DannyBoyinExile

My wife recently told me, “Lots of people are asking about how to get special contact visits from someone who isn’t family – and since you know EVERYTHING, it would be cool if you’d write an essay about it.”
Hmmm… As long as she wasn’t being sarcastic! =-)
All visits in TDCJ are designated as either contact or non-contact (“regular”) visits. As long as the inmate is minimum custody (G1, G2, or G3) status, he or she is eligible to receive at least one contact visit per month.
However, the next barrier is WHO they can receive them with. As per TDCJ policy, “immediate family” – such as parents, siblings, spouses, and children – are automatically approved. (Unless, of course, the inmate is in prison for anything freaky [i.e. sexual], in which case he or she will only be allowed visitors who are over 18 years of age.)
TDCJ even goes so far as to allow aunts, uncles, and grandparents to have contact visits with their families, automatically, as they really would like to see the inmates have stronger connections to their communities after they are released.
There is also a clause, where non-family members can have a contact visit with an inmate – at the Warden’s discretion. What that means is, the inmate will send an I-60 to the Classification department on his or her unit.
Shortly thereafter (hopefully!), they will receive a lay-in to see UCC, which is the Unit Classification Committee. They will then see a Major or Warden, and have the opportunity to explain exactly why they want a contact visit from this person who is of no relation to them.
The best policy here is to just be honest. Explain exactly who the person is, your relationship with them, and why you feel you need a contact visit with them. (“But, sir – I just can’t kiss her the same through the glass” is NOT a good answer.)
Oftentimes, an inmate will say (and the Warden will consider) how far the person is traveling to see them, how often they have visited, and whether the inmate receives contact visits from anyone else. I’ve applied for them multiple times, and only been denied once. The majority of the time, the Administration will WANT you to get as many visits as you can, and won’t be an obstacle for you without a reason.
But the inmate must do HIS part, by showing that he is staying out of trouble, with no infractions on his record recently.
And it makes a HUGE difference, by the way, to be able to sit WITH your loved ones, share a hug and a kiss, and maybe even take a picture together. You can build better connections with people – and may even find yourself WANTING to do right and stay out of trouble, like I did. Once you’ve had the opportunity to pose for a picture while hugging your wife (while secretly squeezing her butt) (just kidding!) – you’ll never want a regular visit again. So says DannyBoy.