Searching the Dallas County inmate lookup for someone held at Lew Sterrett Justice Center
Find Someone in Custody

Dallas County Inmate Search

Look up anyone held at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center (Dallas County Jail) by name or SPN. The official lookup is free and runs 24/7 — open it below, then call us to start the bond.

Lew Sterrett only. Held at a city jail? Scroll down for Irving, Garland, Mesquite & other city lookups.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office runs a free online inmate lookup for everyone held at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center at 111 West Commerce Street — the county’s primary detention facility. The tool operates 24 hours a day, and you can search by the defendant’s name or by their System Person Number (SPN). When a record is found, it shows current custody status, the charges, the bail amount set by the magistrate, the booking number, the housing tower and tank, and a booking photo.

If a recently arrested person doesn’t appear yet, they may still be in booking — during overnight arrests or busy weekends it can take several hours for a record to post. You can also reach the Dallas County Jail information line at 214-761-9025 around the clock. If you still can’t locate them, they may be at a city jail (see below), and we can help you find them.

How to Search for Someone in Dallas County Jail

  1. 1

    Open the official Dallas County inmate search

    Use the Dallas County Sheriff’s online jail lookup for the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. It is free and available 24 hours a day.

  2. 2

    Enter the defendant’s name or SPN

    Search by last name and first name, or by System Person Number (SPN) if you have it. The form also asks for the defendant’s sex and race for accurate results.

  3. 3

    Review the custody record

    A match shows current custody status, the charges, the bail amount set by the magistrate, booking number, housing tower and tank, and a booking photo.

  4. 4

    Note the bail amount and SPN, then call a bondsman

    Write down the full name as listed, date of birth, SPN, charges, and bail amount for each charge. Call Act Quick Bail Bonds at (214) 744-1414 to start the bond immediately.

Information That Speeds Up the Bond

Full Legal Name

Exactly as it appears in the system — nicknames and shortened names may not return a result.

Date of Birth

Confirms identity and distinguishes between defendants with similar names.

SPN Number

The System Person Number assigned at booking. Helpful but not required to start.

Charges & Bail Amount

The bail set per charge is what a bondsman uses to calculate your premium.

City Jails the Lew Sterrett Lookup Doesn’t Cover

The official Dallas County inmate search only shows people at Lew Sterrett. If your loved one was arrested by a city police department, they may still be at that city’s facility awaiting transfer. Pick the city below, or call us at (214) 744-1414 and we’ll locate them.

Dallas County Inmate Search FAQs

How do I search for an inmate in Dallas County?
Use the official Dallas County Sheriff’s online inmate lookup for the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. Search by the defendant’s last and first name, or by their System Person Number (SPN). The tool is free and runs 24 hours a day. If you cannot find someone, call the jail information line at 214-761-9025 or call Act Quick at (214) 744-1414.
Is the Dallas County inmate search available 24 hours a day?
Yes. The official search portal operates around the clock, and the Dallas County Jail information line at 214-761-9025 is also staffed 24/7. Note the online tool covers Lew Sterrett only — it does not include the city jails.
Why doesn’t the person I’m looking for show up in the inmate search?
Two common reasons: they may still be going through booking — during overnight arrests or busy weekends it can take several hours to appear — or they may be held at a city jail (Irving, Garland, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Carrollton, DeSoto, Lancaster, or Duncanville), which the Lew Sterrett lookup does not cover. Call us and we can help locate them.
What is an SPN and why do I need it to post bail?
The System Person Number (SPN) is a unique ID assigned to every person processed through the Dallas County criminal justice system. Having the SPN lets a bail bond agent locate the defendant and prepare paperwork faster, though it is not required to start — a full legal name and date of birth are enough for us to begin.
Does the Dallas County jail lookup show the bail amount?
Yes. Once a defendant has been magistrated, the inmate record displays the bail amount set for each charge, along with the charges, custody status, and housing location inside Lew Sterrett. That bail amount is what you will give a bondsman to calculate the premium.
I found my loved one — what is the fastest next step to get them out?
Once you confirm bail has been set, call a licensed bail bond agent. Have the defendant’s name as listed, date of birth, SPN, charges, and bail amount ready. Act Quick Bail Bonds is located in the Lew Sterrett courthouse district and can begin posting the bond within hours — call (214) 744-1414 any time, day or night.
Call (214) 744-1414