Dallas County Jail
This page is dedicated to the Dallas County Jail also known as Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas, Texas. Have you been here before? Tell us about it by clicking here.
The Dallas County Jail houses inmates at North Tower, West Tower, and Kay’s Tower.
How Do You Locate An Inmate
There are three ways to locate an inmate- online, in-person, or via telephone. To go online, click here; by phone call 214-761-9025; in person, visit the jail staff in the lobby at 111 W. Commerce St. , Dallas, TX 75208.
Where Is The Jail Located
The Dallas County Jail (Lew Sterrett Justice Center) address is 111 Commerce St. Dallas, TX 75208.
What Time Is The Jail Open
The Dallas County Jail (Lew Sterrett Justice Center) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When Are Visiting Hours
Make sure and read this paragraph clearly because visiting hours are very specific.
Be prepared to wait in several lines. Sometimes the wait may be anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
No visitations on Wednesdays but Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday is 7:00PM-9:00PM for the appropriate last names.
- Visitors can go on Mondays and Thursdays (7:00PM-9:00PM), but ONLY if the person you are visiting has a last name that starts with A-L.
- Visitors can go on Tuesdays and Fridays (7:00PM-9:00PM), but ONLY if the person you are visiting has a last name that starts with M-Z.
- On Saturday and Sundays, any inmate can be visited between 8:00AM-2:00PM.
If you have kids (anyone under the age of 17), the only day they can visit is Saturday and Sunday. Keep in mind that only two (2) children are allowed to visit per adult.
Also, a person can only visit an inmate if they are listed on the inmate’s visitor card. The inmate can only change his or her visitor card one (1) time every 90 days.
Visitors are only allowed to visit two (2) times per week.
What Do I Need To Visit An Inmate
All visitors will be subject to search and you will have to go through a metal detector so use your common sense when going to visit an inmate.
You must be on the inmate’s visitor card. Valid photo identification is needed to visit. This includes state driver’s license, state identification card, or alien card. Remember you can only visit an inmate two (2) times per week.
How Do I Find Out If An Inmate Has A Bond
You can check online by clicking here.
How Can I Give An Inmate at Dallas County Jail Money
Inmates in the Dallas County jail can maintain an inmate trust fund account and can access the funds through a bar code on their armbands. All cash funds in possession of the inmate at the time of the booking process are deposited to their accounts.
If you wish to make a deposit to an inmate’s trust fund account, you will need the inmate’s name and bookin number. Use one of the available options:
- In person: Cash can be deposited at a kiosk machine at each jail.
- By internet: www.inmatedeposits.com as low as $2.95
- By phone: 1-866-345-1884 for as low as $3.95
What Mail Can I Send A Dallas County Inmate
You can only mail an inmate letters and cards. If you want to send them books, they must be soft-back books and must be sent firectly from a book publishing company.
To write letters address them as follows:
- Inmate Name
- Inmate Booking #
- Inmate Location
- PO BOX 660334
- Dallas, Texas 75266-0334
Dallas County Jail Tips
The Dallas County Jail (Lew Sterrett) allows friends and family to send inmates Gift Packages. Packages can be ordered via phone by calling 1-800-546-6283 or by visiting www.dallascountypackages.com. Packages may only be paid for by using Mastercard, Visa, or Discover credit card. Only one package may be sent per week. Orders received before Thursday at 6:00 AM will be delivered that same week.
Also remember to bring cash to pay to park your vehicle. There is paid parking all-around.
What Is The Website
You can visit the jail website by clicking here.
The Dallas County Jail List
Lew Sterrett Justice Center:
111 West Commerce Street
Dallas Texas 75202
The North Tower, West Tower and Suzanne L. Kays are all located adjacent to the Frank Crowley Courts Building. This complex is known as the Lew Sterrett Justice Center.
North Tower Detention Facility:
111 West Commerce Street
Dallas Texas 75202
Constructed in 1993, this ultramodern facility holds 3,292 maximum security inmates with 188 single cells. It takes a staff of 350 employees to operate this facility.
West Tower Detention Facility:
111 West Commerce Street,
Dallas Texas 75202
Located within the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, the West Tower has 132 tanks and 25 single cells. It can house up to 1,530 male inmates.
The West Tower, a mental housing facility, houses a variety of classifications besides medium and maximum custody inmates. These classifications include: Class “C”s, Trustee, Infirmary, lower bunk medical restriction, close behavioral observation, suicidal, HIV positive, homosexual and accused child molesters, crisis stabilization, protective custody, admin custody, psychological assessment program, and substance abuse. Inmates are housed accordingly.
Suzanne Lee Kays Detention Facility:
111 West Commerce Street
Dallas Texas 75202
This facility, also known as South Tower, is the department’s first direct supervision facility (meaning the detention officers work inside the actual housing unit with the inmates). The construction of this facility was completed in spring of 2008. Inmate capacity for this facility is 2,304.
Sheriff Jim Bowles dedicated this detention center to the memory of Suzanne Lee Kays back in 1995. Deputy Kays was killed in the line of duty on January 4, 1989, just six days after graduating from the sheriff’s academy.
This is the department’s first direct supervision facility, also known as South Tower (meaning the detention officers work inside the actual housing unit with the inmates). This facility’s construction was completed in the spring of 2008. This facility has a capacity of 2,304 inmates.
The George Allen Jail is situated in central downtown, directly across from the “Old Red Courthouse.” This detention center, also identified as the government center, is currently empty. In 1966, the facility received its first inmate. With a population of 800 inmates, this was the county’s main jail until the Lew Sterrett Justice Center was built on top of the George Allen Courthouse in 1983. “Old Jail”:
Across from Dealy Plaza is a building that was built between 1913 and 1914. The Dallas County Criminal Courts Building and jail are located on the corner of Main Street and Houston Street, directly across from the 1890 Dallas County Courthouse known as “Old Red.”
The top floors of the Criminal Courts Building used to house “The Old Jail,” which is now closed.
Because it was in a high-rise building, it was thought to be an escape-proof jail, but several escapes occurred while it was open, including some members of Clyde Barrow’s notorious gang.
When he was caught on film shooting Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby became a so-called “guest” of the “Old Jail.” The Dallas Police Department detained Lee Harvey Oswald until he was charged with felony murder for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. When Jack Ruby shot Oswald, he was being transferred into the County’s custody. Ruby was immediately apprehended.
Dallas County was still involved in hangings when the “Old Jail” was built. Until the “Old Jail” was finished, executions on gallows were carried out outside. Prisoners on “Death Row” were then hanged inside the “Old Jail” until the mid-1920s.
George Allen:
600 Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75202
The George Allen Jail is located downtown across from the “Old Red Courthouse”. This detention facility, also known as the government center, is currently depopulated. The facility housed its first inmate in 1966. With a population of 800 inmates this was the county’s main jail which sits at the top of the George Allen Courthouse until the Lew Sterrett Justice Center was completed in 1983.
“The Old Jail”:
Across from Dealy Plaza, stands a building that was constructed in 1913 and 1914. The Dallas County Criminal Courts Building and jail, which is on the corner of Main Street and Houston Street, and across from the 1890 Dallas County Courthouse known today as “Old Red.”
“The Old Jail”, which is now closed, used to be in the upper floors of the Criminal Courts Building.
It was originally thought to be an escape-proof jail since it was in a high-rise building, but several escapes took place when it was open, including some members of Clyde Barrow’s notorious gang.
Jack Ruby became a so-called “guest” of the “Old Jail,” when he was caught on film shooting Lee Harvey Oswald. Lee Harvey Oswald was detained by the City of Dallas Police Department until he was charged with felony murder, for the murder of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Oswald was being transferred into the County’s custody when he was shot by Jack Ruby. Ruby was immediately taken into custody.
When the “Old Jail” was constructed, Dallas County still participated in hangings. Executions on gallows were conducted outside until the “Old Jail” was complete. “Death Row” prisoners were then hanged inside the “Old Jail” until the mid-1920’s.
Specific Rules for Mailing Inmates
What you need to know. What can you send an inmate in Dallas County Jail?
Inmates may receive mail. Proper addressing of incoming mail is very important. Mail should be addressed as follows:
Inmate’s name and book-in number: | John Doe #05123456 |
Inmate’s location: | Tank #11 S 14 P.O. Box # 660334 Dallas, Texas 75266-0334 |
We only accept money orders for inmates through the regular mail, but they must be made payable to “Inmate Trust Fund”. We also accept Social Security and Attorney General checks that may be payable to the inmate. For information on adding money to an inmates account, navigate to the Inmate Money page.
The sende should include their full name and return address, in case the inmate has been released. Mail is not forwarded to the inmate once he/she has been released. Mail for released inmates is returned to sender or sent to the dead letter department at the U.S. Post Office. Legal mail will be opened in the inmate’s presence.
- Inmates are allowed to receive books, magazines, or newspapers sent from a bookstore (Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Borders, Mardels, Lifeway, Better World Books, or directly from a publisher) not from any other private company. There is a five book maximum that an inmate can possess at any time. No hard back books allowed.
Items prohibited from being received through the mail are, but not limited to the following:
- Any items not lawfully obtained or possessed under terms outlined in the Texas Penal Code are considered illegal material.
- Glue, paperclips, clasps, staples, magnets, stickers, tape, plastic, wood, cloth, glass, ribbon, liquids, metal, electronic devices, or any like material.
- Writing materials such as stamps, blank paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, or stationary.
- Unsigned greeting cards.
- Greeting cards larger than 8”x10”.
- Greeting cards that contain padding, musical device, metal clasps, plastic, string, ribbon, confetti, glitter, or laminated items.
- Photographs larger than 8”x10”.
- Polaroid photographs.
- Photos depicting obscenity, violence, pornography, or of a sexually enticing nature.
- Profanity (on the envelope).
- Tobacco or tobacco products.
- Bus passes, bookmarks, or calling cards.
- Perishable items.
- Clothing.
- Stains or unidentifiable marks.
- Writing/drawing in crayon, marker, or colored pencils.
- Mail identified as Legal Mail, but contained non-legal material.
- Books that were not shipped from the publisher or the bookstore.
- Any items that by design restricts the ability to perform an effective search.
- Any items that have no value or are of no use to the inmate while incarcerated in this facility.
- Jewelry.
- Any items with a glued surface or backing.
- Any items that may not be readily determined as to their nature or description.
Items of inflammatory nature described as follows:
- Contain information regarding or the depiction of the manufacture or likeness of explosives, weapons or drugs.
- Contain material that a reasonable person, could construe as written solely for the purpose of communicating information designed to achieve the breakdown of prisoners through inmate disruption such as strikes, riots or escapes.
- If the material leads to specific factual determination that the material is detrimental to a prisoner’s rehabilitation because it encourages deviate sexual behavior.
Dallas County Jail Chaplain – Religious Services
The Religious Services Section:
Coordinates the delivery of programs which serve the religious beliefs and practices of inmates confined in all Dallas County jail facilities. Religious services, study groups, and clerical care are provided by volunteer religious service providers representative of religious faiths available in the local community. Religious programs are managed to accommodate the free exercise of religion by providing inmates clerical care through the services of volunteer chaplains as well as ensuring inmates have the opportunity to pursue individual religious beliefs and practices in accordance with the law and the Texas Commission of Jail Standards. Persons interested in becoming a volunteer religious service provider can contact the religious service coordinator at 214-653-2838.
Religious reading material for inmates is provided through donations from the local community. Those desiring to donate bibles, kurans, and other religious literature for inmates should call the religious services coordinator at 214-653-2838. Paperback and/or soft cover books only may be donated.
Secular educational programs are provided to ensure inmates have the opportunity to participate in a DISD Adult Basic Education Program leading to the completion of requirements to obtain a GED. The DISD program also offers ESL classes for those inmates who need help in reading and speaking the English language. College classes are made available by El Centro Community College giving inmates the opportunity to learn computer skills, welding skills, art, and participate in educational development programs designed for continuing education credits such as food service and basic print shop.
Law libraries are available in each jail facility to provide inmates with access to law books they can use in legal research related to their case(s). The law libraries also provide the service of general circulation book carts with recreational reading material for all inmates. Indigent inmates (those with less than $5.00 in their inmate account) are also provided with correspondence supplies for correspondence with persons outside the jails.
Television and radio programs are provided throughout the jail facilities for inmate viewing. VHS or DVD movies may be donated to the Inmate Programs Division by contacting the video services section manager at 214-653-5867.
Personal hygiene kits are provided to indigent inmates (those having less than $5.00 on their inmate account). Inmates who think they are indigent need only to ask the commissary cart attendant for a personal hygiene kit.
HIV/AIDS education, intervention, and prevention services are made available to inmates through our partnership with the Community Prevention and Intervention Unit of UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Self-help and social integration services are available to inmates through a variety of volunteer programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Dallas Urban League, Project Matthew (parenting, childbirth, and life skills classes focused on incarcerated mothers), and Resolana (providing therapeutic groups designed to empower women to break the cycle of incarceration). Other programs available to inmates are Inspiring Families (teaching family communication) and New Tools Circle Group (helping men develop new tools for wholesome thinking).
Dallas County Jail
How you can get Bonding & Bail
Updated December of 2017
You can now post an inmate’s bond via Western Union money wire service. It’s a fast way to send money, with three easy ways to get it done.
- Stop at one of more than 46,000 participating Western Union agent location in the U.S.
Find a nearby agent location at 1-800-634-3422 or visit www.westernunion.com. Use cash and fill out a blue quick collect form. - Call Western Union:
Call 1-800-634-3422, press option 2, and have your Master Card, Visa or Discover card ready. - Go online:
Visit www.westernunion.com and use your Master Card or Visa Card.
The sender must have this information to transfer money to an agent location by phone or online.
- Pay to: Dallas County Sheriff’s Dept.
- Code city: DALLASBONDS
- State: TX
- Sender’s account #: Include booking # or Warrant # plus last name
- Attention field: First, Middle and Last name and Date of Birth
To assist with jail overcrowding, bond information is now temporarily available at no charge. Contact [email protected] for more info.
When is Dallas County Jail Visitation?
What are the rules for visitation? What do you need to bring or not bring to Visitation at Dallas County Jails?
Updated December of 2017,
What to expect:
Upon arrival at the detention facility, each visitor will fill out a visitor’s slip to visit the inmate. The officer working the visitation lobby will write the inmate’s booking number and tank location on the slip. The visitor will write on the back of the visitors slip the name, race, date of birth and sex of each person under the age of 17 who will accompany them to the jail floor to visit the inmate. Only two children per adult. Persons 17 years of age and older will be required to have proper identification and must be listed on the inmate’s visitors card.
The visitor will then be directed through a metal detector or scanned by a hand-held metal detector prior to going to the jail floors. Any visitor is subject to a physical search if probable cause exists. The officers in the visitation lobby will ensure no items are carried to a jail floor that is prohibited.
Dallas County Jail now provides video visitation please click here for further information.
Prohibited Items:
Cameras, purses, umbrellas, packages, mace, handbags, paper sacks, cell phones, pagers, cigarettes, cigarette lighters, matches,or any glass or metal containers. Prohibited items also include glass baby bottles, blankets, strollers, or toys for babies. Pocket knives and sharp objects, weapons of any kind, or other items which can be used either in its present form or by alteration, as a weapon in the jail are prohibited.
Jail Visitation Rules:
- A parent or a legal guardian must accompany minors under the age of 17. Only two children per adult may visit.
- Physical searches of visitors may be conducted with probable cause.
- Visitors shall not give any items directly to inmates.
- Visitors are required to successfully clear the metal detector before being allowed entrance into the secured area.
- Any disruption in the visitation process could result in visit termination and/or visit restriction.
Age of Visitors:
Children under 17 years of age will not be allowed to visit unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If you are the legal guardian documentation showing proof may be required. All children shall visit the same inmate being visited by the accompanying parent or guardian and shall be kept under the supervision of the accompanying adult. Visitors under the age of 17 who are married to an inmate shall show proof of marriage before visits shall be allowed.
Identification:
- All persons requesting visitation privileges must be in possession of a VALID State Driver License, State ID, or one of the following identifications:
- Valid state driver’s license, paper license renewal must be accompanied by other photo identification
- Texas Department of Public Safety photo identification card
- Jail Identification Card
- Official Government Issued Passport
- Military Identification Card
- Alien Registration Card or other valid photo identification card for the United States Government
A Dallas County jail visitation card can be obtained between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Probation Check located in front of the North Tower Jail Main Control Center, located at 111 West Commerce Street, Dallas Texas 75202. The applicant for an identification card must produce their birth certificate and social security card. The cost of the identification card is $5.00. Click here for details about obtaining a Dallas County jail visitation card.
Special Visits:
Special visits are allowed for persons living more than 75 miles from Dallas. A person seeking a “Special Visit” is not required to be on the inmate’s visitors card. The visitor must show valid proof of residence to qualify for a special visit. Visits for a person living more than 75 miles from Dallas may be at any time other than the regular visitation hours excluding feeding times or emergency conditions.
Special visits are provided on a one time only basis for those persons who live more than 75 miles from the facility and could not have reasonably anticipated to visit, at the time the inmate completed the visiting card.
Non-Contact Visitation:
With the exception of “Special Visits,” all visitors 17 years of age and older must be on the inmate’s visitors card. All visits are non-contact visits. No exchange of paperwork, property, pictures, letters, books, legal work or money will be allowed. These items, with the exception of books, may be sent in the U.S. Mail. An inmate may receive books, but they must be sent directly from the publisher.
Prior Incarcerations:
Persons who have been in jail during the last six months will not be allowed to visit unless the visitor is the inmate’s legal spouse and prior authorization has been obtained by the jail supervisor.
Dress Code:
All visitors must be in proper attire at all times. No one will be allowed entrance wearing the following:
- Transparent Clothing
- Seductive Clothing
- Tube Tops
- Halter Tops
- Strapless Tops
- Backless Tops
- Spaghetti Straps
- Short must be at knee length
- Skirts must be at knee length
- Visitors who are inappropriately dressed in gang-related clothing, hairstyles or graffiti will be denied visits.
Orderly at All Times:
Any visitor, guest, or child of the visitor is expected to be orderly at all times. Visitor’s children will not be allowed to run and or play in the visitation areas. A visitor will be warned that the children must be kept in control at all times. If, after the warning, the problem persists, a detention supervisor will be called to the floor. The supervisor, at their discretion, may allow the visitor to remain or ask the visitor to leave. No child may be left unattended while in the lobby area or during visitation.
Visitors will not be allowed to conduct themselves in a manner which may be considered as lewd. Visitors may not become loud or obscene with their voice or language. Visitors that are disruptive or who violate jail security may be asked to leave by a jail supervisor. Visitors may be banned from future visits by the facility commander based on their actions during the visit. Once a visitor leaves the secured area of the jail they will not be granted return to the secured area during the visiting day.
Visitation Hours:
Monday and Thursday: Inmates with the last names A-L. (No children under age of 17 allowed)
Tuesday and Friday: Inmates with the last names M-Z (No children under age of 17 allowed)
Saturday and Sunday: Open visitation – all children may visit.
Visiting hours at all jail facilities is as follows: | |
---|---|
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
Saturday/Sunday | 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
*****Wednesdays no visitation**** |
Each visitor may visit only once per calendar week. The visitor must arrive at least thirty minutes before the end of visiting hours to ensure ample time for processing.
Video Visitations
Participation in video visitation is a privilege, not a right. Both visitor and inmate are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate fashion at all times during a visit.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Department reserves the right to deny, cancel, or terminate a video visit prior to or during a session based upon visitor or resident inmate misconduct. Dallas County Sheriff’s Department also reserves the right to restrict visitor from participating in all future video visits.
All video visits are recorded and subject to electronic monitoring by DALLAS COUNTY personnel. Your participation in video visitation constitutes consent to this recording and monitoring.
On-Site and Off-Site video visits may be scheduled in advance by the visitor from the Securus Video Visitation Website www.securustech.net/videovisitation.
All video visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. The registering Visitor must be at least 17 years of age and present a valid, government issued photo identification during the initial registration process. Visitors under the age of 17 must have a parent or guardian present during the video visit. Approvals are generally made within 24 hours.
The duration of each video visit is 20 minutes. Inmates are not restricted as to the number of off-site video visits they may receive in a week. On-site video visits are restricted to 2 video visits per week.
The Visitor and the inmate are responsible for being present at the start of the scheduling video visit. Visitors and inmates signing in late will only receive the balance of the remaining time for the scheduled video visit.
There will be times when visits will be rescheduled as follows: Court, Work Assignment, Lock-Down, Sick Call, Attorney Visit, and Inmate Housing Re-assignment.
Emergency situations will result in the immediate canceling of any affected visit.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Department assumes no financial or other liability for failure to complete a scheduled video visit.
No NUDITY, provocative clothing, or tight fitting clothing will be allowed during the video visit. First violation of this rule will result in being barred from off-site and on-site video visitations for 30 days, second violation- 60 days, third violation- barred permanently.
Visitors appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs; displaying items that may be considered contraband such as drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons; or displaying gang signs, symbols, colors, etc., are subject to having the visit cancelled and barred from future visits.
Any type of provocative or disruptive behavior will not be permitted. No pictures of any type will be allowed during the video visit session.
Do not damage or deface the visitation equipment. Doing so may result in prosecution. These Rules are subject to change at the discretion of the Sheriff.
On-Site Video Visitation Hours Availability:
Monday: 8:00 am- 8:30 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am- 8:30 pm
Thursday: 8:00 am- 8:30 pm
Friday: 8:00 am- 8:30 pm
NO CHILDREN ALLOWED UNDER THE AGE OF 17 DURING THE WEEK
Saturday: 8:00 am- 8:30 pm
Sunday: 8:00 am – 8:30 pm
**** NO VISITATIONS ON WEDNESDAY ****
I was recently an inmate here at the LSJC. I had never been to jail before, and this was a bad enough experience to convince me that I never want to go back to any jail. I was arrested at around 10 PM on a Monday, booked into the jail at 11 PM, and was led to the waiting room you sit in while you wait to see the arraignment magistrate. They seem to have the AC on full blast 24/7, so if you didn’t come in with a sweater on (i.e., in the middle of summer), you can guarantee you will be freezing. You are permitted to sit in cold, hard plastic seats with your feet on the ground for hours, waiting for your turn to see the magistrate. they call you into the courtroom in groups of about 16 every 3 hours or so. I finally got to see my magistrate at around 7 AM. You are ushered into a courtroom where your charges are read to you in front of everyone else, and your bail amount is set. You are asked if you’re a US citizen and if you will need an attorney. That’s it. They call it an arraignment, but you are never allowed to enter your plea. Afterward, you’re ushered out for mugshots and fingerprinting and given the opportunity to pay your bail in full (which most of the time you can because most banks place a restriction on how much you can withdraw, which is always less than what your bail is) and then it’s off to the holding tanks. I waited in one holding tank for about 2-3 hours before my TB test was administered, and my personal belongings were finally removed from me (cell phones are confiscated at the time of booking, and you are not allowed to see them again, so if you weren’t smart enough to grab phone numbers from the contact book you’re screwed. Then it’s off to dress out. You’re ushered into a shower room where you are split into individual stalls and ordered to strip, and are given your very attractive striped outfit and shower shoes. For me, they ran out of socks, so I didn’t get any and had to suffer very cold feet for three days until laundry came around and I could get a pair. After you dress out, you’re given your wool blanket and towel in a mesh bag and ushered into yet another holding tank (by this time, it was approximately 12 PM–any sense of time at this point was pretty nonexistent) to await cell assignment. it took them about another 3 hours to figure that out for me…but before that, they pull you aside for an intimate interview and ask you if you’ve ever been a victim of a sex crime…do you think you will be raped and if you’re a homosexual. I am gay, so I did say yes and was asked if I preferred to be assigned to homosexual housing (colloquially named the “gay tank” by the inmates) or if I wanted to stay in General Population. I elected to be assigned to the “gay tank.” At this point, I was then given my wristband (which I had to show more times than I could count). I was taken to the west tower, where I was given my mattress pad, silicon cup, plastic spoon, and roll of toilet paper and was escorted to my tank. Apparently, there are two types of tanks: 8-man and 24-man. I was placed in a 24-man which consisted of a common area, the toilet/shower area (whats privacy?), and then there were the actual cells…8 men to a cell on four bunk beds. Finally…16 hours after I was booked into the jail, I was in my cell. The next four days were equally as unpleasant. The meals were food that tasted like the cardboard box they came in, and they never arrived at the time they were supposed to (430 AM for breakfast, 11 AM for lunch, and 430PM for dinner). The air conditioning was blasted 24/7, so at night, it got very cold, especially when lockdown happened from 12A-430A. I heard about fights on a daily basis, and because of this, I decided to pass up the opportunity to be escorted to the recreation area. The detention officers were careless people who we extremely unconcerned about the welfare of the inmates. I would observe that it would take hours for them to respond to any requests that an inmate would have. 4 days after I was booked, a friend of mine posted my bail, and it took 6 hours for them to inform me that I was bonded out and to pack my things. I gathered up my things and was taken back to where I surrendered my belongings and placed in yet another holding tank that smelled very strongly of body odor and unshowered people. you were called out one by one and given your clothes back and allowed to change into them, and then it was back into the holding tank. we were then taken out in a group of about 12 people and given back our personal belongings one by one, but we weren’t allowed to open the bags that held our stuff. We were ushered into another line, where we were then crowded into one of the elevators down to the first floor. We formed one more line before the last door opened….the door to freedom. All in all, those four days I spent in The LSJC were four days I would never wish upon anyone. I’ve read so many horrible things about this jail since I have been out and personally, saw most of what people complained about.
You are very accurate in your description. Once you arrive the wait to get on the the next point of being dressed out takes appsalutely forever. Some people say it’s taken 18-20 hours and all this time you are sitting in a cold as hell room with annoying people all around you, guards who do not care for anybody who is not one of their own nor even treat you like a regular person. (When I was in city jail before this I was told I had stayed in that jail the longest but was one of the nicest people they’ve had come through in some time. Once I got to Dallas no matter what I was disrespected over and over and over by those a**h****.) And all you have are 2 20 year old tvs (“when I was sitting there for 13 hours when I had already been arraigned at city jail”) there was an hour through the night where on the men’s side they had a bra infomercial playing. The food is appsalutely horific.. and they do not even provide you with enough of the nearly inedible food to go to the bathroom regularly. (I couldn’t go but every 3 or so days). If your withdrawing from drugs they place you in west tower with the mentally ill inmates and I’m telling you some of them are freaking nuts. And the pods are as disgusting as the holding cells mentioned above. While in these pods the other side of the hall the actual cells probably 15-20 ft away are nothing but people on 23 hour lockdown. Basically solitary confinement. I’ve never gotten to see this in person before then but just WOW does that raise a whole other topic on its own and really helped me to understand just what torture solitary is. Once I was I got moved from west to Keys (the new) tower. Things weren’t so bad considering have been in west tower. They have flat screen tvs an ice maker and microwave. I guess to nuke the horrendous food unless you have romen to heat up. All things considered Lou Sterrett was by far the worst jail or experience I’ve even been through. Was in Dallas for 6 days and i would take the month i spent at neighboring Tarrant county any day. That place is just down right disgusting and your treated like scum on the bottom of the man’s shoe. People do whatever ever you can to make sure you never have to go through this hell and any other jail for that matter. You do not have to to have an appreciation for a good noble and honest life.
Its horrible. My son was having a gall bladder attack which we know is so dangerous and extremely painful. This lasted about a week and he kept filling out those request thingys and NOTHING! I could do nothing but sit home and cry. Some of the folks there are rough people but there are a lot there that are good people but they just made a mistake. Those guards could get so much more out of the inmates if they would show they really cared and wanted to help them. I have met a prison guard that swears by this. He says he works with a bunch of guards and they all try to show respect and care and its amazing the difference. I guess some just let the power go to their heads and/or just dont care. I pray my son is in an area where he has a few caring guards. Thats our only hope is to pray this. Treat them like animals and they will act like animals. If anyone knows of anything to do I will be on board. Other than that just pray!
I was arrested 8 years ago for trespassing . i spent 4 months in jail pregnant. I had hypormisis i was only taken to a doctor to prove i was pregnant. I told the arresting officer id been invited and had three witnesses to the fact id be renting the extra room.the officer called me a liar. I have epilepsy, asthma, type 1 diabetesand,and im supposed to wair hearing aids but the officer nocked them out when i went to seizing.this was due to the stress of being woken at 3 am, yelled at, the car lights, and being told i was going to jail. meaning i would lose the 2 part time jobs, one at McDonald’s the other taco bell i was supposed to start that morning. He said i was trying to hit him. sorry but those People here saying everyone in there are criminals and deserve the bad treatment are the ones who sound ignorant to me.
I agree with Steve A. It is a horrible place to be. It’s almost impossible to sleep at night and the food is disgusting. If you ever think you might be arrested in Dallas County, make sure you have at least $100 on you to put into your commissary account so you can buy decent snacks to eat while you are awaiting your bonding out. And, the pods are unbelievably nasty. Make sure you wear your jail provided shower shoes when taking a shower–it’s easier to do that than to have to first spray down the shower area with disinfectant. Also, before you lie down on your assigned bunk, wipe it down completely with the disinfectant, even spraying it on the sheets and allowing enough time for the stuff to dry.
All of these exact same bad things were said about, “Dawson State Jail”, where I was an officer there, but, I loved my job at, “Dawson”, and I consider myself as having been a good, and caring, officer, I was well respected there by both staff, and inmates, there are good officers, and there are the bad. Do they not have, Hall Porters, at, “Lew Sterrett”, to keep the restrooms clean when needed? As far as the food, most the time it looked pretty good to me, especially, on Mexican food day!