How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
Sending money to an inmate at the TDCJ Ferguson Unit is restricted to approved senders. Only people on the inmate's Approved Visitation List or Inmate Telephone List may deposit funds (effective Sept 1, 2020). Don't mail cash or personal checks. They aren't accepted and will be returned. Instead, use accepted deposit vendors or mail a money order or cashier's check following standard TDCJ deposit instructions. Keep timing in mind: single deposits of $500.00 or more, along with certain company, payroll, or estate checks, are held for 14 days before the inmate can access the funds. Trust Fund staff can confirm whether a deposit was received, but they won't share account activity or balance information with anyone except the inmate.
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When a money deposit gets rejected or held, it usually comes down to two things: who sent it and what payment method was used. Here are the rules to know before you send money to someone at the Ferguson Unit.
Sending money to someone in TDCJ comes with rules that catch families off guard. Here's what you need to know before depositing funds for someone at the Ferguson Unit.
Only people on the inmate’s Approved Visitation List or Inmate Telephone List may deposit funds to an inmate at Ferguson Unit (effective Sept 1, 2020).
No. Cash and personal checks are not accepted for inmate trust fund deposits and will be returned to the sender.
No. Single transaction deposits of $500.00 or more, and certain company, payroll, or estate checks, are held for 14 days before the inmate can access the funds.
Trying to visit someone at the Ferguson Unit? Adding them to your TDCJ Online Visitation profile is the first step. Here's what happens after you click "Request Approval," and what you can do while you wait.
Your first prison visit goes smoother when you handle the common
Trying to schedule a visit at Ferguson Unit but you're not "on the list" yet? What matters is where your relationship request sits in the TDCJ online visitation scheduler. Here's how the approval process works — and what to do while you wait.
