The Shelby County Jail is a 66 bed jail in the city of Center, Shelby County, Texas. You can call them 24 hours a day for inmate information at 936-598-5601.
Offenders arrested for misdemeanors and felonies in this county are brought here for booking and processing, and if their crime requires it, are incarcerated until they are either bonded out, are released from custody on their own recognizance, or are ordered to remain in custody until the disposition of their trial.
You can also use the inmate search tool to see this facility's roster of those who have been arrested and are still in custody.
Those who are found guilty and sentenced to a term of less than one year, will do their time in this county. Those sentenced to longer terms will be sent to either the Texas State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 936-598-5601, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
It's always a good idea to find out and save the inmate's jail ID number or booking number as you may need this for sending mail or other communication needs. If you can't locate it online, you can call the Shelby County Jail at 936-598-5601 to get it.
Phone: 936-598-5601
Physical Address:
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Shelby County Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 936-598-5601 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up Criminal Court Cases in Shelby County and anywhere in Texas.
Shelby County Jail Inmate Search
The Shelby County Jail maintains an average of 66 offenders in custody on any given day. The Shelby County Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Shelby County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 1,320 offenders.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessThe Shelby County Jail is responsible for the housing and care of those who are accused or convicted of committing a misdemeanor or felony in Shelby County as they wait for their trial or as they serve their sentence, usually less than one year.
It serves many law enforcement organizations including the Sheriff’s Department, local police, Immigration, and other surrounding counties as needed.
The brown metal single story building is located at 100 Hurst Street, at the Nacogdoches streetlight, across from the Exxon 'Checkout' Convenience Store and Gas Station. It shares the facility with the county sheriff.
If you have questions regarding an inmate or the programs and services provided, the staff can be reached at 936-598-5601, and an online listing of all the detainees is published for your own investigation.
Upon intake, the booking process is completed, which includes a medical screening, fingerprinting and mugshots, DNA sample, along with an assessment to determine security needs, medical needs, mental health requirements, and housing assignment.
Staff is available to transport all inmates to court dates and any medical appointments or emergency needs, as well as inspecting all mail for contraband, receiving commissary funds and other money for inmates, maintaining the safety of the community and the security of the facility, and other tasks.
The Shelby County Jail also provides several other services to inmates including basic needs in meals, laundry, and hygiene items, and programs including AA, counseling, religious programs, education, recreation, and opportunities to grow social and life skills.
Along with the efforts made by the staff, reduced recidivism is seen when inmates are able to stay in contact and supported by their family or friends who are not incarcerated so mail, phones, and visits are provided.
Visiting days and times are Tuesdays 5:30PM to 7:30PM, and Sundays 12:30PM to 2:30PM. You need to call 936-598-5601 to schedule a visit, which are 20 minutes.
Visits are in person, and are via video and an account is created online to book and complete visits, allowing both visitors and inmates to schedule a visit.
Phone accounts are also registered online, and allow for inmates to make outgoing calls during the daytime and evening hours when they are not participating in a task or program.
Information for money for an inmate’s commissary can be found on our Inmate Money page.
All personal mail is sent to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Staff will open each piece and look for contraband, which is removed before it is given to the inmate.
Legal mail, money orders, books and newspaper and magazine subscriptions are mailed to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Shelby County, situated in the eastern part of Texas, is a county with a population of 24,022, according to the 2020 census. The county seat is Center. It was initially established as a municipality of Mexico in 1835 and later organized as a county in 1837.
To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Shelby County Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 936-598-5601.
There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.
Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.
If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.
Shelby County Jail Booking Roster
After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Shelby County for booking.
Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.
Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Shelby County and other Texas and USA jurisdictions.
If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.
It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.
The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.
During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.
Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.
At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.
If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Shelby County Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.
Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.
Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.
If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.
Call 936-598-5601 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Shelby County inmate locator.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Visit an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail? What is the Schedule?
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
936-598-5601
ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 936-598-5601 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!
DAY | TIMES |
SUNDAY | 12:30PM - 2:30PM |
TUESDAY | 5:30PM - 7:30PM |
Inmate Visitation
IMPORTANT - All remote visitation at the Shelby County Jail is conducted by City Tele Coin video.
You can visit your inmate at the jail, or from your own device or computer at home.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office provides a video kiosk in the lobby of the Sheriff's Office free of charge.
Visitation is limited to 10 minutes per visitor per day. Visitors must call ahead and follow ALL visitation guidelines.
If not coming to the Sheriff's Office, you may visit with an inmate using City Tele Coin fom home.
Video visitations are monitored and visitors MUST follow visitor guidelines. Visitors that are found to violate these guidelines, will have their visitation privileges suspended.
All Video Visitation services are provided by City Tele Coin.
To register for a direct pay account visit www.CityTeleCoin.com.
After your account has been created you can download the City Tele Coin app from iTunes or Google Play.
To video chat and send emails using the app or the City Tele Coin website, select Shelby County Jail to set up a remote account for the inmate.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 936-598-5601 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail?
IMPORTANT - All remote visitation at the Shelby County Jail is conducted by City Tele Coin video.
You can visit your inmate at the jail, or from your own device or computer at home.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office provides a video kiosk in the lobby of the Sheriff's Office free of charge.
Visitation is limited to 10 minutes per visitor per day. Visitors must call ahead and follow ALL visitation guidelines.
If not coming to the Sheriff's Office, you may visit with an inmate using City Tele Coin fom home.
Video visitations are monitored and visitors MUST follow visitor guidelines. Visitors that are found to violate these guidelines, will have their visitation privileges suspended.
All Video Visitation services are provided by City Tele Coin.
To register for a direct pay account visit www.CityTeleCoin.com.
After your account has been created you can download the City Tele Coin app from iTunes or Google Play.
To video chat and send emails using the app or the City Tele Coin website, select Shelby County Jail to set up a remote account for the inmate.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 936-598-5601 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail?
Whatever cash the inmate has on their person when booked into the facility will automatically deposited and credited to their account. When released any money left in the account will be returned to them in the form of a check from the Sheriff's Department or the Shelby County Jail Trust Account. There may be circumstances where the inmate can give permission to have his money released to a family member or friend.
Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Option 2 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mail to the Jail.
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Failure to do this properly will delay your inmate getting their account credited and may require you to have to resubmit a second money order.
Call 936-598-5601 to ask any questions about this.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 936-598-5601 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail?
To register and sign up for a phone account with City Tele Coin to communicate with your Shelby County Jail inmate, follow the instructions below:
For all the information you need to know, including instructions, policies, tips and solutions to possible issues regarding making phone calls with an inmate in Shelby County, visit our full page guide.
NOTE: All phone conversations and messages are recorded and stored. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!
Also, be warned that some phone providers are collecting voice prints for a database which law enforcement agencies are building.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 936-598-5601 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow do I Mail an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Shelby County Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The Shelby County Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.
Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The Shelby County Jail allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Shelby County Jail standards will be disposed of.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
For inmates receiving mail in the Shelby County Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.
All mail is to be shipped to the Shelby County Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 936-598-5601 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail, and what can I purchase?
Whatever cash the inmate has on their person when booked into the facility will automatically deposited and credited to their account. When released any money left in the account will be returned to them in the form of a check from the Sheriff's Department or the Shelby County Jail Trust Account. There may be circumstances where the inmate can give permission to have his money released to a family member or friend.
Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Option 2 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mail to the Jail.
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID#
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Failure to do this properly will delay your inmate getting their account credited and may require you to have to resubmit a second money order.
Call 936-598-5601 to ask any questions about this.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 936-598-5601 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Shelby County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?
City Telecoin also has a secure messaging service that allows you and your inmate to send and receive messages electronically (after being read by the jail).
To register and sign up for a remote visitation account with City Tele Coin to communicate with your Shelby County Jail inmate, follow the instructions below:
For all the information you need to know, including instructions, policies, tips and solutions to possible issues regarding visiting with an inmate (both at the jail and remotely) in Shelby County, visit our full page guide.
NOTE: All video visits are recorded and stored. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!
Also, be warned that some video visits providers are collecting voice prints for a database which law enforcement agencies are building.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 936-598-5601 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessDo Inmates in the Shelby County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?
City Tele Coin is the same company that handles the inmate phone system, video visitations, email and texting and digital letters.
The tablets can be rented or used on a monthly basis and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for the following activities:
Here's how it works:
Questions:
City Tele Coin is the same company that handles the inmate phone system, video visitations, email and texting and digital letters.
The tablets can be rented or used on a monthly basis and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for the following activities:
Here's how it works:
Questions:
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Shelby County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 936-598-5601 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessWhat are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Shelby County?
This facility, known as "Shelby County Jail" is also known as Shelby County Jail & Sheriff, Shelby County Jail & Sheriff , Shelby County Jail & Sheriff , Texas, Shelby.