How to send messages, photos, and packages
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.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
If your package to FDC Houston got rejected, it usually comes down to one of a few strict federal rules: most packages from home aren't allowed, and books or magazines have to come from approved commercial sources. Here's how to send things the right way so your loved one actually receives them.
Inmates at FDC Houston have BOP telephone privileges. Calls are generally paid by the inmate and monitored, with limited exceptions for some attorney calls. Third-party or alternative call arrangements aren’t allowed.
No. The BOP does not permit third-party or alternative call arrangements for inmates at FDC Houston.
The BP-A1054 is a standardized BOP form listed in the Trust Fund manual. It's used as part of the TRULINCS process for requesting or managing contacts.
Yes, but the source matters. Hardcover books and newspapers must come from the publisher, a book club, or a bookstore. At medium, high, and administrative Bureau institutions, softcover publications follow the same rule—confirm the sender before ordering.
Not without prior written approval. When approval is granted, the facility will accept only limited items from home such as release clothing and authorized medical devices.
General mail may be opened and inspected by staff, while special incoming mail is opened only in the inmate’s presence and inspected for contraband. Legal or privileged mail is typically handled through a separate process and inspected for contraband with special handling rather than through general scanning procedures.
Your visit can go smoothly—or end at the front door—depending on what you bring and wear. Use the checklists below to avoid common screening problems.
Staying connected while someone is incarcerated can feel complicated, but FDC Houston offers three straightforward options: written mail, monitored phone calls, and TRULINCS electronic messaging. Here's how each one works.
Getting approved to visit at FDC Houston starts with one thing: being added to the inmate's approved visiting list and clearing the Bureau of Prisons' screening process. Once you know what the form asks for and where to send it, the steps are straightforward.
