Explore Harris County Mugshots at No Cost

Perform a free Harris County mugshot search through official custodians today.

Inmate information— including mugshots —is open to the public in Harris County, due to the Freedom of Information Act and Texas Public Records Act. Members of the public can explore several databases hosted by official custodians to access these records, often at no cost.

This article walks you through the process of conducting a search for arrest and inmate mugshots in Harris County, Texas.

Where To Locate Free Mugshots in Harris County TX

Mugshots can be found by searching for arrest and inmate information.

In Harris County, Texas, arrest and inmate information are maintained by the county custodian, particularly the county sheriff’s office. This office serves as the records repository for crimes and related events that occur within the county.

However, when curious for contemporary arrest documentation, the city police departments will likely be your best bet, since they usually make the arrests.

Mugshots are not only made after an arrest; the state of Texas also captures photos of individuals incarcerated in the state prisons, but this may not be available to the public.

Below are the series of steps and methods to effectively perform a search for current booking information —particularly mugshots, within Harris County.

How To Obtain Harris County Mugshots for Free

Mugshots in Harris County will only be released if the individual is convicted.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) offers an online platform where interested individuals can access records maintained by the office for free.¹ The Online Public District & County Criminal Records Inquiry allows interested parties to search and access inmate records.²

To proceed, users must provide the offender’s information such as the individual’s name (this can be the last name –minimum of two characters, last name and first name, or last name with the date of birth), SPN (System Person Number) and SSN (Social Security Number).

Search results will show the name, SPN, date of birth, case number, booking number and offense details; however, the inmate’s mugshot is not included.

Since mugshots are considered part of public records in Harris County but are not available online, you may acquire these photos by submitting an Online Public Records Request, contacting the office via phone at 713.755.5300 or fax at 713.755.6228.

For inquiries and concerns regarding the access of records, contact the HCSO at:

Harris County Sheriff’s Office
1200 Baker Street
Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 346.286.1600 (Information Line)
Email: [email protected]

You can also contact the jail directly —the Harris County Jail and Outsource Jail — to see if they can provide the information you need. You can find their address and contact information below the online search form linked above.

Furthermore, VINELink, a third party provider, also allows anyone to access inmate records for free, but this may not always show mugshots.

For more detailed instructions, you can also refer to the steps for accessing criminal and arrest records in Harris County.

Services for Inmates in Harris County TX

Harris County Detention Facilities provide essential services to incarcerated individuals, meeting their needs and enabling family and friends to provide support through posting bail, sending funds, visitation, and communication.

These services include the following:

• Inmate Visitation: To visit an inmate, visitors must register online through the HCSO scheduling system and must follow general visitation rules.⁴ The Harris County Jail facilities also offer video visitation.
• Inmate Bonding Process: There are various types of bonds in Harris County; these include cash bonds, surety bonds, personal bonds, and pretrial release bonds, each with specific requirements and processes for inmate release.⁵ Cash or surety bonds can be posted at:

Harris County Sheriff’s Office
700 N. San Jacinto St.
Houston, TX 77002

• Inmate Mail: Senders must include their full name and return address, and the inmate’s name, SPN, and housing location and send it to the relevant facility where the inmate is housed.⁶ Every piece of mail received is inspected by the HCSO.
• Inmate Phone Calls: Inmates in Harris County Jail and associated facilities cannot receive phone calls but can make collect calls or use Advance Pay accounts set up by the receiving party through various service providers, depending on the specific facility.⁷ Phone calls may be recorded or monitored, with certain restrictions.
• Inmate Trust Funds: Inmate Trust Fund manages accounts for each inmate, with various deposit options available depending on the specific facility, including online transfers, mobile apps, kiosks, phone deposits, and mail-in money orders.⁸

Withdrawals from an inmate’s account require the inmate’s signed and thumb printed approval, must be for a minimum of $20 while maintaining a $10 balance, and can only be made in person at the visitor control center by someone with a valid government-issued photo ID.

For more information, visit the Harris County Jail Info Page.

How To Retrieve Mugshots via Harris County Cities

While Harris County itself offers several ways to look up arrest and inmate information – including mugshots, this information can also be obtained from city law enforcement agencies.

To obtain a mugshot in Houston City, the county seat, citizens can submit an Online Public Records Request.⁹ Requesters must provide the arrestee’s information such as name, date of birth and date of arrest, and must include the requester’s name and mailing address, to submit a valid request.

Alternatively, a request can also be made by sending an email, fax or visiting the Houston Police Department directly at:

Houston Police Department
Edward A. Thomas Building
1200 Travis, 1st Fl.
Houston, Texas 77002

Fax: 713.308.9150
Email: [email protected]

Some cities in the county have limited online search capabilities; to obtain records, searchers may need to visit the relevant department directly. To search for a specific police department’s website, use Google or another search engine and enter the keyword “[City Name] Police Department”.

You might also be curious whether you can access mugshots of individuals incarcerated in state or federal prisons. In the next section, you’ll find out what you need to know about searching for mugshots in such cases.

Accessing State & Federal Prisoners’ Mugshots

To search for prisoners’ mugshot, interested individuals may need to explore state custodians databases, as the county resources don’t usually get results.

Mugshots of individuals incarcerated in the state prisons are often accessible by the public, however this is not the case in Texas.

In the state, prisoner information is maintained by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), but they do not make prisoners’ mugshots available to the public. When searching for prisoners, other than mugshots, searchers can either send an email, contact the office by phone or use the Online Inmate Locator Tool provided by the TDCJ.¹⁰ This tool requires an individual name and TDCJ number to search.

On the other hand, to search for federal prisoners, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers an Online Inmate Locator with an option to search by name or BOP registered number.¹² However, mugshots may not be included in the online results; therefore, you may need to contact the Federal Bureau of Prisons directly to obtain the information you need.

The Texas Public Records Act and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) make this information accessible to the public.¹³ However, it is important to understand the proper and legal use of this public record.

Citizens must be aware and ensure that every information obtained complies with all local, state and federal laws. Stalking, harassment, intimidation and using these records for professional purposes –as outlined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) – are strictly prohibited.

Similarly, searchers must always be compliant with the guidelines set out and enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

If you’re looking for other public records, not just mugshots or arrest records, refer to the instructions for accessing public records in Harris County.

Now that you are aware of the ways and laws associated with accessing public records, you can perform a Harris County mugshot search ethically and responsibly.