This guide helps you use Ellis County, Texas inmate search tools to check the jail roster, review booking details, and choose the right next step when you need inmate information.

It focuses on the Ellis County Inmate Search roster and the Wayne McCollum Detention Center. This site is independent, provides no legal, tax, or financial advice or guarantees, and you should use official resources for current information.

The main public search tool is the county roster at search the Ellis County inmate roster. It shows the inmate count, a list generation timestamp, and roster columns including full name, inmate number, booking number, race, gender, age, and arrest date.

  • Open the county roster and use the Name Search box if you know the person’s name.
  • If you do not have a full name, page through the roster to review current listings.
  • Match the person by comparing the listed identifiers, especially the booking number and arrest date.

Important: The agency states the online service is offered for public convenience and does not guarantee accuracy, timeliness, or completeness.

Wayne McCollum Detention Center

The Wayne McCollum Detention Center is the jail facility tied to Ellis County detention services. It has three phases and a maximum population of 856 prisoners.

Booking is handled in the processing area. Public-facing bond, fine, property, and release areas are also located there, which is where people may post bonds, pay fines, or retrieve personal property for incarcerated inmates.

Basic inmate medical care, clinical services, and dental services are provided in house. The facility also describes commissary, library and religious services, education opportunities, and inmate worker programs through detention services.

For detention center background and service details, use About WMDC / Inmate Services.

Video visitation

Ellis County uses a video visitation system for inmate visits. The Sheriff’s Office says visitation is tied to inmate behavior and uses scheduled video visits to keep the facility secure.

  • First-time visitors should register for a new visitation account.
  • After creating an account, schedule the visit with the inmate.
  • Visits are scheduled Tuesday through Saturday from 12 P.M. to 8 P.M.
  • The last sign-in is 7:30 P.M.
  • Same-day scheduling is not guaranteed, and late arrival shortens the visit.

Visits are subject to change without notice, and wait times can affect sign-in and housing unit access.

Use the official video visitation page to review the current process before you go.

Inmate phone service

During booking, inmates can make free local calls. The jail notes that most cell phones are not treated as local numbers, and booking phones can make collect calls outside the local dialing area.

After an inmate reaches population, collect calls are allowed from 10 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. on weekdays and from 10 A.M. to 12:30 A.M. on weekends. The call fee is the responsibility of the person accepting the collect call.

For phone service details, use the inmate phone service page. The page also directs phone support questions to Correct Solutions at (877) 618-3516.

Inmate mail and delivery rules

Mail rules depend on what you are sending. For general mail processing, the Sheriff’s Office uses a separate mailing address and scans approved items into the inmate messaging system.

  • Include the inmate’s full name, booking number, and a return address on every mailing.
  • General mail must be no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches and no more than 5 pages.
  • Write on the front side only. Mail with writing on the back is returned.
  • Only one photo is allowed per mailing. More than one photo causes the entire mailing to be returned.
  • Legal, medical, magazines, newspapers, and books from the publisher must be mailed to the detention facility, not the scanning address.

General mail for scanning goes to JailATM.com – Ellis County Jail, Inmate ID with the inmate’s full name and booking number, 2830 S. Hulen St. Box 809, Fort Worth, TX 76109. The jail warns that items sent there for processing are not returned and are destroyed after electronic delivery.

Legal and medical mail, plus approved publisher-mailed books, magazines, and newspapers, go to the inmate at C/o Wayne McCollum Detention Center, 300 S Jackson St., Waxahachie, TX 75165. For the current rules, use the inmate correspondence page.

Ellis County jail contacts

Use Jail Information first for inmate status questions and general detention help. The main Sheriff’s Office number is also available during normal administrative hours.

  • Ellis County Jail Information — Ellis County Sheriff's Office / Ellis County Jail, 300 S. Jackson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165
    Phone: (972) 825-4931
  • Ellis County Sheriff's Administration — Ellis County Sheriff's Office / Ellis County Jail, 300 S. Jackson Street, Waxahachie, TX 75165
    Phone: (972) 825-4901
    Administrative offices: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

Common questions

How do I look up an inmate in Ellis County online?

Start with the official Ellis County inmate roster. You can search by name or browse the roster pages, then compare the full name, inmate number, booking number, and arrest date to confirm the right person.

What should I do if the roster result is unclear?

Use the booking number and arrest date to narrow down people with similar names. If you still cannot confirm the record, contact Jail Information at (972) 825-4931 for the next step.

When are video visits available?

Video visitation is scheduled Tuesday through Saturday from 12 P.M. to 8 P.M., with the last sign-in at 7:30 P.M. Review the visitation page before scheduling because same-day visits are not guaranteed and hours may change.

Where do I send mail to an inmate?

General mail for electronic delivery goes to the JailATM processing address in Fort Worth, and it must follow the page limits and photo rules. Legal and medical mail, plus approved publisher-mailed books, magazines, and newspapers, go to the detention facility in Waxahachie; check the correspondence page before mailing.