Understanding Byrd Unit's 10-Person Visitors List: Who Can You Add and When You Can Change It?

At Byrd Unit, the Visitors List is exactly what it sounds like: the official roster of people an incarcerated person has approved to visit during authorized hours. The limit is strict - each inmate can have a maximum of 10 names on that list. Full list? Someone has to come off before anyone new can be added. Think of those 10 spots as priority seats.

Here's where people get tripped up: at institutional units like Byrd Unit, an inmate can only add or delete names on their Visitors List once every six months. If you're not on the list today, getting added may not be a quick fix - especially if they've already used their change window recently.

You might hear about faster timelines elsewhere in TDCJ. State jail, ISF, and SAFP inmates can make changes once every 60 days. But that's a different category with different rules - don't assume the "two months" timeline applies at Byrd Unit if your person is in an institutional setting.

Deciding Who

• ✓ Immediate family and the people who are most likely to visit in person
• ✓ The one or two people who can reliably make the trip on short notice
• ✓ Anyone who plays a key support role (for example, someone who will accept calls or help with funds)
• ✓ People you’re confident can follow visitation rules and show up with proper ID
• ✓ Before anyone travels, confirm the inmate is assigned to Byrd Unit and has visitation privileges

Trying to get approved as a visitor? You may need to complete a "Relationship Request" first. When you submit this request to link with an inmate, it goes to the inmate's unit of assignment for TDCJ staff verification. The request stays pending until staff approve it. Even if you and your loved one are on the same page, build in time for the unit to process and confirm the relationship before counting on a visit.

1. Call the unit before you travel - confirm the inmate is assigned there and has visitation privileges, and ask whether visitation is cleared to proceed.
2. Ask about your Relationship Request status - if you submitted a request, it’s sent to the unit for TDCJ staff verification and will show as pending until approved.
3. Double-check what you need for entry - if you’re 18 or older, you’ll need a current, official government-issued photo ID.

Not on the list - or think you were removed? The practical move is the same: get clarity from staff on where things stand. Relationship Requests go to the inmate's unit of assignment for review and stay pending until approved. Once you know whether your request is pending or denied, the unit can tell you what comes next and what to do differently before trying again.