Visitation in Texas has always been smooth for me. What I have found out in visiting various units is that the rules are all pretty much the same.

Here are the tips I can provide.

Special Visits. Call the Monday before your visit to schedule your visit. Don't wait until the last minute to call and arrange it, the special visits can fill up. You will call the prison's main number and ask for the wardens office to set this up.

Special Contact Visits. If you are not family and have set up a one-time contact visit through UCC. Make sure you know it was approved before your arrival. If you know the inmate has submitted the i-60 for UCC and they tell you it was approved, call UCC before your schedule your visit to verify it was approved. Make sure you get the name of the person you speak to un UCC.

After the visit is scheduled and you arrive at the unit. If you have any problems getting the contact visit, don't get upset. Ask to speak to the Duty Warden and explain to him/her that you had the visit approved through UCC and it was confirmed through whomever you spoke to. Then ask them to pull the inmates file to verify. Just be calm it will be sorted out.

Clothing. Dress causual or what they call business casual. They do not allow shorts or short skirts. I pretty much wear what i would wear to a job interview or lunch with a friend.

I stay away from white for two reasons. The prison prefer for you not to wear white because it is the color the inmates wear and it is easy to see through. Some units are adament about no white, while others are not too picky.


Money. You can take $20 in coins to the prison. You can put them in a clear ziplock bag or in a clear makeup pouch. No paper money.

All that you can take inside is your drivers license and your car keys and your drivers license/passport. (unless you have a child and in which case you can take in a bottle, pacifier and diapers- they do have to be in a clear bag). If you have asthma or are on oxygen, etc... then obvoiusly the items you need can be brought in (such as an inhaler or portable oxygen)

Parking When you park at the unit(s) make sure your doors are locked and windows are rolled up. If they find an unlocked car or a car where the windows are down, they can ask you to leave immediately.

Snacks. Snacks go FAST at visitation. While you are waiting for the inmate to arrive at the booth or table, go ahead and get his/her snacks for the visit.

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Thanks Skye for this. I didn't realise quite how strict it all is.

Thanks Skye for the info... planning on visiting my PP in TX in a couple months so I'm looking for all the information I can find. Since I'm traveling so far I don't want to have any unnecessary problems! : )