Quick pre-contact checklist for calls, mail, money, and visits

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

Where should I send letters or printed photos for an inmate?

Send letters and printed photos to TDCJ’s Digital Mail Processing Center using this format: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Inmate’s Full First and Last Name + TDCJ Number, PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400. Including the inmate’s full name and TDCJ number helps the mail get matched correctly for scanning and upload.

Q

Can I send packages or books directly to an inmate?

For TDCJ’s digital mail system, certain items are exceptions and should be sent directly to the unit, not to the Digital Mail Processing Center. Those exceptions include books, magazines, packages, and other subscriptions from verified publishers, along with legal mail and media mail. If your loved one is in federal custody (BOP) instead of TDCJ, publications and packages can have additional restrictions, including publisher-only rules for hardcovers.

Q

Who is allowed to deposit money into an inmate's account?

In TDCJ, only approved senders can deposit funds: you must be on the inmate’s approved visitor list or on the Inmate Telephone List. Cash and personal checks are not accepted for trust fund deposits and will be returned.

Q

How do I schedule a visit and can TDCJ staff set up my account?

You must create your own online visitation scheduler account, TDCJ staff cannot create it for you. Once an account is created for an email address, it cannot be deleted and the email address cannot be changed, so choose an email you can keep. Before you schedule, confirm your loved one’s current housing location, transfers can affect your options.

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

How long before money deposited online or via MoneyGram posts to an inmate account?

For TDCJ, plan ahead for holds: single-transaction deposits of $500 or more (and certain checks) are held for 14 days before the inmate can access the funds. If your loved one is in a federal facility (BOP) and you use MoneyGram ExpressPayment, funds sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time generally post within 2 to 4 hours, otherwise they generally post the next morning.

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.

Q

What should I check if the inmate was recently moved?

First, confirm their current housing location before you schedule a visit or travel, transfers can change everything. Then check whether the new unit offers the services you were using, such as remote video visitation, since remote options can be facility-specific.

Q

How do I format a mailed money order or deposit slip for the Inmate Trust Fund?

For mailed deposits to TDCJ, send the money order or cashier’s check with the completed deposit slip to: Inmate Trust Fund, PO Box 60, Huntsville, TX 77342-0060. Deposit slips can be obtained from the offender, or you can request them by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Inmate Trust Fund PO Box.

Quick pre-contact checklist for calls, mail, money, and visits

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