FDC Houston is a federal pretrial detention facility operated by the Bureau of Prisons in downtown Houston. It primarily holds defendants awaiting trial in the U.S. Southern District of Texas: one of the busiest federal districts in the country. This guide covers how to find someone on BOP.gov, how visitation works, sending money via MoneyGram or Western Union, phone access through TRULINCS, and how to send mail and email through CorrLinks.
City
Houston
County
Harris County
State
Texas
Facility Type
Federal Prison
Gender
Male
Capacity
1118
Custody Levels
Administrative (Pretrial, Holdover, Short Sentence)
Operator
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). South Central Region
Address
1200 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002
Phone
(713) 221-5400
Inmate Locator
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Search by name at bop.gov/inmateloc/ to get their register number, current facility, and projected release date. Register number is required for all services.
View ArticleVisiting days are Monday, Thursday, and Friday. All visitors must submit a BP-A629 Visitor Questionnaire before the first visit: approval takes time, so don't wait.
View ArticleMoneyGram code 7932 or Western Union FBOP DC. All deposits process through BOP's Des Moines finance center: not through the facility directly.
View ArticleTRULINCS text messaging via CorrLinks: the inmate must invite you first. Phone calls are outbound only, 300 minutes per month, 15 minutes per call.
View ArticleMail goes to PO Box 526255, Houston TX 77052: not to the street address. Photos must be standard prints sent from you directly, no Polaroids.
View ArticleFDCs hold people before trial, not after sentencing. That difference changes everything: from how long they'll be there to where they go next.
View ArticleThe BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc/ is the official search tool for all federal facilities including FDC Houston. Search by name: the system returns the inmate's 8-digit register number (formatted XXXXX-XXX), current facility, and projected release date. If they arrived recently, allow 24-72 hours for the record to update. The register number is required to send money, use CorrLinks email, and for the visitor approval process.
See the full breakdownVisiting days at FDC Houston are Monday, Thursday, and Friday. Specific hours vary by housing unit: call (713) 221-5400 before coming in. Every visitor must be approved on the inmate's visitor list before the first visit. New visitors submit a BP-A629 Visitor Questionnaire; approval is not instant. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. No cell phones, no outside food.
See the full breakdownMoney for FDC Houston inmates does not go to the facility address: it goes to BOP's central processing center in Des Moines, Iowa. Use MoneyGram (Receive Code 7932) or Western Union Quick Collect (Code City: FBOP DC). The account field for both: 8-digit register number followed immediately by last name, no spaces. Deposits post 2-4 hours if submitted between 7 AM and 9 PM EST. Monthly commissary limit is $360.
See the full breakdownCalls are outbound only , 300 minutes per month, 15 minutes per call, all monitored and recorded. Email runs through TRULINCS, accessed externally via CorrLinks (corrlinks.com). The inmate must initiate the connection: they add you from inside, you receive an invitation via CorrLinks and accept. Text only, no attachments, 13,000 character limit per message.
See the full breakdownAll inmate mail at FDC Houston goes to PO Box 526255, Houston TX 77052: not to 1200 Texas Avenue. Include the inmate's full legal name and register number on the envelope. Photos must be standard photo prints, no Polaroids or instant film. Books and magazines must come directly from a publisher or approved retailer (Amazon, Barnes & Noble). No packages unless pre-approved.
See the full breakdown6 of 6 questions
Use the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc/. Search by name: the system returns their register number, current facility, and projected release date. If they were just transferred in, it may take 24-72 hours before their record updates to show FDC Houston.
Inmate SearchA federal register number is the 8-digit ID assigned to every person in BOP custody: formatted as XXXXX-XXX. You need it to send money, use CorrLinks email, and confirm identity. Get it from the inmate directly, from their attorney, or by running a name search at bop.gov/inmateloc/.
Inmate SearchVisiting days are Monday, Thursday, and Friday. Hours vary by housing unit: call (713) 221-5400 to confirm the current schedule before driving in. All visitors must be approved in advance on the inmate's visitor list. First-time visitors fill out a BP-A629 Visitor Questionnaire, which must be processed before the first visit.
VisitationThree options: (1) MoneyGram: use Receive Code 7932, payable to 'Federal Bureau of Prisons,' City: Washington DC, account field = 8-digit register number + last name. (2) Western Union Quick Collect. Code City: FBOP DC, same account format. (3) Mail a postal money order to: Federal Bureau of Prisons, [Inmate Name & Register#], PO Box 474701, Des Moines IA 50947-0001. No cash, no personal checks.
Send MoneyFDC Houston uses the BOP's TRULINCS system. The inmate must add you to their approved contact list first: you cannot initiate. Once added, you'll get an invitation from CorrLinks (corrlinks.com). Create a free account and accept the request. Messages are text-only, limited to 13,000 characters, and monitored.
Phone CallsProbably not. FDC Houston primarily holds pretrial detainees. After sentencing, BOP designates a permanent facility based on security classification, sentence length, and available bed space. That transfer typically happens within weeks of sentencing: sometimes faster. Track the new location at bop.gov/inmateloc/.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified June 8, 2026.