Multiple Custody Levels · State Prison (Psychiatric/Medical) · TDCJ

John Montford Unit

Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (806) 745-1021 Info last verified: June 2026

TDCJ's psychiatric and medical hub for West Texas, in Lubbock, with inpatient mental-health beds, an infirmary, and 24-hour medical care.

Statewide rules that apply at every TDCJ unit

These rules are set by TDCJ and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in Texas.

Dress code

Tight-fitting, revealing, or see-through clothing is not allowed.
Sleeveless shirts and dresses are allowed only if the shoulders stay covered.
Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than three inches above the middle of the knee while standing.
Clothing with profane or offensive images or language is not allowed.
Visitors may not wear all-white clothing (incarcerated people wear white). Sandals and open-toe shoes are allowed.

ID: Each adult visitor (18 or older) must present a current government-issued photo ID, and at least one ID document must show a current physical address.
What to bring: No cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, other electronics, tobacco, paper money, food, or outside drinks. A small clear bag or change purse and up to $35 in coins for vending machines are allowed.
Scheduling: Visits are booked through the TDCJ Online Visitation Portal, at least one and no more than seven days ahead. One visit per weekend is standard.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in Texas

Overview

The John Montford Unit is TDCJ’s psychiatric and medical regional hub for West Texas, located in Lubbock. TDCJ lists the unit as housing multiple custody levels, with people assigned there for mental-health and medical treatment.

That mission makes Montford different from a standard permanent-housing unit. Some incarcerated people are assigned there for ongoing psychiatric or medical care, while others are there temporarily for evaluation, treatment, or transitional care before another move.

What Makes John Montford Unit Different

TDCJ uses Montford as the psychiatric and medical hub for the West Texas region, with 24-hour medical, dental, and mental-health services.
The unit has about 94 infirmary beds and 550 inpatient mental-health beds, along with a surgical suite, dialysis services, and geriatric services.
Medical and mental-health operations are run by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, the correctional managed-care partner for West Texas.
Some assignments are temporary placements for treatment rather than long-term housing, so a person may be moved as their care changes.

Visiting Hours and Procedures

Weekend visiting uses TDCJ’s standard scheduling system, but medical and psychiatric operations can affect whether a person is available for a visit on a given day.

The statewide rules above — approval, ID, prohibited items, and dress code — apply at the John Montford Unit. What follows is specific to this unit.

Medical status, treatment status, and housing status can change visit eligibility at Montford more often than at a typical general population unit. A person may be unavailable for a scheduled visit because of treatment, psychiatric placement, infirmary movement, or a transfer tied to medical needs.

That same dynamic affects temporary placements. A person may be at Montford for evaluation or treatment rather than a long-term assignment, so location records can change during a stay.

Getting There and Parking

Montford is within the Lubbock area, so the trip relies on Lubbock as the main service center.

Lubbock is a regional hub with a commercial airport and full city services, so visitors traveling from a distance generally pass through Lubbock before reaching the unit.

Phones, Mail, and Video

Montford uses Securus for phone service, and TDCJ lists Securus Video Connect where video visiting is available. Communication patterns can be less predictable here than at a standard permanent-housing unit because treatment and housing status can interrupt access to calls or remote contact.

Mail routing can also be affected by temporary placement. A person who is moved for treatment, psychiatric care, or evaluation may not stay at Montford long enough for communication to follow the same pattern as a stable general population assignment.

Programs

TDCJ lists education and reentry programming at the unit alongside its treatment mission, including literacy and GED instruction, the CHANGES pre-release program, a faith-based dormitory, and reentry planning.

Nearby Services

Most fuel, food, pharmacies, and hotel options are available throughout Lubbock rather than only near the unit entrance. As a regional city, Lubbock offers a full set of services for visitors traveling from elsewhere in West Texas.

For broader family support beyond the unit itself, the Texas Inmate Families Association is a statewide nonprofit focused on education, advocacy, and prison-system navigation resources for families with someone in TDCJ custody.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone at a Texas state prison:

Visiting in Texas — TDCJ approval process, dress code, scheduling
Mail & Packages — what you can send and what gets rejected
Phone & Video Calls — Securus accounts, call costs, video visits
Sending Money — how to add funds to a TDCJ trust account
Medical & Mental Health — healthcare in TDCJ facilities
Transfers — what happens during transfers

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.