Zapata County Jail – Zapata, TX

Zapata County Jail is in Zapata County and is the main correctional facility for this county. Looking for someone at Zapata County Jail? This guide will tell you about anything you might want to know about Zapata County Jail,such as: Find out who’s in jail at Zapata County Jail? How to view Zapata County Jail mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. Bail and how to get out of jail. Booking and intake procedures. Court information and records. And more…

The thought of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary and stressful idea, not only for whoever gets locked up, but also their friends and family. The goal of this guide is to offer advice and information you need to make going to jail a little less stressful. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask them, and any comments or tips that could be a benefit to others will be welcome.

Do you have a friend or family member that is in jail and need to contact them?

Has a family member or friend who has been arrested and you need to find out what jail they’re in?

In order to see who is in jail at Zapata County Jail you will have to go to their link and perform an inmate lookup.

The Zapata County Jail Inmate Lookup is an online list of persons who have been arrested, including current status, how much their bail is, and times the inmate can have visitors. Also, you can find the same information on anybody booked or released within the last 24 hours. Prisoners are shown in alphabetical order by last name. You’ll be able to find their inmate information faster if you have the arrestee’s name, date of birth, or arrest number.

If your friend or loved one could possibly be incarcerated at a different jail you should check the other Texas county jails in our Texas County Jail Guide: List of all jails in Texas

A mugshot, also known as a jail booking picture, is a photo taken by the police when you get processed at jail intake. A mugshot is actually two photos one face photo and one profile photo. Your full name and booking number will be on the photos, and they’re stored.

Mugshots of people who have been arrested can be found on the Zapata County Jail website, or you can view them at the Zapata County Jail. When you search for mugshots online you will need to input their name, and the booking date, if you have one.

Need to know how to have your mugshot erased from the Zapata County Jail website? This may not be possible, as your mugshot is a matter of public record. To get your mugshot removed you need to file a Petition to Expunge with the court. What this means is that all of your arrest records will be sealed, so no one will be able to access them. It is difficult to do this, and you will most likely need the services of a lawyer.

For more information about getting your mugshot taken down, the various mugshot websites, and the websites that offer to remove your mugshot for you: How To Remove Your Mugshot from the Internet

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If you are locked up, your main thought is about when and how you will get out. After you’ve gone through the booking process, bail is set either through a preset bail schedule or a magistrate. If you don’t get a bail set this might mean that you will either get released, pending trial, or you don’t get released while you wait for your court date.

If you do bail out you must promise to show up for court, and in the meantime you can’t travel out of the county.

Typically, prisoners at Zapata County Jail will be given time off in exchange for good behavior when they respect the rules and don’t cause any problems while in jail.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you might be allowed to do work release. You will have to go back to jail every day when you’re finished working, or you may be allowed to sleep in a halfway house when you are not working.

Bail is money that you have to pay to the court system in order to be released from jail pending trial. The amount of bail that is set is dictated by what crime you are charged with and how serious it is. You or someone you know will have to pay 10% of the amount set in order to get discharged from jail. If you miss your court date, whoever paid your bail will not get their money back.

You will need to call the jail or the county courthouse. If you’ve got the person’s info, such as name, address and date of birth, they will be able to let you know how much their bail is. You can also check their bail amount and status on the Zapata County Jail website.

Bailing out of jail is no fun, but most of the time, it’s very simple to do. To start with, you have to find out if they have a Cash Only Bond situation. If it is, you won’t be able to use a bondsman. Bail can only be paid by cash – they will not take checks. Once the cash bond has been paid, the inmate will be released. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you’ll get your money back.

If the amount of bail set is large, or you can’t afford it yourself, you should look into the services of a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen will usually charge a fee of 10 to 15 percent of the total amount of bail set, and in most cases charge a minimum fee of $100. This money will not be returned to you and the bondsman only accepts cash. If the bail has been set really high, the bondsman will in these cases use your assets, such as home, property or cars, as collateral for the bond in addition to whatever their charges are.

To find a local bail bondsman go to: Find a bail bondsman

Have you ever hired a bondsman either for yourself, a family member or friend? If so, post a comment below and tell about it, and let us know how it worked out for you.

Click here to leave a comment

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

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The jail intake procedure includes each of the following steps:

• You will be placed in a holding cell. If there are a lot of arrests, it will take a while to get processed.
• You have to answer some basic questions, like your legal name, home address, date of birth and an emergency contact person.
• You will also be asked about your psychological and medical history.
• You will be given an inmate ID.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• You will have a front and profile photo taken for your mugshot.
• Any personal property you have will be taken away from you and will be stored until you are released.
• They will let you make a telephone call so you can talk to a member of your family, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If you think you will get released quickly, you might be allowed to keep wearing street clothes, if not you will be issued a jail uniform.

Have you been arrested and gone through jail intake? If you have, you should tell your story so other people can learn from your experience. How long did it take to get processed? How were you treated? Can you share any tips that might help other people that get arrested get through jail intake?

Click here to tell your story

When you finally post bail, you will be allowed to go home after you get discharged. The discharge process takes anywhere from 10 minutes to hours or even all day long. In simple terms, the quicker you post bail, the faster you will get released. Also, it can depend on if you’ve got a cash bond or if a magistrate must figure out the 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 have a discharge date, plan to get discharged that morning.

out against you, or if you must start your sentence, you should do the right thing and turn yourself in. In the case of an outstanding warrant, go down to the jail, in the reception area, and tell someone that you think there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest. A record check will be run, and if they find one, you will be taken into custody. When reporting to serve a sentence, go down to the jail at the exact time and date that the sentence order lists. Be very careful that you aren’t late. Only bring necessary items with you, such as a driver’s license or even your ID, prescription medication, as well as an official sentencing order.

In order to have visitors, inmates need to give each visitor’s name and date of birth to the jail. Your visitor’s names will be entered into the visitation log as an Authorized visit. All visitors will be required to provide proof of identification. Visitors arriving late or any visitors that are not approved to visit will not be allowed to attend visitation.
Visitation procedures at Zapata County Jail frequently change, so we suggest that you visit the official jail site before you go to the jail to visit.

The only phone calls that inmates are allowed to make are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. These phone calls are usually more expensive than regular phone calls. There is no limit to how often you can use the phone, but inmates should keep in mind that there are a limited number of phones, so all the inmates must share phone time. If you break the jail rules, an inmate’s phone privileges might get cut back or eliminated altogether.

Phone Number: 956-765-9960

All inmate mail is required to be sent using the actual US Postal Service, and not courier or delivery, or hand delivered. You can’t use any other type of delivery. You have to clearly write the person’s name, inmate ID, and the jail address on the letter that you send. Don’t send anything in a box or package, padded envelope, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with any metal in it. All mail sent to inmates is opened and read and examined by the jail administration, and the mail will get sent back if they decide it is inappropriate.

The mailing address for Zapata County Jail is:

Zapata County Jail
2311 Stop 23A
Zapata, TX 78076

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Zapata County Jail
2311 Stop 23A
Zapata, TX 78076

The Zapata County Jail inmate mail policy changes often, so you should double check the official website when send a letter to someone in jail there.

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When you’ve been arrested, you have rights, one of these being your 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 have a friend or relative locate a lawyer when you call. I know you’re probably asking yourself right now ‘but do I really need a lawyer’ You can represent yourself if you really want to, but, a criminal defense attorney will make sure you know your rights, help protect your interests and guide you through the court system in your county. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you and work on your charges, the better off you’ll be.

For more detailed information on the benefits of and how to hire an attorney, read our guide: Find a Lawyer

If you’ve been arrested and don’t have the money to hire a lawyer, you will be assigned a public defender. In addition, the Public Defender has access to investigators, experts in forensics and social workers. You will be reassured to know that Public Defenders are real attorneys who are admitted to the State Bar and are licensed to practice law and represent you in court.

Have you or someone you know had to use the services of a Public Defender? Are you happy with how they handled your case?

Zapata County court records are public records and are available upon request. Court records include a file with a sheet called a docket sheet and all of the documents filed during your court case. You can access the records and documents in your court case with the internet service, or by going to the Clerk of Court’s office.

The Clerk of Court is an officer and clerk of the court that maintains court records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath in a court case, and also read the verdict when delivered by the jury. All records from your court case are kept at Clerk of Court.

Court costs and court fees are the costs associated with your case, which include filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you cannot afford these fees and have been assigned a Public Defender, you may get out of having to pay them.

A Magistrate is the judge that will preside on your case in court. Magistrates do different tasks, which include setting your bail amount, writing arrest warrants, and overseeing preliminary court proceedings and detention hearings.

A pre-sentencing report is prepared with information about your background and information about the arrestee’s life history, which the judge will review and take into account when determining your sentence. Information, details, and character witnesses will be solicited from the defendant, their family, and in some circumstances the victim. Remember that you can request to see a copy of your pre-sentencing report prior to sentencing, and make sure that you review it for accuracy and completeness, and correct any mistakes.

After you are convicted of a crime, you will then get sentenced. The judge will have several different options when sentencing you, which include community service, house arrest, and probation, to incarceration in either jail (short term) or prison (long term). Depending on how serious your crime was, you might get immediately taken into custody, or you could receive a date to report to jail to serve your jail time according to your sentence.

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Are you trying to find out if a family member or friend is incarcerated in jail, or has ever been locked up?

You can you should access the Zapata County jail website, and do a search using:

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

If you think that they are currently in jail, you should call the jail find out if they’ve been arrested.

If you think you have a warrant out for your arrest, you can check the arrest warrants online or you are able to call the jail directly. This requires a first and last name. You can also go to the local jail and ask the officer in charge. You should know that if there is a warrant for your arrest, 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 check online. Arrest records are in the public record and this is freely available.

Civil processes are when you are served with legal papers, like , subpoenas, and arrest warrants. You can access civil process orders by going to the Zapata County Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All people registered as sex offenders are required to be registered and listed on both a national and state sex offender database. Those listed on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You can access these listings on the internet, but you should know that you can’t see the actual address, rather the neighborhood block that they live on.

Court Records are considered public records, so they are accessible to anyone who requests them. They include a case file that contains a court docket and any of the documents and filings filed in your court case. You are able to access the court records on the internet, or at Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed.

Every state keeps a record of a person’s criminal history. These state databases are all linked so you can track criminal histories from another state. Go to county courthouse and make an inquiry, or check online. It helps to know which county the crime occurred in, and if the crime was in a completely different state, you may have to pay for a more complete search.

A criminal records search you will be able to find out if a person has ever been arrested, charged or convicted for the following crimes:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug crimes.
• Kidnapping.
• Sexual offenses including rape, assault.
• Violent crimes like assault or murder.
• Theft, breaking and entering.

When you do a criminal history search, usually will not see if someone has had:

• Speeding.
• Lost their driver’s license or license revoked or suspended.
• Accidents.
• Moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

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

Have you ever had to search for criminal records of someone you know? Was it easy? Did you search online or did you call the jail? Was the information you received correct? There are lots of reasons that people search for criminal records and backgrounds, and your feedback may help other people that are in the same situation.

Click here to tell about all about it

Most Wanted

The FBI has a list of the Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Zapata County, the Zapata County Sheriff keeps their own list of most wanted criminals and fugitives.

FBI Top Ten Most Wanted List: Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

While the prospect of serving a jail sentence in Zapata County Jail is something you wish you could avoid, in time you will become accustomed to the daily routine there. All inmates get a wake-up alarm at six in the morning, and next you’ll have roll call. You will then have breakfast. Following breakfast participate 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 Zapata 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 Zapata 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 people in jail could change, so it would be best to check the site before send money to someone in jail there.


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 Zapata County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Zapata 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 Zapata 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.

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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:

• Victims have the right to protection from the accused.
• Victims have the right to notification.
• Victims have the right to attend proceedings.
• Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• Victims have the right to restitution.
• Victims have the right to a speedy trial.
• Victims 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.

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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 locked up at Zapata County Jail? Do you know anybody that spent time there? Have you ever visited an inmate at Zapata County Jail?

If your answer is yes, then you should leave a comment below about it. Write down your jail experience so that other people can find out what to expect.

Things you might want to put in what you write:

• Jail conditions.
• Jail and pod facility and layout
• Staff and guards
• Commissary and food
• Visitation
• Inmates.
• Inmate safety
• Gangs
• Inmate programs and activities


Click here to review Zapata County Jail

Tell Your Story

Everyone’s who has been put in jail has a story about it. Why’d you get arrested? Did you get fair treatment? What was it like in jail? What about the other inmates? How has this experience impacted your life?

Tell the World All About It

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Are you trying to find an inmate you met while you were incarcerated? Leave a message for them here.

Send a message to people still locked up at Zapata County Jail


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