Harris County Jail
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Harris County Jail. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Pretrial
- Inmate Capacity
- 9,000 approx.
- Established
- 1953
- Operated By
- Harris County Sheriff's Office
Harris County Jail Inmate Communication Overview
Harris County Jail is the detention facility operated by the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Houston, Texas. With a capacity of approximately 9,000 and a daily population that often approaches that number, it is among the largest county jail systems in the United States. The main facility complex is located at 1200 Baker Street in downtown Houston and includes multiple buildings that house both pre-trial detainees and individuals serving short sentences. The jail processes an enormous volume of new bookings daily, making it one of the most active detention systems in the country. Harris County also operates satellite detention facilities that expand total county-wide capacity.
Communication at the Harris County Jail is provided through Securus Technologies, which handles phone calls, video visitation, and electronic messaging under the county contract. Families can create a Securus account at securustech.net to access all of these services. For phone calls, a Securus AdvancePay account funded with your phone number allows the inmate to call you directly from facility phones. Remote video visits are available and must be scheduled in advance through the Securus platform, they are a practical option for families who want to maintain visual contact without navigating the logistics of an in-person visit at the downtown facility. Electronic messaging through Securus is also available at Harris County.
One note for families in Houston: Harris County Jail is specifically a county facility, and the providers there are distinct from those used at Texas Department of Criminal Justice state prisons. If someone is convicted and transferred to a TDCJ state prison, the communication providers will change, JPay and GTL are the primary platforms at TDCJ state facilities, not Securus. Families should verify the current facility and jurisdiction before funding any account, especially in the period following a sentencing hearing when transfers can happen within days. Confirming the current location through the Harris County inmate search tool is the most reliable first step.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
1200 Baker Street, Houston, TX 77002
Main Phone
(713) 755-7900
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Visiting Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. No visitation on Monday. Last scheduled visit begins at 9:30 PM. Schedule varies by housing floor.
Communication Options
Available communication services at Harris County Jail.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: Securus
Electronic messaging via Securus platform. Messages monitored by jail staff.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: Securus
Remote video visits available. Schedule in advance through the Securus platform.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photo mail subject to Harris County content restrictions. No digital service.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: Securus
Fund a Securus AdvancePay account to receive inmate-initiated calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: Securus
Commissary deposits via Securus. Separate from phone account funds.
Communication Providers at Harris County Jail
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
Securus
Primary provider for all Harris County Jail communication services.
View Securus ServicesCommunication Rules at Harris County Jail
- All calls, messages, and video visits are subject to monitoring by Harris County Sheriff's staff.
- Securus serves Harris County Jail. If transferred to a TDCJ state facility, JPay/GTL is required.
- Phone account funds and commissary funds are maintained in separate accounts.
- Video visits must be scheduled in advance. No walk-in or same-day remote video is available.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list to communicate.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Harris County Jail
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I set up phone calls from Harris County Jail?
- Phone calls from Harris County Jail are managed by Securus Technologies. Visit securustech.net or use the Securus mobile app to create an account. Set up a prepaid AdvancePay account linked to your phone number, add funds, and the inmate can call you directly. Calls are inmate-initiated. You cannot call the jail to speak with a specific person.
- Can I do a remote video visit at Harris County Jail?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through Securus. Create or log into your Securus account, navigate to video visitation, and search for Harris County Jail. Select an available time slot and follow the scheduling prompts. You will need a device with a camera and a stable internet connection. Scheduling a visit at least 24 hours in advance is recommended.
- How do I send money to someone in Harris County Jail?
- Commissary deposits for Harris County Jail are processed through Securus. Log in to your account and navigate to the money transfer section. Funds can be added via debit or credit card. Note that phone account funds (for receiving calls) and commissary funds are separate. You may need to fund both accounts depending on your communication needs.
- What changes if my loved one is transferred to a Texas state prison?
- If your loved one is convicted and transferred from Harris County Jail to a TDCJ state prison, Securus will no longer be the correct provider. Texas Department of Criminal Justice state facilities primarily use JPay for messaging and money transfers, and GTL or ICSolutions for phone services. You will need to create new accounts on those platforms. Remaining Securus account balances do not transfer. Contact Securus for refund options.
- How do I find out if someone is currently in Harris County Jail?
- Harris County maintains an online inmate search tool through the Harris County Sheriff's Office website at harriscountysheriff.org. You can search by name to confirm whether someone is currently in county custody, which facility they are housed in, and their booking information. Verifying the current location before setting up any communication account will save time and prevent funding the wrong provider.
Troubleshooting at Harris County Jail
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support. For Securus, support can be reached at 972-734-1111 after repeated failed calls.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
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