How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
Michael Unit holds in-person visits on Saturdays and Sundays, generally 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each visit lasts two hours, starting when both the inmate and visitor(s) are present. Contact visits allow limited physical contact under unit rules—eligibility depends on custody level. G1, J1, and J2 inmates can get one contact visit per week, while some G2/G3/P2/P3/P6/P7 inmates with SAT 4 or higher may receive three contact visits per month. Each inmate can have up to 10 names on their Visitors List. Updates are allowed every six months for institutional inmates, or every 60 days for state jail/ISF/SAFP inmates. Visitors 18+ need current government-issued photo ID. No cell phones are allowed inside the secure perimeter, and you can only bring coins up to $35. To schedule, use the Online Visitation Scheduler: create and verify your account, add the inmate by their 8-digit TDCJ/SID number, and request approval.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
A little prep can save you a wasted trip. Use this checklist to confirm the basics, bring the right ID, and avoid common items that get visitors turned away at Michael Unit.
Contact visits can feel like the one normal moment you get — so it helps to know exactly what physical contact is allowed and to go in expecting your conversation may be monitored.
Visiting someone at the Michael Unit for the first time? The scheduling system is usually the trickiest part. Once your TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account is set up, booking an in-person or tablet video visit gets much easier.
Scheduling your first visit at Michael Unit happens mostly online. You'll create a scheduler account, add your loved one using their inmate number, wait for the unit to approve your request, then pick an available time slot.
Planning a visit to the Michael Unit? The Visitors List rules matter more than most people realize. Here's how the 10-name limit works, when the list can be changed, and what to do if someone gets removed.
Setting up a remote video visit with someone at Michael Unit? The questions are usually the same: is it available, how long is it, what does it cost, and how often can you do it. Here's how the Securus remote option works.
Michael Unit offers two types of video visits, and they use completely different scheduling systems. Figure out which one you need, and the rest falls into place.
A little prep before you leave can save you a wasted trip. Use this checklist to confirm the visit is actually happening, bring the right ID, and know where to find the official rules once you arrive at Michael Unit.
Contact visits at the Michael Unit feel more personal than non-contact visits, but they come with clear boundaries. Here's what
When you create a TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account, the email address you choose isn't just a casual detail—it's permanent. Once an account is created, you can't delete it or change the email tied to it. So take a moment to pick an address you'll still have access to months or years from now, not just whatever's convenient today.
Regular visitation at the Michael Unit is generally held Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each regular visiting period lasts two hours and begins when the inmate and visitor(s) are present.
Each inmate may have up to 10 names on their Visitors List. The list can be changed once every six months for institutional inmates and once every 60 days for state jail/ISF/SAFP inmates.
Use the Online Visitation Scheduler. Create your own account (staff can't create one for you), then verify it with the emailed 7-digit validation code. Add the inmate using their 8-digit TDCJ or SID number and click Request Approval so unit staff can verify the relationship. Video/Tablet visits are a separate visit type in the scheduler.
To register your phone number to receive calls from someone housed at the Michael Unit (TDCJ), you’ll need the inmate’s TDCJ ID number. That ID is what the phone system uses to match your phone number to the correct person—without it, you can’t complete registration.
Want to receive phone calls from someone at the Michael Unit? You'll need to get your number approved first. Once you're registered and set up to pay, staying connected gets a lot easier.
