Travis County Recent Arrests
Recent arrests in Travis County are processed through the Sheriff's Office jail system in Austin. Travis County is the fifth most populous county in Texas with about 1.3 million residents. The sheriff operates two main jail facilities and processes roughly 71,800 arrests per year. You can look up recent arrests through the sheriff's online inmate search, by phone at (512) 854-4180, or by visiting the Central Booking facility. Arrest records are public under Texas law.
Travis County Overview
Travis County Arrest Records
The Travis County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail system and keeps all arrest records. Two facilities handle the inmate population. The Central Booking Facility at 500 West 10th Street in Austin is the downtown jail. It houses Travis County arrests only. The Travis County Correctional Complex at 3614 Bill Price Road in Del Valle is a larger facility with a 3,050-bed capacity.
The average daily population sits around 3,050 offenders. Monthly turnover is about 40% of the population, which means a large number of people cycle through the jail each month. Austin Police Department arrests make up the largest share of bookings, but the sheriff's office, DPS, and other agencies bring people in as well. If someone you are looking for is not in the Travis County system, check the neighboring Williamson or Hays County jails.
| Office | Travis County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Central Booking | 500 West 10th Street, Austin, TX 78701 |
| Correctional Complex | 3614 Bill Price Road, Del Valle, TX 78617 |
| Inmate Info (24/7) | (512) 854-4180 |
| Records Division | (512) 854-9770 (Mon-Fri, 8AM-5PM) |
| Sheriff's Office | 5555 Airport Boulevard, Austin, TX 78751 |
The jail provides a range of inmate programs. These include addiction treatment, parenting classes, GED preparation, college credit courses, and vocational training. Visitation happens through a Securus Video Visitation System. Inmates get two free 20-minute visits per week. At-home video visits cost $20 for 20 minutes. On-site visiting hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:20 PM to 9:00 PM.
Search Recent Arrests Online
The Travis County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate search tool on their website. You need at least a last name (or a few letters of it) to start a search. Results show the person's charge, detention location, arrest date and time, magistration status, bond amount, bond type, and disposition. The screenshot below shows the sheriff's inmate and jail information page.
That page is the starting point for online lookups. Another resource compiles Travis County arrest data in a searchable format. Below is a screenshot of that search tool.
The site offers free inmate lookups along with additional context about the arrest record system. You can also call the Telephone Information System at (512) 854-9889 for automated inmate data. For in-person inquiries, the Central Booking Facility at 500 West 10th Street is open 24 hours. The "Warrants On the Web" tool or the warrant phone line at (512) 854-9751 lets you check if someone has an outstanding warrant in Travis County.
How to Request Arrest Records
Written records requests go to the Travis County Sheriff's Office Records Division at P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767. Include the inmate's name, date of birth, the specific records you want, and the time period. Processing takes about 10 business days. Copy fees are $0.10 per page for standard copies. The records phone line is (512) 854-9770, available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Juvenile records are confidential and cannot be released. Medical and mental health data from the jail is protected too. But for standard adult arrests, the basic booking data is always public. You do not need to be a party to the case to get this information. The Texas Public Information Act under Government Code Chapter 552 guarantees access. Section 552.108(c) spells out the specific data points that are always public.
Texas Statewide Arrest Resources
The DPS Criminal History Search covers conviction records from all 254 Texas counties. Each search is $3.00 and requires an account. Under Government Code Section 411.135, DPS manages the Computerized Criminal History system statewide. The Texas Attorney General enforces public records law when disputes come up.
The TDCJ Inmate Search is free and covers state prison inmates. The Texas Courts Case Search handles appellate records. The DPS Crime Records Division compiles crime data from agencies across Texas. A criminal court docket search is also available for Travis County, tying arrest records to their court proceedings and outcomes.
Travis County Booking Details
When someone is arrested in Travis County, they are taken to the Central Booking Facility downtown for processing. The booking includes an intake form, mugshot, fingerprints, and a medical and mental health screening. The arresting officer's report is filed with the booking record. After processing, a magistrate sets bail and informs the person of the charges against them. Bond options include cash, surety through a bail agent, or personal recognizance for eligible defendants.
Travis County processes a high volume of arrests. With about 71,800 per year, that works out to nearly 200 per day on average. The downtown jail handles initial bookings. Inmates may later transfer to the Correctional Complex in Del Valle if they are staying longer. The 40% monthly turnover means the jail population changes fast. Programs at the correctional complex aim to reduce repeat offenses. Addiction treatment and job skills training are available for qualifying inmates.
Cities in Travis County
Travis County includes the state capital, Austin, along with several other growing cities. All serious arrests go through the Travis County jail system.
Other communities in Travis County include Pflugerville, Bee Cave, Lago Vista, Lakeway, and Rollingwood. Arrests in those areas also go through the county jail.