Understanding Your 20-Minute Visit: How Time Works at Hidalgo County Jail
Inmates at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Facility get a minimum of two 20-minute visits per week. That's not much time, so protect those two slots. Once they're used, you're waiting until the following week.
Tip: If you have flexibility, try not to “burn” both visits back-to-back. Spacing them out can make the week feel more manageable for both of you.
Here's something that catches families off guard: at least one of your two weekly visits must fall during an evening or weekend slot. Even if daytime weekday hours work better for your schedule, the system requires that evening/weekend option. Plan your work, childcare, and transportation accordingly.
Plan ahead: When you’re picking which day to go, prioritize the evening/weekend option early so you’re not scrambling later in the week.
Multiple people can share a single visit - but only if everyone is on the inmate's Approved Visitors List. The total time stays at 20 minutes. You're dividing one window, not getting separate 20-minute visits for each person.
Time warning: The clock does not pause when you switch visitors. Any time spent transitioning is time that comes out of the 20 minutes.
- ✓ Confirm everyone who plans to visit is on the inmate’s Approved Visitors List before you try to split time.
- ✓ Decide the visiting order ahead of time so you’re not negotiating it during the visit.
- ✓ Agree on a simple time split (for example, “first half/second half”) so the switch is quick.
- ✓ Have IDs out and ready so you’re not losing minutes during the changeover.
- ✓ Pick one or two key topics per person; 20 minutes goes fast, and switching doesn’t stop the timer.
Weekend visits happen on Saturdays and Sundays. If weekends work best for your family, know that you'll be visiting during set session windows - not an all-day open period.
- ✓ First session: 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- ✓ Second session: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sessions are organized by housing pod. Find out which session matches the inmate's pod before you go. Show up during the wrong window and you'll miss your chance to visit that day.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Arrive early so check-in and any lines don’t cut into your ability to start on time.
- ✓ Bring a valid, current photo ID.
- ✓ If you’re splitting the visit, coordinate the order and time split before you get to the facility.
- ✓ Keep your “must-say” list short - two or three priorities - so you don’t spend the whole visit catching up.
- ✓ If kids are involved, decide in advance who will talk when, so you’re not switching back and forth and losing minutes.
Find an Inmate at Hidalgo County Adult Detention Facility
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
