Before Your First Visit to Ferguson Unit: A Practical Checklist
Your first prison visit goes smoother when you handle the common
Visitation at TDCJ - Ferguson Unit
How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
Overview
Visiting at the TDCJ Ferguson Unit starts online. Register with a valid email, enter the 7-digit validation code sent to that address, and complete the Background Questionnaire (every question is required). TDCJ staff cannot create your visitor account for you, and once an account exists, the original email cannot be deleted or changed. Forgot your password? Use the scheduler's Forgot Password link. To connect with an inmate, search using their 8-digit TDCJ or SID number (or use Offender Search), then submit a Relationship Request for unit staff verification. The scheduler may show Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet options. If the inmate already has a visit that week, available dates may disappear. A blank button or "Call Unit" message means you need to contact the unit directly.
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Quick Facts
- Account registration requires a valid email and completion of a 7‑digit validation step sent by email to finish creating the online visitation account.
- Once an account is created for an email address, that email cannot be deleted and the address cannot be changed.
- Each inmate’s Visitors List may include up to 10 names.
- Inmates are generally allowed one scheduled visit per weekend; visitors should coordinate with others on the Visitors List to avoid being declined on arrival.
Visitation Guides
How to Create a TDCJ Online Visitation Account (What Ferguson Unit Visitors Must Know)
Setting up your TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account is mostly straightforward. But a couple of early choices can create long-term headaches if you rush. Follow the steps below so your account is complete and ready to add an inmate and schedule a visit.
How to create your TDCJ Online Visitation account (what to avoid so you don't lose access)
Setting up your TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account is simple—but a couple of early missteps can cause lasting headaches. Follow these steps to avoid getting stuck with an email you can't change or a profile that won't submit.
How to Set Up a TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler Account (Works for Ferguson Unit Visitors)
Planning to visit someone at the Ferguson Unit or another TDCJ facility? You'll need to set up your own Online Visitation Scheduler account first. Here's how to do it—and how to avoid the errors that trip most people up.
Visitation
How to Visit TDCJ - Ferguson Unit (TX)
Visiting at the TDCJ Ferguson Unit is easier when you know what type of visit you're scheduling and what's allowed once you're there. Use the TDCJ online scheduler to book your visit, and confirm any special circumstances (like long-distance travel) before you go.
One Visit Per Weekend at Ferguson Unit: How to Coordinate with Others and Manage the Visitor List
Weekend visits get complicated fast when multiple people want to see the same person. Here's how the one-visit-per-weekend rule and visitor list limits work at the Ferguson Unit, plus simple ways to coordinate so nobody makes the drive for nothing.
Why the Schedule Visit button might be missing (and what to do instead)
Can't pick a date in the online scheduler? It usually comes down to one of a few specific blockers. Here's how to figure out which one you're dealing with—and what to do next.
Common Questions
How do I create a TDCJ online visitation account for Ferguson Unit?
Register with a valid email, then use the registration link to enter the 7-digit validation code sent to that email. Finish by completing the Background Questionnaire and answering every required question.
Why is the 'Schedule Visit' button missing or blank for my Ferguson Unit inmate?
Available dates disappear when the inmate already has a visit scheduled that week. If the Schedule Visit button is blank or shows "Call Unit," contact the inmate's unit directly to schedule.
How do I add an inmate to my visitation profile and get approval at Ferguson Unit?
Search for the inmate by their 8-digit TDCJ or SID number (use Offender Search if you don't have it). Then submit a Relationship Request, which goes to the inmate's unit for TDCJ staff verification before you can schedule visits.
Other Guides for TDCJ - Ferguson Unit
Adding an Inmate to Your TDCJ Visitor Profile — What Happens After You Click 'Request Approval' (Ferguson Unit)
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.
Can You Visit If You're Not on the List Yet? Relationship Approval at Ferguson Unit
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.
Ferguson Unit Mail: What to Send to the Dallas Digital Processing Center (and What to Send to Ferguson)
As of September 6, 2023, the Ferguson Unit moved onto TDCJ’s digital mail platform. That means most personal mail no longer goes straight to the unit first — it’s routed through the Digital Mail Processing Center, where it’s sorted, scanned, and uploaded to the person’s secure tablet so they can view it there.
