Travis County Jail

Ive only been here once, August 2013. But this jail sucks. Easily the loudest jail Ive been to since most of the inmates are picked up for something involving alcohol or drugs. The food is terrible. Bologna sandwiches and an orange, every meal until 72 hours later youre moved to a proper cell. I wasnt in a «proper cell» for too long though before I was bailed out.
Staff is very rude, pushy and condescending. I sat next to a discarded rock of crack the size of a golfball and they cavity searched me. I asked them why they could not just look at the video to see who had dropped that crack. They did it just to humiliate me. I was there for «interfering with the duties of a public servant» not a drug charge. The interfering charge was later tossed because it was BS.
If you have medical issues, dont expect them to tend to it. I had eyedrops that I needed that they would not let me have. Had I been there more than three days, it could have resulted in corneal damage. The cops seemed overjoyed when they found my Altoid tin with pills in it. Then they were devastated that all the pills were over the counter supplements from HEB. That really let the air out of their tires. The pills were not given back to me.
Speed and urgency is not an issue here. Theyll take their sweet time doing anything here.
I guess it could be worse. This is not like Atlanta, Chicago or Baltimore where there is lots of fights and butt rape in the jail. However, like most jails, the races self-​segregate. Here, its Hispanics and «other». Im white, so I had to sit down and eat with two black guys and an arab dude.

Worst health spa ever!!! We will not be going back, and we won’t recommend to friends. No privacy in the rooms and the masseuses are quite rough when giving you a massage. The capsaicin energy facials are certain to put some pep in your step, but you may have watery eyes as a result.

Beats the hell out of Willco. I got to spend a lovely few days in my own resort like cell. They gave me some spiffy threads to use during my stay. Made a few friends, learned a few illegal things while incarcerated. Staff was friendly and made me feel welcomed. The whole intake/​release was easy and fast. I got to see a few people get tased and beat up, which was totally cool!!! Tell your friends about this place!

So they confiscate your underpants/​panties right before they make you wear the black and gray striped jump suit that has had hundreds of grungy jail birds free ballin’ and loose lippin’ in it before you. Get checked for crabs and scabies IMMEDIATELY after release… Speaking from experience here.

Friend got arrested and some friends and I thought we’d visit. Colors are dull and boring but man, when it’s 100+ degrees outside and you’re nearby, step inside to take a break from the heat. The AC is probably set at 60 degrees inside so it’s nice and crisp.

Years ago I was incarcerated overnight but had the presence of mind to consume all the evidence before I was handcuffed. I spent the most amazing evening looking at colors and hearing sounds. The different textures of the cell were worth the trip alone.
Would highly recommend my experience to others.

i was arrested at 3:30am (ish) after work. It was a very cold night, and I saw a girl walking alone in shorts in a tank top on the other side of the side of the desolate street and slowed to ask if she needed a ride. she turned and graciously accepted although at this point I realized she was a middle aged woman of questionable… nature and… well, sanity, but it was too late. (yes, I am aware I can be too quick to be overly sympathetic and naïve in situations for which I have no context) I was .5 miles from my house and informed her of as much as I pulled over and back out and turned, at which point i was pulled over.
they ask if i know why im being pulled over. i dont, so they inform me that i was driving on the wrong side of the road. i informed them of what actually happened and they asked if i had had anything to drink, and I said that i had had 2 shots of whiskey between 9 and 10pm (so over 6 hours ago) and that was it. approximately 6 people asked me the same question throughout the night and pretty early on i realized what i had presumed was mere honesty and perhaps excessive genuinity would be perceived as an admission of guilt, and assumed a modest approximation.
my only genuine offense was that my lisence had expired, and I explained to the cop how I had received a violation for parking in a handicap zone in MA when I lived in NY, that the charge and further fees were upwards of $ 1000 at this point and i had been working that night despite extreme exhaustion exclusively to remedy that.
I assumed the sobriety tests were somewhat of a formality, and, exhausted, teeth chattering and violently shivering in the cold, i complied as best I was able. at one point he had me hold one foot up and count until toldd otherwise, which i did despite intense shivering, and upon approaching ten he ordered ‘higher!” and had me continuewith my foot about two feet off the ground (i am about 5’4) until 20. I was not allowed to approach my vehicle for a jacket, however, next thing I knew, an officer was scouring my purse. I wanted rto ask when I had consented them could search my things, but have previously been refuted with an explanation that my lack of consent constituted probable cause.
I was arrested for ‘driving under the influence’. I asked if i could be breathalized. they informed me this owuld happen. I asked if i could have my car picked up by my roommate and not towed and was told the other cop, who I was next placed in the car of, would handle this. I repeated both questions to him. He repeated the first answer and that it was being towed. I became desperate and explained I really couldn’t afford it, I was already overworking to afford the license renewal, and he outbursted that i didnt even have a license.
it was about 40 degrees at the jail, where i was finally breathalized and placed in holding. I shivered through the first six hours or so, was briefly informed of my charges (expired lisence, driving on the wrong side of the road, and nothing about alcohol because i WAS NOT INTOXICATED, as i had explained) and 2 hours or so later, photographed and fingerprinted. about 2 hours further, moderately delirious with cold and sleep deprivation, I approached the desk to inquire my status and was ordered to sit until i was called. about 2 hours after that I asked a guard and he said he would check. i was finally called into a courtroom with the cell detainees where the present policeman was [freaking out] about how long ago i should hav been seen and released. as we waited in silence for the judge, one prisoner suddenly spoke up. ‘im here for j-​walking,’ he said, ’ i just thought everybody should know that.’ the cop fresponded with, ‘how about for sleeping?” supposedly another prisionor in the last meeting was there for that reason.
they again never called my name, so as the judge attempted to wrap up i raisedd my hand and was FINALLY addressed. I was told my charges and returned to holding, where i waited another 3 hours during which a girl arrived who had been pulled over with her boyfriend for stopped past the white line and then, when searching her car, the cop found an empty bottle of some sort and itr was likewise towed, despite literally being in front of her house.
I was then again [chastised]for approaching the desk to ask my status, and a guard asked [what was up], and again said he would check for me. about half an hour later i was called and finally released about 16 hours after having arrived, they did not give me a single paper, about a court case, or anything, and i never even later received one. i finally escaped, and at the same time as the prisoner who, as it turns out, really had been arrested for «sleeping in public». my car was towed about 14 miles south and nearly impossible/​more expensive to retrieve because i did not have a valid license.

Poor service!

I love this jail. Really great police officers, except for the one who slammed my head into the pavement — but in his defense he did call an ambulence!!! All the residence were hilaririous, there were some young kids who told a story about shooting at cops, there were guys falling off their chairs they were so happy to be there, I witnessed a really amusing fake fist fight. It was really wonderful entertainment all night long and just around the time I was getting bored and tired (around 8AM they let me go). I would suggest this jail to anyone — great times!

if I could write 0 stars for this shit hole I would. I was arrested for having a psychotic episode in public and the mental health officer told me that I would just get mentally evaluated. Well after waiting 9 hours to see the magistrate I was sent to the hole– a plain room with no bedding, no blankets and screaming inmates right next to me. Since I was very friendly to the officers, one of them was very helpful. I would ask her questions and she was happy to talk to me. The other female cop who looks like Miley Cyrus was a cunt and called me crazy and that «maybe I’m not too crazy to have a toothbrush.» The Miley Cyrus bitch continued to put me down the whole time I was there. I could not have a pen or paper and the blaring lights above kept me from sleeping. The concrete floor was very cold and I found myself covered in lumps and bumps after being there– i have no idea why. The nurse was a total bitch and a half and told me that I would have to wait 2 days to take my medication and I told her I could have seizures if I stopped the medications. She snarked at me and said I would be fine. I got in her face and said «if you don’t give me my medications as they are prescribed, I swear to god» so she said «that’s why you’re going in the hole!» so I responded, «So you’re telling me I’m going to be sent to the hole because you wont let me take my medications?» and she said yes. I was furious that she thought she knew better than a psychiatrist and thought she could just fuck with my mind like that. So I spent one night in shitty jail eating shitty bologne and cheese sandwiches and unsweetened grits and sausage in the morning. Thankfully I got bonded out. What a sick and twisted hell hole this is. Next time you think of doing anything illegal in public (who knew someone with mental problems would be arrested for having an episode?) please remember this place will mad-​dog you, abuse you, and treat you like shit

This place is totally awesome!!! OMG, i love going to this jail. The staff is unbelievable, the food is exquisite, and I have never slept better in my life. This jail is especially great for those of you who like to be forcefully raped; ask for Marcucio. I strongly encourage anyone visiting the Austin area to commit some sort of crime just so that they get to experience unrivaled treatment.

I have only been to visit an ex-​lover not to stay overnight or anything.
Although the waiting is bad enough.
There are usually a bunch of really interesting stereotypes that go to visit their friends and family in jail.
I never plan to go back for any visits or overnighters.
If any future lovers get locked up for more than a couple of nights,
I mean for me to actually do the jail visitation thing
Its not worth the relationship
I promise.

WARNING THEY TAKE AWAY YOUR IPHONE!
Ah, the county jail, sort of like an endless summer camp in the 5^th through the 8^th circles of Hell. I say endless because time actually stands still in here. They really do take away your phone. Sucked too, because I just downloaded a couple new killer apps, plus no facebook or Unilocaling the whole time you are in there. Srysly!
I was picked up on a warrant for a expired inspection sticker from 2005. The officer let me call my wife to come pick the car up, so he didn’t have to impound it. He said he was doing me a favor but it didn’t really feel like it when he handcuffed me and sat me on my hands in the back of a 105 degree cop car.
For those of you who have not had the pleasure, here is how it works. The officer brings you in and you sit on a bench in your handcuffs along with whomever else they are bringing in at the moment. You gotta watch yourself here because some of these folks are downright ornery about being brought to jail. You sit and you wait until they are ready for you.
Once you come up to the check-​in bench they frisk you rather intimately and empty your pockets. Then they check your shoes, and your socks, then they wand you. You get uncuffed, and they catalog all your stuff. I had walking shoes on, they took my shoelaces and then gave me the shoes back.
Then they ask if you are suicidal. They seem to ask this alot. When people ask me if I’m suicidal I usually quote the Brad Pitt character in Oceans Eleven and say, «Only in the mornings.» I decided against it. Then they will let you turn on your cell phone, and get numbers to write down on a piece of paper.
Which brings me to Don R’s RULE #1 of going to jail. RULE#1 = STFU. Really just shut your mouth and sit there. Always.
Now here is an interesting part, some people get changed into jail clothes at check in. They are really fancy black and white horizontal broad striped tops and bottoms. Some people also get some jail flip flops. I didn’t, the people in front of me did. I got to keep my clothes and my shoes but not my belt. I’m not sure, but I think it is a bad sign if you get the jail clothes, or maybe it is just random.
Now once you leave the check-​in bench, you can go three directions. Way left, to the nurses station if you are hurt, drunk, or on drugs. To the middle to the blue lounge TV area, or to the right where the cells are. I believe I was rather lucky that I got to go to the middle. They say sit down, men on the right, women on the left. Sit there and wait. They got two TVs too, one on CBS one on TRU TV. A stellar channel line up that along with Lifetime and continuous Nancy Grace is almost certainly on in Hell.
There are restrooms, and even a water fountain. The water fountain also happens to be in the restroom. I decided to go thirsty. The restrooms don’t lock by the way, locking yourself in a room is not allowed in jail.
I also went hungry. The bag «o» baloney sandwich and Frito’s some folks seemed to be procuring from the nurse wasn’t appealing to me.
Now the lounge area might not seem so nice, but actually it is a privilege, and one you can lose rather quickly. Act up in anyway, and you get a sometimes forceful trip to the cells in the back.. I didn’t act up. I just sat there.
Here is what I did:
1. I thought about winning the lottery, and taking all my family and friends to Vegas on a trip, I did a whole itinerary, prices and all.
2. I sang Willie’s «Tougher than Leather» over and over in my head. It is unfortunately the only song I have memorized.
3. 39 — That is the number of freckles and spots I have on my left and right forearms.
Once you sit down you wait for them to call you up and verify your identity. They ask personal info, then they ask whether or not your are a drunk, a druggie, or psycho, and if you are suicidal. Most folks said they were all four. Then you get your free 5 minute phone call, make it count!
There are other phones which you can call collect on, but you can’t call collect to your wife’s iPhone. Hey! do they have an app for that?
After your phone call guess what happens next? Yup! You sit and wait. Later they will call you up to fingerprint and mugshot you. Then back to sitting and waiting.
Now you may have thought you have already sat and waited but now you are really going to sit and wait. 7.5 hours for me total.
As with any establishment, you can really only do so much with the décor, ambiance and the food. What really makes a place is the people. Here they got lots of dedicated workers. Some are actually pretty friendly, some not so much. I dunno what they pay those folks, but I’m pretty sure it isn’t $ 500,000 a year with every other day and every other week off, plus six months a year vacation. That is what I’d need to do that job.
What really makes this place tick is the customers, which is why I rated it so highly. Oh btw RULE#2 = don’t go!