Penmate Inmate Support Guides
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What to Expect During Contact Visits at Neal Unit: Rules on Physical Contact and Seating

Contact visits can feel nerve-wracking the first time—you don't want to accidentally break a rule. Here's what Neal Unit allows for physical contact, how seating works, and what to expect during your time together.

• 2 min read • tdcj.texas.gov
What to Expect During Contact Visits at Neal Unit: Rules on Physical Contact and Seating

Contact visits at Neal Unit take place in a designated visiting area. Expect electronic monitoring throughout. The exception? Attorney-client visits, which aren't monitored the same way. This means your conversation and behavior need to stay within the rules the entire time - not just during check-in.

Physical contact is allowed during contact visits, but there are limits. You can embrace and kiss once at the beginning and once at the end. Think of it as a hello hug and a goodbye hug. Keep everything in between calm and within the guidelines - pushing the boundaries could get your visit cut short.

Hands-on-table rule: Holding hands is allowed, but only if your hands stay on top of the table where staff can see them the entire time.

You won't be sitting side-by-side during contact visits. At Neal Unit, inmates and visitors sit on opposite sides of the table. This setup is standard for contact visits, so plan on facing each other across the table for most of your time together.

Kids exception: Even though adults sit on opposite sides of the table, an inmate may hold their young children during a contact visit.

What to Expect During Contact Visits at Neal Unit: Rules on Physical Contact and Seating

Practical Tips

  • ✓ Keep any hand-holding on top of the table so it stays visible.
  • ✓ Save hugs and kisses for the start and end of the visit.
  • ✓ Assume staff can hear and/or see what’s happening during the visit, and act accordingly.
  • ✓ Follow staff instructions right away if you’re corrected on seating or contact - small adjustments can prevent bigger problems.
  • ✓ If you’re visiting with kids, plan for the table seating layout and help children understand where everyone will sit.

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