Ellis County Jail: What to Expect During the Booking Call

During booking at Ellis County Jail, the person being booked is allowed to make free local calls. The point of that booking phone is practical: it’s there so they can try to arrange bail, let family know what’s going on, or reach an attorney.

If you're waiting for that first

The booking phones can also place collect calls outside of the local dialing area. If you do get a call, it may come through as collect depending on the number being called and how your phone service handles collect billing.

If No Call Checklist

• ✓ Check whether the number they tried to call counts as “local” - Ellis County Jail says most cell phones are not considered local for the free booking call.
• ✓ Be ready for a collect call instead, especially if you’re outside the local dialing area.
• ✓ Keep expectations realistic: during booking, they’re allowed free local calls, but that doesn’t guarantee every number (especially a cell phone) will work as a free local call.

The booking phone at Ellis County Jail handles urgent first steps: arranging bail, notifying family, or reaching an attorney. Local calls are free. Calls outside the local area - or to numbers not recognized as local - may come through as collect. Getting unexpected collect-call prompts or charges? Contact the phone service provider that handles the jail's calls for help with billing or connection issues.