How to Get on an Inmate's Approved Visitors List at TDCJ and Who Can Send Money
At TDCJ, being "approved" goes beyond visits. It also determines whether you can deposit money into someone's account and whether you can receive their phone calls.
A TDCJ inmate's official Visitors List holds up to 10 names. This approved list includes everyone the inmate wants to see during visiting hours, and it's built from specific details: names, phone numbers, and physical addresses. The bottom line? There are only 10 slots, and your correct information has to be on that list to get approved.
Note: Being on the Visitors List is not only about seeing someone in person. It can also affect whether you’re allowed to deposit money for them.
For institutional inmates, names can only be added or removed from the Visitors List once every six months. That window matters. If you miss the cut or get left off, you may be waiting a while before the next update.
State jail, Intermediate Sanction Facility (ISF), and Substance Abuse Felony Punishment (SAFP) settings allow changes more frequently, but still only once every 60 days. Even with the shorter cycle, plan ahead so the right people are listed before a visit or before someone needs to help with deposits.
Approval affects money, not just visits. Since September 1, 2020, only senders on an inmate's approved Visitor List or Inmate Telephone List can deposit money to that inmate. If you try to help financially but aren't on one of those two lists, you'll run into problems, even if you're family.
Phone access has its own gatekeeping step. To receive calls from a TDCJ inmate, you need to register your telephone number at texasprisonphone dot com. You may also need the inmate's TDCJ ID number to complete registration. Since the deposit rule recognizes the Inmate Telephone List too, getting your phone properly registered matters for more than just calls.
Tip: Before you send money or expect calls, confirm you’re on the Visitor List or the Inmate Telephone List. If you’re not on either one, deposits may be blocked and phone calls may not go through.
Sending money by money order or cashier's check? Include a deposit slip. The inmate can provide this slip, so ask them for it before you mail anything.
Don't mail trust fund deposits to the inmate's facility. Deposits go through the trust fund process, and sending them to the unit can cause delays or rejections.
Caution: Use the deposit slip, and make sure the deposit goes through the trust fund deposit process rather than the unit. Small mailing mistakes can turn into long delays.
Keep deposits and personal mail completely separate. The trust fund deposit channel isn't the place for letters, photos, or personal items. Mixing them together can create problems for both the deposit and the mail.
Verify Before Deposit
- ✓ Confirm with the unit that you’re listed on the inmate’s approved Visitor List or the Inmate Telephone List before you try to deposit money.
- ✓ Ask the inmate to add you to the Visitors List or make sure you’re included on the Inmate Telephone List (remember, list changes are limited).
- ✓ Register your phone number at texasprisonphone dot com, and have the inmate’s TDCJ ID number available in case it’s required.
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