot be sexual in nature or feature nudity, drugs, alcohol, weapons, or gang materials. All photographs should be no larger than 5 inches X 7 inches. You may send a maximum number of 20 photographs per mail parcel. 

If you are ordering books or publications for inmates, send them to the following address:

Inmate Full Name and Full SPN

701 N. San Jacinto, Visitor Control Center

Attention: Books- Mail Room

Houston, Texas 77002

Publications may be delivered by the United States Postal Service, Amazon drivers, FedEx, or UPS. 

Inmate Visitation at Harris County Jail

Inmates are allowed visitors on a specific schedule and according to the rules and regulations of the jail. The following visitation times apply at the time of this writing. Due to changing schedules, verify the information with the jail before visiting. 

You must register for in-person visitation. You must bring the printed confirmation with you to the visitation appointment. 

• There are no visitations allowed on Mondays
• Tuesdays-1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Wednesdays-1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Thursdays-1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Fridays-1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Saturdays-1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Sundays-1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The last visit time for each day is 9:30 p.m.

Inmate Visitation Schedule

• 1st floor-Tuesdays
• 2nd floor-Wednesdays
• 3rd floor-Thursdays
• 4th floor-Fridays
• 5th floor-Saturdays
• 6th floor-Sundays

If you have a question about inmate visitation, call (346) 286-2211. The following rules apply to all in-person visitations by friends and family members. 

• You may schedule a visitation up to seven days in advance.
• No children are allowed to visit. All visitors must be over the age of 17. 
• Only one person is allowed to visit at a time. 
• Please bring a government-issued photo ID, and arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled visitation. 
• You will enter the main lobby to check in for your visitation appointment. 
• Each visit will last 20 minutes. 
• Inmates or the jail may cancel a scheduled visitation. If your visitation is canceled, you will receive a notification via email.
• The inmate’s attorney may visit their client 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no exceptions.
• Ministers may not visit between the hours of 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Visitors are not allowed to record or video the visit or take pictures.

Do NOT bring these items

• Cell phones
• Purses
• Recording devices
• Food or drinks
• Alcohol or drugs
• Writing instruments
• Wallets
• Bags
• Backpacks
• Weapons

Lockers are provided for the placement of visitor belongings. When visiting with an inmate, you are only allowed to have your locker key in your possession. 

Inmate Visitation Dress Code

A dress code is strictly enforced at the Harris County Jail. You must adhere to the following dress code when visiting an inmate. 

• No revealing or see-through clothing
• Sleeves must be no shorter than halfway down the arm
• No spandex or tights without an appropriate skirt or shorts worn over them
• No dresses, skirts, or shorts worn above mid-thigh
• No clothing that displays gang affiliation, profanity, nudity, sexual content, or drugs or alcohol

Failure to abide by the imposed dress code at the Harris County Jail will result in your visitation appointment being canceled. While at the jail, follow any orders given to you by the correctional officers to avoid having your visitation terminated. 

How to Send Money to an Inmate

The Harris County Jail offers an Inmate Bank that allows inmates to maintain a trust fund. Friends and loved ones can deposit money into an inmate’s trust fund account in the following ways. 

• You can download the Harris County Jail app from Google Play or the App Store. 
• You can deposit money at one of the kiosks in Harris County Jail's lobby. Kiosks take cash, credit card, and debit card payments.
• You may also make a deposit into an inmate’s account by calling 866-345-1884. You can deposit money with a credit or debit card by telephone.
• You may also deposit funds through retailers, including 7-Eleven, Speedway, Walgreens, Dollar General, and CVS. For further information, visit https://www.cashpaytoday.com/. 

Quality of Life Concern Reports

If you would like to report a quality of life concern for any inmate, fill out this form. Quality of life concerns may include the following. 

• Issues with access to medical care
• Issues with access to mental health care
• Food services
• Sanitation
• Visitation, recreation, and religious services

If the inmate is facing a life-threatening emergency, call (713) 755-5300 immediately.