How to add someone to your loved one’s Visitors List at Hodge Unit
Before you can visit someone at Hodge Unit, you'll need to get approved through the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler. Here's how the relationship request process works, what to do inside the scheduler, and what limits might slow things down.
When you add your loved one in the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler, you'll submit a relationship request - spouse, parent, friend, etc. The website doesn't approve it automatically. Instead, it goes to the inmate's unit of assignment, where staff verify the relationship. Once they confirm it, you can schedule a visit.
Tip: You can't approve yourself in the scheduler - unit staff handle relationship verification after you submit.
Before you start, have the inmate's TDCJ or SID number ready. It needs to be exactly 8 digits. Even one wrong digit can prevent you from finding the right person.
Note: Don't know the 8-digit TDCJ/SID number? Use TDCJ's Offender Search to look it up before you start.
In the scheduler, search for the inmate using their 8-digit TDCJ or SID number. When the right person appears, select your relationship from the "The Inmate is My" dropdown menu. Click Request Approval and confirm when prompted. This sends your request to the unit for review.
Your request won't turn into an approved visit right away. It stays pending while unit staff verify the relationship. Until that happens, you won't be able to schedule anything.
- ✓ The inmate’s correct 8-digit TDCJ or SID number
- ✓ The relationship you plan to select from the dropdown
- ✓ A moment to confirm the request after clicking Request Approval
In your visitor profile, you'll see relationship requests while they're under review. Once unit staff confirms the relationship, it moves to your verified inmate relationships. That's when you can schedule a visit - assuming the "Schedule Visit" option shows up for that inmate.
If you see "Not Approved for Visits": The relationship may be verified, but the inmate's visitation privileges have been removed. The scheduler won't let you book.
Even if you do everything right, there's a hard cap: each inmate can have a maximum of 10 names on their Visitors List. If the list is full, your approval may be delayed until someone is removed.
List changes are also limited. Institutional inmates can request a change once every six months. For state jail, intermediate sanction facility (ISF), and substance abuse felony punishment (SAFP) inmates, it's once every 60 days. This matters if someone needs to be removed before you can be added.
Planning tip: With a 10-name cap and time restrictions on changes, coordinate with your loved one before submitting - especially if the list might already be full.
Tips Speed Troubleshoot
- ✓ Double-check you entered the correct 8-digit TDCJ/SID number before submitting anything
- ✓ Watch your email for scheduler notifications
- ✓ If the Schedule Visit button is blank or replaced with “Call Unit,” call the inmate’s unit of assignment to schedule the visit
One thing that trips people up: you have to create your own Online Visitation Scheduler account. TDCJ staff can't do it for you - they can only help with certain updates after your account exists.
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