Visiting an Inmate in the Harris County - The 1200 Jail in Texas

Visiting someone in a jail can be a nervous time. It's okay to be a little bit anxious and it's totally understandable. Maybe you've never been inside a jail before and you are feeling a little bit scared of the idea.

It's okay. That's why we are here to help you. We want to be sure you understand the rules and guidelines of visiting an inmate at Harris County - The 1200 Jail so that you can be a little less worried and hopefully less anxious.

Just remember that rules are created and enforced in order to keep you and your inmate safe. These rules are designed to protect the safety and visitation rights of all inmates, staff, and visitors to the facility.

The goal of everyone is for you to be able to come to the facility and visit with your inmate. This is an important activity for both inmate and the family and loved ones. Please be sure to carefully and cautiously obey all rules so that your privileges of visitation remain intact.

Jail Address and Contact info:

The Harris County -1200 Jail is located at 1200 Baker Street. You can reach the jail at (713) 755-7484.

You must first go to the main lobby at 1200 Baker Street to begin visitation. There are no visits allowed on Monday, Thursday, or Friday. The rest of the visitation schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday & Wednesday from 4 pm to 9 pm
• Saturday & Sunday from 3:30 pm to 9 pm

All jails have dress codes and they are generally very strict. To make it easier you should just remember to always wear simple, modest clothing. Here are the rules as they are set forth, but if you keep it plain and simple you should be okay. A good rule of thumb to follow is, if you question whether it's okay to wear to the jail…Don't wear it.

Dress Code Basics:

• Do not wear anything that has gang, violent, obscene, sexual, or weapon related pictures or language on it
• You cannot wear skinny pants, tights, or spandex like leggings without shorts or skirt for further coverage
• No type of see through, nude, or revealing clothing can be worn
• Sleeves must be at least half way down the bicep (upper arm)
• All skirts, skorts, shorts, and dresses must be at least mid-thigh in length

Basic Visitation Rules:

• One visit per day - 20 minutes maximum
• You cannot bring items to visits to give to the inmate
• Do not bring food or drinks
• Do not bring mail, packages, photos, or anything to leave for your inmate
• No electronics, purses, or bags of any kind are allowed during visits
• You get a locker to put your stuff in
• Visitors 17 years old and up must present a valid ID (state or federal)
• Visitors 16 years old and under must be with an adult
• 4 visitors (2 adults and 2 children) at a time maximum
• Attorneys can visit anytime 7 days a week 24 hours a day
• Ministers can visit but not between 12:30 pm and 2 pm

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How to use the Inmate Search for Harris County - The 1200 Jail in Texas

Anytime someone has to deal with incarceration it can be a challenging and frightening experience. If you've never dealt with a jail situation, you may find yourself quite overwhelmed when it comes to trying to figure out the system and how to find someone in it.

Another challenge often faced by loved ones is the process of posting bond. Whether you are faced with the challenge of understanding the different types of bonds or figuring out how and where to pay them, it can be quite disconcerting to figure it all out.

We're here to help you figure out the ins and outs of both of these complexities. Hopefully we are able to ease some of your stress and make it easier for you to take care of your loved one during this difficult time.

First we'll tackle how to go about finding someone at Harris County - The 1200 Jail. You'd want to begin here at our The 1200 Jail front page by clicking here. Now look to the top left corner where you see the INMATE SEARCH category. Here you can search by the following means:

• Harris County Jail Inmate List
• Harris County Jail Inmate Search
• County Inmates - mobile
• Recent Arrests - Harris County
• Recent Release - Harris County
• VINELINK - Inmate Search

When you click on think the Inmate List, Inmate Search, County Inmate - mobile, or Recent Releases you will be taken to a page where you can fill in certain information to help locate the inmate you are searching for.

• Last name
• First name
• Birth date
• SPN
• SSN

The more information you can supply the smaller your list will be and the less you will have to look through. You absolutely must supply some information in order to make a search progress. Here are some combinations you can use. You can use any one of the following to at least begin the searching process, but remember the more you enter the better.

• Last name
• First name and DOB (Inmate's date of birth)
• SPN (This is the Inmate's booking number.)
• SSN (Inmate's social security number)

Once you enter a combination of information and click on the submit button, you will then be taken to a list where you can further refine your search and find the person you are looking for.

If you happen to be looking for someone who has recently been arrested, you would want to click on Recent Arrests link. This will take you to a page where all the people who have been arrested within the last 24 hours will be listed. If you are not able to find the person you are searching for you may need to give it a little more time.

It takes a while to process an inmate through the booking process, so give it a couple of hours and then try again. If enough time has passed and you can't find the arrested individual, then you made need to call the jail directly.

The VINELINK - Inmate Search is for victims of crime to search for offender information. This contains information and phone numbers where they can get assistance with questions you may have.

Posting Bond

Posting bond can be another confusing adventure when you need to help someone who has been incarcerated. One of the first things to do is to understand the vocabulary. Some terms you are likely to hear are bail, bond, bail bond, surety bond, cash bond, personal bond, pre-trial bond, and personal release bond.

We will do our best to help you understand these, but please be sure to call the jail to inquire if you have any questions not answered here.

• Bail - this is some form of security (cash, lien, promise to pay, etc.) given to assure that an accused person will appear in court
• Bond - this is just the written agreement where the bond signer/backer signs stating they will pay or forfeit the bail (security) as set forth in the document if the accused person fails to appear in court
• Bail Bond - a written agreement the same as a simple bond, but in this instance the bail fund security amount must be deposited with the sheriff of Harris county
• Cash bonds - these are sometimes required by the judge. In this instance, the fully required funds must be paid by money order or cashier's check made out to Harris County Sheriff's Office or by cash. You cannot pay a cash bond by personal check or without an official government photo ID.
• Cash refunds - if a case is thrown out, cash bonds will be refunded through the Harris County Auditor's Office
• Harris County has an approved list of bond companies who charge to assist in the bonding process. Their bonds are call surety bonds. Once bail of this type is posted, the defendant receives a court date and is released.
• Personal and Pre-trial release bonds are both based on the premise that the defendant is considered trustworthy enough to return to their scheduled court appearance without having to post a bail (security).
• Also called a Personal Recognizance Bond, the personal bond is one in which the accused personally acknowledges they will appear
• The pre-trial release bond is one in which the Pretrial Services have supplied information such that the judge believes the accused will appear in court without need for security. A judge is the only one who can allow this.

Cash or surety bonds can be paid in person to the Harris County Sheriff's Office at 49 San Jacinto St. Houston, TX 77002.

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Communicating with an Inmate Housed at the Harris County - The 1200 Jail in Texas

We are here to help you do that. Don't worry we understand this time can be difficult. You may be distressed about a love one who has recently been arrested or perhaps you are just trying to figure out how to get in touch with someone at the Harris County - 1200 Jail.

You can reach inmates who are housed at the 1200 Jail via visitation, mail, and phone (collect only).

Visitation will be covered in a different area because it has more specialized requirements. Here we will go over the ins and outs of telephone contact and mail rules and regulations.

As you would expect there are rules that must be followed by anyone carrying on a phone conversation, receiving mail, and sending mail to the jail facility.

Please remember this is an incarceration facility and therefore it requires everyone follows all the rules all the time. These rules are designed to keep our inmates, staff, and visitors free from harm. Your cooperation will make your contact with your inmate much more enjoyable.

How to send Mail to an Inmate at Harris County - The 1200 Jail

There are several mail rules that are held in strict adherence. If you send mail which does not adhere to these rules, the inmate will not receive your letter or parcel. There are no exceptions to these rules so please maintain familiarity with them.

Also, please be sure to keep abreast of any changes which may occur to rules due to updates, new regulations, or events. If you are trying to get something special to an inmate, it would be wise to contact the jail directly to find out if it's allowed and if it is, then how to go about getting it to them.

Incoming mail (when you send mail to the inmate)

All incoming mail is inspected by the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Again, remember there are no exceptions.

• Sender complete name required
• Sender return address required (top left corner)
• Inmate's information must be on center front of envelope including:
• Full name (booking name)
• Inmate's SPN (jail number)
• Housing facility where inmate housed
• Inmate's exact cell block location

All of the above bullet points must be followed or your mail will be returned to the sender. If there is not return information on the envelope, the mail will go back to the post office where it will be disposed of according to postal regulations.

Allowed Mail:

• Books and/or magazines (up to a limit of 3) can be received by the inmate
• Books and magazines can only come from the publisher through the United States Postal Service (no other delivery method is acceptable)
• Books and magazines must be approved by the Jail Captain prior to receipt (get permission first)
• Inmates can receive paperwork from their attorneys
• Letters in regular plain white envelops are best
• No smells, smears, or substances of any kind outside or inside
• You cannot spray perfume or cologne on them. No lipstick, make-up, gluey substances, etc.
• Letters defaced with these types of paraphernalia will be disposed of or returned
• Photographs are allowed if not larger than 5" x 7" and they follow the rules below in NOT ALLOWED items

Items NOT Allowed in the Mail:

The list of NOT allowed items may seem strict, but there are well considered reasons for them. If any of these items make it into the jail they will be seized and destroyed. There will be no storage of the contraband items in the property room of the Harris County - 1200 Jail.

• Do not send mailing materials
• Envelopes, pens, pencils, markers, highlighter, paper, etc.
• Do not send pictures depicting any type of nudity, violence, gang, riotous behavior, drugs, weapons, guns, any type of paraphernalia indicating drug use, or anything that could be construed as sexual content
• No sticky substances like glue, stamps, or stickers
• Do not send greeting cards of any kind
• No packages may be sent to the facility
• No food or drinks are allowed to be mailed in
• No newspapers are allowed
• Inmates may not receive money orders or any cash in the mail
• No type of photocopied, faxes, or computer materials (downloads) are allowed
• You cannot mail medication to the inmate - needed medications will be obtained through the infirmary
• Religious materials are not allowed to mailed to the inmate - These will be obtained from the Harris County Sheriff's Chaplain's Office

 
Phone Contact with an Inmate in Harris County - The 1200 Jail

• Inmates cannot receive calls
• Inmates can call out Collect to non-restricted numbers
• Advance Pay
• Allows receiving party to get calls even if phone restricted
• Receiver sets up and account with Securus
• Call 1-800-844-6591 for instructions
• Receiver puts money in the Advance Pay account
• Inmate calls the number and if Receiver accepts the call money is deducted from the Advance account

Basic phone rules:

• Calls can be monitored
• Calls can be recorded
• If you try to do a conference call or transfer it, the phone will cut off
• Calls may not be allowed to some numbers due to security 

Securus can assist if you ever feel there have been fraudulent calls to your phone from the jail. The can also assist with blocking a phone if needed.
 

 

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