So after much searching I finally located my friend in Beto Unit (Tennessee Colony, Tx) but it was a pain to find him because when they transfered him from Harris County to one of the Garza Units, they spelled his name wrong. He got a 15 year sentence (first parole is in 2014...) which means I've got plenty of time to write to him.... so that said I've got a few questions...

1. Is there any specific format to write out the address label? Or would it just be

[Name of Inmate]
PO Box 128
Tennessee Colony, Tx 75880

Or do I need a SID# or TDCJ# (or both?) between the inmate name and the beto unit address? And do I need any wing specification or anything? And if I don't have that information will my letters still get to him?

2. What kinds of things, if any, can I send in? (Ex: stamps? Specific types of paper/envelopes? Pens? Etc....)

3. How would I go about putting money on his books? Is it the same address as writing to my friend? Or is there a seperate address all together?

4. I'm on court probation on a case out of california (formerly a felony case, with felony probation, but since has been reduced to a misd. charge, and court probation.) Is there anything I should know about the process to get approved to visit? Any specific person I need to write to for permission? I know the process on my end to get permission to visit, but just curious how strict texas is on that kind of thing.

5. How are the visits? Are they contact visits? Or do they stick you in a tiny room seperated by glass and give you a grimey phone to talk through??

I know I've got a lot of questions, but any information you could lend would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a bunch..!

<3 Violet <3

Welcome to PTO! Violet!! glad you found us!

address your letters:
inmate name
tdcj number (unit optional)
address
city, state, zip
you cannot send paper, envelopes or stamps. only books direct for the seller or publisher are allowed. you can order a magazine subscription for them as well.

I have always used jpay to place money in his trust fund/account.
http://www.jpay.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fDefault.aspx but you can also use western union. you can also just send a money order with his name and number to the main office in huntsville, but that takes a couple of weeks to reach him.

contact visits are reserved for "family" only. So if you visit it will most likely be behind glass. Get permission from your PO, then contact the wardens office at the unit where your friend is assigned. The warden will have final say on who he lets in to "his unit". If you get approved, get it in writing from your po and take this with you to visit.
Good luck and I hope you can visit your friend.!!!
Blessings,
Walk

Hi,
Another way to send your friend money is for him to send you a "deposit slip" and either you can fill it out and mail it in, or have a direct deposit set up with Huntsville so "x" amount each month to be taken out of your checking account, either on the 5th or 15th of month. Huntsville does NOT charge for this, it will save you the time and stamps of dealing with this each month- -either way is open. Inmates can get these any time they ask for them.
On visitation, the inmate has to fill out a visitation request form and state your name, address and DL number, and relation. The unit runs a clearence on you and IF anything comes up- -they will let you know and THEN you can write the warden for permission. Each warden at TDC units can give-or deny permission at will. Nothing in stone in other words. If you are "friends" and he is not in seg. and with no major cases, he will have two visits a month, non-contact, meaning through glass, each for two hours.
Hopes this little bit of info helps.

PS- -sorry- -IF you live more than 300 miles from a TDC unit- -you may write the warden and request a "special visit" (but you still have to be on his visitation he fills out) and request one.
A special visit is for anyone traveling over 300 for visitaition to see one in prison in Texas.
Again, if you are not related (immediate family) you will still be non-contact visit, (through glass) but you can visit for four hours on Saturday and four hours on Sunday.
WARDENS are the ONLY ones that can approve this. You have to give at least two weeks notice by mail, and WAIT until you are approved. You can write the letter, then call a week before you wanted to visit. Hassel I know, but that's the rules. You have to call for verifivation the MONDAY before the visit- -to the warden office, but all you have to say is "I am confirming special visit" when you call and they will get you to the right person, at this point, not usually the warden because it is listed on the computer by then.
When writing anything to these people, always use inmates name and TDC number, always.

My boyfriend has been in Beto Unit for five years and I go visit him every month. I just visited him 2 weeks ago and we had a special visit.

1. Is there any specific format to write out the address label? Or would it just be

Name of Inmate and TDCJ #
Beto 1 Unit
PO Box 128
Tenn Colony, Tx 75880

(Tennessee is too long, but it still gets to him with Tenn) :)

Or do I need a SID# or TDCJ# (or both?) No just the TDC Number.

This is all you need.

What kinds of things, if any, can I send in? (Ex: stamps? Specific types of paper/envelopes? Pens? Etc....)

I usually send him lots of pictures, letters, cards.
I may also send him magazines and books from the publishing companies only (you may not mail these to him only the company can)
There's not a lot you can send.

How would I go about putting money on his books? Is it the same address as writing to my friend? Or is there a seperate address all together?

I usually do it through Western Union and on the address part i put:
Inmate Trust Fund
(His Name and TDC number)




**How are the visits? Are they contact visits? Or do they stick you in a tiny room seperated by glass and give you a grimey phone to talk through??

Only if your are on his list as an immediate family member will you get contact visits. There are no tiny rooms or phones. Make sure you take plenty of quarters, they have plenty of vending machines. It's usually best to visit Saturday's because on Sunday there is hardly anything left to buy them. As you walk in the visitation area there are 2 long rows of chairs and tables where the non-contact area is. You talk through a small screen, and a glass. The contact area is right next to the non-contact area except they are not separted by glass. The tables are kinda wide though. You will get to hug and kiss before and after the visit only. They also have an outside contact area with benches. I usually prefer to go outside, it's not that loud compared to the inside.

***i also get a special visit every month. I just got one 2 weeks ago, I went 4hrs on Saturday and 4 hrs on Sunday. All i do was call at least one week in advance and asked to speak to the Warden's Secretary which is Mrs. White, all she ask you for is his name and TDC number ...sometimes the warden is not there and she'll ask you for your number but she'll call you right back with an answer...I never call to confirm, but everytime i go they take out a binder with the information about your approved visit.

My son has been in Beto unit for about a year now. He traveled alot the first year in the system. He never had a problem until he got to the Beto unit . Now it seems like every time I visit him he has gotten into some kind of trouble . I do not like the guards there ; some of them act like they are on a POWER trip.

I agree with you on the guards. My boyfriend has been there for several months now and my first visit I automatically saw that the guards there are rude, not all. They act like you are bothering them even though it is their job. The men are a bit more understanding but the women got some issues.

Hi ChristineJono:

I have been visiting my grandson for some time now at the Beto Unit. I have never found any of the officers working there to be rude. Perhaps bored, uninterested, tired, hot, etc. Maybe someone could have a head ache or not feel well. Perhaps having personal issues in their lives. Remember we are all human and sometimes we can seem not to be nice at times. Just have patience and pray for them also as we pray for our loved one.

I have to admit I've run into some rude officers but for the most part they have been very cordial. Even had a few go above and beyond. But the ones who give the attitude every once in a while? I always make sure and say and extra prayer for them. Because like Grandma said, you never know what is going on in their lives for them to be that way. Take care.

When my husband was there, I encountered several rude people and then those that were just there. But you can encounter people like that anywhere you go.

Overall, I could not stand the Beto unit (thanked God repeatedly for moving my husband from that unit) and I wish a news station would put them on blast street.

Hello! I have a friend at the Beto Unit and wondering if I will be allowed to visit him if I have a felony record in my past?

Soul-When the inmate adds you to their visitation list they have to admit you have a felony. Once that is done, then Classification at the unit has to approve you as a visitor. If the inmate did all that and you were approved then you can visit. If they did not disclose you have a felony, I'd be hesitant to visit because it could cause problems. Hope this helps.

If any visitor goes to any unit with tdcj and they are a felon, permission has to be granted through that unit warden.
If one goes in and they are a felon, the inmate they are seeing "could" have all of his visitation rights revoked.
Nine times out of ten, permission is granted, but one has to asked.(unless the visitor is gang related)
Hope this clears it up a tad.
Be safe.

Hey everyone! I'm new here, & my ex-boyfriend is in the beto unit. Is it really bad there?

I can't speak for others but my husband has been on several units and he thinks Beto is one of the worst he's been on.

My son has been at Beto for 2 years and I have never had a problem with the COs. He has been at the trusty camp for almost a year now and the guards there are very helpful with any questions I have had and are very nice to my grandson. Some even call my son by name. It wasn't like that in the main unit, but overall, they were okay.

You people need to think. A lot of visitors bring contraband into Beto and other units that jeopardizes the lives of the correctional officers. It also jeopardizes the lives of other offenders. Why can't you people realise this fact? Offenders aren't allowed to have money so why do y'all try and pass $500 to your fellow incarcerated loved one. You will get caught when you do the first offence will be 6mo restriction for visitation the second you will be arrested on a felony charge!

Beto does suck............man oh man, I went to visit not too long ago, the people at the gate office were cordial, the people behind the glass that check you in were nice, the people who wanded and ran you through the detectors were extremely polite, but the heifers at the visiting room were dang jerks, and I mean rude. I really almost got kicked out forever, they were so hateful, after traveling 500 miles, finding out my inmate was in trouble, so only got 1 day to visit, and that was a 4 hour visit, they came and got me after 3 1/2 hours, they stole my time, and that pissed me off, then were so hateful about me asking them where i was supposed to sit, like I had been there before, these people are ridiculous to say the least, had me too mad. I can't stand tricks with an attitude. If you don't like your job, DON'T WORK THERE.

Man, must have been the same ones I dealt with last time I was there. Young, black, female CO's? Can we say rude???? I almost had it out with one of them, too. She told us once that our visit was over, didn't give us a 5 minute notice, so we finished our conversation. She started walking back over, so we got up, said bye and left. She was behind me and told the other CO at the table that she had to tell #27 (us) to leave 5 times!!!! I turned around and told her, excuse me, but you only told us once. I just gave her a look and turned around and left b/c if I had stayed, I would have said more. If she's like that next time, I will report her.

People, in a POLITE way, inform the duty warden- -YOUR taxes pay the officer's salary- -hello!
Maybe it was a new boot with no brains, maybe there was a lack of communications- -whole lot of maybe, I have no clue, wasn't there or should be there even, just trying to help.
Problems cannot be corrected if the proper person does not know.It will just continute. There is such a thing as being tactful when dealing with a problem- -in ANY business- -I hope at least.

Be safe.

That is my point exactly, SMALL. She is a public servant, I am the public. It's one thing if she talks to the Inmates like that (not that they should), but another talking to me like that. She was probably in her early 20's, I'm 41. Where is the respect? Plus, she was flat out lying. I didn't say anything that time b/c that was my first time back there in awhile, but when I go back next time, I will if I encounter that rudeness again.