Securus eMessaging® - Securus Technologies (2024)

This site provides you all the information you’ll need to learn about the services available for your family or friend housed at a TDCJ facility.

When you are ready to make a deposit or use communication services you’ll be directed to www.securustech.net to create an account and login to use services.

You can also download the free Securus app for Android or Apple.

There are many ways to connect with an inmate in Texas

• Fund a prepaid calling account to receive phone calls
• Send and receive eMessaging, send photos and eCards
• Schedule and participate in Video Visitation
• Contribute to their Securus Debit account for tablet media and phone calls they pay for
• Learn about inmate tablets

Click an option on the left to learn more

Securus provides friends and family of Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmates with account support for calling services. In order to receive calls from an inmate, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) requires that you register at www.TexasPrisonPhone.com and meet the following requirements:

1. Registration Requirements

U.S. based phone numbers

• You must have a Texas driver’s license and the name must match the name on this telephone service enrollment.
• If you don’t have a Texas driver’s licenses or State ID, you will be asked to upload a photo or photocopy of your out-of-state driver’s license.
• You must have a copy of a phone bill.

NEW – Non U.S. based phone numbers

• Click here to see the countries that can receive calls.
• You must have a driver’s license, passport or any other government issued ID with a photo and the name must match the name on his telephone service enrollment.

After you complete the registration process at www.TexasPrisonPhone.com a Securus customer care representative will be available to answer your questions about billing, rates and payments. We offer several options to ensure you can stay connected with your loved one. Already Have an Account? If you have an existing account and want to receive calls from a TDCJ inmate you must register your phone number. Afterwards, you will have two accounts, one specifically for calls from TDCJ and the other for calls from other correctional agencies. When making payments, be sure to indicate which account should receive the funds.

Already have a Securus account to receive calls from another facility? TDCJ Calling accounts are unique to TDCJ facilities. This means you are required to have a separate account to communicate with inmates at a TDCJ facility. After completing the registration process above, you must set up a separate TDCJ AdvanceConnect prepaid account to receive calls from inmates housed in TDCJ facilities. Each of your Securus accounts is managed and funded separately.

Friends and Family Requirements

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

TDCJ Requirements

To receive calls from an inmate at TDCJ your phone number must be registered with TDCJ. The name you register with must be the same name that is listed on your Driver’s license / State / Government / Passport.

To receive calls:

1. Your phone number must be successfully registered and validated at TDCJ before calls are allowed.
2. You must setup a TDCJ AdvanceConnect prepaid account to pay for Securus calling services.
3. You must answer the phone and press 1 to accept the call. The phone system does not allow inmates to leave a voice message. Below are a few important things to note when receiving calls with an inmate at a TDCJ facility:

• All calls, except to the inmate’s Attorney of Record, are subject to monitoring and recording.
• Calls may be up to 30 minutes. You will hear a warning message one minute before being disconnected.
• Inmates have unlimited monthly minutes. However, not all inmate classifications are permitted to place calls.
• Inmates can normally make calls from 5:00 AM – 12:00 AM (or as directed by TDCJ). Note that 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 safety features that may disconnect your call if the system detects a security policy violation. 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 it a 3-way call)

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

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 has funds available. You can add multiple TDCJ registered phone numbers to this account and your inmate can call any of these numbers as long as there is a sufficient balance to pay for the call. You can manage your account online or by using your Securus Mobile App to add phone numbers, setup automatic payment options and perform other account management functions.

Securus Debit Account

This account is the inmate’s Securus account that they use to pay for their own calls or other available Securus services like eMessaging, and tablet content (movies, games, music). You can deposit money directly into an inmate’s Debit account. You do not need to be on the inmate’s Visitor List to make a deposit. Note that funds placed in an inmate’s account become the property of the inmate. Friends and family members will not be able to request refunds from these accounts. Go to https://securustech.net/phone-products/index.html to find your inmate and add funds to their Securus Debit account.

ACCOUNT FUNDING FEES

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.

No video visitation on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

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://securustech.online/#/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://securustech.online/#/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://securustech.online/#/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://securustech.online/#/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.

Phone Calling

The Unity Tablet is a personal device that provides your loved ones with the ability to place calls to family and friends with more privacy and safety.

Job Search

JobView creates the opportunity for loved ones to search for employment prior to release. Your loved one can search thousands of job openings in hundreds of fields; updated daily.

Law Library

Your loved ones have access to millions of legal resources. No training or prior computer knowledge is required to perform comprehensive legal research.

Podcasts

Users can enjoy hundreds of audio and video podcasts in a wide variety of topics. Examples: Education, Parenting, News, Personal Development, Addiction Recovery, Mental Health, Music, Sports, Comedy and more!

Education

Education is key to reducing recidivism; therefore Securus Technologies has made a complete educational catalog free to your loved ones! There are instructional documents and videos along with exercises and tests that allow for a user to complete coursework at their own pace.

EBooks

Through the eBook application, users have unlimited access to a comprehensive eBook library with thousands of titles! Users can choose from a variety of genres, such as Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, History, and much more.

Religion

Religious texts and services are provided for spiritual growth and guidance.

Music

Your loved ones can enjoy their favorite music and artists! Selections include Country, Hip Hop, Gospel, Pop, Jazz, Rock, and more.

Games

Your loved ones can spend time playing their favorite games! Users have unlimited access to a large selection of well-known titles such as 2048, Sudoku, Solitaire, and more.

Help App

The Help app brings together functionality from other apps into one. This streamlines the tablet experience and provides a one-stop shop for tablet support.

TheUnity Tablet is a secure, corrections-grade, multi-purpose communications device specifically designed for incarcerated individuals within a jail or prison. TheUnity 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. TheUnity 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 questions about the transition of calling accounts from DirectBill to AdvanceConnect click here

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