How to Add Money to an Inmate's Account at Garza East Unit (and Why You Must Be Approved)
Want to put money on someone's account at Garza East Unit? There's one rule that catches a lot of people off guard: you have to be an approved sender first. Here's how approval works and what to do next.
As of September 1, 2020, only senders on the inmate's approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List can deposit money. Having their name and TDCJ number isn't enough. Neither is having sent money before. If you're not on one of those two lists, your deposit can be blocked. This is a security measure - which is why getting approved is step one before you try adding funds for commissary or other trust-fund use.
Heads up: Before you try to deposit, make sure you’re on the inmate’s approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List. If you’re not approved, the deposit may not go through.
Don't mail trust fund deposits to the facility, and don't send inmate personal mail or other items to the Inmate Trust Fund. This trips people up - it feels safer to mail something directly to the unit. But that's not how trust fund deposits work. If you send money or deposit materials through regular mail to the facility or the trust-fund office, it can be rejected, delayed, or lost entirely.
Skip the mailbox: Don't send money by regular mail to Garza East. Use the approved deposit channels instead.
- Create your online visitor account - Set up your account through the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler so you can apply to be an approved visitor.
- Complete the Background Questionnaire (every question) - You must answer all questions in the Background Questionnaire before you can move forward and add an inmate to your profile.
Once you've created your online visitor account, add the inmate to your profile and request the relationship/visitation connection. Your request then goes through an approval process on the inmate's and unit's side. Until that approval comes through, you won't be treated as an approved visitor - and you won't be eligible to deposit money.
- ✓ Create your own account in the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler
- ✓ Answer every question on the Background Questionnaire (don’t leave blanks)
- ✓ Add the inmate to your profile once the questionnaire is complete
- ✓ Submit your request and wait for approval
Practical Next Steps
- ✓ Confirm you’re on the inmate’s approved visitor list or on the Inmate Telephone List before attempting a deposit
- ✓ Do not mail trust fund deposits to the Garza East Unit (or send inmate personal mail/items to the Inmate Trust Fund)
- ✓ If you’re not approved yet, start by creating an account in the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler and completing the Background Questionnaire
Final reminder: Approval comes first - verify you’re on the approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List before you deposit, and never try to handle deposits by mailing them to Garza East.
Find an Inmate at Garza East Unit
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
