Dallas County Jail
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Dallas County Jail. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Pretrial
- Inmate Capacity
- 7,000 approx.
- Established
- 1982
- Operated By
- Dallas County Sheriff's Department
Dallas County Jail Inmate Communication Overview
Dallas County Jail, formally the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, is the primary detention facility operated by the Dallas County Sheriff's Department, located in the Dallas Design District just northwest of downtown. With a capacity of approximately 7,000 and a daily population that makes it one of the ten largest county jails in the United States, Lew Sterrett processes a large volume of bookings from across Dallas County. The facility sits near the Dallas County courthouse complex and is a central part of the county criminal court system. The vast majority of people held there are awaiting trial on criminal charges filed in Dallas County courts.
Communication at Dallas County Jail is handled by Smart Communications, which provides phone calls, video visitation, and messaging through the SmartInmate platform under the county contract. Families create a SmartInmate account at smartinmate.com to access all available services. For phone calls, fund a SmartInmate account linked to your phone number to receive inmate-initiated calls. Remote video visits are available and can be scheduled through SmartInmate. Messaging through SmartInmate delivers communications electronically. Commissary deposits use AccessCorrections, a separate system.
Dallas County uses SmartInmate (Smart Communications) rather than the JPay and GTL platforms used by TDCJ state prisons. If someone is convicted in Dallas County and transferred to a TDCJ facility after sentencing, the communication providers will change and new accounts will be needed. Until that transfer, SmartInmate is the correct system. Dallas County also operates additional jail facilities beyond the main Lew Sterrett complex, so confirming the specific facility location through the county inmate search before attempting to book visits or send messages is always the right first step.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
133 N. Industrial Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75207
Main Phone
(214) 749-8641
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.
Inmate name and book-in number, c/o Mail Processing Center, PO Box 9226, Seminole, FL 33775-9226. Attorney confidential mail: PO Box 660334, Dallas, TX 75266
Include the inmate name and ID on all mail.
Commissary / Sending Money
Deposits via lobby kiosk cash, AccessCorrections online as low as 2.95, phone 1-866-345-1884 as low as 3.95, CashPayToday walk-in flat fee 5.00. No personal/payroll checks, money orders, tax refunds, stimulus, insurance, child support, Social Security checks accepted effective Feb 14, 2022
Fax
(214) 653-3420
Communication Options
Available communication services at Dallas County Jail.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: Smart Communications
Electronic messaging via SmartInmate. Messages monitored by Dallas County Sheriff's staff.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: Smart Communications
Remote video visits available through SmartInmate. Schedule in advance.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Provider: Smart Communications
Photo sharing through SmartInmate.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: Smart Communications
Fund a SmartInmate account to receive inmate-initiated calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Commissary deposits via AccessCorrections. See commissary details below.
Communication Providers at Dallas County Jail
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
Smart Communications
Smart Communications provides phone service, video visits, and messaging through smartinmate.com. Dallas County switched from Securus to Smart Communications in late 2025.
View Smart Communications ServicesCommunication Rules at Dallas County Jail
- All Dallas County jail communication goes through SmartInmate. After TDCJ transfer, switch to JPay and GTL.
- Calls, messages, and visits are monitored by Dallas County Sheriff's staff.
- Phone and messaging run through SmartInmate. Commissary deposits use AccessCorrections.
- Video visits require advance scheduling through SmartInmate.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list.
- Dallas County switched jail communications from Securus to Smart Communications in late 2025.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dallas County Jail
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I contact someone at Dallas County Jail?
- All communication services at Dallas County Jail are through SmartInmate. Create an account at smartinmate.com or through the SmartInmate app. One account covers phone calls, video visits, and messaging.
- How do I call an inmate at Dallas County Jail?
- Set up a SmartInmate account at smartinmate.com and add funds to receive calls placed from the jail. The inmate must call you; you cannot call an inmate directly.
- Can I do a video visit at Dallas County Jail?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through SmartInmate. Log into your account, navigate to video visitation, select Dallas County Jail (Lew Sterrett), and choose an available time slot. Schedule at least 24 hours in advance.
- How do I find if someone is in Dallas County Jail?
- Dallas County provides an online inmate search at dallascounty.org. You can search by name to confirm whether someone is currently in county custody and which facility they are held in. You can also call the jail information line at (214) 761-9025.
- What happens to communication when someone is transferred to TDCJ?
- After sentencing and transfer to a Texas Department of Criminal Justice state prison, SmartInmate no longer applies. TDCJ facilities use JPay for messaging and money, and GTL for phone and video. Create those accounts before or immediately after the transfer to maintain communication.
- How do I send money to a Dallas County Jail inmate?
- Commissary deposits go through AccessCorrections: online, by phone at 1-866-345-1884, at a lobby kiosk, or via CashPayToday walk-in. Note that commissary and phone funds are separate.
- How do I find or search for an inmate at Dallas County Jail?
- Use the Sheriff's office or department of corrections official inmate search or roster for Dallas County, Texas. If the inmate does not appear, allow 24 to 72 hours after booking and try alternate spellings.
- How do I send mail to an inmate at Dallas County Jail?
- Address mail as follows: Inmate name and book-in number, c/o Mail Processing Center, PO Box 9226, Seminole, FL 33775-9226. Attorney confidential mail: PO Box 660334, Dallas, TX 75266. Include the inmate's full name and ID on every envelope.
- Can I receive incoming calls from an inmate at Dallas County Jail?
- No. Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. The inmate must call you, and your number must be on their approved list.
- How do I block or stop calls from an inmate at Dallas County Jail?
- Contact the facility's phone provider and ask to block the number, or block the number through your own phone carrier. You can also ask the facility to remove your number from the inmate's approved list.
- How do I schedule or cancel a video visit at Dallas County Jail?
- Schedule video visits through the facility's video visit provider or visitation system. Cancel the same way, as early as possible, and check the facility's visitation page for its cancellation rules.
Troubleshooting at Dallas 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.
- 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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