How to Contact an Inmate at Nueces County Jail, TX (TX)

Regular personal mail (anything that isn't legal or commercial mail) goes through a mail-scanning vendor. The vendor processes it, and the inmate receives a digital copy on kiosks or tablets. The original paper is destroyed. Don't send anything you'd need back.

For in-person visits, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You'll need to show it at check-in.

Visitation at the Main Jail and Annex happens on weekends. Your visit time depends on the inmate's last name and, for some blocks, the housing unit. The schedule is split into set windows (for example, Saturday morning is divided by last names A–L and M–Z, with an afternoon block for specific units, and Sunday follows a similar pattern).

Want to put money on your loved one's commissary account? Deposit kiosks are available 24 hours a day at the Main Jail lobby (901 Leopard Street) and the McKenzie Annex (745 North Padre Island Drive).

Sending money by mail? Nueces County Jail only accepts cashier's checks or money orders. Make them payable to "Inmate Trust Fund" and include the inmate's name, date of birth, and Nueces SID#. Personal checks are not accepted.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Use the commissary kiosk at the Main Jail lobby (901 Leopard Street) or the McKenzie Annex (745 North Padre Island Drive), both available 24 hours a day
• ✓ Bring cash in bills of $5 or higher, or a VISA/MasterCard credit or debit card
• ✓ Keep the kiosk fee structure and deposit limits in mind (the kiosk uses a fee schedule by deposit range, with deposits up to a $300 maximum)

• ✓ Assume your non-legal, non-commercial mail will be scanned and delivered electronically to the inmate on kiosks or tablets
• ✓ Do not mail anything you cannot afford to lose, since the original will be destroyed after processing

• ✓ Bring a proper, valid government-type picture ID for check-in
• ✓ Plan around the weekend schedule (Saturday and Sunday) with time blocks based on last name, plus specific blocks for certain housing units
• ✓ Double-check which block applies to your loved one’s housing unit before you go

• ✓ Use a cashier’s check or money order only (personal checks are not accepted)
• ✓ Make it payable to “Inmate Trust Fund”
• ✓ Include the inmate’s name, date of birth, and Nueces SID# so it can be posted correctly

Before you make a trip or deposit money, confirm the current kiosk details with the jail. The kiosks are listed as available 24 hours a day at the Main Jail lobby and the McKenzie Annex, and they accept cash ($5 bills or higher) plus VISA/MasterCard credit or debit. Fee schedules and deposit maximums can change, so check what you'll be charged before adding funds.

Mailing a cashier's check or money order? Double-check the exact payee wording ("Inmate Trust Fund") and the required identifiers. The jail's instructions specify the inmate's name, date of birth, and Nueces SID#. Small errors can delay posting.

Mail handling is one of the biggest surprises for families. Non-legal and non-commercial mail gets processed by a scanning vendor, delivered electronically to kiosks or tablets, and the original is destroyed. Before you send photos, greeting cards, or anything sentimental, verify the details. If you're unsure whether something counts as legal mail or commercial mail, get clarity first so your letter goes through the right channel.

Check the visitation schedule right before you travel, especially if you're coming from out of town. Visits at the Main Jail and Annex are on Saturdays and Sundays in specific time blocks tied to last name and certain housing units. You'll also need a valid government-issued photo ID at check-in. Schedules and unit exceptions can shift, so a quick call can save you a wasted trip.