Can Inmates Write to Each Other? TDCJ Inmate-to-Inmate Correspondence Rules
TDCJ allows inmates to write to each other in limited situations. There's a specific approval step, and the mail still gets screened like any other general correspondence.
How to send messages, photos, and packages
Communication options at Telford Unit go through state-approved vendors and the agency technology program, so availability and features can vary by unit. To receive phone calls from an inmate, register your phone number at texasprisonphone.com and provide the inmate's TDCJ ID number. Remote video visits must be scheduled through the vendor website and are allowed once per month for up to 60 minutes, in addition to on-unit visits. If you use the Online Visitation Scheduler, plan ahead: once you create your account, the email cannot be deleted or changed. Setup uses a 7-digit validation code sent to the email you submit. Call the unit to confirm visitation before you travel.
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TDCJ allows inmates to write to each other in limited situations. There's a specific approval step, and the mail still gets screened like any other general correspondence.
TDCJ now routes most incoming personal mail through a centralized digital scanning process. Send letters the old way, and they may never reach your loved one. Here's the address format you need, plus the exceptions that still go directly to the unit.
If you're mailing a letter to someone in TDCJ, the address changed in September 2023. Here's the exact Dallas mailing format—plus the few types of mail that still go directly to the unit.
Register your phone number at texasprisonphone.com and provide the inmate’s TDCJ ID number. Calls are handled through the vendor system, so follow the vendor’s registration and payment steps to receive or place calls.
Schedule remote video visits through the approved vendor website. Remote video visits are allowed once per month for up to 60 minutes in addition to any on-unit visits, and you will follow the vendor’s scheduling and payment steps.
Yes. Call the unit to confirm visitation before traveling. Staff can verify the schedule and any last-minute changes or special requirements.
A long drive to a TDCJ unit is hard enough. Getting turned away at the gate is worse. Use this checklist to confirm the person's status, verify visiting is actually happening that day, and avoid bringing anything that could end your visit before it starts.
A little prep work before you leave can save you a long drive and a missed visit. Use this checklist to confirm the person you're visiting is at the right unit, eligible for visits, and that you're bringing the right ID and allowed items.
Planning a visit to someone in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)? Time is usually the first question. Here's how long regular visits last, how split visits work, and when you might qualify for an extended visit.