Run a Hays County mugshot search and find inmates’ crucial information and their respective charges for free.
Mugshots, along with other public records, are freely accessible in Texas through the Public Information Act (PIA).1 This statute grants Texas residents access to public information and make copies of it if needed.
This streamlined resource will show the members of the public how to efficiently and effectively navigate the process of finding mugshot information in Hays County, Texas.
Where To Find Mugshots at No Cost
Citizens of Hays County have several options when accessing mugshot information.
The most common agency to reach out to is the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.2 This department has its own jail roster search tool; although it doesn’t display mugshots, it has all the information needed such as the offender’s full name, booking date, arresting agency, charges, and more.
If the arrest was not long ago, you can reach out to the city local law enforcements for a faster response to inquiries.
Lastly, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) provides an online inmate search where you can find information about criminals within the state.
The next section will tackle how to view inmate information using the Hays County jail records search tool in detail.
How To Obtain Hays County Mugshots (Free)
Hays County residents can use the jail records search tool provided by the sheriff’s office for finding inmates’ information.
This tool requires users to enter either the inmate’s name or booking number. If you want to narrow your search, you can provide more details such as the inmate’s middle name, birthdate, booking date, and release date.
After clicking ‘search’, a database of offenders that matches the details provided will be visible. When you see the letter ‘W’ beside the booking number, it means that a warrant for arrest was issued. You can also see the defendant’s name together with their date of birth, booking date, release date, arresting agency, and their respective charges.

You can click the booking number to view the full display and access more information about a specific offender. This shows the following details:
- Facility
- Physical Description
- Address
- Warrant Number
- Issuing Authority
- Date of Offense
- Bond/Type
- Fine/Costs
- Disposition
For more questions regarding inmates’ information, you can reach out the sheriff’s office using the contact details mentioned below:
Hays County Sheriff’s Office
810 South Stagecoach Trail
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: 512-393-7800
Operational Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
You can also use third-party service providers like VINELink if you’d like more options for mugshot searches.
Interested citizens can also check out the tutorial on finding inmate information across Texas for additional insights.
Correctional Services: Commissary, Visiting Procedures & Contact Methods
If an individual wants to reach out and send support to incarcerated people or their loved ones behind bars, there are various ways of showing it by following the list below:
- Face-to-face Visit: You can visit an inmate only by appointment. Contact the jail by phone at (512)-393-7366 or email [email protected]. With the exception of some major holidays, in-person visitation is typically allowed Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays; Tuesdays, there are only visits allowed in the evening. Each visitor will be limited to 20 minutes with the inmate.
- Telephone Calls: Offenders can receive phone calls from their family members and friends.
- Mail: All mail will go through the third-party provider, Securus Digital Mail Center. Once approved, it will be available for the inmates to view via kiosks or tablets. For instructions on how to address any postal mail, you can check out the FAQ page linked below.
- Send Money: The funds sent to the incarcerated individuals will go to their inmate trust fund and can be transferred via postal mail, online or phone deposits via Access Corrections or 866-345-1884, through various retailers, or in person via the kiosk at the address listed below:
Hays County Law Enforcement Center
1307 Uhland Rd.
San Marcos TX 78666
Hours: Monday -Friday 8AM – 5PM
Note: More details on the accepted payment methods, transfer methods, retailers, and other pertinent information can be found by reviewing the Hays County Inmate Services FAQ page.4
How To Find Mugshots via Cities in Hays County TX
Apart from county-level searches, Hays County citizens can also connect with local police departments in order to find inmates’ mugshots – mostly if the arrest has been made recently and you need to gather information quickly.
For convenience, the contact information of the 3 most populous cities in Hays County is provided below:
Agency | Address | Contact Information |
Austin Police Department | 715 E. 8th Street Austin, Texas 78701 |
(519)-974-2000 |
New Braunfels Police Department | 3030 W. San Antonio Street New Braunfels, Texas 78130 |
(830)-221-4100 |
San Marcos Police Department | 2300 IH 35 S San Marcos, Texas 78666 |
(512)-753-2108 |
You can also review the process of finding arrest information across Hays County for additional knowledge.
The section below details how to search mugshots using state and federal resources.
How To Access Prison Mugshots: Texas State & Federal Offenders
Mugshots usually apply to inmates; even so, they can be made after an offender has been taken into custody as well. Police photographs may be viewable when they are housed in state prison, but the result may not be accessible through county-level resources.
Texas residents can utilize the online inmate search tool from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to obtain vital information about inmates. The database can be searched using criteria such as the individual’s first or last name, assigned TDCJ or State Identification (SID) number, gender, or race.

The results offer more information including the offender’s name, physical description, maximum date of sentence, projected date of release, and parole information even though it doesn’t include mugshots.
The online inmate locator of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) can also be utilized by the members of the public if they want to find information about federal inmates.6 Records can be searched by either the inmate’s name or BOP number. It is important to note, however, that mugshots are not provided in this website.
The accessibility of public records in Texas are empowered by the Public Information Act and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).7 Nonetheless, these records must not be put to use illegally to stalk, harass, or threaten others and must adhere the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines.8
You can now confidently perform a Hays County mugshot search; utilize the resources provided in this resource to obtain all the information you are searching for.
References
1The Public Information Act. Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2024, from <https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/policies/open-records/public-information-act.php#:~:text=Texas%20Government%20Code%2C%20Chapter%20552,be%20available%20to%20the%20public.>
2Mission Statement. Hays County Sheriff’s Office. (2024). Retrieved September 9, 2024, from <https://www.hayscountytx.gov/sheriffs-office>
3Jail Records Search Detail. Hays County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2024, from <https://public.co.hays.tx.us/JailingDetail.aspx?JailingID=10254126>
4Sheriff – Jail Division – Frequently Asked Questions. Hays County, Texas. (2024). Retrieved September 9, 2024, from <https://www.hayscountytx.gov/sheriff/jail-questions-and-answers>
5Inmate Information Details. Texas Department of Criminal Justice. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2024, from <https://inmate.tdcj.texas.gov/InmateSearch/viewDetail.action?sid=18187678>
6Inmate Locator. Federal Bureau of Prisons. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2024, from <https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc//>
7Freedom of Information Act Statute. FOIA.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2024, from <https://www.foia.gov/foia-statute.html>
8Overview. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2024, from <https://www.eeoc.gov/overview>