How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
Johnston Unit only accepts trust fund deposits from people on an inmate's Approved Visitation List or Inmate Telephone List—this rule took effect September 1, 2020. Mailing a deposit? Use a money order or cashier's check and include a deposit slip (the inmate can provide one). Cash and personal checks aren't accepted and will be returned. Don't send deposits or personal mail to PO Box 60 or the Inmate Trust Fund PO Box—follow the facility's specified deposit instructions. Single deposits of $500.00 or more, plus certain checks and disbursements, are held 14 days before the inmate can access funds. For spending, the commissary posts a price list. Items marked "E" are sold through eCommDirect, though not everything is available online.
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Sending money to someone at the Johnston Unit is straightforward once you know the rules. TDCJ is strict about who can deposit and what forms of payment they accept. Here's how to get it right the first time—no delays, no returned deposits.
Only people listed on the inmate’s Approved Visitation List or Inmate Telephone List are allowed to deposit money to an inmate at Johnston Unit.
No. Cash and personal checks aren’t accepted and will be returned to the sender. Mail a money order or cashier’s check instead, and include the inmate’s deposit slip.
Deposits of $500.00 or more in a single transaction, and certain types of checks or disbursements, are held for 14 days before funds are available. Processing and vendor rules can also affect timing.
Mail rules can feel picky. But once you know where things go and what's off-limits, avoiding returns and delays gets much easier.
Setting up the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler is straightforward, but a few small details can trip you up. Follow these steps to get your account created, verified, and ready to request visits at Johnston Unit.
Show up with the wrong items and you could lose your spot in line—or miss the visit entirely. This checklist helps you avoid that.
