Find Arrest Records in Ellis County
Ellis County arrest records are public documents kept by the Sheriff's Office in Waxahachie, Texas. The county operates two detention facilities and maintains comprehensive booking records for everyone processed through either location. You can search the jail roster, find out about current inmates, and request official copies of arrest reports. This page covers all the ways to access Ellis County arrest records.
Ellis County Sheriff's Office Detention
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office operates two jail facilities. The main Detention Center is at 300 S. Jackson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165. Phone: (972) 825-4931. This is the primary intake facility where most new bookings are processed. Arraignments are held at this facility daily, usually in the morning, where judges inform inmates of their charges, constitutional rights, and bond amounts.
The Ennis Detention Center is a second facility at 1700 Lake Bardwell Drive, Ennis, TX 75119. It is supervised by Detention Supervisor David Dodd. You can reach that facility at 817-290-5070 or by fax at (972) 875-8221. The Ennis center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and handles temporary confinement of pretrial individuals and people serving misdemeanor sentences. If you want to find out whether someone is held at the Ennis facility, call (817) 290-5070 directly.
Ellis County Jail Rules and Inmate Information
After booking is completed, inmates are allowed at least one free telephone call. Inmate prescription medication will be accepted by the jail if it has the inmate's name clearly on the label, contains clear prescription instructions, and has not expired. Family members or friends cannot add personal items or money to an inmate's property once they are booked in.
Property release at the jail requires written permission from the inmate. Anyone picking up property must show a valid driver's license or government-issued ID and sign a release form before items are handed over. This applies to both the Waxahachie and Ennis facilities. Note that visitations at the Ennis Detention Center are not currently allowed, so check with the Waxahachie main facility for visit scheduling.
Booking records include the person's full name, charges filed, bond amount, and the name of the arresting agency. These records are public and available through a request to the Sheriff's Office.
Requesting Ellis County Arrest Reports
To get official copies of arrest or incident reports, submit a formal public information request to the Ellis County Sheriff's Office at 300 S. Jackson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165. You can also submit the request in person during business hours. The Texas Public Information Act (Government Code Chapter 552) requires agencies to respond within 10 business days. Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date. Copying fees apply per state fee schedules.
Records involving active investigations, pending prosecutions, or juvenile subjects may be withheld under applicable exemptions. If your request is denied, the office is required to cite the specific legal exception used.
State and County Resources for Ellis County
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Inmate Search covers anyone transferred to a state prison after a conviction. For Ellis County residents who have been convicted of state crimes, this is where you look after the local jail records end. The search is free and runs 24 hours a day.
The Texas DPS Criminal History Search gives you a statewide conviction record for $3 per name search. Create a free account on the DPS portal before submitting a request. The VINELink custody notification system is available for Ellis County inmates. Call 877-894-8463 or register at vinelink.com to receive automatic alerts when an inmate's custody status changes. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards monitors all Ellis County detention facilities and publishes inspection reports on their site.
Ellis County Court Records
The Ellis County District Clerk handles felony case records at the courthouse in Waxahachie. Misdemeanor and county court cases are filed with the County Clerk. Both offices are open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. You can search records in person or request copies by mail. Fees vary by record type and number of pages.
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office website provides contact information for both detention facilities and guidance on requesting inmate information and official records.
The Ellis County jail information directory lists both facilities with phone numbers, inmate services details, and visitation rules for each location.
Cities in Ellis County
Waxahachie is the county seat. Other communities include Ennis, Midlothian, Red Oak, and Waxahachie. None of these cities currently cross the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page. For arrest records tied to a specific municipality in Ellis County, contact the Sheriff's Office or the relevant city police department.
Nearby Counties
Ellis County sits south of Dallas in North Texas. Adjacent counties include Dallas County, Kaufman County, Navarro County, Hill County, Johnson County, and Tarrant County.