Accountability.Shelby County Jail Information Page
Editorial image created for Texas Prison News.
This page gives Shelby County families one place to find verified Shelby County Jail contact information, visitation guidance, the online jail roster, commissary and telephone instructions, mailing rules, and current Texas Prison News reporting on the jail.
Information last verified September 30, 2026. Shelby County is a small county with limited information online, so some details below should be confirmed by calling the jail. Policies and providers change — always check before you rely on them.
Shelby County Jail Information
The Shelby County Jail is run by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Center, the county seat. It is a small facility, and the jail and Sheriff’s Office share the same complex on Hurst Street. For anything not covered here, call the jail directly at the number below.
- Operating agency
- Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff Gerald Corbell)
- Official facility name
- Shelby County Jail
- Physical & mailing address
- 100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935 - Main telephone numbers
-
(936) 598-5601 — Sheriff’s Office and jail (inmate information, visitation scheduling; the jail administrator is ext. 4)
(936) 598-5600 — Sheriff’s Office number listed on the Shelby County website - Official websites
- Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (scsotx.org) · Sheriff’s page on the Shelby County website
- Official jail pages
- Shelby County jail roster
- Information last verified
- September 30, 2026, against the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office website and the Sheriff’s page on the Shelby County website. Visitation, deposit, and phone details below are from public jail directories and should be confirmed with the jail.
Find Someone in the Shelby County Jail
The Sheriff’s Office publishes an online jail roster (hosted by Kologik), linked from its “Jail Roster” page. It is the quickest way to check whether someone is currently being held.
How to search
Look the person up by name on the roster. You can also use VINELink — choose Texas and search by name — and register there for a free alert if their custody status changes. If someone was booked very recently or does not appear, call the jail at (936) 598-5601.
A name and date of birth are all you need to look someone up. You should not have to enter a Social Security number or other sensitive personal information.
What you may need
- The person’s full legal name (try spelling variations and any former or maiden name).
- Their date of birth.
- Their inmate ID / booking number — you will need it for mail and deposits. Ask the jail if you do not have it.
Charges, bond, and court dates
For charges and bond amounts, call the jail at (936) 598-5601. Court records are kept by the Shelby County District Clerk (felonies) and County Clerk (misdemeanors) at the Shelby County Courthouse, 200 San Augustine Street, Center. An arrest is not a conviction.
Visitation Information
Shelby County does not post its visitation rules online. Public jail directories list on-site visits by appointment and video visits through City Tele Coin, including a free kiosk in the Sheriff’s Office lobby. Call (936) 598-5601 to confirm the current schedule and to book a visit.
On-site visits — days and hours
As posted by public jail directories (confirm current times with the jail):
- Sundays 12:30–2:30 p.m. and Tuesdays 5:30–7:30 p.m.
- Visits last about 20 minutes, with up to two visits per week and up to two guests per visit.
- You must be on the person’s visitor list and make an appointment in advance by phone.
Who can visit and what to bring
- Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Dress conservatively — no revealing clothing. The jail can turn away a visitor for inappropriate dress.
- Leave phones and bags in your vehicle unless the jail tells you otherwise.
Video visits
Directories list City Tele Coin as the video-visit provider, with visits limited to about 10 minutes per visitor per day. Ask the jail how to set up an account before you pay for anything.
Commissary and Money Deposits
Money for commissary (snacks, hygiene items, writing supplies) goes into the person’s jail account. Public jail directories list City Tele Coin as the deposit service. Confirm with the jail before your first deposit.
Deposit methods
- Online through City Tele Coin.
- Kiosk in the Sheriff’s Office lobby, 100 Hurst Street.
- By phone or by mail through the provider — ask the jail for the current instructions. Never mail cash.
What you must provide
The person’s full name and their inmate ID / booking number.
Deposit fees and any weekly or monthly spending limits are set by the jail and its provider and can change. The Sheriff’s Office will never call to demand payment by phone, card, or gift card — treat any such demand as a scam.
Telephone Calls and Communication
People in the Shelby County Jail can make outgoing calls but cannot receive incoming calls. To get calls from someone inside, you set up and fund an account with the jail’s phone provider.
Which provider?
Public sources do not agree on the current phone provider — directories list different companies, and the county has signed agreements with more than one provider over the years. Call the jail at (936) 598-5601 and ask which company handles inmate calls now before you open an account or add money.
Calls are recorded and monitored, except properly arranged calls with an attorney. Rates and fees are set by the provider and can change — check current pricing before adding a large balance.
Mailing Instructions
Mail goes to the jail, where it is opened and inspected before being given to the person.
Mailing address
[Full name of incarcerated person], Inmate ID #[number]
Shelby County Jail
100 Hurst Street
Center, TX 75935
Put your own full name and return address in the top-left corner of every envelope or postcard. Mail without a complete return address may be refused.
What to expect
Small county jails typically limit incoming mail to letters, postcards, and a small number of photos, and often require books to be shipped directly from a publisher or bookstore. Do not send cash, stamps, or anything with staples, glue, stickers, or other contraband. Because Shelby County does not publish a mail policy online, call the jail at (936) 598-5601 before sending photos, books, or anything unusual.
Money and legal mail
Do not put cash in a letter — use the deposit options in Section 4. Legal mail from an attorney is handled separately; ask the jail for its current procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out if my loved one is in the Shelby County Jail?
Check the Shelby County jail roster, which the Sheriff’s Office links from its website. You can also search VINELink at vinelink.com (choose Texas) and sign up for a free custody-status alert. If they do not appear, call the jail at (936) 598-5601.
Where is the Shelby County Jail?
The jail and the Sheriff’s Office are at 100 Hurst Street, Center, TX 75935. The main number is (936) 598-5601.
How does visitation work?
According to public jail directories, on-site visits are Sundays 12:30–2:30 p.m. and Tuesdays 5:30–7:30 p.m., about 20 minutes each, up to two visits a week and two guests per visit. You must be on the visitor list, bring a government photo ID, and book in advance by calling (936) 598-5601. Video visits are listed through City Tele Coin, with a free kiosk in the Sheriff’s Office lobby. Confirm the current schedule with the jail before you go.
How do I put money on an inmate’s account?
Public directories list City Tele Coin for deposits — online, by phone, or at the kiosk in the Sheriff’s Office lobby. You need the person’s full name and inmate ID / booking number. Call the jail at (936) 598-5601 to confirm the current method, and never mail cash.
Can I call someone in the jail?
No — people in the jail can make outgoing calls but cannot receive them. To receive calls, set up and fund an account with the jail’s phone provider. Public sources disagree on which company that is, so call (936) 598-5601 and ask before you pay.
How do I send mail?
Address mail to the person’s full name and inmate ID number, Shelby County Jail, 100 Hurst Street, Center, TX 75935, with your full return address in the top-left corner. No cash, stamps, or items with staples, glue, or stickers. Call the jail before sending photos or books.
How do I post bond?
Call the jail at (936) 598-5601 to confirm that bond has been set, the amount, and how it can be posted, or contact a licensed bail bond company that serves Shelby County.
How do I report a medical or safety concern?
Call the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at (936) 598-5601 and ask for the jail administrator (ext. 4). In an emergency, call 911. Serious concerns about jail conditions can also be raised with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, which regulates every county jail in Texas.
Where can I find the latest Shelby County Jail news?
Texas Prison News tracks the Shelby County Jail. See the “Latest News About Shelby County Jail” section below, which updates automatically as we publish new reporting.
Latest News About Shelby County Jail
Reporting from Texas Prison News that is tagged to the Shelby County Jail. This list updates on its own — no article text is copied here by hand.
-
Four Shelby County Jail Employees Indicted in Death of Man Held in Restraint Chair
September 30, 2026
CENTER, Texas — Three Shelby County jailers and a sheriff’s deputy have been indicted in connection with the July death of James Elliot Perry Jr., a 49-year-old man found unresponsive in the Shelby County…
Be a Texas Prison News Family Reporter
Be the reporter who breaks the next big Shelby County Jail story.
You often see what is happening inside before anyone else does. Paste a link to a news story, or just tell us what you know in your own words. Every report goes straight to the Texas Prison News team — we read all of them, we protect your identity, and we never use your name without your permission.
Texas Prison News is not affiliated with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and does not process visits, money, mail, or calls. Information verified September 30, 2026 from the Sheriff’s Office and Shelby County websites and public jail directories; policies, providers, and fees change — confirm critical details with the jail at (936) 598-5601.