How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
Visiting at Smith Unit starts with the TDCJ visitation scheduler. You'll need to create your own account (staff cannot do this for you) and verify registration using a 7 digit email validation code. Once you set your account email, it cannot be changed or deleted. You'll use that same email to reset your password if needed. To add an inmate, search using their 8 digit TDCJ or SID number and submit a Relationship Request, then wait for unit approval in your pending requests. Visiting cycles run Monday through Sunday, with one scheduled visit per cycle typically allowed. Smith Unit offers on-site visits Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visit types include Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet. Most visits (except attorney-client) may be electronically monitored.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
A little prep can save you a wasted trip. Use this checklist before heading to a TDCJ unit to confirm the person is actually there, visits are happening, and you have the right ID. Leave anything behind that could get you turned away.
The TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler is your gateway to booking a visit at the Smith Unit. Get the email validation, questionnaire, and relationship request right the first time, and everything else falls into place.
Before you can schedule a visit, you need to create a TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account. The process is simple, but a few small details (like email and phone formatting) trip people up.
Visiting at a TDCJ facility is straightforward once you know two things: how long visits actually last, and how to get back into the online scheduler if you're locked out.
Smith Unit holds visits on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. That's the full window the unit is open for visitation — you'll still need to factor in check-in time and any waiting once you arrive.
Planning a TDCJ visit is easier when you understand two things: the type of visit you're requesting and how the schedule works. Here's how Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet visits fit into TDCJ visiting hours, cycles, and length rules.
No. Once your visitation scheduler account email is created, it cannot be changed, and the account email cannot be deleted.
Use the format "XXX XXX XXXX" with spaces between groups, not dashes.
Each inmate can have up to 10 names on their Visitors List. Changes are limited (institutional inmates: once every six months; some facility types: 60 days).
Yes. All inmate visits except attorney client visits may be electronically monitored.
A few quick checks before you leave can save you hours of driving. Run through this list to make sure your visit will actually happen once you get to Smith Unit.
Mailing a letter to someone in TDCJ? The biggest change is where it goes first. Most personal mail now routes through a centralized Digital Mail Processing Center and gets delivered electronically to the person in custody.
Adding someone to your TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler profile takes two steps: enter the correct ID number, then wait for TDCJ to verify your relationship. Here's how to do both and how to check your request status.
