Before Your First Visit to Baten Unit: what to bring (and what to leave in the car)
Your first visit to Baten Unit goes smoother when you show up with the right ID and only the small items allowed past the secured perimeter. Use the checklists below to pack once, park once, and avoid getting turned away at the door.
Before you make the drive, confirm your loved one is assigned to Baten Unit and eligible for visits. TDCJ visiting hours generally run Saturday and Sunday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., with visiting cycles starting Monday and ending the following Sunday. That means a
If you're 18 or older, bring a current, government-issued photo ID. Staff will check the expiration date, and at least one ID must show your current physical address. There's an exception for certified victims of family violence with address protection through the attorney general - but for most visitors, the simplest approach is using an ID that already has your up-to-date address on it.
Allowed Small Items
- ✓ A small wallet
- ✓ A clear plastic bag (Ziploc-type)
- ✓ A change purse
- ✓ Up to $35 in coins (for vending machines)
- ✓ Leave paper money in the car (it isn’t allowed inside the secured perimeter)
- ✓ No more than three diapers
- ✓ A supply of baby wipes
- ✓ Two baby bottles (or a sippy cup for a toddler)
- ✓ Store these infant items in a clear plastic bag
- ✓ Leave diaper bags, strollers, toys/dolls, and photographs/photo albums in the car (they aren’t allowed inside the secured perimeter)
Prohibited Items
- ✓ Paper money
- ✓ Tobacco
- ✓ Lighters or matches
- ✓ Cell phones
- ✓ Smartwatches
- ✓ Pagers
- ✓ Laptop computers
- ✓ Cameras
- ✓ Digital recorders
- ✓ Any other electronic or wireless devices
- ✓ Purses
- ✓ Diaper bags
- ✓ Briefcases
- ✓ Baby strollers
- ✓ Toys or dolls
- ✓ Photographs or photograph albums
Note: Treat your car and pockets like they'll be searched - contraband rules are strict, and prohibited items (especially electronics and paper money) can create problems fast. Pack light and carry only what's allowed, ideally in a clear plastic bag.
Baten Unit follows TDCJ-wide visitation rules, but the details that make or break a first visit - where to check in, when to arrive, any unit-level procedure changes - are worth verifying before you go. Look up the Baten Unit phone number through official TDCJ sources and call to confirm the current process for that weekend's visit window (Saturday/Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and where you should report when you arrive.
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