Frequently Asked Questions

TDCJ uses the following criteria to determine an inmate’s eligibility to receive purchases: 

• The inmate's custody level. General Population and State Jail Levels 4 and 5, Administrative Segregation levels 2, 3 and transition, Death Row levels 2 and 3 and certain medical conditions are not eligible.
• The inmate must not be on commissary restriction. Inmates on commissary restriction are not eligible. 
• If the inmate is newly received, the inmate will not be eligible until the next calendar quarter after their entry. For example, if the inmate entered TDCJ on December 2nd, the inmate will be eligible for purchases beginning the next calendar quarter, which starts in January. 
• Whether or not the inmate is housed at a location that has a TDCJ commissary located on the unit. 
• If a unit is on full or partial lockdown status, inmates are confined to their cells as a security measure to ensure ongoing safety and cannot receive purchases. In addition, the lockdown status must be officially lifted through administration before the unit is considered off lockdown status. The entire unit must be off lockdown before the official lift will begin and inmates can receive purchases. 
• If the maximum purchase limit per quarter as been exceeded. The maximum spend for an eligible inmate is per quarter and is based on the following months: January – March: up to $60.00, April – June: up to $60.00, July - September: up to $60.00, October - December: up to $85.00 (Holiday Spend)

Please note: Only one purchase per inmate may be completed per day. If a friend or family member has locked the inmate out of the system by not exiting the store website correctly, the account will reset on the next business day.

The maximum spend for an eligible inmate is per quarter and is based on the following months:

• January – March up to $60.00 
• April – June up to $60.00 
• July – September up to $60.00 
• October – December up to $85.00 (Holiday Spend)

Commissary orders are processed within five business days after TDCJ receives the order. If it’s been more than five business days and your order still hasn’t been received, please contact the TDCJ eCommDirect department by calling (936) 437-3704 or emailing ecommdirect@tdcj.texas.gov.

Deposits are processed within two business days. If it’s been more than two business days and the deposit still hasn’t been received, please contact the TDCJ eCommDirect department by calling (936) 437-3704 or emailing ecommdirect@tdcj.texas.gov.

As a security measure, if you hit the ‘back’ button within the browser before completing your transaction, you will be blocked from using the system until the next business day. Please try to log back in again the next business day.

eCommDirect has a 30-minute time limit. If you’ve been timed out of the store, you can’t log back in and make a purchase until the next business day.