Offender Marriages on TDCJ Property

A.  Each unit shall provide two non-visitation workdays per month for offenders to be married in the visitation area of the offender’s assigned unit. Any exceptions shall be made on a case-by-case basis as authorized by the warden.

• The date is set by the unit, not you and not us.

B.  The warden shall designate correctional staff to be present for the duration of the marriage.

• Rarely but occasionally, the Warden and/or Chaplain may attend.

C.  The unit chaplain shall be responsible for scheduling all offender marriages on the unit and shall provide the warden with a list of all offenders scheduled to be married each specified day for final approval.

• The chaplain may meet with your LO to set the date, he will contact you then you MUST notify us.

D.  Offender marriages shall not take place in the chapel. Offender marriages shall take place in the visitation area or in an area approved by the warden, based on the offender’s contact or non-contact visitation eligibility status, during non-visitation hours at times designated by the warden. Offender marriages shall be scheduled for no more than 30 minutes each.

• On occasion, there may be a meeting in the visitation; the unit will assign another location for the ceremony.

E.  There is no requirement for a witness at the marriage. The marriage event shall be limited to the offender, non-incarcerated intended spouse, and the officiant.

• Only the bride, groom and officiant are allowed; no visitors.

F.  There shall be no special visiting privileges permitted in connection with or immediately after any marriage. However, if the offender is contact visit eligible, holding hands shall be permitted during the process, along with a brief embrace and kiss at the end of the process.

• In most cases when the ceremony is over, it's over; there is no 'visit' time.

G.  Marriage between currently incarcerated offenders shall not be permitted.

• This is clear, marriage is NOT permitted between offenders.

H.  Attire of the offender, non-incarcerated intended spouse, and officiant shall be in accordance with the TDCJ Visitation Plan.

• Clothing that is tight fitting, revealing, or made with see-through fabrics shall not be allowed.
• Sleeveless shirts and dresses are allowed, but must cover the shoulders.
• Shorts and skirts no shorter than three inches above the middle of the knee while standing, capri pants, or long pants are allowed.
• Wedding attire should have little or no cleavage, sleeves or a jacket and skirts should not be too short or tight.  All units do not have the 'Gown of Shame' so we suggest you have back-up in your car.

I.  The officiant may bring in one book or document.

• Vows written by the officiant and/or the intended is considered a document.

J.  Only items approved in accordance with the TDCJ Visitation Plan shall be permitted to be brought in by the officiant or the non-incarcerated intended spouse.

• Keys and TDL and/or state ID only.

K.  Non-incarcerated intended spouses may not bring in a wedding ring to be exchanged with the offender during the marriage. Offenders are only allowed a wedding ring at the time of intake in accordance with AD-03.72, “Offender Property.”

• We cannot stress this enough, there is NO ring exchange.   The officiant may bless YOUR rings but you must wear it in and NOT remove it.

L.  The offender’s spouse may purchase photographs after the marriage. Funds from the sale of photo fundraising shall be handled in accordance with ED-02.04, “Texas Department of Criminal Justice Fundraising.”

• Pictures are $3 each just like in visit however most State Jails do not do pictures.

M.  Upon completion of the marriage the spouse shall exit the facility.

• The offender is escorted out after the ceremony and the new spouse as well as the officiant must leave the property.  

N.  The I-60 and Offender Marriage Verification Worksheet shall be placed in the offender’s classification folder.

• This is clear.  Sometimes but not always, the unit may make a copy of the license.

O.  The inmate records supervisor shall change the visitor’s status on the Family Tracking Page and the approved Visitors List after completion of the marriage.

• In most cases, this is correct.  However some units will not make the change til a certified copy of the filed license is sent back to Classification at the unit.

Excerpt from AD-03.42 Offender Marriages with additional explaination
https://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/documents/policy/AD0342.pdf