How to Connect with a Loved One at Estelle Unit

Estelle Unit, also called Estelle (E2), is formally known as W. J. "Jim" Estelle Unit. It was named after Ward James "Jim" Estelle, who was a former prison director in Texas. The prison, which opened in June 1984, is operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The unit sits on over 5,000 acres in a wooded area, and the current Senior Warden is Blake Lamb. If you are trying to connect with a loved one who is at , DoNotPay can help.

Estelle Unit Location and Contact Information

The Estelle Unit is located ten (10) miles north of Huntsville, in unincorporated Walker County.

To reach the authorities at Estelle Unit, you can use the following contact information:

Name:

Address:

Phone:

W. J. "Jim" Estelle Unit

264 FM 3478

Huntsville, TX 77320-3320

(936) 291-4200 (**032)

Visiting with an Inmate at the Estelle Unit

Inmate visitation policies are outlined by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and are fairly standard across the state, but you can also direct any Visitation Questions to the hotline.

Hotline Number: (844) 476-1289

The toll-free hotline is operated on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Always verify that your loved one is located at Estelle, and that they have visitation privileges.

Inmate Information Search
Call Estelle Unit for confirmation

You should always confirm the unit's visitation schedule as well.

Unit Visitation Schedule
Verify that unit-wide visitation has not been canceled by visiting www.tdcj.texas.gov

Confirm that you are an approved visitor. You can confirm this with the Estelle Unit when you call to confirm the inmate's visitation privileges.
Bring an approved form of identification.
Follow the rules!

Dress codes are enforced, and violations can get you denied visitation.
Do not bring prohibited items, even in your vehicle, because it is subject to being searched as well.

If you require any type of special visit, or accommodation, it must be arranged ahead of time with the facility. Always call ahead to verify that the special visit and/or accommodations are still in place before arriving.
Spiritual visits must also be coordinated ahead of time through the warden's office.
Inmates are allowed one visit per weekend. Coordinate with the inmate and other approved visitors ahead of time to ensure that your incarcerated loved one has the opportunity to see everyone they wish to see and that you are not denied visitation upon arrival.

If, for some reason, you are removed from your loved one's approved Visitor's List, you may submit a written appeal within 14 days of removal to the following address:

Director's Review Committee (DRC), P.O. Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342

How to Write to an Inmate at the Estelle Unit

Writing letters to inmates and sending packages is allowed and encouraged by the Texas Department of Justice.

When sending mail or packages to prisoners, it is important to follow policies.

Always address an inmate's mail with their full legal name, TDCJ number and the unit address. You can find the Estelle Unit address above.
Never send letters to different offenders in the same envelope.
If your mail contains unauthorized materials or contraband items, everything will be rejected.
Any published materials, including newspapers, magazines, books, etc., must be mailed directly from the publisher or supplier, or a bookstore. These items are still subject to standard review and/or rejection according to policy.

The Difficulties of Connecting with an Inmate at Estelle Unit on Your Own

It can be stressful, difficult and even tedious to connect with a friend or family member that is incarcerated.

You must know where they are located, which can be difficult if they will be, or have recently been transferred.
You must know their ID number to send mail or packages
You must be on an approved visitor's list to visit and that process can be time-consuming and tedious.
They may be too far away to visit in person, or visitations can be limited or canceled for various reasons.
Visitation and correspondence policies can be confusing or limiting

If you are looking for a faster, less complicated way to reach out to an incarcerated loved one, DoNotPay has your answer.

DoNotPay Can Help You Locate and Connect with Your Imprisoned Loved Ones

DoNotPay understands that it can be confusing or difficult to reach out to someone that is incarcerated, which is why we want to help you.

If you have a loved one at the and want to reach out to them, but don't know where to start, DoNotPay can help!

Locate the Connect With an Inmate service on DoNotPay.
Choose whether you want to locate a loved one, create a virtual mailbox, or send a personalized letter.
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.
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.
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!