FDC Houston, TX

Before you can visit at FDC Houston, the inmate must add you to their approved visiting list. That list can include relatives and up to ten friends or associates, plus clergy, employers, and other authorized categories. To get approved, complete the BP‑A0629 visitor questionnaire and release form, then return it to the institution address the inmate provides. The form asks for your legal name, date of birth, address, telephone number, race, sex, and citizenship status. The Bureau of Prisons may request background information during approval under Title 18 U.S.C. § 4042. When you enter BOP grounds, you implicitly consent to searches under Bureau policy and 28 C.F.R. Part 511. Refusing a search means you won't be allowed in. Leave prohibited items (including phones and other electronics) behind, list and leave any medication at entry, and dress conservatively since revealing clothing may get you turned away. Each inmate is entitled to at least four hours of visits per month, but schedules and limits can vary. Verify the facility's current schedule before you go.

FDC Houston follows Bureau of Prisons communication rules. Inmates have telephone privileges, but the BOP doesn't allow third-party billing or alternative call arrangements. Calls are generally paid by the inmate and monitored under Bureau policy (attorney calls may be handled differently). For electronic messaging, the Bureau's Trust Fund manual includes a BP-A1054 TRULINCS Contact Request Form for inmates seeking TRULINCS access. Other options like video visits, tablets, or additional messaging tools vary by unit, so check the inmate's facility page for what's available. If services are offered, setup typically involves registering approved phone numbers, using approved portals for video scheduling, and creating accounts with approved messaging vendors to purchase message credits.

FDC Houston accepts electronic deposits through MoneyGram ExpressPayment. Enter the inmate account number in the exact required format and use receive code 7932 (these MoneyGram details are specific to FDC Houston). Money goes into the facility's Inmate Trust Fund (commissary), which lets inmates buy items not provided as basic care. The Trust Fund program also supports commissary, telephone, and laundry services. More broadly in Texas, inmate trust accounts may be funded through approved vendors, ACH debits, or mailed money orders. Don't send cash or personal checks, and follow centralized deposit instructions exactly. The Inmate Trust Fund office can confirm whether a deposit was received, but won't release account balances or detailed transactions to third parties.