How to Get On (and Stay On) an Inmate's Approved Visitors List at W. F. Ramsey Unit
Getting approved to visit at the W. F. Ramsey Unit starts with one key piece: the inmate's approved Visitors List. Here's how the list works, how changes happen, how to confirm you're approved before making the trip, and what to do if you're removed.
Each inmate at the W. F. Ramsey Unit can have up to 10 people on their approved Visitors List. This is the official roster of who the inmate wants to see during visiting hours - it includes names, phone numbers, and physical addresses. Because of the 10-person cap, families often have to coordinate. If multiple relatives want to visit, the inmate may need to decide who stays on the list.
Note: Before you plan a long drive or take time off work, confirm you're actually on the approved Visitors List. Verifying first is the fastest way to avoid a wasted trip.
How often the list can change depends on the inmate's custody type. For institutional inmates, changes - adding or removing names - can only be requested once every six months. If you're trying to get added, or hoping someone else will be swapped out, you may have to wait for the next change window.
For state jail, ISF (intermediate sanction facility), and SAFP (substance abuse felony punishment) inmates, the window is shorter: they can request changes once every 60 days. The 10-person cap still applies, so talk through priorities with your loved one before they submit a change request.
Not sure if you're approved? Start with the relationship request process. When you submit a relationship request, it goes to the inmate's unit, where TDCJ staff verify the visitor/inmate relationship. That verification is what turns "requested" into "approved." This is a common place where people get stuck - submitting a request doesn't automatically mean you're cleared to visit.
- Submit a relationship request - Make sure you select the correct relationship to the inmate and complete the request so it goes to the inmate’s unit for verification.
- Watch for verified/approved status - Once the unit reviews the request, your status should reflect that the relationship has been verified.
- Call the unit before you travel - Visitation information is updated daily and can change, so get final confirmation before you hit the road.
If you're removed from an inmate's Visitors List, you can appeal - but you need to act fast. Submit a written appeal to the Director's Review Committee (DRC) at PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342. You have 14 days from the date on the written notice of removal, so don't wait until the last minute to draft and mail it.
- ✓ Write a clear appeal letter addressed to the Director’s Review Committee (DRC)
- ✓ Include your full name and current contact information
- ✓ Include the inmate’s identifying information (enough to clearly match the correct person)
- ✓ State the date on the written notice of removal and confirm you’re within the 14-day deadline
- ✓ Briefly explain why you believe the removal should be reviewed
- ✓ Mail it to: Director’s Review Committee (DRC), PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342
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