DETENTION CENTER

The Potter County Detention Center is a 125,000 sq ft facility that consists of 576 beds in the General Population portion, a 27-bed Infirmary and two Violent Cells. Completed in November 1995, the Center houses inmates awaiting trial, inmates sentenced to County Corrections and those sentenced and waiting for entrance into State and Federal Institutions.

VISITATION HOURS

SCHEDULE

Please note, each inmate is scheduled one day per week for visitation based on the first letter of their last name:

Monday: Inmates with the last name beginning with A thru D

Tuesday: Inmates with the last name beginning with E thru J

Wednesday: Inmates with the last name beginning with K thru N

Thursday: Inmates with the last name beginning with O thru R

Friday: Inmates with the last name beginning with S thru Z

Visitation hours are:

8:30AM to 11:30AM – Monday thru Friday

AND

6:30PM to 9:30PM – Monday thru Friday

RULES

1. Visitation privileges will be extended to all inmates in the Potter County Detention Center, unless revoked for disciplinary reasons.

2. An inmate shall be allowed two twenty (20) minute in-person, non-contact visits per calendar week (a week beginning on Sunday and ending on Saturday).

3. Only two adults or one adult with children, under the age of sixteen, will be allowed to visit at a time.

4. Visitor registration will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of visiting hours.

5. Visitors must present proper identification containing their photograph. The following identification will be authorized:

a. Current Texas or out of state driver’s license or ID card.

Paper license shall be accompanied by other picture

identification with the correct address.

b. Current military identification card.

c. Current alien identification card.

6. All visitors must register prior to entering the visitation area.

7. All visitors will be expected to act in an orderly manner. Persons accompanied by juveniles under the age of sixteen (16) years shall be responsible for the juveniles’ behavior.

8. All visitors must be in proper dress attire at all times (shoes, shirt, etc.).

9. Cell phones, cameras of any kind, purses, packages, umbrellas, bags, and other items which may be used as containers are not allowed within the visitation area. All items will be left in their car or outside the detention center.

10. There will be no glass baby bottles, strollers, or toys for babies brought into the jail.

11. There will be no smoking in the jail by visitors at any time.

12. Visitors who have been incarcerated in the Potter County Detention Center in the preceding 6 months will not be allowed to visit, with the exception of legal spouses, parents, or children of the inmate. Supervisory authorization is required in such cases.

13. Special visits will not be allowed except in the case of a confirmed emergency such as a serious illness or death in the immediate family. Special visits involving travel over 150 miles may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the supervisor on duty. All special visits require approval from the supervisor on duty. No more than two special visits will be allowed within a thirty (30) day period and at the discretion of the facility supervisor.

INMATE PROGRAMS

The Potter County Detention Center introduced Inmate Programs on February 3, 2017. Inmate Programs allow inmates the opportunity to begin the process of change, as well as, use their time wisely. A variety of classes are offered including, but not limited to:

Life Skills: classes designed to teach general life skills to help with everyday life. Topics include job readiness, parenting, grief/loss, empowerment, and wellness.
Houses of Healing: intensive small group designed to target individuals interested in emotional healing.
Seeking Safety: intensive small group designed to target individuals with trauma and substance abuse issues.
Relationships While in Recovery: intensive small group designed to teach relationships skills including how to build new relationships, maintain current relationships and eliminate unhealthy relationships.
Healing Write: small group focused on healing through journal writing.
Sharing Hope: a program to assist women who are incarcerated in recovery and overcoming their destructive behavior by sharing God's love and hope through the teaching of His Word. This organization is statewide in 49 states and has been very successful in its work with inmates across our state. The Potter County Sheriff's Office holds a Chili Fundraiser each year in support of the wonderful work Sharing Hope does for the women incarcerated here in our facility.

We also offer GED classes, since February 15, 2017. We have had several take advantage of the opportunity. Since we have had 2 graduate with several on the verge of graduation. The great thing is that the program we use if they get out of jail they can go to any computer and continue that education.

JAIL / MEDICAL STAFF

JAIL STAFF

Employees assigned to work at the Potter County Detention Center are licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) as having completed the minimum educational requirements and training as mandated by the Commission to perform duties required by their positions. Officers have to continue their education and training throughout their careers to maintain licensing. This helps to provide their respective agencies with the best possible service. The Potter County Sheriff has made educating officers one of his top priorities to enhance the safety and security of both the officers working and the inmates housed at the Detention Center.

For more information, contact:

Lt. Darrel Harp

13103 NE 29th

Amarillo, Texas 79111

(806) 379-2957

Click HERE to Email

MEDICAL STAFF

As with any county jail, we are responsible for all inmate health concerns, 24/7. The Potter County Detention Center has its own medical area. There are 23 beds in the unit, one trauma room, one exam room, a pharmacy and a dental room. We contract with a local doctor and a local dentist that come in once a week to see patients. Most of the other issues that arise are taken care of by our staff of a Supervisor RN and ten EMTs, Paramedics and LVN’s. The Detention Center is staffed by nine full-time medical officers caring for the various physical needs of inmates. Medical staff is responsible for the care and treatment of minor medical needs. A physician is available to inmates with more serious concerns.

TRANSPORTATION

The transportation section is part of the Corrections Division and consists of one TDC Coordinator and six transportation officers. Transportation officers are trained in specific shooting and handcuffing techniques as well as defensive tactics and driving skills. These special skills help in the daily execution of their duties. The transportation section is responsible for transporting inmates to and from various courts, other county jails, hospitals, doctors' offices and other agencies throughout the State of Texas. They are also responsible for transporting inmates to various TDC facilities and picking up inmates on bench warrants within the state. The transportation section also delivers daily paperwork to local agencies and officials within Potter County. Transportation officers are tested annually to maintain their positions within the transportation section. This test entails weapons proficiency, negotiation of an obstacle course and a quarter-mile run. Officers desiring a transfer to the transportation section must pass the same qualification tests as well as an oral review board.

For more information, contact:

Captain Jeremy Frazier

13100 NE 29th

Amarillo, Texas 79111

(806) 379-2936

Click HERE to Email

MAGISTRATION SCHEDULE

INMATE RULES & REGS

Magistration (arraignment) hearings take place each day at 11:00am and are live-streamed on YouTube here.

INMATE RULES & REGS

ENGLISH

SPANISH

COMMISSARY

Inmates can receive money through Access Corrections Secure Deposits. Here's what you need to know to successfully send money:

1) Go to AccessCorrections.com and create an account where money can be deposited for the inmate online.

2) If you have any questions, contact (866) 345-1884. Someone is available 24/7.

3) In the Detention Center Visitation Lobby, you'll find a kiosk that accepts cash, debit and credit cards.

4) In the Detention Center Visitation Lobby or the LEC, we also accept Money Orders that include the inmate's SO#.

5) The kiosk will NOT take a prepaid credit or debit card.

6) The kiosk will only accept US denominations of $5 or above and will NOT give change back.

7) The visitation officer does NOT make change or keep change in their office.

CREATE AN ACCOUNT WITH ACCESS CORRECTIONS

INMATE CORRESPONDENCE

The Potter County Detention Center has contracted with Viapath Technologies to provide TextBehind electronic mail services. This mail delivery method is being implemented to streamline the operations of the Sheriff’s Office, improve communications, and ensure the safety and well-being of inmates and staff. TextBehind is a quick and efficient way for inmates to receive letters and photos electronically. Effective December 1st, 2023, inmate postal mail must be sent to the following address:

Potter County Detention Center

Inmate’s Name and SO#

P.O. Box 247

Phoenix, MD 21131

The inmate’s name and SO# (Sheriff’s Office number) must be printed clearly on the outside of the envelope or postcard to ensure the mail is posted to the correct account. The inmate’s SO# can be found by accessing the jail roster found under the Public Records tab, then clicking on the Jail Roster button. The inmates are listed in alphabetical order, with the SO# listed on the right side of each inmate’s name.

All regular inmate postal mail (postcards, letters, greeting cards, etc.) will be scanned into the system and made available to the inmates for viewing via the tablets.

Legal mail, court documents, and publications will continue to be sent directly to the facility at 13100 NE 29th Amarillo, TX 79111.

DO NOT mail money orders or cashier's checks. They will be returned to sender. To give money toward an inmate’s account, see the Commissary section above.

All inmate correspondence must have a return address listed on the outside of the envelope.

To report any mail delivery issues, contact TextBehind support directly at info@TextBehind.com.

GUARDIAN RFID

GUARDIAN RFID®

The Potter County Sheriff's Office now uses GUARDIAN RFID® as a solution for the monitoring of our jail system and inmates. GUARDIAN RFID® helps jails of all sizes maximize defensibility, compliance, and operational efficiency by managing, monitoring, and tracking in-custody inmates in real-time. GUARDIAN RFID® is deployed by jails of all sizes throughout the United States and is e xclusively endorsed by the National Sheriff's Association.