How Long Is a TDCJ Visit? Understanding the Two-Hour Window
Planning a visit to East Texas Treatment Facility? Here's what you need to know about the two-hour visit window—and your options if you're traveling from far away.
Visiting hours at East Texas Treatment Facility run on weekends - Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Those are the hours the visitation area is open. Your actual visit length depends on the time period you're assigned once you check in and the inmate is brought out.
Note: Not every visit type is available to everyone. What's offered depends on your relationship to the inmate, the unit's visitation setup, and the inmate's privileges. Confirm your options before making a long trip.
Regular visits at East Texas Treatment Facility last two hours. But the clock doesn't start when you walk through the door - it starts when both you and the inmate are present in the visitation area. Keep that in mind when planning. Check-in, processing, and getting everyone seated all take time.
Plan for the start time: If you arrive late, you don't get extra time. Your two hours begins only when both you and the inmate are present.
Running late usually just means less time together. Since your visit starts when both parties are present, any delay on your end cuts into your visiting time. Don't count on a grace period or a guaranteed full two hours from check-in. Aim to arrive early so your visit can start as soon as everyone's ready.
Traveling a long distance? There's an option worth knowing about. The warden (or designee) at East Texas Treatment Facility may approve extended visits for people traveling more than 250 miles one way. These visits are discretionary - they depend on available time and space - but when approved, they can last up to four hours. That extra time makes a real difference if you're driving in from far away.
- Confirm your one-way distance - extended visits are tied to traveling more than 250 miles one way.
- Ask about the unit’s process for an extended visit - extended visits are permitted at the discretion of the warden or designee, so you’ll need to follow the unit’s request/approval process.
- Plan around approvals and availability - even if you qualify by distance, extended time depends on whether time and space allow.
Heads up: Extended visits aren't guaranteed. They're discretionary and depend on time and space. And since not all visit types are available to everyone, confirm what you can schedule before you travel.
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