What to Bring and Expect for Your First In‑Person Visit at Dallas County Jail
Your first in-person visit at Dallas County Jail goes much smoother when you arrive with the right ID, dress appropriately, and leave prohibited items behind. Use the checklist below to avoid delays or getting turned away at check-in.
If you're 18 or older, bring photo identification to check-in. Dallas County Jail accepts a valid state driver's license, a state-issued ID card, or a valid passport meeting U.S. Department of State rules. Passport validity depends on your age when it was issued: 10 years from the issue date if you were 16 or older, or 5 years if you were 15 or younger.
Dress conservatively. Dallas County Jail enforces a strict dress code, and clothing considered provocative or revealing can get you turned away at the door.
Prohibited Items
- ✓ Tobacco
- ✓ Lighters
- ✓ Matches
- ✓ Electronic cigarettes
- ✓ Cameras
- ✓ Electronic recording devices
- ✓ Cell phones
- ✓ Smart watches
- ✓ Backpacks
- ✓ Bags
- ✓ Purses
- ✓ Unlabeled prescription medication
Expect a short visit. Each inmate is limited to one 20-minute in-person visit per day.
Keep your group small. No more than four people may visit one inmate at a time, and that total is capped at two adults and two minor children.
There's also a weekly cap. Each inmate may receive a maximum of two visits per week. Attorney, law enforcement, or other professional visits don't count toward this limit unless a supervisor approves them to be counted.
Arrive early to get on the list. Visitor sign-up begins 30 minutes before visiting hours start, so getting there before that window helps you be ready when check-in opens.
Weekdays have a processing cutoff. Visitors won't be processed after 8:30 p.m., even if you arrived close to that time.
Weekends have an earlier cutoff. Visitors won't be processed after 1:30 p.m.
Once you enter, plan to stay inside. Dallas County Jail requires visitors to remain in the building for the entire visit. Leaving and re-entering is not allowed.
Follow staff directions and keep things calm. Visits can be terminated if your behavior (or your children's behavior) becomes disorderly or threatens the safety, security, or orderly operation of the facility. If you bring kids, you're responsible for their conduct.
One rule that surprises people: if you've been incarcerated in a Dallas County detention facility within the past six months, you're not authorized to visit.
Hospital visits: Under normal circumstances, hospital visits are not allowed. A one-time visit may be approved by the Chief Deputy of Detention Services (or designee) only if medical professionals determine a family visit is warranted.
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