The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) encourages visitation between the inmates and their family members and friends. Surely, visitation becomes a crucial role in maintaining the connection between the inmates and their family members and friends. By the way, how long is TDCJ visitation? Find out that answer and other information related to TDCJ visitation.
TDCJ Visitation
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is always updated about the rule for inmate visitation. Usually, visitation rules are posted in areas available to the visitors. And, if needed, the visitors can ask for copies of the visitation rules. The visitation appointments can be made using the online visitation portal. If you have not registered for the portal, then you can visit its official website to begin that process. Also, you can call the unit to schedule a visit.
How Long is TDCJ Visitation?
Contact visits usually will be two-hours in length. While a non-contact visit is usually one hour in length. It can consist of two adult and two child visitors at a time. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) allows the children of all ages to visit the inmates accompanied by an adult. For your information, each inmate in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is allowed one visit every weekend. Keep in mind that all visits must be pre-scheduled. So, the visitors must still be on the approved visitation lists of the inmate to visit.
Most inmates are eligible for contact visits that allow the inmates and family members or friends to have limited physical contact. Usually, these visits occur in a large visitation room which is shared with other inmates and their family members and friends. Some inmates are only eligible for general visits or known as non-contact visits. These non-contact visits are conducted inside the main building of the unit. Usually in a visitation area where the visitors and inmates are separated by a glass wall or partition. There is no physical contact.
As a visitor, if you want to do a visitation to your incarcerated family members or friends in TDCJ, you must call the day before the visit to verify whether the visit is still scheduled or not. And, you must also arrive at least one hour in advance of the scheduled visit time.
Tips Before You Plan a Visitation
Here are some tips before you plan a visitation to a unit:
- You must ensure that the inmate is assigned to the unit you plan to visit and has visitation privileges. Also, you must call the unit for final confirmation before going to the unit.
- You must confirm the unit visitation schedule. Also, you must verify that visitation has not been cancelled. Keep in mind that an eligible inmate cannot receive visitors if the visitation has been cancelled. You will be able to see the unit visitation cancellations on the TDCJ homepage.
- Make sure that you are an approved visitor. If you are not sure, you can contact the unit for verification.
- Do not forget to bring photo identification (ID).
- You must check clothing for compliance.
- Make sure that you do not bring prohibited items to the unit.
- Do not bring cash. But you are allowed to bring coins, which are not more than $25.
- Do not bring cell phones inside the secure perimeter.
- Special visits must be set prior to the visit.
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