Supporting incarcerated people in Texas:
While we do not intend to become a pen pal service, we do encourage pen pal relationships. In order to be fair to the person you are writing and to prevent misunderstandings and the harm caused by them, we recommend that you always be clear about your boundaries and your expectations of the relationship. If there are charges you are not comfortable with, do your research before contacting someone. Reaching out to an incarcerated person can be a positive, life-changing experience for both people involved. Please see the links below for organizations that connect incarcerated people with pen pals!
Important Note: TDCJ Digital Mail
As of September 2023 Texas has switched to digitizing all incoming mail to increase control over what reaches incarcerated people and to line the pockets of prison profiteers Securus. You can read more here.
To send mail to the Digital Processing Center, please address it to:
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Inmate’s Full First and Last Name + TDCJ Number
PO Box 660400
Dallas, TX 75266-0400
For email: units now have tablets which allow messaging back and forth, for about 50 cents per message. Some people will also have access to phone calls, media, and other services through the tablets. You can add money to someone’s tablet account and to your own email/phone account through securustech.net Make sure you give a return address in the letter if you want a physical letter back! State prisoners do not have internet access.
To register your phone number for calls visit: texasprisonphone.com
To verify someone’s current unit, enter name or tdcj # here: https://offender.tdcj.texas.gov/OffenderSearch/index.jsp
TDCJ unit addresses and phone numbers: https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/unit_directory/unit_information.html
To buy your loved one commisary items or put money onto their books, access: Ecomm Direct
Abolitionist pen pals orgs:
Study and Struggle, based in Mississippi, connects people to study together and build inside-outside relationships and solidarity. https://www.studyandstruggle.com/get-involved-1
Abolition Apostles is based in Louisiana and Texas and they correspond with over 1,000 incarcerated people currently. They are always looking to connect people! Find out more here: https://www.abolitionapostles.com/become-a-penpal
Political and Politicized Prisoners:
June 11th:International Day of Solidarity with Marius Mason & All Long-Term Anarchist Prisoners
PrisonerSolidarity.com: Listing of Political Prisoners by movement, state, and other factors.
Political Prisoners: NYC Anarchist Black Cross Listing
LGBTQ & Allies:
Trans Pride Initiative in Dallas is searching for people willing to write incarcerated trans and queer people. Connect on Facebook or Instagram to help or email nell@tpride.org
blackandpink.org is a national organization supporting LGBTQ+ people in prisons
Note: Please note the sensitive nature of sexuality and gender identity inside of US Prisons. Being outed could result in threats and attacks from other prisoners, and repression from prison officials. It is best to let the person you write direct you on what is safe for them to discuss. That being said, our prisons are violently homophobic and transphobic and that is why LGBTQ prisoners especially could use outside support, which is often lacking from family members.
Texas Abolitionists 