Dallas County – George Allen Jail

Dallas County – George Allen Jail basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 214-653-6092

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Dallas County – George Allen Jail is a medium-security detention center located at 600 Commerce St Dallas, TX which is operated locally by the Dallas County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Dallas County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Dallas Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

The Dallas County – George Allen Jail is located downtown across from the "Old Red Courthouse". This detention facility, also known as the government center, is currently depopulated. The facility housed its first inmate in 1966. With a population of 800 inmates, this was the county's main jail which sits at the top of the George Allen Courthouse until the Lew Sterrett Justice Center was completed in 1983.

"The Old Jail", which is now closed, used to be in the upper floors of the Criminal Courts Building.

It was originally thought to be an escape-proof jail since it was in a high-rise building, but several escapes took place when it was open, including some members of Clyde Barrow's notorious gang.

Jack Ruby became a so-called "guest" of the "Old Jail," when he was caught on film shooting Lee Harvey Oswald. Lee Harvey Oswald was detained by the City of Dallas Police Department until he was charged with felony murder, for the murder of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Oswald was being transferred into the County's custody when he was shot by Jack Ruby. Ruby was immediately taken into custody.

When the "Old Jail" was constructed, Dallas County still participated in hangings. Executions on gallows were conducted outside until the "Old Jail" was complete. "Death Row" prisoners were then hanged inside the "Old Jail" until the mid-1920's.

visitation Info

Dallas County – George Allen City Jail – Visitation

Visitation Hours:
Monday and Thursday: Inmates with the last names A-L. (No children under age of 17 allowed)
Tuesday and Friday: Inmates with the last names M-Z (No children under age of 17 allowed)
Saturday and Sunday: Open visitation – all children may visit.

Visiting hours at all jail facilities is as follows:
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday	7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday	8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
*****Wednesdays no visitation****

Each visitor may visit only once per calendar week. The visitor must arrive at least thirty minutes before the end of visiting hours to ensure ample time for processing.

Frequency: 
Each inmate will be allowed two visits per week, the weeks run from Sunday-Saturday. 

Example: If the father, mother and sister visit on the appropriate day at the same time that is considered one visit. If the wife visits the next day, then that inmate's visitation is done for the week.

What to expect:
Upon arrival at the detention facility, each visitor will fill out a visitor's slip to visit the inmate. The officer working the visitation lobby will write the inmate's booking number and tank location on the slip. The visitor will write on the back of the visitors slip the name, race, date of birth and sex of each person under the age of 17 who will accompany them to the jail floor to visit the inmate. Only two children per adult. Persons 17 years of age and older will be required to have proper identification and must be listed on the inmate's visitors card.

The visitor will then be directed through a metal detector or scanned by a hand-held metal detector prior to going to the jail floors. Any visitor is subject to a physical search if probable cause exists. The officers in the visitation lobby will ensure no items are carried to a jail floor that is prohibited.

Dallas County Jail now provides video visitation please click here for further information. 

Prohibited Items:
Cameras, purses, umbrellas, packages, mace, handbags, paper sacks, cell phones, pagers, cigarettes, cigarette lighters, matches,or any glass or metal containers. Prohibited items also include glass baby bottles, blankets, strollers, or toys for babies. Pocket knives and sharp objects, weapons of any kind, or other items which can be used either in its present form or by alteration, as a weapon in the jail are prohibited.

Jail Visitation Rules:

• A parent or a legal guardian must accompany minors under the age of 17. Only two children per adult may visit.
• Physical searches of visitors may be conducted with probable cause.
• Visitors shall not give any items directly to inmates.
• Visitors are required to successfully clear the metal detector before being allowed entrance into the secured area.
• Any disruption in the visitation process could result in visit termination and/or visit restriction.

Age of Visitors:
Children under 17 years of age will not be allowed to visit unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If you are the legal guardian documentation showing proof may be required. All children shall visit the same inmate being visited by the accompanying parent or guardian and shall be kept under the supervision of the accompanying adult. Visitors under the age of 17 who are married to an inmate shall show proof of marriage before visits shall be allowed.

Identification:

• All persons requesting visitation privileges must be in possession of a VALID State Driver License, State ID, or one of the following identifications:

ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE THE ORIGINAL OR CERTIFIED COPIES!

• Valid state driver's license, paper license renewal must be accompanied by other photo identification
• Texas Department of Public Safety photo identification card
• Jail Identification Card
• Official Government Issued Passport
• Military Identification Card
• Alien Registration Card or other valid photo identification card for the United States Government

A Dallas County jail visitation card can be obtained between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Probation Check located in front of the North Tower Jail Main Control Center, located at 111 West Commerce Street, Dallas Texas 75202.

The applicant for an identification card must produce their birth certificate and social security card. The cost of the identification card is $5.00. Click here for details about obtaining a Dallas County jail visitation card.

Special Visits:
Special visits are allowed for persons living more than 75 miles from Dallas. A person seeking a "Special Visit" is not required to be on the inmate's visitors card. The visitor must show valid proof of residence to qualify for a special visit. Visits for a person living more than 75 miles from Dallas may be at any time other than the regular visitation hours excluding feeding times or emergency conditions.

Special visits are provided on a one time only basis for those persons who live more than 75 miles from the facility and could not have reasonably anticipated to visit, at the time the inmate completed the visiting card.

Non-Contact Visitation:
With the exception of "Special Visits" all visitors 17 years of age and older must be on the inmate's visitors card. All visits are non-contact visits. No exchange of paperwork, property, pictures, letters, books, legal work, or money will be allowed. These items, with the exception of books, may be sent in the U.S. Mail. An inmate may receive books, but they must be sent directly from the publisher.

Prior Incarcerations:
Persons who have been in jail during the last six months will not be allowed to visit unless the visitor is the inmate's legal spouse and prior authorization has been obtained by the jail supervisor.

Dress Code:
All visitors must be in proper attire at all times. No one will be allowed entrance wearing the following:

• Transparent Clothing
• Seductive Clothing
• Tube Tops
• Halter Tops
• Strapless Tops
• Backless Tops
• Spaghetti Straps
• Short must be at knee length
• Skirts must be at knee length
• Visitors who are inappropriately dressed with gang-related clothing, hairstyles or graffiti will be denied visits.

Orderly at All Times:
Any visitor, guest, or child of the visitor is expected to be orderly at all times. Visitor's children will not be allowed to run and or play in the visitation areas. A visitor will be warned that the children must be kept in control at all times. If, after the warning, the problem persists, a detention supervisor will be called to the floor. The supervisor, at their discretion, may allow the visitor to remain or ask the visitor to leave. No child may be left unattended while in the lobby area or during visitation.

Visitors will not be allowed to conduct themselves in a manner which may be considered as lewd. Visitors may not become loud or obscene with their voice or language. Visitors that are disruptive or who violate jail security may be asked to leave by a jail supervisor. Visitors may be banned from future visits by the facility commander based on their actions during the visit. Once a visitor leaves the secured area of the jail they will not be granted return to the secured area during the visiting day.