Access Austin Inmate Population Records
Austin inmate population records are split between the Austin Police Department, which handles city arrests, and the Travis County Sheriff's Office, which runs the county jail where detainees go after the initial booking period. Austin has about 961,000 residents and is the capital of Texas. This page covers how to search for a current inmate, how to access APD mug shots and open records, and what state tools are available if someone has been transferred out of Travis County custody.
Austin Overview
Austin Police Department Arrests and Open Records
The Austin Police Department is at 715 E 8th St, Austin, TX 78701. You can reach APD at (512) 974-5000. Their website is at austintexas.gov/department/police. APD does not operate a long-term city jail. After someone is arrested and booked, they are transferred to the Travis County Jail for continued detention.
APD maintains a public open records portal at austintexas.gov/department/open-records-information. You can submit requests for APD reports, arrest records, and other documents through that system. Austin also has a public mug shots page at services.austintexas.gov/police/mug_shots/index.cfm. This page shows recent bookings processed through APD and includes booking photos when available.
The screenshot below shows the Austin Police Department website, which is the main public site for APD contacts, services, and records access.
The Austin Police Department website provides department contact information, public records guidance, and links to open records requests for APD.
APD's site is the starting point for records requests, division contacts, and general information about Austin Police arrests and booking procedures.
The Austin open records page explains how to submit a public information request to the City of Austin, including APD arrest and booking records.
Austin's open records system is how you formally request arrest reports and related documents from APD and other city departments.
APD Mug Shots and Travis County Inmate Search
For recent bookings by Austin Police, the APD mug shots page at services.austintexas.gov/police/mug_shots/index.cfm shows photos and basic booking information. This is a quick way to confirm whether someone was recently booked by APD. The page shows recent entries and is a good first check for arrests that happened in the last day or two.
For longer-term custody, search the Travis County Sheriff's Office inmate system at tcsheriff.org/inmate-jail-info/inmate-info/find-an-inmate. This is where you look for anyone who has been in custody for more than a short period. The Travis County Jail holds people arrested in Austin and throughout Travis County. Search by name to find current custody status, charges, and bond information.
Have the person's full legal name and date of birth ready when you search Travis County. Austin is a large city, and common names can return multiple results. The date of birth narrows it down quickly. If you already have a booking number, that is even faster. New bookings can take several hours to appear in the county system after initial processing. If you can't find someone online right away, a phone call to the Travis County Jail can confirm whether they are in custody.
The screenshot below shows the APD mug shots page, which displays recent booking photos and basic information for people booked through Austin Police.
The APD mug shots page shows booking photos and basic information for recent Austin Police arrests.
The APD mug shots tool is a useful public resource for confirming recent bookings processed through Austin Police Department.
State Inmate Search Tools for Austin Cases
If someone from Austin has been convicted and moved to a Texas state prison, they will not appear in the Travis County Jail search. Use the TDCJ Offender Search to find state prison inmates. Search by name, TDCJ number, or State ID. The system shows facility, sentence details, convictions, and release information. It covers all Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities statewide.
Victims and family members who need to track an inmate's status can sign up with VINELink at 1-866-277-7477. VINE covers Travis County Jail and all TDCJ prisons. You register once and get automatic alerts by phone, text, or email whenever someone's custody status changes. It runs 24 hours a day and costs nothing to use.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards publishes population data and inspection reports for county jails across Texas, including Travis County. Their site is a good resource if you want to understand how the county jail system is performing against state requirements.
Austin Inmate Public Records Requests
Under the Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552), you can request records from APD, Travis County, and other public agencies. This covers booking records, arrest reports, jail logs, and documents tied to the Austin inmate population. Submit requests to APD at 715 E 8th St, Austin, TX 78701 or through the online open records portal at austintexas.gov. Travis County records go through the Travis County Sheriff's Office.
Paper copies cost $0.10 per page. Agencies have 10 business days to respond. Basic arrest information, including name, age, charge, and booking date, is public under Texas law. If an agency denies a request you believe should be granted, the Texas Attorney General's open government office can review the denial and issue a ruling.
Travis County Inmate Population Records
Austin is the county seat of Travis County, and the Travis County Sheriff's Office runs the jail that holds Austin arrestees after initial booking. For complete information on the county jail system, online search tools, and Travis County resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
If you are not sure which city made the arrest, check these nearby city pages for inmate search resources.