Harris County Jail Inmates

Life in jail is neither fun nor easy. You've probably got a lot of questions and some anxiety about what lies ahead. You may be wondering what you can expect while you're in the Harris County Jail. Let's answer some of your questions and help ease your mind about your jail experience. If it's time for you to do the time for the mistakes you've made, here's some friendly advice to help you get through the days and hours at the Harris County Jail.

What Will I Wear?
When you enter the Harris County Jail, you'll be issued standard clothing to wear. You won't be wearing street clothes beyond the booking point. The Jail will give you an orange jumpsuit, with slippers to wear for shoes. Men and women wear the same standard clothing.

What Will I Eat?
You'll get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Lunch and dinner are usually hot meals, while your breakfast will likely be a bagged meal. Don't expect high-quality, French-chef cooking here, but it's good enough as far as jail food is concerned. Some say that the jail food is fattening and isn't very nutritious. You'll probably eat food that you aren't normally accustomed to, but you won't starve while you're in the Harris County Jail.

Can I Have Visitors?
The Harris County Jail allows each inmate to have one visitor per day. Most visits are for 15 minutes at a time. Each visitor must go through a screening process before they are allowed into the visitation area. The visit will take place between a separated, plastic window. You will speak to each other through a hole in the middle of the window. Visitation times tend to get pretty loud, so it might be hard to hear each other. Because you'll be in a visitation area that the other inmates also use, you will likely hear other people's conversations and may have to speak loudly to be heard.

Visiting hours are between 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. every day. The waiting time is longer right at 5:00, so your guests might be better off coming a little later in the day. Between 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. tend to be good times for visitors to come if you want to avoid a crowd. All visitors are screened before they are allowed into the visitation area.

How Can My Friends and Family Support Me?
It's difficult to say the best way friends and family can support their inmate, but knowing you are loved and supported at home is often the best way to get through jail time. Other than coming for daily visits, family and friends can write letters to stay in contact. The most important thing at this time is to just stay supportive. Make sure your loved one know you need support.

We all make mistakes in life and sometimes the consequences require some jail time. If you find yourself headed to Harris County Jail, make the most of your time by staying positive and keeping yourself clean. It won't be long before you are back in society and building a wonderful new life.