How to use the Inmate Search for Houston City Central Jail in Texas
When you first try to figure out how to find someone in a jail system, it can be quite complicated and confusing. If you've never done something like this, you might even experience a little bit of fear. Don't worry, that's understandable. We are here to help.
We'll first go over how to locate an inmate that's entered into the system. Waiting is one of the hardest parts. Because it takes a few hours to get a new inmate processed and into the system, you may not be able to find them immediately. If that happens, first try to be patient and wait a couple of more hours.
But first, let's assume the person you are looking for has been processed and their information is available. Now we'll proceed on walking through the process of locating them.
Click here to make sure you are on our Houston City Central Jail front page. Near the top left of the page you should see heading in red color that says INMATE SEARCH. This is where we will begin. There are several links underneath this heading that will help us to search in a variety of ways.
- Harris County Jail Inmate List
- Harris County Jail Inmate Search
- County Inmates – mobile
- Recent Arrests – Harris County
- Recent Releases – Harris County
- Arrest Warrants – Harris County
- VINELINK – Inmate Search
First off, we'll address the Arrest Warrants and VINELINK. These are more specialized links for specific areas of interest, not really just searching for an inmate. The arrest warrant link is exactly that. You will be taken to a page to fill out information and can proceed from there or call the information numbers on that page, if you need further assistance.
VINELINK is a national victim's assistance network. When you click here you will be taken to a different information page and given phone numbers that can assist someone in locating an offender.
If you happen to be searching for someone arrested within the last 24 hours, you can click the Recent Arrests link and you will have to look through the list of recent arrests.
Now, to go over the rest of the links: Inmate List, Inmate Search, County mobile, and recent releases. When you click on these links you will be taken to another data entry page where you can enter information about the person you are looking for. You can enter their first and last name, birthdate, SPN or booking number, SSN or social security number.
The more of the information you can provide the faster you will find the person you are looking for. You must provide a certain level of information to proceed. Last name and / or social security number are generally the most important pieces of data to get you going.
Once you enter whatever data you have available, just click on the submit button and you will be taken to a list of inmate's names that matches the criteria you have entered. You can search through the list and find the person you are looking for.
Now suppose you need to post bond for your inmate. How do you do that?
How to Post Bond for someone at Houston City Central Jail
How you go about posting a bond will depend on whether the judge says the inmate will require a cash bond, surety bond, or a personal bond. Though all of these serve the same result in allowing an inmate free on some type of security or their own personal assurances, they have different requirements.
The first step in posting a bond is to find out how much it is and what type it is. You can call the Houston Help Line at 713-837-0311 to talk to a representative there and find out how much the inmate owes for fines and/or find out how much their bond is.
One of the next things you may want to know is where to pay a bond. You can pay a bond at the courthouse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and even on holidays. Here is where you would need to go:
- Herbert W. Gee Municipal Courthouse
1400 Lubbock Street (1st floor, Jail Bonding Window)
Houston, TX 77002
Cash bonds must be paid in full in cash at the courthouse. If the inmate does not show for their next scheduled appearance, the cash is forfeited in full. If they are found not guilty or have the charges dismissed, you will get a full refund.
If the judge requests a surety bond, you will need to contact a bonding agent / company to get assistance. They will charge a fee to put up a bond guaranteeing the inmate / defendant will be there for their next court appearance. The city has no connection to any of the bonding companies.
Some defendants can be released on personal bonds. If requested, the judge will decide if the defendant is trustworthy enough based on the charges, their community presence, and information regarding whether they have ever failed to appear in court. The judge is the only one who can grant a personal recognizance bond.
That's pretty much it for posting a bond for an inmate in Houston City Central Jail. If you have any other questions, remember to call the phone number above.
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Mark Miclette writes about inmates, jails, prisons, courts and the lives of people who live and work within the United States Criminal Justice System. His mission can be summed up in a single word; transparency.
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