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Welcome

Welcome to eCommDirect- the only direct purchase program for Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmates.

eCommDirect allows approved family and friends to make a deposit into the account of an inmate incarcerated in a TDCJ facility and purchase commissary products. This secure service offers online convenience and greater control of what happens with the funds you provide.

How to Use eCommDirect

Note: To make successful transactions you must be on the approved sender’s list for your inmate. The approved sender’s list is made up from the inmate’s visitation list and the inmates approved phone (OTS) list. Inmates are responsible for adding loved ones to their visitation list. If you are unsure if you are on the approved visitation list, you can contact the unit for verification. Visit https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/unit_directory/index.html for the unit Directory. For questions about Offender Telephone registration, please call Securus: (866) 806-7804. Before you can receive calls from a TDCJ inmate, you must first register your telephone number. Typically, it takes 72 hours to get your telephone number approved. Once you get an approval notice it takes about 3-5 business days to go into effect as an approved sender.

  • Search for an inmate using your First and Last name (Approved Sender), the inmate’s TDCJ ID number and Last name. (The approved sender’s information will need to match as stated on the Approved Visitor or Offender Telephone List.)

Note: You are not setting up an account with Texas.gov to make future purchases or deposits. Accounts are set up for the inmates once they are in TDCJ Custody. To have access you will need to make sure you are an approved sender.

Once the inmate has been verified, you may:

  • Purchase specific commissary products for the inmate from TDCJ’s online catalog (delivered to the inmate within 5 business days after TDCJ receives the order). Please note that Unit security or staffing issues can override this timeframe.
  • Make a deposit into their Trust Fund account (deposited in the inmates Trust Fund account within two business days after TDCJ receives the transaction.)

YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE A PURCHASE AND DEPOSIT AT THE SAME TIME.

HOURS: eCommDirect Store is Closed weeknights from 8:00 PM CST to 4:00 AM CST.

Purchase and Deposit Eligibility: 

  • You will need to be on the Approved Sender’s List.
  • Inmates spends are based on the following months:
    • January – March up to $70
    • April – June up to $70
    • July – September up to $70
    • October – December up to $95 (Holiday Spend).
  • Inmates may receive a maximum of one online purchase per day. IMPORTANT: If you fill your cart and then decide not to complete the transaction, select “Cancel” on the payment page so the inmate is still eligible for purchases that day.
  • Inmate Trust Fund Deposits may be made at any time with a limit of $300 per deposit transaction.
  • Units on lockdown and inmates on Commissary Restriction will not be eligible for an eComm package until after the lockdown/restriction is lifted. (To check this information, contact the eCommDirect office at 936-437-4726. Phones are answered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday)

Information You Need

  • Inmate TDCJ ID number and Last Name (Note: If you do not know their number, you can find it through the online inmate search at https://inmate.tdcj.texas.goc/InmateSearch/start.action or by phone at (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283. Phones are answered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday)
  • Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover)
  • The payment processing system used by this website will not accept payment from Government issued credit/debit cards such as Child Support, Plasma, or Social Security Cards. Attempting to use these types of cards can result in a temporary hold being placed on your card. Please use another form of payment for this website.
  • Please note: Beginning March 13, 2020, eCommDirect Service fees will appear as a separate charge at the time of check-out and on your bank/credit card statement.

Terms and Conditions

The products displayed on the website are items currently available for purchase in most TDCJ facilities.

*All sales are final.

No credit or refund shall be given for items purchased but not received by the intended recipient due to that person’s release, change in custody level or other sanction which would not allow receipt of goods. If specific products purchased cannot be delivered within 30 days, the dollar amount of the direct purchase will be deposited into the inmates trust account. Online purchases are subject to substitutions if the item is unavailable at the time of distribution. All deposits made to an inmates trust account are final and no refunds will be issued. Chargebacks to a credit card will affect inmates eligibility. TDCJ reserves the right to capture and retain IP Address information for fraud detection.

  • DO NOT  send funds or make purchases for inmates you do not know
  • Unfortunately, inmates often establish "pen pal" relationships in order to solicit money from unsuspecting individuals
  • DO NOT  send funds or make purchases for an inmate as a favor for inmates you do know
  • DO NOT  send funds or make purchases for inmates to provide to another inmate
  • Report  EXTORTION  to Unit Warden or the Office of Inspector General
  • Any inmates who are involved in  EXTORTION , as well as any individuals who assisted in the  EXTORTION , shall be  PROSECUTED by the law
  • Inmates  DO NOT  earn interest on funds deposited into the Trust Fund account

Disclaimer:  You must be 18 years old to use this application. All inmates banking information including transaction and balance information is restricted and confidential.

You are accessing a restricted information system. System usage may be monitored, recorded, and subject to audit and/or security testing. Unauthorized use and/or misuse is prohibited and subject to criminal prosecution. Users have no expectation of privacy except as otherwise provided by applicable privacy laws. Use of this system indicates consent to monitoring and recording.

AUTHORITY: CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SERVICES (CJIS) SECURITY POLICY TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE CHAPTER 202 SUBCHAPTER B

This online service is provided by Texas.gov, the official website of Texas. The price of this service includes funds that support the ongoing operations and enhancements of Texas.gov, which is provided by a third party in partnership with the State.