Potter County Jail – Amarillo, TX

Potter County Jail is located in Potter County and is the primary correctional facility for the area. Know someone incarcerated at Potter County Jail? This site tells you info about anything related to Potter County Jail,like: Learn how to locate an inmate. Find inmate mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. How to post bail. Intake procedures. Court information and records. And everything else.

The chance of going to jail is a scary prospect, not only for whoever gets locked up, but also that person’s friends and family. This guide is designed to give info you need to make the process less stressful. If you have a question, just ask it in the comment section below, and any comments or feedback that could be beneficial to other people in the same situation is welcome.

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend that is incarcerated and don’t know how to contact them?

Do you know somebody that’s been arrested and you want to locate them?

To search who is in jail at Potter County Jail you will need to click on their website and perform an inmate search.

The Potter County Jail Inmate List is an online list of people who were arrested and are now in jail, including current status, how much their bail is, and times the inmate can have visitors. You can get the same information on anybody who has been arrested or released in the past 24-hour period. Jail inmates are listed in alphabetical order by last name. You’ll be able to get their inmate information quicker if you enter the arrestee’s name, birth date, or inmate ID Number.

If the person you are looking for might be in another county jail you will want to look here: Texas County Jails Directory

A mugshot, or booking picture, is the photo taken by the police during jail intake processing. A mugshot is actually one face photo and one profile photo. Your name and intake number will be in the pictures, and they are on file.

Mugshots of people who have been arrested can be seen online, or you can go in person to the Potter County Jail. When you search for mugshots on the website you need to enter the person’s legal name, and the arrest date, if you have it.

Are you trying to figure out what to do in order to get your mugshot taken down from the Potter County Jail website? This will be difficult, since the mugshot is public record. To get your mugshot removed you will need to file a ‘Petition to Expunge’. Basically, this means that all of your arrest records would be sealed, and will not be available to the public. Unfortunately, this happens very rarely.

Read our in-depth tutorial about removing your mugshot, the various mugshot sites, and the mugshot removal websites: Mugshot Removal

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Once you’re arrested and put in jail, your main thought is when and how to get out. After booking, your bail is determined using the bail schedule or the magistrate will decide it. In cases where no bail is set this may mean that you will either be released, or you must remain in jail until your trial.

If you are released you will have to promise to be there for your court date, and until then you will not be permitted to go out of town.

Typically, inmates in the Potter County Jail are given time off for good behavior if they follow the rules and area a good inmate while incarcerated.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you may be allowed to do work release. You will either have to return to jail each day when you’re finished with work, or you could have the chance to move to a halfway house instead of the jail.

Bail is the amount of money that you have to pay to the court system to get out of jail pending trial. The amount you have to pay is determined by the crime you are charged with. You will have to post 10 percent of the total that was set in order to get out of jail. If you miss your court appearance, the person that paid your bail will lose that money.

In order to find out how much someone’s bail is, you will need to call the jail or the county courthouse. If you’ve got the pertinent information, such as name, address and date of birth, they will let you know how much their bail is. You can also see the bail amount on the jail website.

Posting bail to get out of jail is never a fun thing, but in some cases, its easy if you have the money. First of all, find out if they have a Cash Only Bond situation. If it is, you will not be able to use the services of a bail bondsman. Cash only – they can’t take a check. Once you have paid the bond, the person will be released to your care. If they don’t violate the terms of their bail, you will get this money back.

If their bail has been set too high, or you just can’t afford to pay it, you should look into the services of a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen will generally charge you a fee of 10 to 15 percent of the total amount of bail set, and sometimes charge a minimum fee of $100. This will not be returned to you and has to be paid in cash. If bail is very large, the bail bondsman might use your assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

If you need a bail bondsman visit our page about: Bail bondsman

Have you ever had to use a bail bondsman either for yourself, a family member or friend? If you have, please leave a comment below and tell about your experience, and let us know how things turned out.

Click here to leave a comment

• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release Programs
• Released For Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• House Arrest
• Be Released on Your Own Recognizance

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The intake procedure includes these steps:

• You will be placed in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, you will have to wait, sometimes for many hours, before you get processed.
• The first step is that you must answer a number of questions, like your full name, your address, birth date and an emergency contact.
• They’ll also ask about your medical and mental history.
• You will be given an inmate ID number.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• You will have a front and profile photo taken for your mugshot.
• All personal property will get taken away from you and stored until you are released.
• They will allow you to use the telephone in order to get in touch with a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If they expect that you will make bail and be released quickly, you might be able to keep wearing your own clothes, if not you will be issued a jail issued jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through the jail intake procedure? If you have, please tell our readers about your experience. How long did it take to get through intake? How were you treated? Do you know any secrets that will help other people that get arrested make it through jail intake?

Click here to tell about all about it

When you pay your bail, you will be allowed to go home after you get discharged. Getting discharged from jail may take between 30 minutes to many hours. So, the quicker bail is posted, the quicker you can get out of jail. It also can depend on whether or not you’ve been given a bond amount or if the magistrate has to figure out your bail amount. For a minor offense, you will get booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you have served out your jail sentence and are given a date of your release, plan to be discharged at any time that day – but usually in the morning.

issued for your arrest, or if you have to start your sentence, you should follow the rules and turn yourself in willingly. In the case of an outstanding warrant, report to the jail, and let them know that you think there may be an outstanding warrant for your arrest. They will do a record check, and if you do, you will be taken into jail custody. If you have a jail sentence to serve, go to the jail at the time and date that the sentence order states. Ensure that you don’t show up late. Only bring allowed items with you, such as your driver’s license or even your ID, any prescription medication you might take, along with your doctor’s prescription, and the copy of the sentencing order.

The inmate must give each visitor’s name to the jail before anyone can visit them. This information will be put into a log of approved visitors as an approved visitor. All visitors will be required to provide proof of identification. Visitors arriving late or without a visiting order will not be allowed to visit the inmate.
Visitation procedures are always changing, so you should visit the official Potter County Jail jail site before you visit an inmate.

All phone calls from jail are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. Phone calls made in jail are much more expensive than phone calls made at home. There is no limit to how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that every inmate wants to use the phone too, so they can call their family. If you are under any sort of disciplinary procedure, phone calls may be limited or eliminated altogether.

Phone Number: (806) 335-4100

All inmate mail is required to be mailed using US Postal Service. You shouldn’t use any other form of delivery. You should write the name, inmate ID, and jail address on the letter. Do not send anything in a box or package, envelope with padding or insulation, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with metal inside. Any mail gets opened and read by the jail officers, and will be returned if it can’t be delivered.

The mailing address for Potter County Jail is:

Potter County Jail
13100 10Th Street
Amarillo, TX 79111

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Potter County Jail
13100 10Th Street
Amarillo, TX 79111

The Potter County Jail inmate mail policy changes, so be sure to double check the the Potter County Jail website when send a letter to someone in jail there.

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When you get arrested, you have rights, the most important of which is the right to request an attorney. You don’t get to make many phone calls when you get arrested, so it is a good idea to get a friend or family member to find an attorney when you call them. You might be asking yourself ‘why do I need an attorney?’ While you are not required to have one, a criminal defense lawyer will make sure you know your rights, help protect your best interests and show you the way through the complicated legal system in your county. The quicker you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your case, the better your chances.

For more info on the benefits of hiring a lawyer, visit: How to Find an Attorney

If you can’t afford an attorney, you will be assigned a public defender. The Public Defender is staffed by private investigators, crime scene and forensics experts as well as social case workers. All Public Defenders are licensed attorneys, admitted to the Texas State Bar Association and are fully licensed to represent you in court and practice law.

Have you or someone you know used a court appointed attorney or Public Defender? Do you think that they did a good job of defending you?

All court records are public and available to anyone who requests them. Court records have a file with a sheet called a docket sheet and every documents that have been filed in your case. You are able to access the records and documents in your court case with the Potter County website, or by going to the Clerk of Court.

A Clerk of Court is a member of the court who maintains court records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath during court cases and read the court verdict when the jury has finished deliberations. All records and documents from your court case are kept and available to you at the office of the Clerk of Court.

Court fees are all costs associated with your court case, for example filing fees, motion fees and various court charges. If you are low income and have been assigned a Public Defender, you can get a waiver for these fees.

The Potter County magistrate is the type of judge that will preside over your case in court. Magistrate judges do different tasks, like setting bail, issuing warrants, and acting as the presiding judge over preliminary court proceedings and detention proceedings.

A pre-sentencing report is prepared to include information about the arrestee’s background and as much detail about the defendant’s life and history, which the magistrate judge will take into account when deciding on the sentence. Information will be requested from the defendant, their family, and, if applicable, the victim. Be sure to remember that you should ask to have a copy of the pre-sentencing report before you are sentenced, and make sure that you correct the mistakes.

After being convicted of a crime, you will then get sentenced. The presiding judge in your case will weigh several options when determining your sentence, which include community service to probation, to incarceration in either jail (short term) or prison (long term). Depending on sentencing guidelines and the severity of your crime, you will either be taken into custody, right there in court, or you could be given a date to go to jail to serve your jail time according to your sentence.

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Do you need to find out if a family member or friend is incarcerated, or has gone to jail in the past?

You can just visit the jail’s website, and do a search using:

• The inmate’s name.
• Birth date.
• Their booking date.
• and their inmate ID.

If you’re not sure if your friend or family member is in jail, you can call the jail confirm whether they’ve been arrested or not.

If you think you might have an outstanding warrant, you can access court records on the website or call the jail. This requires a first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and ask them. You should know that if you do have an outstanding warrant, they will take you into custody immediately.

If you know a person’s name, and possibly an arrest date, contact the jail, by phone, go there in person, or look online. Arrest records are public record and this information is available to anyone.

A Civil Process is when you are served with legal papers, like court orders. You can access civil process orders by going to the Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All registered sex offenders must be registered on both a national and state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information on the internet but bear in mind that you will not be able to get the actual address, rather the neighborhood block of the address that they registered.

Court Records are public, and are accessible by anyone. These records include a court case file containing a docket sheet and any of the documents and filings filed in your case. You are able to access your court records online, or at Clerk of Court office where the case was filed.

Every state maintains records of people’s criminal past. These online databases are connected so you can track criminal convictions from any other state. Go to the Potter County Courthouse and inquire in person, or you can check the website. It helps to know the county, and in the event that it was in a completely different state, you may have to pay a fee for a more comprehensive search.

A criminal records search you will get a report detailing any arrests, charges, or convictions that may be on a person’s record for these crimes:

• DUI or DWI.
• Drug Possession.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes like assault or murder.
• Property crimes like theft or larceny.

But, when you do a criminal records check, you will not find if they have had any:

• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Drivers license suspended or revoked.
• Been in a traffic accident.
• Other moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To find driving histories, you will have to do a search for their driving history.

Have you ever tried to search for someone’s criminal records? Was it easy? Did you do your search online or did you have to make a phone call to the local courthouse? Did you get information that was correct? There are many reasons that folks look up criminal backgrounds and records, and your account may help other people that are in the same situation.

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Most Wanted

The FBI maintains a list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Potter County, the Potter County Sheriff’s Department has a list of most wanted criminals, too.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List: Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of serving a jail sentence in the Potter County jail is quite unpleasant, soon you will get used to the routine that is set for you in jail. Expect a wake-up alarm at about 6:00 AM, and then roll call. Next, you will eat breakfast. After breakfast, you will have to work in the work program that you’ve been assigned to. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Potter County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Potter County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The procedure to send money to someone in jail might change, so we suggest that you check the the Potter County Jail website before you send any money.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Potter County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Potter County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Potter County Jail

Requirements:

• You must be over the age of 21.
• You must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You must pass a drug test.
• You must have a good level of fitness.
• You must be in good health.
• You must have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

Click here to leave a comment


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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

Click here to tell about all about it

Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever been an inmate at Potter County Jail? Do you have a friend or family member that is an inmate there? Have you ever visited an inmate in this jail?

If your answer is yes, then we would like you to write a review about it. Tell us about what you experienced because others can find out what to expect.

Things you could include in what you write:

• Jail conditions.
• Jail, yard and pod layout and facility
• Guards and jail staff
• Commissary and food
• Visitation Days
• Inmates.
• Inmate safety
• Jail gangs
• Prisoner programs and activities


Write Your Review

Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s been in jail has some stories about their time ‘inside’. Why’d you end up in jail? Were you fairly treated? What was it like in jail? What were the other inmates like? How did getting locked up affect your life?

Click here to tell your story about Potter County Jail

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you make friends in jail? Want to reconnect with somebody you met in jail? Leave a message for them here.

Say Hello to someone at Potter County Jail


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