How to send messages, photos, and packages
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.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Mail rules can feel picky, but they're predictable once you know the basics. Stick to correctly addressed letters and follow the publisher-only rule for reading materials, and you'll avoid most rejections at the Hamilton Unit.
Register your telephone number at texasprisonphone.com and enter the inmate’s TDCJ ID when prompted. Then complete the vendor’s registration and payment steps to activate calling to your number.
Create an account at jpay.com and purchase electronic stamps to send e-messages. Messages are screened under facility/vendor rules before delivery to the inmate’s tablet or as printed copies.
Tablets are available only to eligible inmates based on custody level, disciplinary history, and other criteria. Some tablet apps or messaging/features may require rental or subscription fees set by the vendor.
You can mail personal letters, as long as the envelope shows the inmate’s full name, TDCJ number, and the Hamilton Unit address. Books, magazines, and newspapers are permitted only from publishers or approved sellers. Do not send packages or personal items like food, clothing, jewelry, or toiletries.
Yes—but only if the book, magazine, or newspaper is mailed directly by the publisher or an approved seller; items sent from individuals aren’t allowed. Some verified publisher shipments may be routed differently than regular personal mail.
Address the envelope with the inmate’s full name, TDCJ number, and the Hamilton Unit address. Include your full return address, and follow the standard addressing and content requirements to avoid rejection.
Your first visit goes smoother when you show up with the right ID and only the few items Hamilton Unit allows past the secured perimeter. Here's your quick bring/leave checklist before you head out.
Hamilton Unit visits run on a weekend schedule, with a weekly cycle system and a set time limit once your visit begins. Here's how the hours, cycles, and visit length work—so you can plan your trip without surprises.
Sending money to someone at Hamilton Unit is straightforward once you choose a deposit method — but one rule trips up a lot of people before their deposit ever goes through. Here are your options, plus the sender-approval requirements you need to know first.
