How to Connect With An Inmate At The Lopez State Jail

Lopez State Jail is operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) under the guidance of Senior Warden Felipe Gonzalez and Regional Director Joel Gauna. This ACA-accredited unit, formally known as Reynaldo V. Lopez State Jail, was established in 1997 with a capacity of 1,100 male prisoners. Located in Hidalgo County on 301 acres, the jail offers a variety of inmate programs, including educational programs, community work projects, re-entry planning, and volunteer initiatives.

It's not easy to have someone you love incarcerated at Lopez State Jail or any other prison facility, and keeping in touch with that person becomes a priority as you work to maintain your relationship. From visiting an inmate to writing a letter or making a phone call, it's important to use various opportunities for communication and connection, whether it's with someone you already know or with a new pen pal. You're encouraged to contact an inmate at Lopez State Jail, but there are certain rules you have to follow for the safety of the other inmates, the jail employees, and the public.

DoNotPay can help you find the information you need and take care of the correspondence details, ensuring all regulations are followed, so you can get in touch with your loved one more quickly and easily.

Where is Lopez State Jail?

You'll find Lopez State Jail about 10 miles north of Edinburg, Texas, off Highway 281. Here is the general contact information:

How to Contact an Inmate at Lopez State Jail on Your Own

There are several ways to stay in touch with an inmate at Lopez State Jail or any other prison facility in Texas. The TDCJ outlines the procedures and protocols for contacting an inmate:

Visitation

Visiting hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00 to 5:00pm, and weekends from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Inmates are allowed one visit per weekend, so you may want to coordinate with other people on the visitation list so you can visit at the same time. Follow these steps to plan your visit:

1. Confirm the inmate is still at Lopez by using the Inmate Information Search tool.
2. You must be on the offender's Approved Visitor list, which can include up to 10 names at a time. If you're not sure whether you're on the list, call the jail to confirm.
3. Bring a photo ID and ensure you're following the dress code.
4. Don't bring any prohibited items.

Special visits must be arranged ahead of time by calling the jail one to seven days in advance of your visit. Special visits are any that fall outside of normal visitation guidelines, which include:

• Visitors traveling more than 250 miles one way
• Visits for critically ill inmates
• Visits by potential employers
• Visits requiring assistive devices or special accommodations

You could be removed from the inmate's Approved Visitor list for misconduct. If you believe you were removed in error, you can write a written appeal within 14 days of the date of your written notice of removal from the list. Send your appeal to:

Director's Review Committee (DRC)

P.O. Box 99

Huntsville, TX 77342

Telephone Calls

Unless they've lost their telephone privileges for disciplinary reasons, inmates can call people on their approved call list. To receive a call from an inmate, you have to register your telephone number. There are two ways to do it:

1. Call 1-866-806-7804
2. Visit texasprisonphone.com

Calls must be made to landlines or post-paid cell phones, and they will be recorded. You must be 18 years old and the owner of the phone number, and you can't forward any calls or initiate a three-way call with an inmate.

E-Messaging

You are allowed to send eMessages, but inmates cannot return these messages. Still, it's a nice way to send a quick message to let inmates know you're thinking of them. To use e-Messaging:

1. Register with JPay at 1-866-333-5729 or jpay.com
2. Purchase electronic stamps from JPay online (it costs the same as a US postage stamp)
3. Draft your message online—it will be sent to the JPay facility interface
4. The TDCJ unit mailroom will receive, download, and review the message
5. If the message is approved, it will be printed and delivered to the inmate

Mail

You cannot send packages. Any magazines or books should be sent directly from the publisher. You can, however, send letters to an inmate (do not include mail for more than one inmate in the same envelope). Once received by the jail your mail will be inspected for contraband and inappropriate materials.

It is important to ensure the inmate is still at Lopez before you send the letter to avoid delays, the TDCJ will forward those letters if the inmate has been transferred to a different facility. It will simply take longer for your letter to arrive, which can cause distress if you're waiting for a reply or if the letter contains important news or vital information for the inmate.

To make sure an inmate receives your correspondence as quickly as possible, you have to address the envelope correctly. This is how to do it:

Inmate's Name and TDCJ Number

Reynaldo V. Lopez State Jail

1203 El Cibolo Road

Edinburg, TX 78542

If the inmate has been transferred, your mail will be delayed, and you increase the risk of it getting lost or misplaced. That's why it's important to confirm the inmate's location and the prison address (and correspondence guidelines) before sending your letter. DoNotPay has a solution to this problem.

Why Contacting an Inmate Can Be Stressful

Every prison has slightly different rules and procedures, so you have to research and understand the protocols for Lopez State Jail. This requires some time and research, and you may need to call the jail to confirm that visiting hours haven't been canceled or that you're on the inmate's approved visitor list or call list.

DoNotPay can simplify the entire process for you. Using our Connect With an Inmate product, you can confirm an inmate's location within a few seconds, and you can send and receive letters with the assurance that they're going to the right address. It's fun, easy, and it takes the stress out of something that should be enjoyable: connecting with someone you love.

The Easier Way to Contact an Inmate at Lopez State Jail With the Help of DoNotPay

Whether your loved one is incarcerated at Lopez State Jail or any other prison facility, we can help you get in touch. If you want to contact an inmate but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered:

1. Locate the Connect With an Inmate service on DoNotPay.

2. Choose whether you want to locate a loved one, create a virtual mailbox, or send a personalized letter.

3. If you want us to find your loved one, provide his or her personal details and the state they are located in. We'll then conduct a search on the appropriate state database.

4. If you want to create a virtual mailbox, just provide your full name! We'll set one up for you so you can easily receive incoming mail from your loved one.

5. If sending a personalized letter, tell us which facility your loved one is located in and what you would like to say to them. You can even include a photo! Your letter will be delivered automatically - just wait 10 days for it to arrive to your loved one!

It's fast and easy. Use DoNotPay to get in contact with inmates and for a variety of other tasks.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

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