TDCJ Neal Unit

Visiting hours at Neal Unit are Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each visit lasts two hours, and the clock starts once both the inmate and visitor(s) are present. Most inmates are limited to one visit per visiting cycle (Monday–Sunday), and the unit typically enforces one visit per weekend—though exact limits can vary by custody/classification. To book a visit, create your own TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account, confirm it using the emailed 7-digit validation code, and complete the Background Questionnaire. If the "Schedule Visit" button isn't available or the site says "Call Unit," contact Neal Unit directly to schedule. Availability updates frequently, and staff can't create accounts for you. Bring a current government-issued photo ID (at least one must show a current physical address), keep the visitor list cap of 10 names in mind, and expect non-attorney visits to be electronically monitored.

Inmate Technology Services (ITS) handles phone and technology issues at Neal Unit. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (excluding state holidays). Unit communications list ITS contact details, including an email address, for help with calling and related services. To receive calls from an inmate, register your telephone number through the Friends & Family enrollment process—you'll need the inmate's TDCJ ID number. The system also provides vendor phone support numbers. Run into problems with phone service, e‑messaging, tablets, or other vendor services? File a complaint through the ITS Contact Form or mail the Inmate Technology Services Contract Manager at PO Box 4016, Huntsville.

Sending mail to someone at Neal Unit works differently now. As of Sept. 6, 2023, incoming personal mail goes to a centralized Digital Mail Processing Center, where accepted correspondence is scanned and uploaded to the inmate's secure tablet. Address personal mail to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice with the inmate's full name and TDCJ number, and send it to PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400. If the person you're writing to doesn't have a tablet, they'll receive a black-and-white printed copy instead. Legal and other privileged mail is handled separately and may bypass the digital scanning process. Stick to standard addressing and content rules, and avoid prohibited items.

Neal Unit only accepts deposits from people on the inmate's Approved Visitation List or Inmate Telephone List—make sure you're approved before sending funds. For mail deposits, use a money order or cashier's check payable to "Inmate Trust Fund for Offender Name and Number" and send it to the Inmate Trust Fund PO Box in Huntsville. Don't mail cash or personal checks. Those aren't accepted and will be returned. Some large single transactions or certain checks may be held for 14 days before the inmate can access the money. Want recurring deposits? An ACH monthly debit option is available—mail the forms and a voided check to Inmate Trust Fund PO Box 629, Huntsville TX 77342-0629. eCommDirect purchases and deposits have service fees, limits, and timing rules. Trust Fund staff can confirm receipt but won't share balances or transaction details with anyone except the inmate.