How to Bail Someone Out of the Joint Processing Center
If your loved one was arrested in Houston, they were most likely booked at the Harris County Joint Processing Center, 700 N San Jacinto. A licensed bondsman posts the bond there, day or night.
Nearly every Harris County arrest is booked into the Joint Processing Center first. Use the Harris County inmate search to confirm they are there, and check the charge and the bond amount.
The inmate search and the District Clerk show the bond set for release. Once you know the amount, a licensed bondsman can post it right away at the center’s bonding window.
The Sheriff’s bonding desk at the Joint Processing Center is open around the clock, every day. It takes cash and surety bonds, and a surety bond costs a percentage of the bail.
After the bond posts, the jail verifies the paperwork, checks for other holds, and releases your loved one with a court date. It takes a few hours, longer on a busy night.
Where your loved one actually is: JPC vs 1200 Baker
This trips up almost every family. The Harris County Joint Processing Center at 700 N San Jacinto Street is where a person is booked, seen by a magistrate, bonded, and released. The 1200 Baker Street jail down the block is longer-term housing and also holds the Sheriff’s Office headquarters. So your loved one may be housed at 1200 Baker, but the bond is posted and the release happens at the Joint Processing Center. Start by confirming exactly where they are on the Harris County inmate search.
The 24/7 bonding desk at the JPC
The Sheriff’s bonding desk inside the Joint Processing Center is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, holidays included. It accepts a cash bond, where you pay the full bail amount, or a surety bond posted through a licensed bondsman for a percentage fee. Cash bail can also be paid online by card through the county’s payment provider. An in-person cash obligor should bring a valid photo ID and the full amount. If you would rather not stand in line at 3 a.m., our bail-out guide and a licensed bondsman handle it for you.
Visiting someone at the Harris County jail
Harris County uses video visitation rather than in-person visits for the general public. Visits are scheduled in advance through the county’s inmate visitation system, and each visitor must bring an original, valid government photo ID or be turned away. There is a limit of two visitors per visit, and no recording is allowed. Attorneys can visit around the clock with advance notice. Confirm your loved one’s current housing before you schedule, since it sets where and when a visit is available.
Getting released from the Joint Processing Center
Once the bond is posted, release is not instant. The jail has to verify the paperwork, confirm identity, and make sure there are no other holds, such as a warrant from another county, an immigration detainer, or a probation matter. When everything clears, your loved one is released from the downtown complex with a future court date and must appear at every setting. Timing runs from a few hours to overnight depending on the workload, so the sooner the bond is posted, the sooner the clock starts.
Houston Jail & Court Directory
The Joint Processing Center anchors the downtown Harris County jail complex on North San Jacinto. Use the directory below for its address, phone number, or driving directions.
| Type | Facility & address | Phone | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail | Harris County Joint Processing Center 700 N San Jacinto St, Houston, TX 77002 | (713) 755-5300 | Directions |
| Jail | Harris County Jail (1200 Baker St) 1200 Baker St, Houston, TX 77002 | (713) 755-5300 | Directions |
| Court | Harris County Criminal Justice Center 1201 Franklin St, Houston, TX 77002 | (713) 755-5800 | Directions |
| Court | Harris County Civil Courthouse 201 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77002 | (713) 274-1330 | Directions |
| Type | Facility & address | Phone | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail | Fort Bend County Jail 1410 Richmond Pkwy, Richmond, TX 77469 | (281) 341-4735 | Directions |
| Court | Fort Bend County Justice Center 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir, Richmond, TX 77469 | (281) 341-3742 | Directions |
| Jail | Sugar Land Police Detention Center 1200 TX-6, Sugar Land, TX 77478 | (281) 275-2525 | Directions |
| Court | Sugar Land Municipal Court 1200 TX-6, Sugar Land, TX 77478 | (281) 275-2560 | Directions |
| Jail | Missouri City Police Jail 3849 Cartwright Rd, Missouri City, TX 77459 | (281) 403-8700 | Directions |
| Court | Missouri City Municipal Court 3845 Cartwright Rd, Missouri City, TX 77459 | (281) 403-8669 | Directions |
| Jail | Richmond City Jail 600 Preston St, Richmond, TX 77469 | (281) 342-2849 | Directions |
| Court | Richmond Municipal Court 600 Morton St, Richmond, TX 77469 | (281) 342-0578 | Directions |
| Jail | Rosenberg Police Jail 2120 4th St, Rosenberg, TX 77471 | (832) 595-3700 | Directions |
| Court | Rosenberg Municipal Court 2110 4th St, Rosenberg, TX 77471 | (832) 595-3450 | Directions |
| Type | Facility & address | Phone | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail | Montgomery County Jail 1 Criminal Justice Dr, Conroe, TX 77301 | (936) 760-5800 | Directions |
| Court | Montgomery County Courthouse 301 N Main St, Conroe, TX 77301 | (936) 756-0571 | Directions |
| Jail | Conroe City Jail 2300 Plantation Dr, Conroe, TX 77303 | (936) 522-3200 | Directions |
| Court | Conroe Municipal Court 2300 Plantation Dr, Conroe, TX 77303 | (936) 522-3380 | Directions |
| Court | The Woodlands Courthouse 1520 Lake Front Cir, The Woodlands, TX 77380 | (281) 292-3325 | Directions |
| Type | Facility & address | Phone | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail | Galveston County Jail 5700 Avenue H, Galveston, TX 77551 | (409) 766-2315 | Directions |
| Court | Galveston County Justice Center 600 59th St, Galveston, TX 77551 | (409) 770-5230 | Directions |
| Jail | League City Jail 555 W Walker St, League City, TX 77573 | (281) 338-8222 | Directions |
| Court | League City Municipal Court 200 W Walker St, League City, TX 77573 | (281) 554-1060 | Directions |
| Type | Facility & address | Phone | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail | Brazoria County Detention Center 3602 County Road 45, Angleton, TX 77515 | (979) 864-2336 | Directions |
| Court | Brazoria County Courthouse 111 E Locust St, Angleton, TX 77515 | (979) 849-5711 | Directions |
| Jail | Pearland City Jail 2555 Cullen Pkwy, Pearland, TX 77581 | (281) 997-5830 | Directions |
| Court | Pearland Municipal Court 2555 Cullen Pkwy, Pearland, TX 77581 | (281) 997-5900 | Directions |
Houston Jail & Bail Guides
New to this? These plain-English guides walk through finding a loved one, how Harris County sets bail, and how to get someone released.
Common Bail Bond Questions
Quick answers to what Houston families ask us most, from cost and timing to holds and personal bonds.
Joint Processing Center: FAQ
Families ask us the same things when a loved one is at the Joint Processing Center. These are the questions that come up most about the facility, bonding, and release.
Is my loved one at 700 N San Jacinto or 1200 Baker Street?
Often both apply. Nearly everyone is booked and processed at the Joint Processing Center at 700 N San Jacinto, then may be housed at the 1200 Baker Street jail. Either way, the bond is posted and the release happens at the Joint Processing Center. Check the inmate search to confirm the current location.
Can I post bail at the Joint Processing Center any time?
Yes. The Sheriff’s bonding desk inside the Joint Processing Center is open twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. You can post a cash bond or a surety bond through a licensed bondsman at any hour, which is why release does not have to wait for morning.
How do I find someone booked into the JPC?
Use the Harris County Sheriff’s online inmate search by name or date of birth to confirm a person is in custody, then check the District Clerk for the charge, court, and bond amount. Give us the name and date of birth and we will run the search and confirm the bond for you at no charge.
How long does release from the JPC take?
There is no fixed time. After the bond posts, the jail verifies the paperwork, confirms identity, and checks for other holds before releasing your loved one. It commonly runs a few hours and can stretch overnight on a busy night. Posting the bond early is the best way to speed things along.
Can I visit someone at the Harris County jail?
Yes, through video visitation scheduled in advance rather than an in-person visit for the general public. Each visitor needs a valid government photo ID, and visits are limited to two people. Confirm your loved one’s housing location first, since it determines when a video visit can be booked.