Author Topic: TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison  (Read 13686 times)

Offline sunrayswench

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TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison
« on: February 03, 2015, 12:08:54 am »
Details are here on the TDCJ website: http://tdcj.state.tx.us/documents/policy/AD0342.pdf
« Last Edit: March 06, 2015, 12:25:40 pm by sunrayswench »
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Offline sunrayswench

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Re: TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2015, 12:31:24 am »
A brief summary of the new rules for TDCJ inmate weddings:


* The inmate must currently be unmarried

* If the inmate was previously married and wishes to take a new spouse, they inmate must first remove the previous spouse from their visitation list by producing a legal divorce or death document

* Only officiants/celebrants registered with TDCJ are permitted to perform marriage ceremonies for TDCJ inmates (you wont necessarily be able to bring your own celebrant)

* The free world person must arrange the marriage licence and take it to the prison on the appointed day, and pay for any other services or fees

* The inmate must currently be able to receive visits (so you would need to make sure the inmate had not used up all of their visits for the month) and the free world person must already be on the inmates Visitation list

* The inmate must submit an I-60 form to request the marriage, including the free world person's name and the name of the celebrant at least 7 days before the date of the wedding

* The request must be approved by the records officer, the access to courts officer and the Warden. If the request is denied, the inmate will be informed of the reason

* If the request is approved, it is then sent to the prison Chaplain who will schedule the wedding to be on one of the prisons two non-visitaion days per month - you cannot choose the date of your own wedding.

* TDCJ will not permit marriages to happen in the prison chapel. Marriages will take place in the prison visitation room. If the inmate is only eligible for non-contact visits, then that is how the wedding will take place. Contact will only be permitted for inmates who are eligible for contact visits.

* There will be no external free world witnesses to the wedding.

* You can only wear clothes currently approved in the Offender Visitation document. I would imagine a full long wedding dress would not be permitted, TDCJ generally don't like very long skirts or dresses.

* You may not give your spouse a wedding ring. You could wear a ring for yourself in to the prison, and then have the inmate place it on the appropriate finger, but the inmate will not be able to keep any rings or other jewellery that they did not have when they first entered TDCJ.

* There will be an opportunity to purchase photos, though this may be limited to a small number. Photos are normally $3 each.

* The ceremony will take no longer than 30 minutes. After the ceremony, the free world person must leave the prison immediately.
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Offline sunrayswench

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Re: TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2015, 01:41:29 pm »
TDCJ has seen a handful of weddings since the policy change in January 2015. Anyone wishing to marry an inmate might find it useful to contact the officiant in this news article, via her Facebook group.

http://www.chron.com/life/weddings-and-celebrations/article/Humble-woman-officiates-prison-weddings-6145626.php#photo-7681092
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Offline TDCJmarriages

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Re: TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2015, 01:09:51 am »
WoW! 

Thank you for sharing our story.   On March 17, I had the honor of performing the ceremony for the first female to be married at the Murray Unit and the bride really did wear white.  It was very exciting and I look forward to many more at units all over Texas.

The first ceremony inside TDCJ was actually on Mar 6 at the Holliday Unit in Huntsville.  Again, thank you for sharing our story.  If anyone has any questions, I am here to help.

Jo Anne

Offline sunrayswench

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Re: TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2015, 12:56:30 pm »
Hi Jo Anne :)

Would you like to tell everyone a bit more about how you came to officiate at the wedding, and perhaps how people can contact you?
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Offline TDCJmarriages

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Re: TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2015, 01:27:22 pm »
I'd love to but wasn't sure about 'advertising' on this forum. 

Will post information tonight but until then, you can text me at (713) 425-9406 
or check me out at https://www.facebook.com/TDCJmarriages


Mark 10:9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.

Offline sunrayswench

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Re: TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2015, 12:10:48 am »
Call it an infomercial :)
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Offline TDCJmarriages

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Re: TDCJ inmates can now marry in prison
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2015, 02:01:19 am »
This infomercial is brought to you by Memorable Moment where every Moment is Memorable.

Hello future brides and grooms!

Since I was already an Ordained Minister when TDCJ set up the procedure for Inmate Marriages, I submitted my application to Access to Court for approval. 

When a groom contacted TIFA (Texas Inmate Families Association) with questions about TDCJ marriages, they forwarded his email to me.  Within about 3 weeks, I had the honor of performing the first female Marriage Ceremony at the Murray Unit in Gatesville.  It was the first ceremony for the Murray Unit and only the third for all of TDCJ.  The first marriage ceremony was held on March 21Other firsts that I have had the honor to do include the Polunsky Unit in Livingston and the Lopez Unit in Edinburg.

The process is still new and many units do not have all the procedures in place yet which is why some may take 3 weeks while others may take 3 month. 

Thank you for taking the time to ready about me.  If you would like additional details, please post here, text me at (713) 425-9406 or check me out at https://www.facebook.com/TDCJmarriages.   

Jo Anne Hall
Approved Officiant for
TDCJ Inmate Marriages
by Memorable Moment


http://www.chron.com/life/weddings-and-celebrations/article/Humble-woman-officiates-prison-weddings-6145626.php#photo-7681092


Mark 10:9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.


#TDCJmarriages
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« Last Edit: June 12, 2015, 02:10:36 am by TDCJmarriages »

 

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