TDCJ Gib Lewis Unit

Lewis Unit holds visits on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each visit runs two hours (starting when both the inmate and visitors are present), and eligible inmates typically get one visit per visiting cycle. Contact visits allow limited physical contact—a brief embrace or kiss at the beginning and end, plus holding hands on top of the table within staff view. You'll sit across from the inmate, though they may hold a young child. All visits except attorney–client meetings may be electronically monitored or recorded. Visitation can be restricted due to rule violations, security or health concerns, or lockdowns. Each inmate may list up to 10 visitors, with changes allowed every six months for institutional inmates or every 60 days for state jail/ISF/SAFP inmates. Extended visits (up to four hours) may be approved for travelers coming from over 250 miles one way, at the warden's discretion—confirm status and schedule before you travel.

Remote video visits at Lewis Unit are scheduled through the vendor website. Eligible inmates are limited to one 60-minute session per month at $10 per visit. You'll need to create your own TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account—staff can't set it up for you. Once an email is used, it can't be deleted or changed. Registration includes a 7-digit validation code sent by email, and you must answer every background questionnaire question to finish setup. The scheduler is limited to residents of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Any relationship request you submit goes to the unit for staff verification. For phone calls, register your telephone online using the inmate's TDCJ ID. Enter numbers in XXX XXX XXXX format. Calls have a 30-minute limit with a one-minute warning before disconnect.

Mail for Lewis Unit goes through Texas's centralized digital mail system. Send correspondence to the inmate's full name and TDCJ number at PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400. After it arrives, most personal letters are screened and scanned, then delivered electronically through the inmate's secure messaging/tablet system. Use standard addressing and include your full return address. Stick to standard paper sizes to avoid rejection during processing. Don't send prohibited items like cash, loose stamps, food, or other contraband. Books and magazines generally must come from publishers or approved sellers rather than personal packages. Legal or privileged mail follows a separate process and is inspected differently than routine digital mail.

Sending money to someone at Lewis Unit is strict: deposits are only allowed from approved visitors or people listed on the inmate's Inmate Telephone List. Deposits from anyone else aren't permitted. Don't mail or bring cash or a personal check—those aren't accepted for inmate trust fund deposits and will be returned. For commissary, the unit uses eCommDirect with quarterly spending caps: $70 for Jan–Mar, Apr–Jun, and Jul–Sep, and $95 for Oct–Dec (the holiday quarter). Timing matters too: newly received inmates can't receive eCommDirect purchases until the next calendar quarter after entry, and only one eCommDirect purchase per inmate is allowed per day.