Prison Visitor Guide

Mail and Packages in Texas (TDCJ)

How TDCJ's digital mail system works, what you can send, and how to get books and commissary items to someone inside.

Last reviewed: 2026-03-29

Digital Mail System

TDCJ routes personal mail through a Digital Mail Processing Center in Dallas. The center scans approved mail and delivers it electronically.

Address format

Use this format:

[Inmate's Full First and Last Name]
[TDCJ Number]
PO Box 660400
Dallas, TX 75266-0400

How the system works

  • Personal mail, greeting cards, drawings, and photos go to the Dallas processing center.
  • Mail is scanned by a third-party system and uploaded to the incarcerated person’s secure tablet.
  • People who do not have a tablet receive black-and-white printed copies.
  • TDCJ states that mail is generally available within three business days.

Photos

Photos can be sent through the digital mail system.

  • Photos are accepted for scanning with personal correspondence.
  • TDCJ states that photos scanned through the Dallas center are uploaded in color.
  • TDCJ does not list Polaroids among accepted digital-mail items; in practice, instant-photo formats are commonly rejected because they cannot be processed like standard photo prints.

Mail That Still Goes to the Unit

Some categories are not handled through Dallas and must go directly to the unit.

  • Legal mail
  • Special mail
  • Media correspondence
  • Business correspondence from organizations, businesses, and agencies
  • Documents that require the person’s signature, sent through the unit law library
  • Books, magazines, newspapers, and similar publications from approved sources

Books and magazines

TDCJ’s current book policy is narrower than many older guides describe.

  • Books mailed to inmates must be new and softback.
  • Hardback books are not accepted under the current statewide policy.
  • Used books are not accepted under the current statewide policy.
  • Publications must come directly from a verified publisher, publication supplier, or bookstore.

Packages and eCommDirect

Individuals cannot send ordinary personal packages to TDCJ units.

  • TDCJ does not accept personal packages mailed by family or friends.
  • TDCJ’s approved package-style commissary program is eCommDirect.
  • eCommDirect purchases are separate from normal trust-fund commissary spending.
  • eCommDirect offers a limited catalog of approved items, not the full commissary catalog.

What eCommDirect is used for

  • Approved snacks
  • Hygiene products
  • Some correspondence supplies
  • Other newly packaged items approved for the program

What Gets Rejected

TDCJ screens incoming correspondence and can reject mail that does not fit digital-mail or correspondence rules.

Common rejection reasons

  • Missing TDCJ number or incorrect name
  • Sending a package to the digital mail center
  • Mailing books, magazines, or media items to the Dallas address instead of the unit
  • Sending material that requires a signature without routing it through the law library
  • Sending prohibited enclosures or items that cannot be scanned
  • Content that violates correspondence rules

What happens after scanning

  • Scanned mail is stored for 90 days before disposal.
  • A sender who wants the physical original back after scanning must include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

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