FDC Houston, TX

Before you visit FDC Houston, you'll need to be on the inmate's approved visiting list. This can include relatives, up to ten friends or associates, plus other approved categories like clergy or employers. To get approved, complete the BP‑A0629 visitor questionnaire and release form, then mail it to the institution address the inmate gives you. The form asks for your legal name, birth date, address, phone number, race, sex, and citizenship status. By entering Bureau grounds, you consent to searches under Bureau policy and federal regulations—refuse a search, and you won't get in. Leave weapons, drugs, cameras, recording devices, phones, and other electronics at home. Any medication must be declared and left at the entry area. Federal law guarantees at least four hours of visits per month, though the institution sets the actual schedule and may limit visits for operational reasons.

Inmates at FDC Houston can make phone calls through BOP telephone privileges. Calls are paid by the inmate and monitored, though some attorney calls may qualify for limited monitoring exceptions. Third-party billing and alternative call arrangements aren't allowed, so plan around the standard BOP setup. For messaging and approved contacts, the BOP uses the BP-A1054 TRULINCS Contact Request Form as part of the TRULINCS contact process. Video visits, electronic messaging, or tablet-based services may be available depending on your unit and vendor—check the unit's guidance and vendor instructions for scheduling and payment details.

FDC Houston handles written correspondence as either general or special mail. Staff can open and inspect general mail, while special incoming mail is opened only with the inmate present and checked for contraband. Sending reading material? Hardcover books and newspapers must ship directly from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. Packages from home aren't allowed without prior written approval, and even then the facility only accepts limited items like release clothing and authorized medical devices. Some Bureau facilities use centralized digital mail processing, with legal/privileged mail and publisher-originated publications following separate handling routes—check the facility's guidance on how personal mail is delivered.

Send money to someone at FDC Houston through MoneyGram ExpressPayment. You'll need the inmate's account number in the specific format MoneyGram requires, plus the fixed receive code 7932. Double-check the vendor's instructions before submitting—incorrect details can delay or return your funds. Deposits go into the inmate's Trust Fund (commissary) account for commissary purchases and services like telephone time and laundry. Want to verify a deposit arrived? The Trust Fund/Deposit Fund office can confirm receipt, but they typically won't share balances or transaction details with anyone except the inmate. Policies, vendors, fees, and processing times vary, so follow the exact deposit directions.