Finding and Tracking Someone in Texas: A Checklist for Dallas County Youth Village Families

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• ✓ Full legal name (include middle name if you have it)
• ✓ Date of birth
• ✓ Inmate identification number (if known)
• ✓ Social Security number (if available)

For people in Texas state prison, use the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Offender Search. You can search by full name, or enter a TDCJ number or SID number if you have one. Not sure which identifier is most accurate? Start with the number. It's designed to match one person.

Name searches work best when you come prepared. Have the person's date of birth ready to narrow down results when multiple matches appear. Not getting a result? Try small variations: include or remove a middle name, check for hyphens or spacing, and confirm spelling against court paperwork or past documents. If you have an ID number (TDCJ number, SID, or another inmate identification number), use it to avoid false matches.

Once you locate the person, contact the facility directly for details that affect day-to-day communication. Visitation rules, phone call procedures, and mailing addresses vary by facility, so search results are just the starting point. A quick call can save you from sending mail to the wrong place or showing up on the wrong day.

• ✓ What are the current visitation days and hours?
• ✓ What ID is required for visitors?
• ✓ Are there any special rules you should know before visiting?
• ✓ What is the correct mailing address and required mail format?
• ✓ What are the phone call rules and how does the phone system work?
• ✓ What methods are approved for adding funds (if funds are allowed)?

1. Re-check the basics - Confirm spelling, middle name, and date of birth. If you have an inmate identification number or Social Security number, set it aside to use next.
2. Run the search again using a different field - If you searched by name first, try a TDCJ number or SID number. If you searched by number first, try the full name.
3. Try common name variations - Swap in or out a middle name, check hyphenated names, and try alternate spellings you have seen on paperwork.
4. Collect what you used and what happened - Write down the exact search terms and results (or no-results), so you can give clear information if you need to ask a facility for help later.

People in custody get moved between facilities for reasons that have nothing to do with family contact. Common examples: transportation for court appearances, a move for medical care, or a change in security level. That's why someone's location can change even when their name and ID number stay the same.

To stay current, check the appropriate inmate search system periodically and keep in contact with the facility. If you're using TDCJ Offender Search for a state prison placement, re-checking from time to time helps you catch changes quickly. When in doubt, call the facility listed in the most recent result and ask for the current location and communication rules.

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• ✓ Save the identifiers you gathered (full name, date of birth, ID numbers) in one place you can access quickly
• ✓ Take a screenshot or write down the exact search result (facility name, date you checked)
• ✓ Keep a simple call log (date/time, who you spoke with, what they told you about visitation, phone calls, and mail)
• ✓ Record any facility-specific instructions you are given so you can follow them the same way next time