What to Expect During Booking at Ellis County Jail: The Free First Call

At Ellis County Jail, people booked into custody can make free local calls during the booking process. That first call is typically used for the urgent basics: arranging bail, letting family know what's happening, or reaching an attorney.

The booking phone is for practical, time-sensitive contact: arranging bail, informing family, or reaching an attorney. If you get this call, expect it to be short and focused. Your loved one may be trying to confirm where they are, ask you to contact a bondsman or lawyer, or simply let you know they're in custody so you're not left wondering.

Here's a detail that catches families off guard at Ellis County Jail: most cell phones are not considered "local" for booking calls. If you're only reachable on a cell phone number, there's a real chance you won't receive that free local booking call at all.

If the number they need to reach is outside the local dialing area, Ellis County Jail booking phones can place collect calls. The cost gets charged to whoever answers, so you're on the hook for the fee if you accept. This matters most for out-of-area or out-of-state family members who are often the first people someone wants to call.

Checklist Prepare

• ✓ Pick a local number you can reliably answer, since the booking call is free for local calls.
• ✓ Do not rely only on a cell phone number. Most cell phones are not considered local for booking calls.
• ✓ Make sure your loved one has the right contact(s) saved or written down for the booking call: the person handling bail, close family, and an attorney.
• ✓ If you are outside the local area, be ready for a collect call instead of a free local call.
• ✓ Talk with your family ahead of time about who will accept a collect call fee if one comes through, so the call is not missed while everyone hesitates.

If you miss the booking call, the next phone contact usually comes after your loved one reaches general population. At that point, calls are collect-only, but the timing is more predictable: weekdays between 10 A.M. and 10:30 P.M., and weekends between 10 A.M. and 12:30 A.M. Keep an eye on your phone during those windows and be ready to accept a collect call. If your number isn't local, remember that collect-call charges are your responsibility when you pick up.