Prison Visitor Guide

Visiting in Texas (TDCJ)

How to get approved, schedule visits, and what to expect at TDCJ units.

Last reviewed: 2026-03-29

Visitor List Approval

TDCJ uses an approved visitors list. A visitor cannot add themselves. The incarcerated person must submit the request during intake or later through unit procedures.

Basic list rules

  • TDCJ allows up to 10 proposed visitors on the list.
  • Each proposed visitor entry includes name, physical address, phone number, and relationship.
  • Newly received people are not eligible for visits until diagnostic processing is complete and custody is assigned.
  • Children age 17 and younger must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor unless a unit approves a hardship exception for older minors.

Scheduling a Visit

Most visits are arranged through the TDCJ Online Visitation Portal. TDCJ rules require scheduling at least one day and not more than seven days before the visit.

  1. Confirm that the incarcerated person is assigned to the unit and has visitation privileges.
  2. Confirm that the visitor is on the approved list.
  3. Schedule through the portal, or through the warden’s office or designee if the unit requires that method.
  4. Recheck the unit schedule before departure.

Standard hours and frequency

  • Standard visiting hours occur on Saturday and Sunday.
  • TDCJ rules set the standard window at 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Many public-facing pages summarize this as 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
  • One visit per weekend is the normal rule.
  • The visit ends at the unit’s closing time even if processing delays shorten the time.

Contact, Non-Contact, and Special Visits

TDCJ uses both contact and non-contact visiting. The type depends on custody level, unit layout, disciplinary status, and specific restrictions.

Contact visits

Contact visits take place in a designated visiting area or another approved area inside the secure perimeter. Limited physical contact is allowed.

  • A brief embrace and kiss are allowed at the beginning and end of the visit.
  • Holding hands is allowed if hands remain visible.
  • During contact visits, young children may be held by the incarcerated person.

Non-contact visits

Non-contact visits are also called general visits. They take place across glass or another physical barrier. No physical contact is allowed.

Special and extended visits

TDCJ allows special or extended visits in limited circumstances.

  • Visitors traveling 250 miles or more one way may request an extended visit.
  • Extended visits may last up to four hours if time and space allow.
  • Only one special visit is normally allowed each month.
  • Other special cases include terminal illness, hospice status, critically ill incarcerated people, and some accessibility accommodations.

Dress Code

TDCJ’s dress code is enforced at the unit level. The duty warden makes the final decision.

Common clothing rules

  • Clothing that is tight fitting, revealing, or see-through is not allowed.
  • Sleeveless shirts and dresses are allowed only if the shoulders remain covered.
  • Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than three inches above the middle of the knee while standing.
  • Clothing with profane or offensive pictures or language is not allowed.
  • White clothing is not formally banned in the dress-code page, but many visitors avoid all-white clothing because incarcerated people commonly wear white.

What Visitors May Bring

TDCJ allows very few items inside the secure perimeter.

Permitted items

  • Current government-issued photo ID for adult visitors
  • A small wallet, clear plastic bag, or change purse
  • Up to $35 in coins for vending machines
  • For visitors with infants or small children: up to three diapers, baby wipes, and two bottles or a toddler cup in a clear plastic bag

Prohibited items

  • Cell phones, smartwatches, pagers, cameras, or other electronic devices
  • Tobacco, lighters, matches
  • Purses, diaper bags, briefcases, or larger bags
  • Paper money, food, and outside drinks

Children and Family Visits

Children can visit if they meet the identification and supervision rules.

  • A child must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor unless the unit approves a hardship exception.
  • Children under 18 do not count toward the two-adult maximum.
  • The number of children allowed depends on available space and the adult’s ability to supervise them.
  • Some incarcerated people are barred from contact visits with minors because of offense-based restrictions. In those cases, only non-contact visits may be permitted.

Cancellations and Travel Verification

TDCJ posts unit-wide visitation cancellations on its homepage and updates the visitation schedule online. These updates are useful but not sufficient on their own.

Common reasons a visit does not happen

  • Unit-wide cancellation
  • Lockdown or modified operations
  • Loss of visitation privileges
  • Transfer or temporary housing at another location
  • Late arrival, limited space, or staffing restrictions

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