How to Schedule Your First Visit at Wayne Scott Unit (TDCJ Online Scheduler)
Before you dive into the scheduler or book travel, confirm two things: your loved one is currently at the Wayne Scott Unit, and they have visitation privileges. A quick check now can save you a wasted trip if they've been transferred, their status changed, or visits got canceled. TDCJ updates online visitation info once daily on weekdays and several times on visitation days. Helpful, but it means what you see might not reflect what's actually happening at the unit. For a first visit, treat the online info as a starting point - then call the unit for final confirmation before you leave home.
Tip: TDCJ’s visitation info updates once daily on weekdays and more often on visitation days, but you should still call the Wayne Scott Unit for final confirmation before you travel.
To schedule a visit through the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler, you’ll need your own visitor account. TDCJ staff can’t create an account for you, so plan on doing the setup yourself before you try to book a time slot.
- Start account creation with a valid email address - the scheduler will use this email to send you the next step.
- Check your inbox for the registration email - TDCJ sends a message with a 7-digit validation code and a link.
- Use the link and code to finish registration - follow the prompts to complete your account setup.
After you set your password, the scheduler takes you to the Background Questionnaire. You can't skip it - every question needs an answer before you can finish creating your visitor account. Take your time here. Small mistakes, especially with contact fields like your phone number, can slow things down. Double-check what you typed before hitting submit.
- Find the inmate’s TDCJ or SID number - you’ll need it to add them to your profile.
- Make sure the number is 8 digits - the scheduler requires an 8-digit TDCJ/SID number.
- Add the inmate in your scheduler profile - enter the 8-digit number when prompted so the system can pull up the correct person.
Once you've selected the correct inmate and chosen your relationship, you'll submit a Relationship Request. This goes to the Wayne Scott Unit, where staff verify the visitor/inmate relationship. Until they complete that verification, you won't be able to schedule a visit.
Once you're approved, the scheduler shows the visit types available to you. You might see Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet. One common point of confusion: "Video/Tablet" in the scheduler isn't the same as the Securus Video program (which only operates at certain units). Depending on your situation, you may also see options for Extended or Special Visits. What actually appears depends on what the scheduler makes available for you.
Note: Not every visit type will be available for every person - availability depends on the verified visitor/inmate relationship, the facility’s visitation setup, and the inmate’s visitation privileges.
If the scheduler won't let you book - or you're seeing "Call Unit" - it usually comes down to verification and eligibility. Your Relationship Request might still be pending, or the inmate may not have visitation privileges right now. Since online info can lag behind reality, call the Wayne Scott Unit directly to get a definitive answer before you travel or keep trying to schedule.
Quick Verification Checklist
- ✓ Confirm the inmate is currently assigned to the Wayne Scott Unit.
- ✓ Confirm the inmate has visitation privileges.
- ✓ Confirm your Relationship Request has been verified by the unit so you can schedule.
- ✓ Call the unit for final confirmation before you travel (online visitation info updates, but it can lag).
Find an Inmate at Wayne Scott Unit, TX
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
