How phone calls and messaging work in Texas state prisons
To receive phone calls from someone in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) unit, you need to register your phone number online. You'll need the inmate's TDCJ ID number to complete registration. One detail that trips people up: the name on your driver license or state ID must match the name on your phone listing or bill, or your number may not be approved. Know which numbers can receive calls. TDCJ allows calls to home landlines, post-paid cell phones, and pre-paid cell phones. Calls to internet services, 800 numbers, businesses, pay phones, and international numbers are blocked. Also plan for privacy limits: all calls (except to the attorney of record) can be monitored and recorded.
Phones are typically available from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., with calls limited to 30 minutes. Tablet phone hours can differ, so if your loved one uses a tablet, have them confirm the actual calling times for their housing area. For remote face-to-face contact, TDCJ offers video visits through Securus. These run 60 minutes and cost $10. Staying connected matters: research shows that maintaining family and friend relationships can lower the risk of recidivism. If you run into service problems with inmate technology or phone vendors, TDCJ routes complaints through its Information Technology Division, Inmate Technology Services (ITS) Contract Manager contact.
Common Questions
Q
How do I register to receive phone calls from an inmate?
Register your phone number online using the inmate’s TDCJ ID number. Make sure the name on your driver license or state ID matches the name on your telephone listing or bill, or your number may not be eligible. Phones are generally available 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., calls are limited to 30 minutes, and calls (except to the attorney of record) can be monitored and recorded.
Q
Are visits monitored and what contact visit rules should I know?
Yes, in TDCJ, visits (except attorney-client visits) may be electronically monitored, and visitation is a privilege that can be temporarily restricted for rule violations, lockdowns, incidents, or health and safety emergencies. During contact visits, embracing and kissing are permitted once at the beginning and once at the end of each visit.
Q
Where can I find phone or vendor complaint contacts if a service problem occurs?
For TDCJ technology vendor issues (like phone service problems), use the TDCJ ITS (Inmate Technology Services) Contract Manager contact information provided by TDCJ. For county-level facility issues, use the official county contact numbers listed on county pages, those are usually the best starting point for jail-specific questions and last-minute changes.
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