The Anderson County Inmate Population
Anderson County has one sheriff-run local jail and five Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison units within the county. Those systems serve different groups. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff W. R. Flores, operates the Anderson County Jail for fresh arrests, pretrial detainees, county-sentence inmates, bench warrants, parole holds, and people waiting on transfer. The TDCJ units in and near Palestine and Tennessee Colony hold sentenced state prisoners, not new county arrestees merely because the arrest occurred in Anderson County.
The local jail count comes from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, often called TCJS. The TCJS population report page is the best official source for jail capacity and monthly custody totals. On June 1, 2026, the TCJS current population workbook reported Anderson County Jail at 209 people in a 300-bed facility. That means the jail was at 69.7% of rated capacity. The number is a snapshot, not a live roster, but it is useful because it shows how many people were held in the local jail system and how they were classified.
The official sheriff page is the local starting point for jail information. Its jail source publishes records, visitation, mail, commissary, and civil/warrant links, but no official public jail roster was located there.
Source: Anderson County Sheriff's Office page
That source gap matters. A person trying to confirm a current Anderson County Jail inmate should use the jail phone and sheriff Records Department route rather than assume an official online roster exists.
Anderson County Inmate Population Statistics
The most recent TCJS current population report reviewed for the research gives three headline facts for local custody: a 300-bed rated capacity, 209 people held, and 69.7% occupancy on June 1, 2026. TCJS does not replace a jail booking record, but it is the state source for jail population accounting. It also separates jail classes, such as pretrial felonies, pretrial state jail felonies, parole violators, and people already sentenced to a TDCJ division but still counted in the county jail before transfer.
| Measure | Figure | Source / Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total jail population | 209 | TCJS Current Inmate Population Report, June 1, 2026 |
| Rated jail capacity | 300 beds | TCJS population reports, 2026 |
| Percent of capacity | 69.7% | TCJS current report row, June 1, 2026 |
| Annual bookings | Not located in official sources | Sheriff and TCJS sources reviewed did not publish an annual booking count |
| Average length of stay | Not located in official sources | No official Anderson County ALOS figure was found in the source set |
The TCJS population-report page is a direct source for the jail data in the statistics table.
Source: Texas Commission on Jail Standards population reports
Because TCJS reports are snapshots, the jail phone and records office remain the live route for current custody questions.
Anderson County Inmate Population Trends
The Anderson County jail population has stayed below rated capacity in each TCJS trend snapshot captured in the research file. The count rose from 176 on September 1, 2022, to 226 on September 1, 2024, then fell to 202 on September 1, 2025. The June 1, 2026 snapshot showed 209 people, still below the 300-bed rated capacity. The trend does not prove a policy change by itself. It does show that the county jail population has moved within a moderate range rather than exceeding its rated bed count in these official snapshots.
| Date | Total Jail Population | Capacity | Percent of Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1, 2022 | 176 | 300 | 58.7% |
| Sept. 1, 2023 | 215 | 300 | 71.7% |
| Sept. 1, 2024 | 226 | 300 | 75.3% |
| Sept. 1, 2025 | 202 | 300 | 67.3% |
| June 1, 2026 | 209 | 300 | 69.7% |
Population movement can come from new arrests, bond decisions, court releases, parole holds, state jail felony classifications, and TDCJ transfer timing. A person who is sentenced to TDCJ may still appear in a county jail population count while papers and transport are pending. After transfer, the person moves into the state prison lookup system.
Who Is Counted in Anderson County Inmate Data
The June 1, 2026 TCJS row shows that Anderson County Jail's local custody count was driven by felony and state-jail-felony categories, not Class C misdemeanors. Local pretrial felons accounted for 105 people, with 89 male and 16 female. Local pretrial state jail felons accounted for 45 people, with 35 male and 10 female. Local pretrial Class A/B misdemeanants accounted for 17 people, with 14 male and 3 female. TCJS also listed 21 people in convicted felon or parole violator categories sentenced to TDCJ divisions, plus parole-violation categories that can keep a person in the jail before state action is complete.
- Pretrial felony custody - 105 people were listed as local pretrial felons in the June 2026 TCJS row.
- Pretrial state jail felonies - 45 people were listed in that category, separate from ordinary misdemeanors.
- Parole-related custody - TCJS showed parole violator and parole violator with new charge categories.
- Federal or contract custody - the current row reviewed did not show federal inmates or contract inmates for Anderson County.
These categories are not the same as final court outcomes. A pretrial label means the case is pending, while a TDCJ-sentenced or paper-ready label points toward state transfer. A state jail felony is a Texas offense category, not proof that the person is already in a state prison.
Anderson County Jail Capacity
The Anderson County Jail was below rated capacity in the latest TCJS report reviewed. At 209 people in a 300-bed facility, the jail stood near seven-tenths full on June 1, 2026. Earlier snapshots also stayed below capacity. The research did not locate an official county jail construction notice, consent decree, closure order, or active reform release tied to overcrowding. The most reliable local statement is narrower: TCJS reported the jail under capacity in the reviewed monthly snapshots.
Capacity still matters for searches. When a jail has people awaiting TDCJ transfer, parole action, another county, or court review, a person can remain in local custody even after a case changes. That is why a current custody check should ask both where the person is held and which legal status applies.
Laws Governing Anderson County Inmate Records
Texas law creates the public-records framework for jail reports, booking information, and population data, but it also permits some limits. Anderson County's practical local gateway is the sheriff Records Department, because the sheriff page states that Records is the custodian for sheriff and jail records and accepts open-records requests or jail reports by email or letter. The Texas Public Information Act supplies the broader legal context, and TCJS law explains why county jail standards and population reporting are handled at the state level.
Key Statutes:
Texas Government Code Chapter 552 gives the public a general right to request government information unless a law or exception applies.
Texas Government Code 552.108(c) preserves access to basic information about an arrested person, an arrest, or a crime even when some law-enforcement material may be withheld.
Texas Government Code Chapter 511 creates the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the statewide county-jail oversight framework.
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.17 requires an arrested person to be taken before a magistrate without unnecessary delay for warnings and bail matters.
Law-enforcement exceptions, juvenile confidentiality, medical privacy, safety issues, sealed records, and expunction orders can affect what is released. A records request should ask for specific jail reports or booking records and should avoid treating a missing online roster as proof that no record exists.
Anderson County State Prison Population
Anderson County is unusual because five large TDCJ units sit inside the county. George Beto Unit, H. H. Coffield Unit, Joe F. Gurney Transfer Facility, Mark W. Michael Unit, and Louis C. Powledge Unit have more than 12,000 combined listed capacity in TDCJ unit data. Those beds should not be blended with the 300-bed county jail. The state units hold sentenced male prisoners or transfer custody under TDCJ control, and they are searched through the TDCJ Inmate Information Search.
| System | Who It Covers | Lookup Route |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson County Jail | Fresh arrests, pretrial detainees, county sentences, holds, and transfer waits | Jail phone and sheriff Records Department |
| TDCJ prison units | Sentenced state prisoners at Beto, Coffield, Gurney, Michael, and Powledge | TDCJ Inmate Information Search |
| Federal custody | Federal sentenced prisoners or some released federal records | BOP Inmate Locator |
| Immigration custody | ICE detainees by A-number or biographical search | ICE Online Detainee Locator |
The TDCJ search source applies to state prison custody, not county jail booking.
Source: TDCJ Inmate Information Search
TDCJ states that the search includes currently incarcerated TDCJ inmates, is updated on working days, and is at least 24 hours old.
Search Anderson County Inmate Population Channels
No official public Anderson County Jail roster, searchable current-inmate page, recent booking feed, or mugshot gallery was located on the county sheriff source set. That finding changes the search process. The first step is not to hunt for a missing roster. The better route is to call the jail, use the sheriff Records Department for jail reports or booking records, and then check state, federal, or immigration locators only when the facts point outside local jail custody.
- Call Anderson County Jail or the sheriff office at 903-729-6068 and ask for the current custody check process.
- Use the sheriff Records Department for jail reports or booking records not available online.
- For a new arrest, confirm booking with the jail before trying to schedule a visit or send money.
- If the person was sentenced or transferred to state custody, search TDCJ by name, TDCJ number, or SID number.
- If federal or immigration custody is possible, use BOP or ICE systems separately.
- Use VINELink Texas for custody notification where the agency participates.
A bonding company may sometimes know whether a person has appeared in booking or has a bond set, but a bonding company is not the official record custodian. The jail and sheriff Records Department remain the official local channels.
Current Anderson County Inmate Lookup
The official public jail roster field set is blank because no official public roster was found. The research file did locate field notes for the Tarmactech visitation scheduler and TDCJ locator. The visitation scheduler is not a roster. It is used after an inmate is selectable for visit scheduling. The TDCJ locator is also not a county roster. It covers state prison custody. These limits are important because families often try the wrong system first.
| Search Tool | Field or Input | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County Jail public roster | No official field set located | n/a | The sheriff site did not expose a searchable current-inmate roster. |
| Tarmactech visitation scheduler | Inmate selection | Yes for visit scheduling | Official visitation rules say to select the inmate to visit. |
| Tarmactech visitation scheduler | Available date and time | Yes | The visitor chooses an available date and time and confirms required information. |
| TDCJ locator | Last name plus first initial, TDCJ number, or SID number | One route required | Gender and race filters can narrow state prison results. |
Past Anderson County Inmate Records
A released person may no longer be handled as a current jail custody question. For older booking details, jail reports, or records not published online, the sheriff page points to the Records Department. It states that the department is the custodian of records for the Sheriff's Office and Jail and accepts open-records requests or jail reports by email or letter. The mailing format shown in the research is Anderson County Sheriff's Office, ATTN: Records, Palestine, TX 75801. The sheriff page includes an email link, but the extracted public text did not expose a plain email address, so the official sheriff page should be used for that contact route.
Texas public-information law can support a request for basic arrest and jail information, but it does not mean every document or image is released without review. Active investigations, juvenile records, victim data, medical details, safety issues, sealed records, and expunction orders can change the response.
Anderson County Inmate Record Contents
Because no official public Anderson County Jail profile could be inspected, the county page should not be read as though it displays a full public profile online. A requested jail or booking record may contain common fields if releasable, but those fields are not promised as a live web roster. TDCJ profiles have their own state-prison fields, including state numbers and current unit, and they are separate from local booking charges.
| Field | What It May Show |
|---|---|
| Name and identifier | Person name plus booking number, sheriff number, TDCJ number, or SID depending on the system. |
| Booking date or custody date | When the jail intake or state-custody record was created. |
| Charges or offense data | Initial arrest allegations, court charges, or state sentence details, depending on the source. |
| Bond or hold status | Bond information if set, no-bond holds, detainers, warrants, or transfer status if releasable. |
| Facility or housing | The jail, TDCJ unit, or custody system where the person is held. |
| Release or transfer status | Whether a person left jail, moved to TDCJ, or remains in another custody system. |
Anderson County Jail vs TDCJ Prison
County jail and state prison are often mixed together in searches, but the distinction controls where to look. Anderson County Jail is the local facility for arrest intake and short-term custody. TDCJ is the statewide prison agency for sentenced prisoners. A person can pass through both systems, especially after conviction and sentencing, but each system has a different record path.
| County Jail | State Prison | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is held | Pretrial detainees, county sentences, holds, and transfer waits | Sentenced Texas prisoners |
| Run by | Anderson County Sheriff's Office | Texas Department of Criminal Justice |
| Where to look | Jail phone and sheriff Records Department | TDCJ Inmate Information Search |
| Local facilities | Anderson County Jail in Palestine | Beto, Coffield, Gurney, Michael, and Powledge units |
Anderson County Detention Facilities
The facility map has one local jail and five state prison facilities. The local jail is the place to check for a fresh Anderson County arrest. The prison units are searched through TDCJ because they hold sentenced state prisoners or transfer custody.
| Facility | Operator | Custody Type |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson County Jail | Anderson County Sheriff's Office | County jail, pretrial and local custody |
| George Beto Unit | TDCJ | Male sentenced state prisoners |
| H. H. Coffield Unit | TDCJ | Male sentenced state prisoners |
| Joe F. Gurney Transfer Facility | TDCJ | Male transfer and transient state custody |
| Mark W. Michael Unit | TDCJ | Male sentenced state prisoners |
| Louis C. Powledge Unit | TDCJ | Male sentenced state prisoners |
Anderson County Jail Visits and Mail
Anderson County Jail visitation is scheduled through Tarmactech. The official visitation PDF says visitors can use a computer, tablet, smartphone, or a jail-lobby tablet. Every visitor must be on the inmate's approved list. Each inmate is allowed two 20-minute visits per week, with up to three visitors at one time. Visitors must check in 20 minutes before the scheduled visit, and visitors age 16 or older need valid government photo ID that matches the scheduler information.
Source: Tarmactech visitation scheduler used by Anderson County Jail
Visitation rules support the custody-search point: a person must be processed enough to appear for visit scheduling before a visit can be set.
Mail rules are also local. Effective September 25, 2024, ordinary non-legal and non-medical mail goes to Anderson County Jail, PO Box 591, Longview, TX 75606 for scanning through NCIC. The mail must include the inmate name and SO number, plus return address. Only the front side of up to five pages is scanned, and one photo per mailing is permitted. Processed mail sent to the Longview address is destroyed after electronic delivery. Legal and medical mail must go to the jail or facility where the person is housed.
JailATM handles deposits and care packages. Funds must be deposited by noon Monday for that week's commissary order. Sheriff's office personnel do not accept cash, money orders, cashier's checks, or other currency in person or by mail.
Anderson County Inmate Population FAQ
How big is the Anderson County inmate population? TCJS reported 209 people in the Anderson County Jail on June 1, 2026, against a 300-bed rated capacity. That count is for the county jail only, not the five TDCJ prison units inside the county.
Is there an official Anderson County jail roster online? No official public Anderson County Jail roster or mugshot gallery was located in the sheriff source set reviewed. Use the jail phone at 903-729-6068 and the sheriff Records Department for current custody checks and jail reports.
Where are sentenced state prisoners searched? Sentenced state prisoners at Beto, Coffield, Gurney, Michael, or Powledge are searched in the TDCJ locator. The county jail records path is for local jail custody, not prison records.
Can VINELink help with Anderson County custody status? VINELink Texas is available for custody notification where an agency participates. It is useful for alerts, but it is not a full jail report or a substitute for sheriff records.