Hamilton Unit, TX

Visiting at the Hamilton Unit starts with setting up your own TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account. Enter your email, and you'll receive a 7-digit validation code plus a link to finish registration. Staff can't create accounts for you, though they can help once your account exists. When adding an inmate to your profile, use their 8-digit TDCJ or SID number—the TDCJ offender search can help if you don't have it. Visit types include Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet, with availability depending on the inmate or housing area. Visits are normally Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visiting cycles run Monday through Sunday, and most eligible inmates get one scheduled visit per cycle. Regular visits last up to two hours once everyone is present. Bring a current government-issued photo ID if you're 18+, and always confirm the inmate's unit assignment and call before traveling—schedules can change or visits may be canceled.

Hamilton Unit offers several ways to stay connected: phone calls, JPay e-messaging, and inmate tablets. To receive calls, register your phone number at texasprisonphone.com using the inmate's TDCJ ID. Calls route through the vendor system, can be monitored, and typically require payment through a vendor-managed account or prepaid options. For electronic messages, JPay handles e-messaging—create an account at jpay.com, buy electronic stamps, and send your message. Messages are screened before delivery. Tablet access isn't guaranteed. Eligibility depends on custody level, disciplinary history, and other criteria. Some tablet apps or features may have vendor fees.

Mail rules at Hamilton Unit are strict, so getting the basics right matters. Your letter must include the inmate's full name, TDCJ number, and the Hamilton Unit address—otherwise it may not be delivered. Books, magazines, and newspapers are allowed only when sent directly from the publisher or an approved seller. Items mailed from individuals don't count as "publisher-style" shipments. You can't mail packages or personal items like food, clothing, jewelry, or toiletries. In Texas, most non-privileged personal mail goes through a central vendor where accepted pages are scanned and delivered electronically. Legal mail and verified publisher shipments may be processed differently. Before ordering reading materials, confirm the seller or publisher is approved to avoid rejection.

Hamilton Unit accepts Trust Fund deposits by Money Order, Cashier's Check, ACH monthly debits, or approved vendor platforms like Access Corrections, ACE, eCommDirect, JPay, and TouchPay. Before depositing, make sure you're an approved sender—since September 1, 2020, only people on the inmate's Approved Visitation List or approved telephone list can post money. Don't mail cash or personal checks; they aren't accepted and will be returned. When sending a Money Order or Cashier's Check, include the inmate's deposit slip (the inmate can provide it) so the money credits correctly.