Harris County - The 1200 Jail COVID-19 Coronavirus Visitation Policy

Harris County - The 1200 Jail

Address:
1200 Baker Street
Houston, TX 77002

Phone:

713-755-5300

New Visitation Policies in Harris County - The 1200 Jail Due to COVID-19 Coronavirus

Because of concerns for the safety and wellness of both staff and inmates at the Harris County - The 1200 Jail in Houston, Texas, contact visits of any type may be suspended. Even if they have visits, from time to time, face masks may be required.

Approved Non-contact visits with family, friends and the inmate’s lawyers may still be allowed when at-home or onsite video visitation is not available, however given that new guidelines are changing daily please check the visitation page or call 713-755-5300 for updates.

Video Visitation at Harris County - The 1200 Jail

At-home and onsite video visitation guidelines for Harris County - The 1200 Jail, when this service is available, can be found by going to the visitation information page.

We highly recommend that you call 713-755-5300 first for any changes due to staff shortages or other unforeseen circumstances, including whether your inmate has become ill and is unable to be in the general population where video kiosks are available.

How Long Will These Changes Last?

Experts in the study of the COVID-19 are anticipating that spread of the virus will be a ongoing concern for Harris County, the state of Texas and the entire United States until well into 2024 and maybe even beyond. We are witnessing the virus becoming more contagious, but less deadly over time. Many people think that the 'more contagious, but less deadly' variants will infect so many people that a higher level of natural immunity for the majority of Americans will be the end result.

Will the Inmates in Harris County - The 1200 Jail Be Safe from Getting Sick With COVID-19 Coronavirus?

Whether the inmates are safe from contracting the coronavirus depends entirely on two things:

  1. The Virus being introduced into the facility by a staff member or inmate who is unaware that they have it.
  2. How easily it spreads.

At this stage most people who get the coronavirus show very few symptoms beyond what you might experience with a bad cold or a mild case of the common flu. Newer variants are turning out to be less deadly than the common flu we experience every year.

Studies that have been done are showing that the hardest hit are those 60 years of age and older, those with pre-existing medical issues like diabetes, leukemia or obese individuals. Young men and women rarely become very ill, and when they do, seem to recover quickly.

Given the close proximity of inmates and staff to each other in this lockup, it is going to be very difficult to prevent the spread of COVID-19 once it is introduced into the facility as the virus can spread via the microscopic vapor that we release every time we speak, cough or sneeze.

We will continuously update this page as the virus changes and new policies are instituted.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Harris County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Harris County - The 1200 Jail follow these steps:

  • Select Texas, then select Harris County - The 1200 Jail, and then select the 'Send a Package Order' option.
  • Register and create an account with Access Securepak, for Harris County.
  • Choose the inmate and the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Harris County at any one time.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Harris County - The 1200 Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Harris County.


 

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Harris County

To send commissary money to an inmate in Harris County - The 1200 Jail follow these steps:

  • Register with Access Corrections by creating an account.
  • Select Texas, then select Harris County - The 1200 Jail, and then the inmate you want to send money to.
  • Choose the amount of money you want to send, and input your payment method.

For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Harris County - The 1200 Jail.


 

What Kind of Mail can Harris County - The 1200 Jail Inmates Receive?

Postcards
The Harris County - The 1200 Jail allows inmates to receive unlimited pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.

Envelopes
The Harris County - The 1200 Jail allows inmates to receive an unlimited amount of letters as long as they conform to the mail guidelines.  Letters should arrive in standard letter-sized envelopes and must have a complete return address, including your first and last name and address.

First look up the Inmate's SPN Number, Housing Location & Cell Block.
You will need all of these to mail them a letter, postcard, magazine, newspaper or books. 

Here is an example of what the information looks like when you look up an inmate online.
In this example below, the Inmate's Name and SPN are in RED on the white background.
The Housing Location & Cell Block are in
BLUE.
The other RED number is the inmate's Case Number. You will need this for looking up their court dates.


If you can't find an inmate online, call the Inmate Locator hotline at 713-755-5300.


Postcards & Envelopes (personal mail) are mailed to:
Inmate's Full Name, Full SPN
Housing Location, Cell Block
Harris County Sheriff’s Office
1200 Baker Street
Houston, TX 77002

Newspapers
You can purchase a newspaper subscription for an inmate but it must be mailed to the jail directly from the publisher and must include the Inmate’s Full Name, SPN, Housing Location & Cell Block.

Magazines
Magazines are also allowed, but must be mailed directly from the publisher and include the inmate’s full name and SPN. Any magazine containing lewd photos, nudity, pornography, or anything promoting drugs or violence will be confiscated by jail staff and discarded.

Books
If you wish to mail a book to an inmate you must have it sent from either the publisher or from a third-party vendor such as Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. 
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene.
In addition, the contents cannot present a threat to the security of the facility. Any book that does not meet the Harris County - The 1200 Jail standards will be disposed of.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All book shipments must include the inmate's name and SPN. You can also call 713-755-5300 to get the number.

Magazines, Newspapers and Books are mailed to:
Inmate Full Name, Full SPN
701 N. San Jacinto, Visitor Control Center
Attn: Books- Mail Room
Houston, Texas 77002

Care packages
Care packages are pre-chosen items packaged together and sent to the inmate from a third-party vendor. They include clothing, snacks, hygeine products and seasonal items.

Harris County - The 1200 Jail only allows care packages from Access Securepak.

For full information on all of Harris County Jail's Mail Policies, including photographs, mail tips, what you are not allowed to send and more, check out our Inmate Mail page.


 

How an Inmate Makes a Phone Call to You or Others from Harris County - The 1200 Jail

To set up a phone account so that your inmate can call you from Harris County do the following:

1. Enroll in an account with Securus Technologies.

2. Choose one of three account types, Securus Debit, Advance Connect or Direct Bill.
3. Choose [facility_name_1}, then connect with your inmate.
4. If you have any questions, call Securus: 972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591.

To find out fees, how to's, calling times, limits on phone calls and other systems Securus has do that you can communicate with your Harris County inmate, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your inmate's phone calls are recorded and stored. It is advised not to discuss their pending case.


 

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