Announcements

eCommDirect - Offender Commissary Purchases

The TDCJ Commissary and Trust Fund Department has initiated an on-line program where friends and family may purchase up to $50 of commissary items every calendar quarter for eligible offenders. The items available for purchase include the top 100 selling items which include snacks, hygiene products, correspondence supplies as well as some new packaged items. The amount purchased will not affect the amount that offenders may spend on commissary items from funds deposited in their inmate trust fund account. In addition to offenders on commissary restriction, offenders in General Population and State Jail levels 4 and 5, Protective Custody levels 5 and 6 and Administrative Segregation levels 2 and 3, are not eligible to receive commissary purchases through this program.

eCommDirect on-line program may be used exclusively for your needs. You are not setting up an account with Texas.gov to make future purchases or deposits. Each transaction will be unique to that purchase and/or deposit. You may choose to make an on-line merchandise purchase or an on-line deposit to an offender’s inmate trust fund account or both. The on-line merchandise purchase will be delivered to the offender within 3 business days from when TDCJ receives the purchase transaction details from Texas.gov. The on-line deposit to an offender’s inmate trust fund account will be transferred to the offender’s inmate trust fund account on the next business day after TDCJ receives the deposit transaction details from Texas.gov.

Website Link: www.texas.gov/eCommDirect

The on-line purchase program is now available for all eligible offenders at all units.

eCommDirect FAQ

1. How do I place an eCommDirect order?
2. Will I receive confirmation that the items purchased were delivered?
3. How can I tell if my package has delivered to the offender?
4. Why can’t my newly received offender receive purchases?
5. What criteria are used to determine eligibility to receive purchases?
6. I am shopping and hit the back button and I cannot shop.
7. Will the $50 amount effect what the offender can spend in the commissary?
8. I would like to send the offender something, is the limit $50 per purchase or $50 per quarter?
9. Can I place an order over the phone?
10. Is there a fee to make a purchase?
11. Why does the system time me out when I am checking out?
12. Do I have to make a purchase and a deposit at the same time?

1. How do I place an eCommDirect order?

You can place your eCommDirect order at www.texas.gov/eCommDirect
- You must enter the offender number and last name
- Enter your information
- Add items and/or deposits to shopping cart
- Checkout, paying with your Visa or MasterCard
- Don't forget to print your confirmation receipt

2. Will I receive confirmation that the items purchased were delivered?

No, we will deliver the items within 3 business days.

3. How can I tell if my package has delivered to the offender?

The offender will receive his/her items within 3 business days from the date of purchase.
- 99% of the offenders will receive their items within 3 business days.
- You may contact the offender to verify that they received their items.

4. Why can’t my newly received offender receive purchases?

Newly received offenders will not be eligible for purchases until the next quarterly cycle.

5. What criteria are used to determine eligibility to receive purchases?

Custody level
1. G4 and G5 not eligible
2. Certain medical conditions
Commissary Restriction
Friends/Family member has locked the offender out of the system, by not exiting the store website correctly.
1. The account will reset on the next business day.
Previous purchase completed on the same day.
Purchases have reached the $50.00 limit for the calendar quarter.
1. Calendar quarters
  1. January 1st – March 31st
  2. April 1st – June 30th
  3. July 1st – September 30th
  4. October 1st – December 31st
Newly received offenders will not be eligible until the next calendar quarter after his entry.
1. Example one: Offender X entered TDCJ on December 2nd. He/She will be eligible for purchases on January 1st.
2. Example two: Offender Y entered TDCJ on September 29th. He/She will be eligible for purchases on October 1st.
TDCJ offender not at location with TDCJ commissary on the Unit.
Unit is on lockdown status
1. Lockdown status is when the Unit has confined offenders to their cells as a security measure to ensure ongoing safety.
2. The lockdown status must be officially lifted through administration before the Unit is considered officially lifted.
3. The entire Unit must be off lockdown before the official lift will begin.
4. Medical conditions of certain pods.
  1. This helps to contain flu, viruses, etc.

6. I am shopping and hit the “Back” button and now I am locked out of the system.

Due to security the system will block you from returning to the website until the next day.

7. Will the $50 amount affect what the offender may spend in the commissary?

No, the $50 limit is in addition to what the offender can spend in the commissary.

8. Is the limit $50 per purchase or $50 per quarter?

The offender may receive $50 in purchases every calendar quarter (January-March, April-June, July-September and October-December). Multiple purchases may be made for the offender throughout the quarter but there will be a $3.75 fee assessed for each transaction.

9. Can I place an order over the phone?

No, the order must be placed via the internet.

10. Is there a fee to make a purchase?

The fee to make a purchase is $3.75
For more information regarding fees please contact Texas.gov at 1-877-452-9060.

11. Why does the system time me out when I am checking out?

Please contact Texas.gov at 1-877-452-9060.

12. Do I have to make a purchase and a deposit at the same time?

No. A purchase and or deposit may be made for an eligible offender and paid for with a credit card.

Note: Sender’s name and address are required when making a deposit to an offender’s inmate trust fund account

Do not send funds to offenders you do not know
Do not send funds to an offender as a favor for offenders you do know
Report EXTORTION to Unit Warden/Office of Inspector General
Offenders do not earn interest on funds in their account
Do not send cash, stamps or personal item for offenders to either the Unit or Inmate Trust Fund
Do not send deposits to the Unit.
Obtain deposit slips from OFFENDER for Money Orders or Cashier’s Checks