# How to ID an inmate at a jail
**URL:** https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726
**Category:** Looking For Advice
**Created:** [September 27, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726 "2022-09-27T13:52:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@davismobilenotary3](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/davismobilenotary3)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/1 "2022-09-27T13:52:05Z")
I’ve been asked to notarize a POA for someone currently being held at the county jail. Apparently he won’t have his drivers license. I was told he’ll have an inmate badge with photo, etc. According to Texas law, the ID has to be a government-issued ID with photo and signature.
How have those of you that have done jail signings IDed inmates?
Thanks for your help!
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### Author:  [@psajax](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/psajax)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2022, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/2 "2022-09-27T15:03:18Z")
Sec. 406.014 of the Texas statutes states you may accept an “identification card issued by a governmental agency.” Is the inmate badge issued by the State? If not, you can be introduced to the signer and “if introduced, the name and mailing address of the individual introducing the signer, grantor, or maker,” so it sounds like you can ID a credible witness.
[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.406.htm](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/SOTWDocs/GV/htm/GV.406.htm)
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### Author:  [@davismobilenotary3](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/davismobilenotary3)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/3 "2022-09-27T16:57:37Z")
Thanks for your input, psajax. I was able to find a disinterested party to use as a credible witness and it all went well.
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### Author:  [@LindaH-FL](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/LindaH-FL)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/4 "2022-09-27T17:07:07Z")
> [@davismobilenotary3](#):
>
> I was able to find a disinterested party to use as a credible witness
Doesn’t the CW have to personally know the person who is signing so they can identify them?
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### Author:  [@davismobilenotary3](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/davismobilenotary3)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/5 "2022-09-27T17:14:52Z")
Yes. By disinterested I meant not involved in or benefiting from.
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### Author:  [@RiverpointeTax](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/RiverpointeTax)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/6 "2022-09-28T17:35:22Z")
Most of the larger county jails I’ve engaged inmates, [Harris, Fort Bend, Comal, Guadalupe, Bexar, Montegomery, Travis, and Tarrant] have notaries on staff. If there’s an attorney requesting your services make certain that the jail procedures don’t violate Attorney/Client Privilege. You’ll have to hand the documents to the corrections officers who can “see” what’s being signed.
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### Author:  [@WeMBnotary-Myrtle-Beach-SC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/WeMBnotary-Myrtle-Beach-SC)
#### Post date: [September 29, 2022, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/7 "2022-09-29T18:38:41Z")
I never do jails. Takes to much time, and why…
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### Author:  [@larayjacobs](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/larayjacobs)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/8 "2022-10-08T13:33:29Z")
Good morning [davismobilenotary3]
What part of Texas are you in? I’m in the Dallas area. I was wondering if your prisoner ID was related to a seller signing I did about a week ago. They were a family 6 or 7 siblings selling their deceased parent’s property. and one of them was in prison and a Notary had to go there to get his POA Notarized. We all met at a restaurant to sign the Seller doc’s.
LaRay
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### Author:  [@davismobilenotary3](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/davismobilenotary3)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2022, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/9 "2022-10-08T13:43:49Z")
No, this was a POA to secure bail.
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### Author:  [@ewing\_joe](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/ewing_joe)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/10 "2022-11-14T13:06:41Z")
I’m not commissioned in Texas but I do have the confidence and experience to answer the common sense part of your question. County jail generally houses alleged lawbreakers awaiting sentancing to prison. Nobody incarcerated in jail is without an ID except you. You surrendered yours to the clerk to gain access to the inmate. Inmates are issued a wearable wristband ID with a booking #, DOB and a recent color photo. This jail ID along with personal appearance is considered satisfactory. If it’s not then you have very few reasonable options.
Befriending criminal lawyers who will need POA’s and bail bondsman who need deeds of trust with the assignment of rent is a good marketing idea. If they like you they can also provide mentoring too.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [December 26, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/how-to-id-an-inmate-at-a-jail/36726/11 "2022-12-26T13:52:56Z")
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