Penmate Inmate Support Guides
lewis-unit-extended-visits-travel-over-250-miles

Can You Get an Extended Visit at Lewis Unit? What Families Traveling Over 250 Miles Need to Know

Traveling a long distance to visit someone at Lewis Unit? You may be able to request an extended visit — but it's not automatic. Here's how eligibility works, what "warden discretion" actually means, and how to confirm everything before you hit the road.

• 2 min read • tdcj.texas.gov
Can You Get an Extended Visit at Lewis Unit? What Families Traveling Over 250 Miles Need to Know

Lewis Unit may grant an extended visit if you're traveling more than 250 miles one way. When approved, these visits can last up to four hours - a real difference when you're driving that far and want to make the trip count.

Before you travel: Confirm the inmate is assigned to Lewis Unit and has visitation privileges so you don’t drive hours for a visit that can’t happen.

Meeting the 250-mile threshold doesn't guarantee anything. Extended visits at Lewis Unit are approved at the warden's discretion (or their designee's), and they depend on available time and space that day. A long drive won't automatically earn you a longer visit - unit operations and visiting room capacity factor into the decision.

Good to know: The duty warden has ultimate responsibility for resolving visitation issues at Lewis Unit.

Can You Get an Extended Visit at Lewis Unit? What Families Traveling Over 250 Miles Need to Know
  1. Ask for the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) - Each unit has a designated FLO, usually the duty warden, who can help visitors and troubleshoot problems that affect a permitted visit.
  2. Call the unit for final confirmation before you leave - Even when you’ve checked information elsewhere, the unit call is the last step before you commit to the drive.
  • ✓ Whether extended visits are currently being permitted and, if so, whether time and space allow one for your trip
  • ✓ Whether the extended visit (if approved) may be up to four hours
  • ✓ Whether your situation meets the “more than 250 miles one way” travel-distance criteria

TDCJ's online visitation info updates once daily on weekdays and multiple times on visitation days, so it's a decent starting point for planning. But don't treat it as your final answer. Call Lewis Unit directly to confirm the current status before you travel.

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