Heath Hyde, P.C. / Information for families
Family Member Information Hub
Texas arrest, jail, prison, and family-support resources in one place. Start with the situation your family is facing now.
Looking for the first step? The Family Arrest Guide covers the first hours. If custody continues, use the county-jail or prison guide below. The resource library connects you directly with agencies and family-support organizations.
This hub organizes general information. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not promise release or a particular case outcome.
Where is your family in the process?
JUST ARRESTED
The first hours after an arrest
Start with the existing step-by-step Family Arrest Guide: finding the person, gathering information, understanding the early court process, and preparing to speak with a lawyer.
Read the Family Arrest GuideBAIL AND RELEASE QUESTIONS
Understanding bail and bond
The bail guide explains the subjects families need to discuss with counsel and the jail: the bond decision, ways a bond may be posted, holds, and reasons release can be delayed.
Read the Texas bail and bond guideSTILL IN COUNTY JAIL
Managing the weeks that follow
For the practical work after the initial arrest: jail calls, visits, commissary, mail, medication concerns, family responsibilities, and communication with the defense lawyer.
Read the county-jail family guidePRISON OR LONGER-TERM CUSTODY
Staying connected and planning ahead
The prison and jail guide collects information about TDCJ and federal custody, visitation, money and mail, family services, and reentry resources. Use the relevant agency for current instructions.
Read the prison and long-term custody guideFind the right facility and source
County jails, Texas state prisons, and federal facilities have different information systems. Choose the directory for the system involved, rather than treating every jail or prison as part of TDCJ.
- County jail: use the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas directory to locate the relevant sheriff’s office.
- Texas state prison: use the TDCJ inmate search and TDCJ unit directory.
- Federal custody: use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator and its coverage explanation.
For the firm’s existing reference tables, open the Texas correctional facility directory in the prison and jail guide. It stays in one place so families are not comparing duplicate copies.
Resources for the family outside
The practical burden does not stop with finding a facility. Families may also be looking for peer support, help understanding an agency’s procedures, or a reliable starting point for questions about conditions in custody.
The library below separates official information from independent support organizations. Read each organization’s scope before contacting it. These resources do not replace advice from the lawyer handling the criminal case.
If you want a broader explanation of investigations, evidence, and trial preparation, visit the East Texas Criminal Defense Knowledge Hub. For an existing overview of fees, see what can affect the cost of criminal defense.
Texas family resource library
Use agency sources for current rules and facility details. The nonprofit and family-support links below are separate organizations, not government agencies or services provided by this law firm. A link is not a guarantee of eligibility or assistance.
Finding someone in custody
- TDCJ Inmate Information Search
- Sheriffs' Association of Texas Directory
- Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator
- BOP locator coverage and limitations
- BOP Contact Directory
- TDCJ Unit Directory
- ICE detention management
Visitation, contact, money, and mail
- TDCJ General Information Guide for Families of Inmates (PDF)
- TDCJ Visitation
- TDCJ Online Visitation Portal
- TDCJ: Contacting Inmates
- TDCJ Commissary and Inmate Trust Fund
- TDCJ Book Policy
- TDCJ Population Types
- TDCJ Families hub
Rights, grievances, and oversight
- ACLU of Texas Civil Rights Resource Guide for Incarcerated Texans
- TDCJ Office of Family Services
- Texas Jail Project
- Texas Commission on Jail Standards: Complaints and Inquiries
- Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Family support, child support, and reentry
- Texas Incarcerated Families Association
- Texas State Law Library: Resources for Families of Inmates
- Northern District of Texas: Ongoing Support
- Texas OAG: Incarcerated Parents
- Texas Defender Service parole and reentry resource
- Texas Defender Service
Courts and statutes
- Texas Judicial Branch: Trial Courts
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 15.17
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 17.15
Facility rules and websites can change. Confirm the current instructions with the responsible agency before traveling, sending funds, or relying on a directory entry.
Questions about a criminal case?
Contact Heath Hyde, P.C. to ask about a consultation. Representation depends on the facts, jurisdiction, conflicts, scheduling, and firm acceptance.
Resource navigation prepared by the Heath Hyde, P.C. editorial team. This page organizes existing guides and external resources; it does not certify an attorney review of linked material.