What to Do If Visitation Is Canceled at William P. Clemens Unit: Lockdowns, Emergencies, and Your Options

At the William P. Clemens Unit, visitation is a privilege - and it can be restricted when rule violations or security concerns arise. Sometimes the restriction targets one person: a specific inmate or visitor. Other times, it affects everyone. Unit-wide lockdowns, escapes, disturbances, or health emergencies can shut down visits entirely. When that happens, the priority is restoring order and keeping people safe. Visitation is one of the first things to pause.

1. Confirm the person is at the Clemens Unit - before you plan the trip, make sure your loved one is assigned to the unit you’re going to visit.
2. Verify the unit’s visitation schedule - double-check the current schedule so you’re traveling on the right day and within the right time window.
3. Call the unit for final confirmation - visitation information is updated frequently, so a phone call is your best last check before you get on the road.
4. Ask directly whether visitation has been canceled - even if everything looks normal, confirm that visitation is currently happening and hasn’t been shut down unit-wide.

Check for updates online before you leave. Unit-wide visitation cancellations for the Clemens Unit are posted on the TDCJ homepage. Keep timing in mind: the page updates once daily on weekdays, but multiple times per day on visitation days. A status you saw earlier can change.

• ✓ Bring an acceptable photo ID (check the TDCJ visitation page for the current list of acceptable IDs).
• ✓ Check your clothing for compliance before you leave (use the TDCJ clothing guidelines so you don’t get turned away at the door).

1. Call the unit immediately - if you hear rumors of a lockdown or you arrive and the visit is canceled, contact the Clemens Unit right away for the current status.
2. Ask why visitation is canceled - find out whether it’s a unit-wide issue (like a lockdown, disturbance, escape, or health/safety emergency) or something else.
3. Ask when visits might resume - even if they can’t give an exact time, you want to know whether it’s expected to be temporary or if you should plan for another day.

If the cancellation isn't unit-wide, ask whether your loved one still has visitation privileges. Find out if your visit was affected by a temporary restriction tied to rule violations or security concerns. That one question can save you from making the same trip again without fixing the underlying issue. If it's a temporary restriction, ask what your options are for rescheduling once visitation resumes.

Here's how TDCJ frames visits at the Clemens Unit: visitation is a privilege, and it can be temporarily restricted when rule violations occur or security concerns arise. That means a canceled or restricted visit isn't always something you can fix on the spot. But you can still ask for the reason - and what needs to happen for visitation to resume.

If you're removed from an inmate's Visitors List, you have a formal appeal option. Submit a written appeal to the Director's Review Committee (DRC) at PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342. The appeal must be submitted within 14 days of the date on the written notice of removal.