The Knox County Inmate Population
The Knox County inmate population is centered on Knox County Jail, the small sheriff-operated jail in Benjamin. The official county sheriff page identifies the jail as the local detention site and gives the direct jail phone as the main live contact point for custody questions. The jail population includes adult local detainees, people waiting for first appearance or bond, short county-jail sentences, felony or state-jail holds waiting on transfer, and people counted in Texas Commission on Jail Standards categories such as housed elsewhere or in-state contract custody.
Knox County has one confirmed detention facility in the research record. No separate county annex, city jail roster, regional jail, state prison, federal prison, or ICE detention center was identified from official sources reviewed for Knox County, Texas. That makes the local map simple, but it also means the search process is not a single online form. Current Knox County jail custody begins with the jail phone and sheriff office. Sentenced prison custody moves to TDCJ. Federal and immigration custody move outside the Knox County Jail system.
Knox County Inmate Population Statistics
The most useful Knox County inmate population figures come from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards population reports. The June 2026 county jail population workbook lists Knox County Jail with 14 beds and 3 people in the jail population on June 1, 2026. The same research notes 2 housed-elsewhere inmates and 1 in-state contract inmate on that row, a detail that matters when a family member is told that a person is a Knox County inmate but is not physically at the Benjamin jail.
The TCJS incarceration-rate workbook used a county population of 3,255, a jail population of 6, and a rate of 1.84 on June 1, 2026. That rate is best read as a TCJS county-rate figure, not a daily jail roster. Knox County is a small county, so a few bookings or releases can move the percentage far more than the same shift would in a large urban jail.
The official TCJS population workbook screenshot used for this build shows why the state report is the best source for the dated jail count.
Those workbook figures describe the jail population count and capacity; they do not replace a live custody confirmation from the jail.
| Measure | Figure | Source and Date |
|---|---|---|
| Rated capacity | 14 beds | TCJS County Jail Population workbook, June 1, 2026 |
| Total jail population | 3 | TCJS County Jail Population workbook, June 1, 2026 |
| Percent of capacity | 21.43% | TCJS County Jail Population workbook, June 1, 2026 |
| Housed elsewhere | 2 | TCJS County Jail Population workbook, June 1, 2026 |
| In-state contract inmates | 1 | TCJS County Jail Population workbook, June 1, 2026 |
| Immigration detainers | 0 in inspected current rows | TCJS Immigration Detainer workbook, June 2026 |
Knox County Inmate Population Trends
Knox County Jail operated well under its listed capacity in the late-2025 through June-2026 TCJS rows captured in the research. The count ranged from 2 to 4 people in the selected monthly rows. Because the rated capacity is only 14 beds, a change of one or two people has a visible effect on the percent-of-capacity figure, but it does not show an overcrowding pattern in the source material.
| Month | Total Jail Population | Capacity | % of Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 1, 2025 | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | 3 housed elsewhere |
| Dec. 1, 2025 | 2 | 14 | 14.29% | 2 housed elsewhere |
| Jan. 1, 2026 | 2 | 14 | 14.29% | 1 housed elsewhere |
| Feb. 1, 2026 | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | 1 contract, 1 housed elsewhere |
| Mar. 1, 2026 | 4 | 14 | 28.57% | 1 contract, 2 housed elsewhere |
| Apr. 1, 2026 | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | 1 contract, 3 housed elsewhere |
| May 1, 2026 | 2 | 14 | 14.29% | 1 contract, 4 housed elsewhere |
| Jun. 1, 2026 | 3 | 14 | 21.43% | 1 contract, 2 housed elsewhere |
These figures should be used with their dates. They are not a live roster. They do show that housed-elsewhere counts are not theoretical for Knox County, so a jail call should include a direct question about whether the person is being held for Knox County at another facility.
Knox County Jail Population Makeup
The June 1, 2026 TCJS row gives a limited category snapshot rather than a full demographic profile. It reported 2 local male pretrial felons, no local female pretrial felons, no listed Class A or B misdemeanor pretrial inmates, no listed Class C pretrial inmates, no listed state jail felony pretrial inmates, and no male or female federal inmates. The same row reported 1 in-state contract inmate. That source does not provide a public age, race, length-of-stay, or medical classification breakdown for Knox County Jail.
- Pretrial custody: The researched June 2026 row showed local male pretrial felony custody as the main local category.
- County sentences: Short county-jail sentences may be served locally, but the source did not publish an annual count.
- State transfer cases: Felony or state-prison cases can move from Knox County custody to TDCJ after sentencing.
- Housed elsewhere: Knox County repeatedly reported housed-elsewhere counts in the monthly TCJS rows.
Laws Governing Knox County Jail Data
Texas law sets the framework for Knox County inmate population data and jail records. The Texas Public Information Act gives the public a way to request county records unless an exception permits withholding or redaction. For jail standards and population reports, Texas Government Code Chapter 511 creates the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and authorizes minimum county jail rules, inspections, and reporting systems. Those state reports are why Knox County capacity and monthly jail population figures can be cited with dates.
Key Statutes:
Texas Government Code Chapter 552 gives a public-records request path for sheriff, jail, and court records that are not confidential.
Texas Government Code Chapter 511 authorizes TCJS jail standards and the population reports used for Knox County jail data.
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 49.18 governs death-in-custody reporting when a person dies while detained or in custody.
How to Search Knox County Inmates
No official Knox County online jail roster, current-bookings report, booking-photo gallery, or released-inmates list was located on the county or sheriff site in the research. A Knox County inmate search therefore starts with the jail, not with a county search box. The direct jail line is the best first step for current custody, recent booking, bond status, release status, and whether a person is held elsewhere for Knox County.
- Call Knox County Jail at (940) 459-2041 and ask for current custody status by full legal name and date of birth.
- If the person was just arrested, provide the arresting agency, arrest date, time, and location if known.
- Ask whether the person is physically in the Benjamin jail or housed elsewhere for Knox County.
- If jail staff cannot release an administrative record by phone, contact the sheriff office or send a written public-information request.
- If the person has been sentenced to state prison, use the TDCJ search rather than the Knox County jail process.
The sheriff office page is also the published source for the sheriff office phone, fax, mailing address, and jail address. The county page lists Christopher Mendoza as sheriff, but custody status should be verified through the jail line because leadership pages and web pages can lag behind current operations.
Knox County Inmate Search Fields
Because no official Knox County online roster was found, the local search-field table is a fallback table rather than a form map. The practical fields are the identifiers a caller or requester should provide to jail staff. A name alone may not be enough when names are similar, and date of birth is often the best way to avoid confusing two people.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County online jail roster | Not available | Not available | No official roster search page was located. |
| Last Name | Phone or written request field | Practically required | Use the full legal name if known. |
| First Name | Phone or written request field | Practically required | Include middle name or alias if relevant. |
| Date of Birth | Identity detail | Helpful | Helps jail staff distinguish people with similar names. |
| Booking Date | Request detail | Helpful | Use when asking for a booking sheet or arrest record. |
What Knox County Inmate Records Show
An online Knox County inmate profile was not available to inspect, so no Knox-specific public profile fields should be assumed. A releasable booking or jail record may include the full name, booking or arrest date, arresting agency, booking number if assigned, charges at booking, warrant or case number, bond amount or bond type, court or magistrate information, custody status, and release date if released. Booking photos may be requested, but their release can depend on the record holder and exceptions under Texas law.
| Requested Field | What It May Show |
|---|---|
| Booking or arrest date | When the person entered jail intake or was arrested. |
| Arresting agency | The sheriff, police department, DPS, or other agency tied to the arrest. |
| Charges at booking | Initial allegations, which may differ from formal court charges. |
| Bond or hold | Whether a bond amount exists or another agency hold blocks release. |
| Custody status | Whether the person is in jail, released, transferred, or housed elsewhere. |
Knox County Jail vs TDCJ Search
The Knox County inmate population should not be searched in one system for every custody stage. The county jail process covers new arrests, pretrial detention, bond, local short sentences, and short-term holds. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Inmate Information Search covers people currently incarcerated in a TDCJ facility after state custody begins. TDCJ says its information is updated on working days only and is at least 24 hours old, so it is not a tool for fresh Knox County bookings.
| Custody Type | Where to Look | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Current county jail custody | Knox County Jail phone and sheriff office request | New arrests, bond, holds, local detention |
| Sentenced state prison custody | TDCJ Inmate Information Search | Current TDCJ inmates after transfer |
| Federal prison custody | BOP Inmate Locator | Federal inmates from 1982 forward and some release records |
| Immigration custody | ICE Online Detainee Locator System | ICE detainees searched by A-Number or biographical data |
| Notifications | VINELink Texas | Custody status and release or transfer notifications where available |
Knox County Booking and Bond Records
Booking starts after an arrest by the sheriff office, a local police department, DPS, or another agency. Jail staff confirm identity, inventory property, screen for medical and security needs, create booking paperwork, and record the arresting agency, charges, warrants, case numbers, and bond or hold information when known. Texas Penal Code Section 38.11 makes prohibited items in correctional facilities a criminal issue, so visitors and family members should not bring property to the jail without first asking staff what is allowed.
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.17 controls the early magistrate warning after arrest, and Chapter 17 governs bail. Knox County does not publish a local bond schedule or online payment portal in the official sources reviewed. Call the jail after booking and magistration to ask whether bond has been set, which bond type is allowed, where payment must be made, and whether a warrant, parole, federal, ICE, or other hold prevents release.
Note: A posted bond does not guarantee release if another county, state, federal, or immigration hold remains active.
Knox County Detention Facilities
The facility map contains one confirmed Knox County detention facility. The jail is the local point for adult county custody, but state, federal, and immigration detainees are tracked through separate systems when those custody types apply.
- Knox County Jail - sheriff-operated county jail for adult local detainees, pretrial defendants, county-jail sentences, and some transfer or housed-elsewhere categories reported to TCJS.
Knox County Inmate Population FAQ
How large is the Knox County inmate population?
TCJS reported 3 people in the Knox County jail population and 14 rated beds on June 1, 2026. The same row reported 2 housed-elsewhere inmates and 1 in-state contract inmate, so the local jail count and the broader Knox County custody picture may not always be the same.
Is there an online Knox County jail roster?
No official Knox County online jail roster was located in the county or sheriff sources reviewed. For current custody, call Knox County Jail at (940) 459-2041. For records that are not given by phone, use the sheriff office contact channels and the Texas Public Information Act process.
Where are sentenced Knox County inmates searched?
Sentenced state-prison inmates are searched through TDCJ, not the Knox County Jail. The TDCJ locator covers people currently in a TDCJ facility and may show the unit, offense, county of conviction, sentence length, and release or parole dates.
Are federal or ICE detainees held in Knox County?
No BOP prison or ICE detention center was found in Knox County. If a Knox County case has a federal or immigration custody issue, use the BOP locator, ICE ODLS, or the U.S. Marshals Northern District of Texas context rather than a county jail roster.