Who to Call Before Visiting Johnston Unit (and what to confirm)
Before you make the drive to Johnston Unit, make one quick call. It's the easiest way to avoid showing up for a visit that can't happen.
Before you travel to Johnston Unit, confirm two things: the person you're visiting is still housed there, and they have active visitation privileges. Then call the unit for final confirmation before you leave. Housing assignments shift. Visitation status changes. Even when someone is technically eligible for visits, visitation can be canceled that day - meaning an eligible inmate still can't see you.
What to Confirm
- ✓ Confirm the inmate is assigned to Johnston Unit and has visitation privileges.
- ✓ Confirm the “one visit per weekend” limit, so you don’t get turned away because someone else already visited.
- ✓ Ask about age restrictions for visitors - some inmates can’t have visitors aged 17 or under, and the scheduler may flag this.
These details can make or break your visit. If the inmate isn't currently at Johnston Unit, you'll arrive at the right place with no one to see. If visitation privileges aren't active, the unit won't seat you - even if you're on the approved list. The one-visit-per-weekend rule catches families off guard too: if someone else already visited that weekend, you can be turned away at check-in. Age limits also matter. If the system shows children under 17 can't attend for that inmate, bringing a minor will stop the visit.
Use TDCJ's official unit contact information to find Johnston Unit's phone number. Call the unit directly before you travel. Skip third-party directories - numbers can be outdated or routed to the wrong place, wasting time when you're trying to confirm assignment and visitation privileges.
If you're using the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler and see "Not Approved for Visits," pay attention. That message appears when your visitor/inmate relationship is confirmed but the inmate's visitation privileges have been removed. The scheduler replaces the "Schedule Visit" button with this message - it's telling you the visit can't be scheduled online because privileges aren't currently available.
- Call Johnston Unit - ask to confirm the inmate’s current unit assignment and whether they have visitation privileges right now.
- Reference what you’re seeing in the scheduler - tell staff the scheduler shows “Not Approved for Visits,” and ask what that means for scheduling.
- Ask what to do next - confirm whether there’s a next step to restore visitation privileges and when you should try scheduling again.
If you've been removed from an inmate's Visitors List, you can submit a written appeal to the Director's Review Committee (DRC). Send it to: Director's Review Committee (DRC), PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342. You have 14 days from the date on your written removal notice - don't wait to start the process.
Deadline: Your written appeal to the Director’s Review Committee must be submitted within 14 days of the date on the removal notice.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ “Can you confirm the inmate is currently assigned to Johnston Unit and has visitation privileges?”
- ✓ “The online scheduler shows ‘Not Approved for Visits’ - does that mean privileges have been removed?”
- ✓ “Is it still one visit per weekend for this inmate?”
- ✓ “Are there any restrictions on visitors aged 17 or under for this inmate?”
Tip: If you’re told “Not Approved for Visits,” ask what caused the restriction and what the next step is to get visits back on track.
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