O.B. Ellis Unit

Visits at O.B. Ellis Unit must be scheduled in advance through TDCJ's online Unit Visitation Scheduler at visitation.tdcj.texas.gov. General visitation runs 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at most TDCJ units (a few high-volume units run 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.); the exact day and time session assigned to a specific offender depends on their housing area and visitor list, and visits typically last up to two hours. Confirm O.B. Ellis Unit's current schedule and book through the official scheduler before traveling — hours can change without notice.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

To find out if someone is being held at O.B. Ellis Unit or elsewhere in TDCJ, use the free TDCJ Inmate Search tool (you'll need the person's last name plus first initial, or their TDCJ/SID number). Records are refreshed on business days and can be up to 24 hours old. You can also call the TDCJ Inmate Locator / General Information line at (936) 295-6371 or (800) 535-0283.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

O.B. Ellis Unit's main phone number is (936) 295-5756.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

Personal mail (letters, cards, photos) for an inmate at O.B. Ellis Unit should be addressed with the inmate's full committed name and TDCJ number and sent to TDCJ's Digital Mail Processing Center at PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400 — TDCJ scans incoming personal mail and uploads it to the inmate's tablet rather than delivering paper mail to the unit. Legal mail, and books/publications sent directly from a publisher, go to the unit's physical address instead: O.B. Ellis Unit, 1697 FM 980, Huntsville, TX 77343.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

You can deposit money into an inmate's Trust Fund account at O.B. Ellis Unit by money order or cashier's check made payable to 'Inmate Trust Fund for [Offender Name and TDCJ Number]' and mailed to Inmate Trust Fund, PO Box 60, Huntsville, TX 77342-0060, or online/by phone through TDCJ's approved vendors (Access Corrections, TouchPay, or eCommDirect). Only people on the inmate's approved visitor list or telephone list are allowed to deposit funds.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

To send mail to an inmate at O.B. Ellis Unit, write the inmate's full committed name and TDCJ number on the envelope and mail it to TDCJ's Digital Mail Processing Center, PO Box 660400, Dallas, TX 75266-0400; personal mail is scanned and uploaded to the inmate's tablet, usually within about three business days. Legal mail, media correspondence, and publisher-sent books/magazines should be mailed directly to the unit at 1697 FM 980, Huntsville, TX 77343 instead. Mail without the inmate's full name and TDCJ number will be returned to sender.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

Visitors to O.B. Ellis Unit must follow TDCJ's statewide visitation dress code: shirts and shoes are required, and clothing may not be tight-fitting, revealing, or made of see-through fabric. Sleeveless tops are allowed but must cover the shoulders, and dresses/skirts must be no more than three inches above the middle of the knee. Visitors must bring photo ID, may not bring cash beyond $35 in coins, and cannot bring tobacco products, e-cigarettes, or cell phones past the secure perimeter.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

Parole review status and release information for an offender at O.B. Ellis Unit can be checked online through the TDCJ Inmate Search / Parole Review Information tool, or by calling the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles status line at (844) 512-0461 with the offender's name, TDCJ number, and/or date of birth. Online status information is refreshed on business days and may be up to 24 hours old.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

O.B. Ellis Unit is located at 1697 FM 980, Huntsville, TX 77343 — Twelve miles north of Huntsville at 1697 FM 980 in Walker County.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

For legal help related to a case or conditions at O.B. Ellis Unit, contact the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (800) 252-9690, or reach out to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid or the Texas Legal Services Center for free or low-cost civil legal aid. TDCJ's Access to Courts program also provides law library access so inmates can prepare their own filings.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

O.B. Ellis Unit houses offenders at the following custody levels: G1-G5, Security Detention.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

O.B. Ellis Unit is a state prison unit operated by TDCJ's Correctional Institutions Division.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom

O.B. Ellis Unit has an operating capacity of approximately 2,482 offenders.

Verified 2026-08-06 by Aaron Mitchom