How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
Visiting hours at Formby State Jail run Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visiting cycles start Monday and end the following Sunday. Eligible inmates can have one visit per cycle, lasting two hours once both the inmate and visitors are present. Certain custody levels (G1, J1, J2) qualify for one contact visit per week. Keep in mind that visitation is a privilege—it can be restricted or suspended for rule violations, security concerns, lockdowns, escapes, disturbances, or health emergencies. If you're 18 or older, bring a current government-issued ID, and at least one ID must show your current physical address. Each inmate may list up to 10 visitors. Visits (except attorney–client) may be electronically monitored. Cell phones are prohibited inside the secure perimeter, though you can bring up to $35 in coins. Traveling more than 250 miles one way? The warden may approve extended visits up to four hours.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Yes—Formby State Jail allows longer visits in certain situations, but it's not automatic. Here's how extended and split visits work, plus what you can do to request them.
Getting approved to visit someone at Formby State Jail comes down to two things: being on the inmate's Visitors List and bringing the right ID. Here's how the list works, what you'll need, and how to confirm you're approved before making the trip.
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Getting approved to visit at Formby State Jail starts with one thing: the inmate's Visitors List. Here's how the list works, how often it can change, and what you need to do to get added.
Formby State Jail runs on a weekly visiting cycle that determines how often an inmate can receive visits. Once you know how the week is counted, planning your trip gets a lot simpler.
Can't visit Formby State Jail in person? TDCJ offers two video-visit options. The key difference: where the video call happens and how you book it.
Visiting someone at Formby State Jail goes smoother when you show up with the right ID, the right amount of cash, and nothing that'll get you turned away at the gate. Here's your quick packing guide.
A smooth visit comes down to two things: the right ID and as little else as possible. Use the checklist below to avoid getting turned away at the door.
Unit visiting hours normally occur on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Visiting cycles start Monday and end the following Sunday, and eligible inmates are normally allowed one visit per visiting cycle. A regular visiting period is two hours and begins when the inmate and visitors are present.
If you’re 18 or older, bring a current government-issued ID, and make sure at least one ID shows your current physical address. Leave your cell phone outside the secure perimeter; you may bring coins, but not more than $35.
Sending money is straightforward once you know the approved methods—and the few details that can cause a deposit to bounce.
Get the envelope wrong, and your letter could be delayed—or never arrive. Here's exactly how to address mail to someone at Formby State Jail.
Formby State Jail is part of TDCJ's tablet rollout, but not everyone gets a tablet right away. Access depends on custody level, disciplinary history, and other eligibility factors—so the way your loved one receives messages may look different from someone else at the same unit.
