Are you interested in learning about the Dallas County Jail? If so, perhaps your loved one was recently arrested and they’re being detained there. Or, perhaps you have an interest in the criminal justice system and want to know more about the Jail. Either way, we’re going to explain what the Jail is used for, and we are also going to touch upon a few other local detention facilities.
In the Greater Dallas Area, if someone commits a crime, he or she will be under the custody, control and care of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Department handles individuals who have been charged with anything from a Class C misdemeanor, which typically has to do with an outstanding traffic citation, to capital murder.
What types of defendants are incarcerated in the Dallas County Jail?
- Defendants who were unable to post bail, so they are awaiting court.
- Defendants who’ve been to court, but are waiting to be transferred to state or federal prison.
- Defendants from another detention facility who have been summoned by a judge to appear in court for one reason or another.
There are six different detention facilities under Dallas County Sheriff’s Department’s jurisdiction; together, the facilities employ 900 people and can house over 7,000 inmates. Each facility operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Dallas County’s Detention Facilities
Here is a list of the detention facilities within Dallas County Sheriff’s Department’s jurisdiction:
- Lew Sterrett Justice Center
- The North Tower Detention Facility
- West Tower Detention Facility
- Suzanne Lee Kays Detention Facility
- George Allen
- Decker Detention Center
- The Old Jail – now closed
If you have a loved one who is currently incarcerated in a detention facility, and you want to visit him or her you will have to fill out what’s called a visitor’s slip. If you plan on visiting with children, the rule is that only two children per an adult. Visitors who are 17-years-of-age or older must bring proper identification, and the teen’s name must be listed on the inmate’s visitor card.
All visitors are subject to the following safeguards: 1) a metal detector, 2) a physical search if there is probable cause, and 3) scanning from a hand held metal detector. To learn more about the jail visitation rules, click here.
Do you need a Plano criminal defense lawyer to defend you or your loved one against criminal charges? Don’t wait, contact our firm today!