Can Children Under 17 Visit an Inmate at Memorial Unit? What Families Should Know
Planning a visit with a child can get confusing fast—especially when the online system shows different messages depending on the inmate's status. Here's how TDCJ handles visits that include children under 17 at Memorial Unit, and what you can do to avoid a wasted trip.
Some inmates at Memorial Unit are restricted from having visitors aged 17 or under. Even if you're an approved visitor yourself, a child may not be allowed to join the visit. When you're scheduling online and the system asks whether your visit will include any children under 17, that's a sign the inmate has a
One detail that trips families up: timing. If you (or the child's adult sponsor) submitted a Relationship Request, it stays visible on your visitor home page under
A child age 17 or under can visit at Memorial Unit only if a Non‑Victim Child Affidavit for that specific child is on file in the inmate's classification folder. This affidavit is the gatekeeper - without it, the visit can't include them. If you answer
Tip: Before planning around a child visiting, confirm the Non‑Victim Child Affidavit is already on file in the inmate's classification folder. Also check that your Relationship Request isn't still sitting in
Practical Steps for Families
- ✓ Ask the inmate to confirm whether the Non‑Victim Child Affidavit for that specific child is on file in their classification folder.
- ✓ Check your visitor home page for “Relation Requests Pending Approval” and wait for approval before assuming a child can be scheduled.
- ✓ Coordinate with the inmate about visitation list approval, since the visit won’t move forward the way you want if the relationship isn’t approved yet.
One related rule worth knowing: as of September 1, 2020, only senders who are on an inmate's approved visitor list or on the Inmate Telephone List can deposit money to inmates at Memorial Unit. If you're helping with commissary or trust deposits, getting on the right list isn't just about visitation - it affects whether you can add funds at all.
If a child isn't approved to visit, you still have options. You can schedule an in-person visit with adults only. The TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler also lists four visit types: Regular, Contact, Video/Tablet, and it specifically notes that Video/Tablet is not the same as the Securus Video program. That distinction matters - only units on TDCJ's
- Check the TDCJ “Securus Video Visitation” unit list - remote video visits through Securus are only available at the units listed there, and Memorial Unit isn’t included.
- Review the Online Visitation Scheduler visit types - look at what the scheduler actually offers for your visitor/inmate relationship (Regular, Contact, or Video/Tablet) and remember Video/Tablet is not Securus Video.
- Confirm what Memorial Unit will allow for your situation - if the scheduler is unclear or options look limited, contact the unit to verify what can be scheduled right now.
Find an Inmate at Memorial Unit, TX
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
