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Understanding eCommDirect for Hodge Unit: purchase limits and daily rules

eCommDirect lets approved friends and family buy commissary items online for someone at the Hodge Unit. Two rules trip people up the most: the quarterly spending cap and the one-purchase-per-day limit.

• 2 min read • tdcj.texas.gov
Understanding eCommDirect for Hodge Unit: purchase limits and daily rules

The program tracks spending in three-month quarters: January–March, April–June, July–September, and October–December. Most quarters have the same cap, but October–December gets a higher

January through March: approved friends and family can spend up to $70.00 total through eCommDirect.

April through June: the limit stays at $70.00 total for the quarter.

During the July–September quarter, approved friends and family can purchase up to $70.00 total for an eligible inmate through eCommDirect.

October through December: the cap jumps to $95.00 total. This is the holiday spend amount.

Tip: The cap resets each quarter, not each order. If multiple people are helping out, keep track of what's already been spent - especially October–December, when the limit is higher but still fixed.

Here's the rule that catches people off guard: only one eCommDirect purchase per inmate per day. Even if you're well under the quarterly cap, you can't place two separate orders for the same person on the same day.

Heads up: Coordinate with other family and friends before ordering. If two people try to place an order for the same inmate on the same day, one purchase may not go through.

Understanding eCommDirect for Hodge Unit: purchase limits and daily rules

Tips

  • ✓ Check which quarter you’re in (Jan–Mar, Apr–Jun, Jul–Sep, or Oct–Dec) before you shop so you’re budgeting against the right cap.
  • ✓ Plan around the quarterly limits: $70.00 for Jan–Mar, Apr–Jun, and Jul–Sep, and $95.00 for Oct–Dec (holiday spend).
  • ✓ Keep purchases spaced out - only one eCommDirect commissary purchase per inmate can be completed per day.
  • ✓ If multiple people contribute, pick one person to place the order (or use a shared note) so you don’t accidentally double-order on the same day.
  • ✓ Confirm the inmate is eligible for eCommDirect purchases before you place an order.

I recommend tracking two things: how much has been spent this quarter, and whether anyone has already ordered today. This matters most in October–December when the cap is higher - and year-round because the system only allows one completed purchase per inmate per day.

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