Penmate Inmate Support Guides
eastham-pre-visit-checklist

Before You Drive to Eastham Unit: The Pre-Visit Checklist That Will Save You a Wasted Trip

A quick check before you leave can save you hours on the road—and a visit that never happens. Use this checklist to confirm the right unit, the right status, and the few rules that trip people up most often.

• 2 min read • tdcj.texas.gov
Before You Drive to Eastham Unit: The Pre-Visit Checklist That Will Save You a Wasted Trip

Before you drive to Eastham Unit, confirm your loved one is actually assigned there and currently has visitation privileges. Visitation details can be updated frequently, and the safest move is to call the unit for final confirmation before you leave - especially if you’re traveling any distance or visiting on a weekend.

That quick call is what separates a successful visit from a wasted trip. Schedules shift. Cancellations happen. If something changed since the last update, the unit can tell you before you're standing in the parking lot with your ID in hand.

Make sure you're actually approved to visit. In the TDCJ online system, a Relationship Request stays on your home page under

Note: Unit-wide cancellations can happen. Checking posted updates helps, but a same-day call to the unit is the best way to confirm your visit is still on.

Required ID and Clothing

  • ✓ A valid, government-issued photo ID (for adult visitors)
  • ✓ Clothing that follows the unit’s visitation dress guidelines (when in doubt, dress conservatively)
  • ✓ Any documentation required for minors who are visiting, based on the unit’s rules

Two rules cause more turnarounds than almost anything else: no cell phones inside the secure perimeter, and no cash - except coins, capped at $35. Need money for vending? Bring coins only and stay under that limit.

Note: Visitors and vehicles can be searched by unit staff. The easiest way to avoid problems is to leave prohibited items at home or locked in your vehicle before you reach the secure area.

Before You Drive to Eastham Unit: The Pre-Visit Checklist That Will Save You a Wasted Trip
  1. Don’t start the drive yet - “Call Unit” usually means you can’t finish scheduling online for that person or that visit.
  2. Call the unit to schedule - ask what appointment times are available and what you need to bring.
  3. Confirm you’re approved to visit - make sure your Relationship Request is fully approved before you travel.
  4. Double-check any special requirements - if minors are coming or paperwork is needed, get that clarified on the phone.
  5. Get final confirmation right before you leave - a quick same-day check can save you a wasted trip.

Any time your visit depends on a phone call to schedule - or you're seeing changes in the scheduler - treat that as your cue to confirm everything directly with Eastham Unit. Visitation info updates, and that final call is what protects your time.

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