Before You Drive to McConnell Unit: a pre‑visit checklist

Before you make the drive, confirm the person you’re visiting is assigned to McConnell Unit and currently has visitation privileges. If either piece isn’t true on the day you travel, you can be turned away even if you did everything else right.

Don't rely on a single snapshot of online information. TDCJ updates visitation details once daily on weekdays and multiple times per day on visitation days. I recommend calling McConnell Unit for final confirmation before you leave - especially if you're traveling from out of town or visiting near a holiday.

Check the unit's visitation schedule before you head out. Also verify that visitation hasn't been canceled - TDCJ posts unit-wide cancellation notices on their homepage. If visitation is canceled, even otherwise eligible inmates can't receive visitors that day.

Make sure you're actually approved to visit. You need to be on the inmate's approved Visitors List. Not sure if you're cleared? Contact the unit to verify before you drive.

• ✓ Plan around the “one visit per weekend” limit for each inmate.
• ✓ Coordinate with the other people on the inmate’s Visitors List so only one group shows up for that weekend.
• ✓ If multiple visitors arrive after a visit has already happened that weekend, later visitors may be declined at the unit.

Bring a valid photo ID. TDCJ has a specific list of acceptable identifications - check it ahead of time so you don't show up with an ID that won't work at check-in.

Keep what you bring to a minimum. Visitors and vehicles are subject to search by unit staff, so do a quick "car and pockets" check before you pull in. Leave anything questionable - and any unnecessary valuables - somewhere else.

Check your outfit against the dress guidelines before you leave home. On the fence about something? Swap it out. Getting turned away for clothing is an easy problem to prevent while you're still in your driveway.

1. Confirm you’re approved to visit - If you’re not 100% sure you’re on the approved Visitors List, contact the unit and verify before you drive.
2. Get final confirmation before you leave - Because visitation information is updated regularly (once daily on weekdays and multiple times on visitation days), call McConnell Unit before you travel.