Transferring to TDCJ 101

[KiKi2three]

This is a great site with a wealth of information....but I sometimes get overwhelmed. I try and bookmark pertinent information, but I have so much bookmarked that I am confusing myself. I thought maybe if I asked all my questions in one place, I may can find it better.

First...when my son gets transferred, what do I need to do from home?

I have a landline hooked up and ready to go, so I know I will need to call CBS....correct? I have seen issues where when handled online there was a delay...am I better off calling? Is there a phone number?

How long before a TDCJ number appears on the locator? Can I send money immediately?

I haven't set up an account with J-Pay yet. Is this something I can do now or do I have to wait for a TDCJ number?

Is J-pay where I send all money? (For commissary, phone, stamps, etc?)

The phone system still confuses me....can inmates buy cards or is it mainly just calling collect and my payment is to them??


As far as visitation goes, I assume my son will have to fill out the visitation request form (I know it has some kind of number) and can have up to 10 visitors on there. Are the 10 people something he needs to have up front, or can he add to that list as time goes on? The reason I ask this is because the only address he has memorized is mine and his wife's (same address)....but he also has a sister and brother who might like to visit, friends, etc.

When should I start making up a parole package?

When do they normally get visitation behind the glass? My son had heard that contact visits were now 60 days instead of 90...any truth to that?

I know that this isn't even half of what I wanted to ask, but my brain has gone in overload.

Thanks!!!!

[RobinsMan]

Originally Posted by Kellye

This is a great site with a wealth of information....but I sometimes get overwhelmed. I try and bookmark pertinent information, but I have so much bookmarked that I am confusing myself. I thought maybe if I asked all my questions in one place, I may can find it better.

First...when my son gets transferred, what do I need to do from home?

As you ask below, wait until he shows up on the locator so you can find out where he is and what his TDC number is. Once you know that, get a letter in the mail.

Originally Posted by Kellye

I have a landline hooked up and ready to go, so I know I will need to call CBS....correct? I have seen issues where when handled online there was a delay...am I better off calling? Is there a phone number?

I have to pass on this one since Robin was released before the phones were installed so I ahve no direct experience with the issue.

Originally Posted by Kellye

How long before a TDCJ number appears on the locator? Can I send money immediately?

It varies some and can depend a lot on whether they transfer him close to a weekend. Robin appeared mid-morning the day after she caught chain and I think that is the usual case but other have experienced longer delays, especially if the weekend arrives before he is in their system because nothing happens over a weekend.

Originally Posted by Kellye

I haven't set up an account with J-Pay yet. Is this something I can do now or do I have to wait for a TDCJ number?

Is J-pay where I send all money? (For commissary, phone, stamps, etc?)

You can do nothing until you have his TDC number and even then there can be a slight delay in Jpay updating their records. All the things he can buy he buys using funds from his Inmate Trust Fund which is kept and handeled by TDC (except for some private facilites). Just like WesternUnion, Jpay is simply a convenient means for placing money into his ITF. Again, I'm not certain, myself, how the phones work into the mix. Should you need it, the phone number for the ITF folks is 936-438-8990.

Originally Posted by Kellye

The phone system still confuses me....can inmates buy cards or is it mainly just calling collect and my payment is to them??

Pass.

Originally Posted by Kellye

As far as visitation goes, I assume my son will have to fill out the visitation request form (I know it has some kind of number) and can have up to 10 visitors on there. Are the 10 people something he needs to have up front, or can he add to that list as time goes on? The reason I ask this is because the only address he has memorized is mine and his wife's (same address)....but he also has a sister and brother who might like to visit, friends, etc.

He can add other to his visitation list as he goes but there is a six month wait between additions (or deletions) from the list. So, once his initial vistation list is approved he will have to wait six months to add someone else to it.

Originally Posted by Kellye

When should I start making up a parole package?

It depends on how long until he comes up for parole but I wouldn't wait until the last minute because itmight take longer thanyou think to develop your ideas or get things together to send. Or to get other people to write support letters. If his sentence is relatively short then you should probably start now. If it will be some time before he comes up for parole then you might target six months prior to his PED for having it in so that it can be ther when the review starts. However, getting one in that early is not necessary.

Originally Posted by Kellye

When do they normally get visitation behind the glass? My son had heard that contact visits were now 60 days instead of 90...any truth to that?

Initial visits start once he is done with the intake process and is moved to general population. His visitaiton list must also have been approved and on file. I think the 60 day wiat for contacts is correct but my old brain cells are slow this morning so if someone can verify I'd appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Kellye

I know that this isn't even half of what I wanted to ask, but my brain has gone in overload.

Thanks!!!!

Good luck!

[Drucifer]

Welcome to PTO Texas
Glad you found us. There is a world of help and compassion right here and you have joined an on-line family all on this walk together.

[Onaicult]

I'm not so sure the 6 month rule to add new people to the visitors list is still going on, since the phones were turned on.

I was the only person on my fiance's visitor list since he was transferred from county jail in August. Last week he added 2 friends with no issues.

Also, i think the inmate calling card thing might be coming, but is not available in most units yet. Calling card, prepaid, or billed later - he will still only get 120 minutes a month though.

As for registering the phone, I think it's easiest to use: http://www.texasprisonphone.com/

You will need his tdc# to register the phone # I do believe.

Hope this helps.