This guide helps you use official inmate search tools in Bexar County, Texas to check recent arrests, review booking details, and see which county office handles the next step.

It centers on the Bexar County Central Magistrate Search and other Sheriff’s Office services for recent jail, bond, and records questions. This site is independent and does not give legal, tax, or financial advice or guarantees, so use official county resources for decisions.

Use the county’s recent-arrest lookup first when someone was just booked. The Central Magistrate Search covers people arrested for a Class B offense or higher who were processed by the Central Magistrate Office within the last 24 hours.

  • Open the Central Magistrate Search and look for the person.
  • Review the result for identifying details and charge information.
  • Note the SID or booking number if it appears. Those details can help with later calls and records requests.
  • If nothing appears, move to the jail activity reports or the inmate and bond line for a broader check.

Jail activity reports

The Sheriff’s Office also posts recent bookings and releases in daily reports. These reports stay online for up to seven days, so they are useful when the 24-hour magistrate search does not show a match.

  • Check recent jail activity reports for daily bookings and releases.
  • Start with the report date so you are viewing the right day.
  • Use these reports as a recent-history check, not as a permanent record archive.

Depending on where a defendant is in the booking process, some data may not yet be updated, and the reports can be unavailable during maintenance or scheduled upgrades.

Bond information and payment rules

Have the identifying details ready before you call about bond status.

  • Full name
  • Date of birth

Use the official inmate and bond information page for county bond guidance, then call the Inmate/Bond Information Line at (210) 335-6201 to get inmate charges, bond amounts, and warrant information.

For a cash bond, the county says the full amount must be paid by cashier’s check or money order made payable to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, and you must have valid ID. The page also says no cash, traveler’s checks, or personal checks are accepted. Personal bond fees are listed as $20 or 3% of the bail amount, whichever is greater, though the court may waive the fee or assess a lesser fee for good cause.

If you use a surety company, the county says to verify the current license status before doing business and provides a list of active bail bond companies.

Important: The Sheriff’s Office says it does not take payment by phone and will not ask for gift cards or cryptocurrency.

Records and case follow-up

When you need more than a recent booking check, use the office or portal that matches the question. The county separates inmate lookup, court records, mugshots, and public information requests.

  • Use the Justice Information Portal for court records, hearings, and related case searching.
  • Use Central Records for mugshot requests. The county says you will need the full name, SID number, or date of birth.
  • If you need an inmate SID or a court date, the Sheriff’s Office points users to the Magistrate’s Office search, Central Filing for misdemeanor records, or the District Clerk for felony records.

Central Records also handles public information requests under the Texas Public Information Act and accepts electronic requests through the Public Information Request Center.

Inmate search contacts

These county contacts handle the main follow-up questions that come up after an inmate search.

  • Magistrate’s Office
    Recent arrests processed by the Central Magistrate Office
    Phone: (210) 335-6111
  • Inmate/Bond Information Line
    Charges, bond amounts, and warrant information
    Phone: (210) 335-6201
  • Central Records – Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
    Mugshots, records questions, and open records help
    Phone: (210) 335-6302
    Email: record@bexar.org
  • Central Filing
    Misdemeanor records and SID lookup help
    Phone: (210) 335-2238
  • District Clerk
    Felony records and related court-date help
    Phone: (210) 335-2591

Common questions

Does the Central Magistrate Search show every inmate in the jail?

No. It covers people arrested for a Class B offense or higher who were processed by the Central Magistrate Office within the last 24 hours. For a wider recent check, review the jail activity reports or call the Inmate/Bond Information Line at (210) 335-6201.

What should I do if I cannot find the person online?

Check the daily jail activity reports next, because they are kept online for up to seven days. Also remember that some records may not appear right away if booking is still being processed, and the reports can go offline during maintenance.

What information do I need to ask about bond or charges?

The county says you will need the person’s full name and date of birth when calling the inmate and bond line. That line gives charges, bond amounts, and warrant information, and the county also posts bond rules on the official inmate and bond page.

How do I get a mugshot or check a court date?

For mugshots, contact Central Records at record@bexar.org and include the full name, SID number, or date of birth. For court dates and related case details, use the Justice Information Portal, or follow up with Central Filing for misdemeanor matters and the District Clerk for felony matters.

Do online results replace official county records?

No. The county says its Justice Information Portal is a public convenience resource and is not a replacement for official records or other official information received directly from county offices. If you need to confirm a detail, compare the online result with the appropriate county office before relying on it.