Harris County Inmate Back in Custody After Erroneous Release

Justin Tompkins, 21, who was mistakenly released from the Harris County Jail on Thursday, February 20, 2025, was taken back into custody on Friday night.  

Tompkins was released shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday due to a reported error by jail staff, who mistook him for another inmate with the same name.  

Upon discovering the error on Friday night, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office initiated a search. Tompkins voluntarily returned to the jail and surrendered around 8:40 p.m.  

Tompkins had been in custody since December 2022, facing a capital murder charge filed by the Houston Police Department. His bail had been set at $750,000. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding his erroneous release is underway.