Why a Nighttime Phone Call Can Count as Your Child’s Visit at Galveston County
Timing matters when you're planning to visit your child. At Galveston County, a phone call made during visitation hours counts as that day's visit—which means you could be turned away for an in-person visit during that same period.
Here's how it works: a nighttime phone call during visitation hours counts as your child's "visit" for that period. If your child makes a call during that window, they won't be allowed an in-person visitor for the same period - even if you're already on your way.
This rule hits hardest during the evening visitation window. Visits run from 6:15pm to 7:45pm, with exact timing based on your child's unit assignment. The facility must give parents and guardians the visitation schedule by the second day of detention, so you won't be guessing for long. Still, you'll want to know your child's specific unit schedule before making the trip.
- Call and ask for the Intake Officer on duty - Request the visitation schedule for your child’s unit.
- Confirm you’re working from the current schedule - The facility must make the visitation schedule available to parents/guardians no later than the second day of detention, so ask for the most up-to-date unit-based times.
Practical Steps
- ✓ If you’re trying to visit in person, avoid phone-only conversations during 6:15pm–7:45pm so the call doesn’t take the place of the visit
- ✓ Confirm your child’s unit assignment and the unit-based visitation timing within the 6:15pm–7:45pm window
- ✓ Call and request to speak with the Intake Officer on duty to get the visitation schedule
The best way to avoid a wasted trip? Get the schedule directly from Intake. Call and ask to speak with the Intake Officer on duty for your child's visitation schedule. They're required to have it available by the second day of detention. Once you know the unit-based time, you can plan around it - especially if your child tends to call in the evenings.
Planning tip: A phone call made during the evening visitation window can count as that day’s visit. Coordinate call timing so you don’t accidentally give up your in-person visit for that visit period.
Showed up and got turned away? A common reason: your child already made a phone call during visitation hours. Under this policy, that call counts as the visit. No in-person visitor allowed for that period.
One exception worth knowing: attorneys can visit at any time during detention. If you're sorting out a blocked family visit, ask whether attorney contact is handled differently than family phone calls or visits - attorney access follows its own rules.
- Call and ask for the Intake Officer on duty - Confirm whether a phone call during visitation hours is the reason the in-person visit was denied.
- Ask about attorney access if it applies - Resident attorneys are permitted to visit at any time during the detention stay; clarify how that fits alongside visitation limits.
- Plan for the next visit window using the unit schedule - Request the current visitation schedule so you can choose a time that won’t conflict with evening calls.
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