Friends and Family Requirements

TDCJ Allows Calls to Post-Paid (no pre-paid) Cell Phones in addition to traditional landline phones.

TDCJ Requirements

1. The registrant’s name must match:
   • Drivers license or State ID.
   • Current phone bill.
2. Inmate enrolls in the voice identification system associated with the phones.
3. Phones are available from 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (unless conditions dictate a change).
4. No calls are allowed to international numbers.
5. Called party must be successfully registered and validated before calls are allowed.
6. Not all inmate classifications are permitted to place calls.
7. Calls may be up to 30 minutes. You will hear a warning message one minute before being disconnected.
8. Inmates have unlimited monthly minutes.
9. All calls, except to their Attorney of Record, are subject to monitoring and recording.
10. The Called party must answer the phone and press 1 to accept the call. The phone system does not allow inmates to leave a voice message.

Note: TDCJ units occasionally take the inmate phone system offline for security reasons.

Answering A Call

Calls from TDCJ are announced by a computerized voice. It will tell you if the call is collect (you pay for it) or if the call is free (the inmate pays for it).

You must accept the call by pressing 1 before talking to the inmate.

Avoid Being Disconnected

The inmate telephones have features that may disconnect your call if a violation is detected. To avoid being disconnected,

DO NOT:

• Transfer the call
• Use call waiting
• Put the call on Hold
• Press any button on the key pad
• Use call forwarding
• Conference another person on the phone
• Make a 3-way call
• Use a cordless phone

Securus offers multiple types of accounts to ensure you can receive phone calls from TDCJ inmates.

Direct Bill Account

This account is automatically created after you register and are approved to receive calls. The account will have an initial credit limit of $30.00 which will be increased to $50.00 after 90 days if the account is kept current and you have paid your invoices in full and on time. A monthly bill is sent to you detailing the calls you received.

• If you reach your credit limit prior to the next bill cycle, you can not receive more calls until we receive your payment. For payment options, click here.
• If your Direct Bill Account becomes past due, it is automatically converted to a Friends & Family ‘AdvanceConnect’ account, which is a prepaid calling account.

AdvanceConnect – a Family & Friends Prepaid Account

An AdvanceConnect prepaid account ensures you are always ready to receive calls. Since you pay before being called, there is never a disruption in service as long as the account is funded. You can add multiple numbers to this account and the inmate can call any while still being funded by the account. . You can request your Direct Bill Account be converted to an AdvanceConnect prepaid account at any time. Want to convert your account? click here.

Securus Debit Account

This account allows inmates to pay for their own calls. You can fund this account too. For details, click here.

Rates

Fees

Tablets with Securus eMessaging – Coming to TDCJ in 2022

Throughout 2022, TDCJ will be rolling out a loaner tablet program, powered by Securus Technologies, to all eligible inmates in our facilities. This program will provide your inmate with a personal tablet experience.

When your inmate starts using the tablet, the email messaging system will transition from one-way JPay Mail messaging to two-way Securus eMessaging.

When two-way Securus eMessaging is activated at your inmate’s facility, you’ll be able to:

• Send and receive email messages
• Share photos 
• Celebrate events with digital eCards 
• Deliver Snap n’ Send® photos 
• Purchase stamps, transfer stamps, and prepay for your inmate to reply 

We think you’re going to enjoy the new Securus eMessaging service that comes with your inmate’s new tablet because it allows easy two-way email communication but there are a few things you need to do before it will work for you.

• If you haven’t previously used JPay Email, you’ll need to create a Securus account (if you don’t already have one) and then sign up for Securus eMessaging. Complete instructions can be found in the GETTING STARTED WITH SECURUS EMESSAGING (for non-JPay Mail users) section below.
• If you’ve been sending your inmate emails using JPay Mail, follow the directions in the GETTING STARTED WITH SECURUS EMESSAGING (for JPay Mail users)

Timeline for tablet release: We anticipate this tablet deployment will take approximately 6-10 months to complete. During this time, we appreciate your patience as we work to bring you and your inmate better communication services.

GETTING STARTED WITH SECURUS EMESSAGING (for non-JPay Mail users)

To use Securus eMessaging, you’ll need to create a Securus account first (if you don’t have one) and then sign up for Securus eMessaging. You can do this online or through the Securus app on your smartphone.

HOW TO CREATE A SECURUS ACCOUNT ONLINE:
Go to https://so.stqlp.org/#/enroll and follow the steps to create a Securus account.

• Sign into the website with your Securus username and password

HOW TO CREATE A SECURUS ACCOUNT ON YOUR SMARTPHONE:

• Download the Securus app from your smartphone’s app store (if you haven’t already)
• Once the app is downloaded, follow the steps on the app to create a Securus account (if you haven’t already)
• Sign into the Securus app with your Securus username and password

After your Securus account is created, the next step is to sign up for Securus eMessaging to communicate with your inmate via two-way email.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR SECURUS EMESSAGING (for non-JPay Mail users)

Online:

• Visit https://securustech.net/emessaging/index.html, sign into your account, and follow the steps to sign up for Securus eMessaging.
• Once signed up for eMessaging, go to the Contact menu and Add Contact
• After the above steps are completed, you’ll need to purchase stamps to add to your account
• Once stamps are added, you can begin two-way messaging with your inmate!

On the Securus app:

• Log into the app and click + to add your inmate in your contacts
• Type in their name or ID number to find them and add them to your account
• After the above steps are completed, you’ll need to purchase stamps to add to your account.
• Once stamps are added, you can begin two-way messaging with your inmate!

GETTING STARTED WITH SECURUS EMESSAGING (for JPay Mail users)

If you’re a JPay Mail user, you must link your accounts first. Linking your JPay Mail and Securus accounts is important because it transfers your JPay Mail history, previous transactions, and current stamp balances so they can be used with the Securus eMessaging service.

HOW TO LINK ACCOUNTS

• Visit https://so.stqlp.org/#/jpay
• Enter your JPay Mail email address ID and password
• After you enter your JPay Mail account information, the system will check to see if you already have a Securus account that can be linked to the JPay Mail account
• If no Securus account is found, the system will create a new Securus account for you using your JPay Mail login information
• When the above steps are completed, your accounts will be linked

Important notes:
We recommend that you keep your JPay Mail account active, just in case your inmate is transferred to a TDCJ facility in the future that has not yet implemented the tablets.

When it comes to money transfers, please continue to use JPay.com and JPay apps just as you do today, because the money transfer service is not connected to your Securus account.

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR SECURUS EMESSAGING AFTER ACCOUNTS ARE LINKED
Once you link your accounts, you can use Securustech.net or the Securus app to send and receive all future eMessaging communications.

Online:

• Visit https://securustech.net/emessaging/index.html and follow the steps to sign up for Securus eMessaging.
• Once signed up for eMessaging, go to the Contact menu and Add Contact
• After the above steps are completed, you’ll need to purchase stamps to add to your account
• Once stamps are added, you can begin messaging with your inmate!

On the Securus app:

• Download the Securus App from your smartphone’s app store
• Once the app is downloaded, sign into your Securus account with your JPay Mail email address ID and password
• Click + to add your inmate in your contacts
• Type in their name or ID number to find them and add them to your account
• After the above steps are completed, purchase stamps to add them to your account
• Once stamps are added, you can begin messaging with your inmate with two-way email!

Securus is pleased to announce the availability of eMessaging. The sites below are live now with eMessaging.

This schedule will be updated as new sites deploy eMessaging.

Securus is pleased to announce Securus Video Connect® at select facilities. You can begin to register and schedule video visitation for the sites below.

Inmates are limited to one video visitation session per month.

**Please note, only the inmate sites listed above are eligible for video communication

Ready to get started? Here are the easy steps to sign up for Securus Video Connect:

How to create a Securus account

Go to https://so.stqlp.org/#/login and click ‘Create an Account’. You’ll be asked to enter your email address and create a password. Next you’ll answer 3 security questions and provide your name, address and phone number. You’ll choose a 4 digit numeric passcode and you are all set. Just sign in at https://so.stqlp.org/#/login using your email address as your user ID and the password you just created. Note you can also download the free Securus app and follow the steps above to create an account.

How to sign up for Video Connect

Go to https://so.stqlp.org/#/login to sign in then select Video Connect and click Sign Up. Next you’ll be required to submit a photo of your government issued ID and a photo of yourself. These are submitted to TDCJ for approval. Select ‘Texas’ as the state and choose the site where the inmate is housed. You will receive an email to advise you are approved.

Once your account is approved you will sign in to request access to communicate with your specific inmate, then schedule your visitation.

To check schedules and pricing go to https://so.stqlp.org/#/facilities-and-pricing and enter Texas as the state then select the TDCJ site

NOTE – If your inmate’s site is not listed they do not have Securus Video Connect. They may have an onsite tablet visitation service. For questions about this onsite service please contact the unit directly.

Securus is pleased to announce the deployment of the Unity JP6S Loaner Tablet program at all TDCJ facilities.

The sites listed below currently offer the free loaner tablets. All TDCJ facilities will receive tablets, timeframes for the remaining sites will be posted here as they become available. When the program launches at each site, every eligible incarcerated individual at that facility will be offered a JP6S device. Participating individuals will retain the tablet for use throughout the duration of their incarceration.

The Unity Tablet is a secure, corrections-grade, multi-purpose communications device specifically designed for incarcerated individuals within a jail or prison.

The Unity Tablet hosts a variety of applications for education to assist with rehabilitation, communication with family and friends, entertainment, and job placement. Thousands across the United States are currently using this tablet program.

The Unity Tablet focuses on proactive and constructive ways to prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reentry into society.

Benefits for your loved ones:

• The loaner tablets are FREE to eligible inmates for the duration of this stay
• Communicate with family and friends
• Have privacy from others during phone calls
• Idle time is turned into something positive and productive
• Search for employment prior to release
• Reduce levels of stress
• Use up-to-date technology
• Utilize educational resources
• Self-help opportunities such as mental health and addiction recovery
• Access religious books and other resources

Previously known as the ‘Offender Debit’ account, the Securus Debit account replaces it and offers much more to the inmate.

In addition to a prepaid account for phone calls to numbers they choose, this account now can pay for;

• eMessaging stamps
• Tablet accessories
• Premium media subscriptions

This account is owned by the inmate but you can make deposits to help them fund these communication and entertainment services.

NOTE – THIS IS NOT A TDCJ COMMISSARY ACCOUNT.

Securus App

The easiest way to manage your TDCJ/Securus accounts is to download the free Securus app for Apple and iOS. You can create your online account and add services such as eMessaging and Securus Video Connect as well as prepay for your AdvanceConnect calls and or their Securus Debit account for calling and media purchases.

Using the app is the best experience for sending and receiving eMessages, sending eCards and photos. It is also the only way to send Snap n’ Send, the single photo you can share without a message, sort of like Instagram. Credit and Debit cards accepted.

Website

Our website www.securustech.net is also a convenient way to create your online account, use eMessaging and VideoConnect and pay for services. Credit and Debit cards accepted.

Phone

Call us at 972-734-1111 from a mobile device or 1-800-844-6591. Credit and Debit cards accepted.

US Mail

• For Direct Bill or AdvanceConnect Prepaid Account payments:
  P.O. Box 650757
  Securus
  Dallas, TX 75265-0757 Make remittances payable to Securus Technologies. Include your account number and your phone number.

  For Securus Debit Account payments:
  Securus Inmate Debit Account
  P.O. Box 975420
  Dallas, TX 75397-5420 For Securus Debit Account funding, complete the remittance form below, print and mail to ensure the correct inmate receives the funds.

  *processing fees apply

You may also make a payment using:

• Western Union® www.westernunion.com
• MoneyGram www.moneygram.com

For all FAQ’s please visit the new Help Center https://securushelp.com/topics/texas-department-of-criminal-justice/