Visiting from Out of Town? How to Get Extra Time at Tarrant County Jail

Live more than 150 miles from the Fort Worth city limits? Tarrant County Jail lets you have a 40-minute visit instead of the usual 30. That extra time matters when you've traveled far - just bring proof you qualify.

Staff verify your residence at check-in during your visit - not days ahead of time. Bring your documentation with you so they can confirm you meet the 150-mile requirement on the spot.

• ✓ A valid, government-issued photo ID showing your current address
• ✓ A recent piece of mail that matches your name and address (for example, a utility bill)
• ✓ Any other official document that clearly shows where you currently live

Most visitors get one 30-minute visit per day per inmate. The out-of-town exception bumps that to 40 minutes if you qualify under the 150-mile rule. The longer visit is tied to your verified residence - not how many people come with you.

• ✓ No more than two adults can visit at one time.
• ✓ No more than two children (age 17 or younger) can visit at one time.
• ✓ Children 17 or younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Two other rules could trip you up. If you've been incarcerated in a Tarrant County detention facility within the past six months, you won't be allowed to visit. And once you're inside for visitation, you have to stay - no stepping out and coming back in during your visit window.

1. Arrive early enough to sign up - Visitor sign-ups begin 30 minutes before visiting hours start, so build that into your travel plan.
2. Don’t cut it close to the processing cutoff - Visitors are not processed after the facility cutoff time (for many evening sessions, that cutoff is 8:30 p.m.).
3. Have your residence proof ready at check-in - Out-of-town status is verified at the time of the visit during normal visitation hours, so keep your documents accessible.