What Happens During Contact Visits at Jim Rudd Unit: Physical-Contact Rules
Contact visits can feel intimidating the first time—you're not sure what's allowed. Here are the Jim Rudd Unit rules on physical contact, plainly explained, so you can walk in knowing what to expect.
When scheduling a visit at Jim Rudd Unit, you'll see multiple visit types listed. The scheduler shows four options: Regular visits, Contact visits, Video/Tablet visits, and one other type. "Contact" is the option that allows some physical contact - with specific limits on what that contact can be.
Contact visits happen in a controlled visiting area with staff present and clear boundaries. You won't be sitting side-by-side like a normal family setting. The point is limited, supervised contact while keeping things orderly and safe. Go in expecting "a little contact, not unlimited contact," and the rules will make a lot more sense.
At Jim Rudd Unit, embracing and kissing are allowed - but only twice per contact visit: once at the beginning, once at the end. Think of it as a brief greeting and a brief goodbye. After that, you'll stay within the facility's boundaries for seated visitation.
Holding hands is permitted during the visit, with one big condition: hands have to stay on top of the table where staff can see them. If hands drop below the tabletop, go under clothing, or move out of view, that's where people run into problems. This rule isn't about making the visit cold - it's how the unit maintains supervision during contact visits.
Quick summary: You can hug and kiss once at the start and once at the end of a contact visit, and you can hold hands as long as hands stay on top of the table in full view of staff.
Even though contact visits allow physical contact, everything happens under staff supervision. That's why the rules are so specific: a quick embrace and kiss at the start and end, hand-holding only when hands stay on the tabletop in plain view. If staff correct you, it's usually about keeping those boundaries clear and visible.
Contact visitation is a privilege, and it can be revoked if rules are violated. Follow directions immediately, keep your movements calm and visible, and stick to what's clearly allowed. Unsure in the moment? Ask staff rather than guessing.
- ✓ Call the unit before you travel for final confirmation.
- ✓ Re-check details even if you looked recently; conditions can change and updates happen frequently on visitation days.
- ✓ If you have a specific question about how a rule will be enforced, ask before you make the drive.
Visiting hours run Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. If you're planning around work, childcare, or a long drive, those weekend hours are your window.
TDCJ uses a "visiting cycle" to control how often visits can happen. The cycle runs Monday through the following Sunday, and an eligible inmate is normally allowed one visit per cycle. Practically speaking, if your loved one already had a visit earlier in the same Monday–Sunday cycle, you'll need to wait until the next cycle starts to visit again.
- Confirm the visit can happen this cycle - visiting cycles run Monday through Sunday, and normally there’s one visit per cycle for eligible inmates.
- Pick a weekend time within the normal window - standard visiting hours are Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Make sure the visit hasn’t already been used - if your loved one has already had a visit in the current cycle, you’ll likely need to plan for the next one.
- Call the unit before you leave home - schedules and conditions can change, and the unit is the best place to confirm before you travel.
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