How to Contact an Inmate at Facility

Staying in touch with someone in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) unit typically involves scheduling visits and setting up phone access. This guide covers what TDCJ spells out clearly and flags what you should confirm with the specific unit before making plans.

For in-person visits and certain scheduled visit types, you'll use the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler. Here's the key thing: you must create your own account before scheduling anything. TDCJ staff cannot create visitor accounts for you, so set that up first.

TDCJ offers multiple visit types, including Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet. Not every option shows up for every unit or visitor. What's available depends on your relationship to the inmate, the unit's visitation area design, and the inmate's visitation privileges. Phone calls require a separate setup. Before you can receive calls from a TDCJ inmate, register your telephone number at texasprisonphone.com. You'll need the inmate's TDCJ ID number to complete registration. TDCJ also allows remote video visits through a kiosk for eligible inmates. These are scheduled through a vendor website and count as additional to contact or general visits. Eligible inmates may be allowed one remote video visit per month for up to 60 minutes.

Steps

• ✓ Create your own TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler account before you try to schedule a visit (staff cannot create accounts for visitors).
• ✓ Check which visit types are available for your situation (Regular, Contact, Video/Tablet). Options can depend on your relationship to the inmate, the unit’s setup, and the inmate’s visitation privileges.
• ✓ Register your phone number at texasprisonphone.com before you expect to receive calls from a TDCJ inmate. Have the inmate’s TDCJ ID number ready.
• ✓ If you want a remote video (kiosk) visit, schedule it through the vendor website and confirm the inmate is eligible. These visits are separate from contact or general visits, and may be limited to once per month for up to 60 minutes.

Before committing to a plan, verify the exact visit types the unit offers for your loved one. Even within TDCJ, availability can change based on the unit's design, your relationship to the inmate, and the inmate's privileges. If you're aiming for a remote video (kiosk) visit, confirm eligibility and any limits that apply. TDCJ describes these as scheduled through a vendor website, additional to contact or general visits, and potentially limited to once per month for up to 60 minutes for eligible inmates.

For phone contact, make sure you're following the required registration process and have the correct TDCJ ID number. You'll need that ID to register your telephone number at texasprisonphone.com. Don't know the inmate's TDCJ ID? Look it up through the online offender search or call (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283.

Need the inmate's TDCJ ID? Use the online offender search or call (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283. To receive phone calls, register your number at texasprisonphone.com using the inmate's TDCJ ID. For visits that require scheduling, start by creating your account in the TDCJ Online Visitation Scheduler, then select from the visit types available for that unit and inmate.