What You Can and Can't Bring to William P. Clemens Unit: Contraband, Coins, and Cell Phone Rules
Visiting the William P. Clemens Unit goes smoother when you arrive with as little as possible. The fastest way to get delayed—or turned away entirely—is showing up with contraband. Electronics, cash, and anything that could be passed to an inmate are the biggest problems.
At the William P. Clemens Unit, "contraband" covers more than drugs and weapons. Alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, firearms, paper money, tobacco products, and ignition items like lighters and matches are all prohibited. Electronics are a major problem area. Cell phones, smartwatches, laptops, cameras, digital recorders, and other wireless devices? All contraband.
Watch for these turn-you-away items: drugs/alcohol, weapons, paper money, tobacco, lighters/matches, and electronics like cell phones, smartwatches, laptops, cameras, digital recorders, or other wireless devices.
Don't bring cash into the unit. Coins are the exception, but there's a hard cap: $35 total. Planning to use vending machines? Count it out before you leave home so you're not stuck at the gate with the wrong kind of money.
- ✓ Leave paper money at home or locked in your vehicle
- ✓ Bring coins only, and keep the total at $35 or less
- ✓ Bring the amount you actually expect to use (not a pocketful “just in case”)
- ✓ Count your coins before you arrive so you’re not sorting money at the entrance
Cell phones are not allowed inside the secure perimeter. It's not just phones, either - smartwatches, laptop computers, cameras, digital recorders, and similar devices all count as contraband. If it records, connects, or communicates, assume it's a problem. Keep it out of your pockets and bag.
Tip: Leave your phone and other smart devices in your vehicle or at home. Just keeping it on you - even powered off - can still violate the no-cell-phone rule inside the secure perimeter.
Keep what you carry to a minimum. Bring a valid photo ID for visitation and leave everything else behind - especially electronics, tobacco, or lighters. The less you bring to the entrance, the fewer chances for a surprise problem during screening.
- Set out your photo ID - you’ll need valid photo identification when you arrive.
- Empty your pockets and do a quick check - pull out anything that could be contraband (especially electronics, tobacco, lighters/matches, or paper money).
- Secure everything you don’t need - leave nonessential items locked in your vehicle so you’re not carrying prohibited property onto TDCJ grounds.
Before you make the drive, confirm the person you're visiting is assigned to the William P. Clemens Unit and has visitation privileges. Check the unit's visitation schedule too - an eligible inmate still can't receive visitors if the unit cancels visitation that day. Visitation info updates once daily on weekdays and multiple times on visitation days, so calling the unit for final confirmation can save you a wasted trip.
- ✓ Confirm the inmate is assigned to William P. Clemens Unit and has visitation privileges
- ✓ Verify the visitation schedule and that visitation has not been canceled
- ✓ Call the unit for final confirmation before you travel (updates happen daily on weekdays and multiple times on visitation days)
- ✓ Bring valid photo ID
Find an Inmate at William P. Clemens Unit
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
