How Long Are TDCJ Visits — Regular, Split, and Extended Visits Explained

At most TDCJ units, visits are generally scheduled on weekends. The typical visiting window is Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. That window is the range of hours the unit conducts visitation, not a guarantee you will be inside that whole time.

A regular visit lasts two hours. The clock starts when both the inmate and visitor are present in the visiting area. Time spent waiting in line or waiting for the inmate to be brought out doesn't count against your two hours. If you want the full visit, arrive early enough to get through check-in without feeling rushed.

A split visit lets different adults share the same visiting period by rotating in and out. Say you have a two-hour regular visit: two adults might take the first hour, then two different adults take the second. The same approach works for longer special visits. Either way, the total limit is four adults across the entire visit, even with rotation.

Extended visits exist for long-distance travelers. If you're driving more than 250 miles one way, the warden (or designee) may approve a visit up to four hours. These are discretionary. Approval depends on available time and space that day, so qualifying by distance doesn't guarantee you'll get one.

1. Call the unit before you travel - Confirm the current visitation schedule and verify that visitation has not been canceled.
2. Ask about extended-visit availability - If you are traveling more than 250 miles one way, ask whether an extended visit is being considered that day and what the unit needs from you for warden (or designee) review.