Set Up a TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler Account and Interpret Messages (including 'Not Approved for Visits')

1. Create your own visitor account: Visitors must create their own TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler accounts. TDCJ staff cannot create visitor accounts for you.
2. Start registration with your email: Use the scheduler’s “Create an Account” option and submit a valid email address.
3. Check your email for the validation message: After you submit your email, you will receive an email with a 7-digit validation code and a link.
4. Use the code and link to finish registration: Follow the email link and enter the 7-digit code to complete your account registration so you can continue setup.

Once you create your login, complete the background questionnaire and visitor profile. Answer every required question and fill in all profile fields before trying to add an inmate. Watch the phone number field closely. The scheduler requires this exact format: XXX XXX XXXX. Use spaces, not dashes.

1. Open the option to add/search for an inmate: From your visitor profile area, start the process to search for and add an inmate.
2. Choose TDCJ/SID number as your search method: The scheduler allows searching by the inmate’s TDCJ or SID number.
3. Enter the number as exactly 8 digits: The inmate TDCJ/SID number you use must be 8 digits in length.
4. Submit and connect the inmate to your profile: Adding the inmate is part of requesting approval for your visitor relationship so scheduling can be enabled.

When adding the inmate to your profile, double-check that they're assigned to the Johnston Unit and have visitation privileges. Call the unit to confirm before you travel.

Adding an inmate using their 8-digit TDCJ/SID number tells the system you want to connect with that person for visits. This only works if your visitor account is fully set up and your profile is complete. Hoping staff could handle this for you? Plan on doing it yourself. Visitors must create their own scheduler accounts. TDCJ staff cannot create visitor accounts.

The buttons and messages next to the inmate's name tell you what you can do next. When online scheduling is available, you'll see a Schedule Visit button. Sometimes that button is blank or replaced with Call Unit. That means you need to call the inmate's unit to schedule. If the relationship is confirmed but you see Not Approved for Visits instead of Schedule Visit, that's a specific status you'll need to address before booking online.

In the scheduler, Not Approved for Visits isn't a generic error. If your visitor relationship has been confirmed but the inmate's visitation privileges were removed, this message replaces the Schedule Visit button. Your next step isn't clicking around in the scheduler. Contact the unit to find out whether the restriction is temporary and what they need from the inmate (or from you) before visits can resume.

• ✓ Call to confirm the inmate is assigned to the Johnston Unit and has visitation privileges before you travel.
• ✓ If the scheduler shows Not Approved for Visits, ask the unit whether the restriction is temporary and what steps (if any) can restore visitation privileges.
• ✓ Do not make the trip until the unit confirms that scheduling and visitation are allowed.