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Jail Questions & Answers

Sheriff – Jail Division – Frequently Asked Questions

What are the current Hays County Jail on-site visitation hours and rules?

On-site visitation, excluding specific holidays (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day), will be held Monday, Thursday, and Friday. On Tuesdays, the Hays County Jail will offer late afternoon/evening visitation hours. All visits will be held in 20-minute time slots. NOTE: All visitations will be held by appointment only.

If any deviation from normal visitation hours should occur, a notice will be placed at the entry of the affected area with further details to include modified visitation hours at least thirty (30) days in advance.

Appointments can be made by calling the visitation phone number at 512-393-7366 during visiting hours Monday-Friday or by emailing hays.visitation@co.hays.tx.us.

Visiting will be BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. No walk-ups will be accepted.  Appointments will be scheduled up to one month in advance. Please arrive on time as visitors who arrive late will not be allowed to visit and will have to reschedule their appointment time. Inmates may not be eligible to receive a visit if they have violated certain rules and regulations of the facility or if they have not yet completed an inmate visitation card. Please note that inmates are allowed only two on-site visits per week, one visit per day.

Children that are under 17 years of age and under are not counted as adults and may visit only under the supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or an attorney. Your visitors are required to show a valid driver’s license or a state-issued identification card. You are limited to two (2) twenty-minute on-site visits each week with no more than three (3) individuals at one time including children.

Visitation will close promptly at the designated times. See Hays County Jail Visitation Hours of Operation above.

The following Dress Code applies to both males and females entering the Hays County Jail facility. It applies to visitors, county employees, and others conducting business inside this facility:

  • No revealing and/or see-through clothing.
  • No sleeveless dresses, shirts, or tops (shoulders must be covered).
  • No spandex or tights without a skirt.
  • No dress or shorts shall be higher than 3” above the middle of the knee while standing.
  • No clothing displaying obscene or offensive language, drawings, or gang affiliations.

The additional rules below also apply to on-site visitations:

  • All visitors are to secure all personal items in their vehicle.
  • No cameras, cellphones, handbags, or baby carriers of any kind are allowed in the visitation Areas.
  • Up to three visitors are allowed to visit at one time, but there is limited seating available at the visitation station.
  • Children must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian and must be supervised at all times.
  • Failure to comply will result in immediate termination of the visit.
 
What are the current Hays County Jail Off-site (Video) visitation hours and rules?

Off-site (video) visitation can be scheduled Sunday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Off-Site visits may be scheduled in advance by the visitor from the Securus Video Visitation Website at https://www.securustech.net/web/securus/friends.

The Hays County Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to deny, cancel or terminate a video visit prior to or during a video session based upon visitor or inmate misconduct. The Hays County Sheriff’s Office also reserves the right to restrict a visitor from participating in all future use of the system, either on site or from remote visitation.

Visitation is a privilege and may be denied to any person if the inmate or visitor fails to comply with the visitation rules. Your attorney will be allowed to visit you, upon presentation of proper identification, at any time.

VIDEO VISITATION RULES FOR OFF-SITE VISITATION

  1. The registering visitor must be at least 17 years of age and present a valid, government issued photo identification during the initial registration process. Approvals are generally made within 24 to 48 hours. The duration of each visit is 25 minutes. Inmates are restricted to two off-site video visits per day. Onsite visits are restricted to 2 visits per week.
  2. All visits are recorded and subject to electronic monitoring by the Hays County Jail Staff.
  3. The visitor and inmate are responsible for being present at the start of the scheduled visit. Visitors signing in late will only receive the balance of the remaining time for the scheduled visit.
  4. No NUDITY, provocative clothing, or tight fitting clothing will be allowed during the visit. Violators will be barred from off-site and on-site visitation.
  5. Visitors appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs; displaying items that may be considered contraband such as drugs; drug paraphernalia; weapons; displaying gang signs; symbols; colors; etc.,  are subject to having the visit canceled and barred from future visits.
  6. Pictures or video recording of the inmate during a video visit is prohibited.
  7. Unauthorized sharing of usernames and passwords to log into video visits violates the terms of service and is prohibited. (This includes sharing a visit with any other person that is not approved and or registered on the Securus video visitation account.)
  8. Visitors under the age of 17 must have a parent or guardian present during the off-site visit.
  9. Any type of provocative or disruptive behavior will not be permitted.
  10. Do not damage or deface the visitation equipment. Doing so may result in prosecution.
  11. If you experience a problem with the audio or video reception during your visit, please refer your family to the Securus Video Visitation web site for assistance or call 800-844-6591.
How do I send mail to an inmate?

NOTICE OF CHANGE TO MAIL PROCEDURES

Inmate personal mail is not accepted by the Hays County Law Enforcement Center, Texas. [NOTE: For legal mail, publications, and money orders, see the directions at the bottom of this page.]

All Personal Mail must be addressed in the following manner:

The above address is:

Inmate First & Last Name and ID#
C/O Securus Digital Mail Center-Hays County, TX
PO Box 792
Lebanon, MO 65536

Once the mail is received at the Securus Digital Mail Center if approved, it will be digitally scanned and available to be viewed on either tablets and or kiosks.

Failure to properly address the envelope may result in your mail being returned or delayed.

Pictures, drawings etc. will be accepted for scanning, and delivered in the same manner. Any person sending any personal mail that wishes to have it returned to them must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope included with the original mail. The original correspondence will be kept by Securus for 30 days before being destroyed.

Anything that cannot be scanned will be returned to sender. This includes but is not limited to paper that exceeds 8.5x 11 inches and all non-paper items.

All mail sent to inmates will be scanned front side only. DO NOT write on the back of pages. Any mail with writing on the back will not be scanned and will be returned to the sender. Inmates may receive a maximum of 10 photos per mailing. If more than 10 photos are mailed, the entire letter and all of its contents will be returned to the sender, and nothing will be scanned in or delivered to the inmate. Self-developing pictures (e.g. Polaroid pictures) are prohibited.  Pictures will not exceed 4” x 6” in size.  Any mail that contains contraband, or pictures taken during visitation sessions, depicting alcohol/drug use, illicit criminal activity, or pornography in any form will not be delivered. 

All packages and certified mail sent to the processing center will be returned to sender.

The following items must be mailed directly to the facility:

  1. Legal Mail
  2. Pre-approved Publications Directly sent from a publisher, distributor, or authorized retailer (Refer to Can Inmates receive books?)
  3. Money Orders- No personal letter will be permitted within the envelope with the money order, or the entirety of the envelope will be returned to sender. Attention: Inmate Trust Fund.

These must be addressed directly to the facility, as follows:

The above address is:

Inmate First & Last Name and ID#
Hays County Jail, TX
1307 Uhland Rd.
San Marcos, TX 78666

Can inmates receive books?

Access to recreational reading materials is located on our inmate tablets. Our digital tablets have a large digital library of free books. Also available for purchase are premium content books, as well as a variety of newspapers. Inmates that do not have access to a digital tablet also have access to a recreational book cart by request on a scheduled basis. 

For all other books that are not offered with the book options available, inmates are given information to submit an inmate request form to go through a pre-approval process before they can be mailed and delivered to the inmate. All books that are not pre-approved and or not received from the publisher or a bona-fide bookseller will be returned to the sender. A “bona-fide bookseller” is a business that regularly engages in the sale or distribution of books only. Examples of distributors are: Barnes and Noble, Borders, and the like. No packages will be accepted from Amazon. If approved, books must be new, soft-cover, and no larger than market paperback size.

How do I send money to my loved one for Commissary?
You can send money to your loved one in our custody through their Inmate Trust Fund.
 

Money Orders must be mailed to the inmate through U.S. Mail. The Money Order must contain the inmate’s full name and sheriff’s personal identification number (or SPIN ). This will ensure that the deposit will be processed correctly and credited to the inmates account. Money Orders must be received by 8 a.m. on Monday in order to be eligible for commissary in that week. All Money Orders are posted to the Inmate Trust Account.

To make deposits online or by phone: Accesscorrections.com or 1.866.345.1884

Access securepak: www.accesscatalog.com

Walk-in Retailer: Register at www.cashpaytoday.com, get a barcode and make a cash deposit where you shop, including CVS, Dollar General, Family Dollar, 7-Eleven and more. 

A kiosk is available M-F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding county holidays) in the lobby of the Hays County Law Enforcement Center located at 1307 Uhland Road San Marcos, Texas, for deposits into the inmate trust fund. The kiosk accepts cash and credit/debit cards. 

ABSOLUTELY NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED!

If a letter contains personal mail other than a money order, the letter and all contents will be returned to the sender. All personal mail must be sent to our Digital Mail Distribution Center address. (Refer to ‘How do I send mail to an inmate?” above)

Commissary order forms are processed first thing Tuesday morning. There are NO Refunds on items purchased through commissary. If an inmate places an order and is released from our facility or transferred to another facility before commissary is delivered, the inmates order must be claimed within seven (7) days of departure by the inmate, or the inmate can fill out a release card authorizing another adult to pick up the property.

How does Commissary Access Securepak work?

Keefe Access Securepak enables family and friends to order commissary items, and have them delivered to the inmates on the next commissary delivery to the housing area.  The available items consist of chips, pastries, cookies, candy, ready-to-eat meals, drinks, and assorted clothing items.  There is a $100/week spending limit for Securepak orders.  This is separate from normal commissary purchases. 

In the event an inmate is released before receiving his/her order, the package will be held for the standard seven (7) days to be picked up.  Standard sales tax and shipping fees apply to all orders and will be calculated before the order is placed. 

The Access Securepak website is not managed by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.  Issues or concerns with orders or the website can be addressed by calling 1.800.546.6283

There are two methods for utilizing the Securepak program.

  1. Call 1.800.546.6283.  Telephone ordering is available Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. CST, & Sat 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST.
  2. Visit https://www.accesscatalog.com/shop/index.html?ProgramID=1047 and create an account to place an order. 
How do I pick up inmate property?

An inmate’s personal property can be picked up between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for county or federal-approved holidays. All property released must be accompanied by a property release card, filled out by the inmate at least 24 hours in advance, stating to whom the property is released to prior to releasing the property.

The individual named on the release card must present a state-issued identification upon receipt of the property.

If an inmate is transferred to another facility and cannot take his/her property with them and the inmate does not make arrangements for the property to be picked the up by another, the property will be destroyed or donated to the indigent after thirty (30) days. In addition, if inmates are notified that he or she has excess property more than what is allowed due to storage space, they must arrange to have it picked up within seven (7) days of notification. 

How do I drop off clothes for court?

An inmate may receive court clothes ONLY if he/she is going to jury trial. If an inmate is released and does not have the proper attire to leave the facility, he/she will be issued indigent clothing.

Can I leave a message for an inmate?

We do not deliver messages unless it is an emergency and we have verified the emergency.

How do I accept phone calls from the jail?

Friends and family members of inmates may receive phone calls from their loved one. Phone services at Hays County Jail are provided by Securus Technologies, which offers the following services: 

  • Advance Connect – the call receiver sets up a prepaid account to receive calls from their loved one.
  • Direct Bill – allows you to receive calls from inmates and have the call charges billed directly to you monthly. This account is best suited for attorneys, bail bondsmen, and friends & family of long-stay inmates. A credit check is required to qualify.

Please use https://securustech.net/ to use the above services through Securus.  Choose Texas from the State drop down menu and select Hays County Jail from the Facility drop down menu. Securus Customer Support may be reached at 800.844.6591.

What happens when a person goes to jail?

When a person is brought into the Hays County Jail facility, they will need to be processed (booked). This includes being searched, having the arrest report completed, and being fingerprinted and photographed. How long this takes depends on how many people are being processed at that time, and how cooperative the individual is.  Uncooperative or intoxicated individuals will be processed as soon as the booking officer is able to do so.  Individuals are processed in the order that they are brought in.

After processing, individuals are then placed into a holding cell pending magistration (times vary and depends on the Judge’s schedule). Magistration is the procedure where a person who is charged with an offense is brought before a Magistrate (Judge) and the Magistrate informs the person of his/her Constitutional Rights and of the charge/charges that have been brought against him/her and sets the Bail amount.

What is bail?

“Bail” is the security given by the accused that he will appear and answer before the proper court the accusation brought against him, and includes a bail bond or a personal bond. Bonds are processed in the order they are received. We cannot give a specific length of time it will take for the bond to be processed or an inmate released since there are many factors that affect the process. You may also contact:

Hays County Jail – Bonding Department:

512.393.7807

512.393.7690

What is a bail bond?

A “Cash Bond” is a contractual agreement between the accused and the Court having jurisdiction over the offense, ensuring that the defendant will appear in court.  The defendant posts the dollar amount of the Bond, which will be returned to him upon his appearance in court. (Verify with District or County Clerk for clarification of actual procedures) Hays County District Clerk – 512.393.7660 Hays County Clerk – 512.393.7738.

“Surety Bond” is a contractual agreement between the accused, a Bail Bondsman and the Court having jurisdiction over the offense, ensuring that the defendant will appear in court.  The defendant pays a fee to the Bail Bondsman, who in turn posts the dollar amount of the Bond, which will be returned to the Bail Bondsman upon  appearance of the defendant in court.

A “Personal Bond” is a contractual agreement between the accused and the Court having jurisdiction over the offense, ensuring that the defendant will appear in court.  The defendant is not required to post the dollar amount of the Bond, rather is released on his own recognizance.  However, if the defendant fails to appear in court, the defendant is then indebted to the court for the amount of the Personal Bond.

What is bail punishment?

“Bail” is not a punitive measure, rather a guarantee that the person charged will return for court.  The Magistrate will examine many factors including, State and County of residence, employment, marital status, dependents, prior failures to appear, seriousness of offense, etc..  The greater the risk that the person will not return for his trial, the higher the amount the bail that is set.

How do I contact a bail bondsman?

Most bail bond company’s are available 24 hours a day.  Hays County is a Bail Bond Board County which means bonding companies must be licensed in order to post bonds.  An approved list of bonding companies is available at the Sheriff’s Office and is rotated weekly.  Sheriff’s Office employees may not contact a Bail Bondsman for you, nor can they recommend one; you must make the arrangements yourself.

Helpful phone numbers:

  • Hays County Jail/Bond Information: 512.393.7807 or 512.393.7690
  • Hays County Jail Records: 512.393.7832

You may also reference the Bail Bond Info section of this web site for more information.

How long does it take to release a person when they have posted bond?

Processing a person for release may depend on many factors.  Releases are processed 24 hours a day.  You may check the jail information, inmate search function to see if information has been updated.  Once a person no longer shows on the inmate search roster, they have been released from custody.

Can I find out a court date?

The jail does not assign or track court dates.  For felony offenses, please contact the Hays County District Court Clerk’s Office. For misdemeanor offenses, please contact the Hays County Court Clerk’s office.

Hays County District Clerk’s Office

712 S. Stagecoach Trail ,Suite 2211
San Marcos, Texas 78666

Phone: 512-393-7660

Email: distclerk@co.hays.tx.us

Hays County Clerk’s Office

712 S. Stagecoach Trail, Suite 2008
San Marcos TX 78666

Phone 512.393.7330 

Email: ccsearches@co.hays.tx.us

Fine Payment

Hays County now allows the convenience of paying with a credit card for individuals who are currently in custody and for class “C” fines only. No other forms of payments will be accepted.

Click the button below to find the appropriate Justice of the Peace to make the payment.

Make a Payment

Defense Attorneys that wish to make inquiries regarding reasonable virtual access to their client(s) should refer to the email below; any request for information made by phone to the Hays County Jail will be redirected to email
jail-schedule@co.hays.tx.us.

Attorney Phone Calls

Hays County provides a free call option to attorneys for the benefit of their incarcerated clients. Only one business telephone number is authorized for the call list. Calls are limited to twenty minutes each, are free of charge and are not recorded. Requests to be placed on the free call list should be emailed to attorneyresources@co.hays.tx.us.

Please attach a written request on letterhead, along with a copy/scan of your valid driver’s license and BAR card to the email.

Hays County