How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
At O'Daniel Unit, only people on an inmate's Approved Visitation List or Inmate Telephone List can deposit money into that inmate's trust fund. For electronic deposits, use ECOMMDIRECT (texas.gov/eCommDirect) with Visa, MasterCard, or Discover—a service fee applies. Prefer to mail funds? Send a money order or cashier's check payable to "Inmate Trust Fund for Offender Name and Number" along with the deposit slip to Inmate Trust Fund, PO Box 60, Huntsville, TX 77342-0060. Don't mail deposits or personal mail directly to the unit—follow the centralized trust fund instructions instead. If someone you don't know asks you to send money, don't do it. Report extortion attempts to the unit warden or the Office of the Inspector General.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Sending money to someone at a TDCJ facility is straightforward once you know the rules. Here's what you need to know about deposit methods and who's allowed to send funds.
Only individuals on the inmate’s Approved Visitation List or Inmate Telephone List are allowed to deposit funds to that inmate at the O’Daniel Unit.
You can deposit electronically through ECOMMDIRECT (texas.gov/eCommDirect) using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover (a service fee applies). You can also mail money orders or cashier’s checks payable to “Inmate Trust Fund for Offender Name and Number” with the deposit slip to PO Box 60, Huntsville, TX 77342-0060.
Don’t send money to inmates you don’t know. Report any extortion attempts to the unit warden or the Office of the Inspector General.
A little prep can save you a long drive and a missed visit. Run through this checklist before heading to O'Daniel Unit.
To request a visit at the O'Daniel Unit, you'll need your own TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account with a verified email and completed visitor profile. The process is straightforward once you know where people typically get stuck—email validation, the questionnaire, and adding the inmate correctly.
Want to receive phone calls from someone at the O'Daniel Unit? You'll need to register your number first. Once enrolled with TDCJ's phone system, the inmate can place paid calls to you—provided they're eligible and following TDCJ rules.
