Jim Wells County 72 Hour Booking Records
Jim Wells County 72 hour booking records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Alice. This South Texas county sits between Corpus Christi and Laredo. The jail processes all local arrests and tracks bookings through its system. You can search for current inmates online or call the Sheriff's Office at (361) 668-5717. Records are open to the public under Texas law, and anyone can ask for booking data without stating a reason.
Jim Wells County Overview
Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office
The Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office operates the county jail in Alice and provides law enforcement for the county. All arrests made in Jim Wells County, whether by deputies or city police, go through this facility for booking.
Alice is a hub for the oil and gas industry in South Texas. Jim Wells County has a steady flow of people moving through, which keeps the jail active. The Sheriff's Office also works with the Texas Highway Patrol on cases along the major roads that cross the county.
| Office | Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | Alice, TX |
| Phone | (361) 668-5717 |
The Sheriff's Office is the main point of contact for 72 hour booking records in Jim Wells County. Call or visit the office in Alice for the most current information.
Search Jim Wells County 72 Hour Booking Records
Jim Wells County offers online search for jail records. You can look up inmates by name and see booking details, charges, and bond amounts. This is the fastest way to check on a recent 72 hour booking.
The DPS Criminal History search provides statewide records. It costs $3 per name and covers all convictions and deferred adjudications in Texas.
For help by phone, call the jail at (361) 668-5717. Staff can confirm if someone is in custody and whether they are on a 72 hour hold.
The Texas DPS Crime Records Division provides statewide criminal history data that includes Jim Wells County bookings and convictions.
This is a good fallback when the local county system does not have the record you need.
Note: Online search options in Jim Wells County may be limited. Call the jail directly for the most current 72 hour booking information.
72 Hour Booking Hold Rules in Jim Wells County
Texas law limits how long someone can be held after a warrantless arrest. Under Article 17.033 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a person arrested for a misdemeanor must be released within 24 hours on a bond of no more than $5,000 if probable cause has not been found. For a felony, the limit is 48 hours with a bond cap of $10,000.
The state can ask a magistrate to extend the hold to 72 hours. This request must come from the state. It is not automatic. In Jim Wells County, the local magistrate handles these decisions. The 72 hour booking hold gives law enforcement time to process the case while still protecting the rights of the arrested person.
Under Article 14.06, the arrested person must be taken before a magistrate within 48 hours. The magistrate sets bail and tells the person about their rights, including the right to a lawyer. If the person cannot pay for one, the court starts the appointment process under the Texas Fair Defense Act.
Public Access to Jim Wells County Booking Records
Booking records in Jim Wells County are public. The Texas Attorney General's Open Government division confirms that arrest records fall under the Texas Public Information Act. You do not need to be the person arrested. You do not need to give a reason. Anyone can ask.
The Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office must respond to public records requests within ten business days. You can make a request in person, by mail, or by phone. There may be a small fee for copies. Texas Government Code Chapter 552 lays out the full process, including how to challenge a denial.
Some records may be held back. If release would hurt an active investigation, law enforcement can withhold data under Section 552.108. Under Texas Government Code Section 411.135, conviction records and deferred adjudication data are public. The DPS search at dps.texas.gov lets you look up these records for $3 per search.
Track 72 Hour Booking Status in Jim Wells County
VINE is a free tool that lets you track custody status for someone held in Jim Wells County. Search by name. The system shows if the person is still in jail, has been released, or has been moved. You can sign up for alerts by phone, email, or text.
VINE is useful when you need to know the status of a 72 hour booking hold. If the person gets released on bond or the hold expires, VINE sends a notice right away. The service runs around the clock in English and Spanish. You can track more than one person at a time.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards oversees jail conditions in Jim Wells County. If you have a complaint about how a booking was handled, mail it to P.O. Box 12985, Austin, TX 78711.
Under the Texas Indigent Defense Commission guidelines, Jim Wells County maintains a plan for appointing lawyers to people who cannot afford one. If a person held on a 72 hour booking asks for counsel, the magistrate must send the request to the right court within 24 hours.
Cities in Jim Wells County
Alice is the county seat and the primary city in Jim Wells County. All arrests in the county are processed through the Jim Wells County jail. The Alice Police Department handles city arrests, but bookings go through the county system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Jim Wells County. If you are not sure which county handled the booking, check where the arrest took place.