Do you have a loved one here? If so tell us about it. This is your place to discuse or chat with others who visit or have been in this prison.

My nephew was recently transferred to the Holliday unit. I have sent a letter and a birthday card, but have had no response from him. Are the inmates restricted from writing or other privileges for a period of time? Also, how do I put money into his account? Is doing that on the up and up, or is it spent by the system and not the inmate? Is there a limit on how much you can send? Lastly, I've read all sorts of horror stories about prison life. Does anyone know anything about this unit and what a typical day is like? Any info will be appreciated. Thank you.

Anyone? Any information?

Hello, heartsick! Welcome to PTO and especially the Texas Forum!!

Holliday is a tranfer/intake unit. I really don't know much about it - my honey passed through on his way to somewhere else. I think he was only there for less than 2 weeks total. IF your nephew just entered the TDCJ system, then it is entirely possible that he's not made commissary yet in order to obtain writing supplies. IF he's actually been in the system and just transferred to Holiday from another unit, then maybe his personal items haven't caught up with him yet. I'm sure you'll hear from him soon though.

As far as putting money on his account, the easiest and one of the cheapest ways to do so is using www.jpay.com (http://www.jpay.com). All you need to know is his TDCJ# and his name and the money will be on the books the next day in most cases. It costs just $1.95 if you send $20 or less!

Hi! Thanks for the responses. I was able to send money through "jpay" and I also sent some paperbacks via Amazon. I still haven't heard from him, but I called my brother for any info. I guess they told my nephew that he would be there for 2 years. Also that he's had some trouble being 23, and new to the system. I hope he can stay strong and out of trouble. Are there any restrictions on what you can write in your letters? I'd like to know what the conditions are like and if he has a cellmate, etc. Any info on the Holliday Unit will be appreciated. Thanks again.

I think Holliday unit has cells - lots of units have dorms with 50+ in them. But he will be with others unless he's in ad seg (solitary).

The only things that come to mind that you cannot write about in letters are escape plans and explicit sexual topics. Most everything else is okay. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you - they live for mail call!

Thank you, jessnkat. I appreciate your response.

Hi all. Thanks for all the responses. I finally got a letter! It wasn't very "newsy" but it was welcomed. He said it was prison but it wasn't bad. No one bothers him which was one of my worries since he was only 23. He is bored. "Eats, sleeps, reads". No classes or job. I'll try to talk him into something. He definitly needs to take an English course! LOL. I never saw so many "ain'ts" in so small a space before. Can anyone tell me if there are any specifics on writing paper and envelopes that we can send? Thanks in advance.

I can tell you that they HAVE to be sent through an approved vendor such as Office Depot. I don't know that there is a limited on 'how much', but do keep in mind that he'll have to write his name and TDCJ # on all the envelopes, so I wouldn't send TOO many.

You can do a search for Office Depot in the Texas Forum and you'll find the Restricted Products number that services TDCJ orders.

Hello,
I'm new to this whole prison support thing so bear with me - and any infomation you may have to help me cope would be very appreciated:)
My husband and Father of my children is currently incarcerated at the Holliday Unit. He's only been there about 2 months. As for sending paper and such, I do know they cannot have any staples or wire rings. brentsmom is right, Office Depot is the spot. They list the notepads as not having any staples and such. What I would like to know is about what Magazines they can accept??? Anybody know?
Oh yeah - To Heartsick
Don't worry tooooo much about your nephew, From what I understand -
This is a piece of cake compared to the penitentiary. (Which is the alternative, I imagine)
Best of luck to anyone that has the need to pass thru this site!
Please Pray for me and mine as we pray for you and yours:) Blessings

lvdx4 - Welcome!

They can recieve magazines through the publishing company only - by subscription. As far as WHAT magazines, I can tell you somethings they CAN'T get......Pornography, some hunting mags are denied due to content (one of my hubby's issues had a description on breaking down a gun), any others may also be denied based on content. You can always call the unit and ask about anything in particular that you are considering sendingl

Jumping on the Holliday bandwagon. I just got a letter from my son and he's been transferred there for the last leg of this journey.

i subscribe to readers digest and national geographic for my son. but its funny, they have even called national geographic obscene material and he was refused an edition or two on occasion. guess it was because of an article on aboriginees that did'nt have enough clothes on! what a crap. the reasoning was it might put lewd thoughts into the inmates minds! how about when they take showers 5-10-15 guys at a time? how stupid.

i forgot to mention, you can't send them a map showing them where they are in regards to where you are either!! my son and i are only familiar with the austin area, and being sent way out to abilene, i thought he might be fomforted by knowing just where in the hell he was in texas. don't do it!! he got wrote up as receiving contraband, and it was my fault. of course he never got to see the map either!

i forgot to mention, my son sends me his calender every month and he writes on every day what he has done, or what has happened to him or others. somewhat like a diary, that way i kind of know how his days have been.

i forgot to mention, you can't send them a map showing them where they are in regards to where you are either!! my son and i are only familiar with the austin area, and being sent way out to abilene, i thought he might be fomforted by knowing just where in the hell he was in texas. don't do it!! he got wrote up as receiving contraband, and it was my fault. of course he never got to see the map either!

Maps could be used for escape plans - that's why they aren't allowed. I know they can get some type of maps though, because I had travel brochures from Arkansas sent to my husband, these included maps, and they got in okay. Course it was a large package of all sorts of things - not just a map. But a map of Texas, is probably not ever going to get in alone.

My boyfriend was transferred to the Huntsville unit last week and I was just wondering what it is like? Is it air conditioned?

Hi Cheyenne. When I asked my nephew what the conditions were like, he told me there is no air conditioning! He said a 90 degree day can feel like 120. I've also heard there is no heat in the winter either. It is a dorm setting with a couple of tv's, a Scrabble game and one Domino game. One group monopolizes the games and they are so disruptive and loud when they play. There is a library, but I have no idea what books are in it. I've been sending Sean books that he donates to the library when he's finished with them. He says they live on mainly carbs, lots of beans. They had a hotdog and a hamburger for the 4th of July. Now, he could be pulling my leg so maybe someone who has visited can tell you more about that. Sean works 3 hours a day chopping "head high" weeds in the fields. He said they were'nt allowed to work out but there is a basketball hoop and such in the yard if they want to use them. Generally they are there for two years before they are transferred to a permanent facility. I ask questions of Sean but he doesn't always give me answers. I hope I've helped a little.

Thanks so much heartsick. Gosh I hate to hear there is no air conditioning. No wonder there are so many prison fights, I am sure there is alot of tension because of the heat.

Good morning, Cheyenne. According to my nephew, they keep the inmates "uncomfortable" so they don't have the energy to get into trouble. I guess the fact that they have no excercise facilities, according to my nephew, keeps them unfit as well.

My boyfriend/ husband, (:confused:Im not sure who he is this week yet:confused:) is in the Holliday Unit. He's in ther for aggrivated assult, we had a fight the day before my b day wich resulted in us loosing our child. :angry:He pled guilty and took a 2year sentince so that he could get cousiling/help and we could work on us.:idea: He said his dad was abusive and he doesnt want to turn into him. (IDK) Sooooo Im being the faithful girlfriend and waiting. (the judge said that he waws gonna be home by his B Day in Sept.) We write everyday, but he doesnt tell me about whats going on in there, he just askes about my school, work and the girls. Sometimes I think that I shouldnt wait for him, but I know that people change and realy comince him for wanting to get help. He could have gotten out in Feb on probation.:angry: I dont know what else to say so Im gonna go...... Oh yah, Im 25, live in Austin,TX and we have 2 little girls 7 and 3. :thumbsup: