Quick answer: If your loved one was attacked in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prison, call their unit and ask for a ranking officer, report the threat in writing, and contact the TDCJ Office of the Independent Ombudsman. Ask your loved one to sign a medical release, file a Step 1 grievance within 15 days, and keep a record of everything. Then talk to a Texas attorney about their rights.
Finding out that someone you love was hurt behind bars is frightening. You may not know where they are, how badly they are injured, or whether they are still in danger. The steps below explain who to contact inside the Texas prison system, what to ask for, and how to protect your loved one’s legal rights.
Step 1: Find out where your loved one is and how they are doing
Use the TDCJ Inmate Search to confirm their unit and TDCJ number. You will need both for every call and letter. Call the unit and ask for the ranking officer on duty or the warden’s office. Ask whether your loved one was injured, whether they received medical care, and whether they were moved to a hospital. Seriously injured inmates are often taken to TDCJ Hospital Galveston or a local hospital.
Staff may share very little over the phone. Write down the date, time and name of everyone you speak with.
Step 2: Report the danger and ask for protection
If your loved one is still at risk, say so clearly. TDCJ says an assault or fear of assault can be reported to any ranking staff member at the unit. Your loved one can also ask unit staff for an offender protection investigation. This can lead to a housing change, a unit transfer or protective safekeeping.
Follow up in writing so there is a record that TDCJ was warned.
Step 3: Contact the TDCJ Office of the Independent Ombudsman
The Ombudsman’s office handles complaints and questions from families. It can look into what happened, act as a go-between with staff, and refer your concern for investigation. Include your loved one’s name, TDCJ number, unit, the date of the incident, what happened, any witnesses and your contact information.
The Ombudsman usually expects the inmate to use the grievance process first. The exception is an imminent health, safety or rights concern, so say plainly if your loved one is still in danger.
Step 4: Get information about their injuries and medical care
Medical care in most TDCJ prisons is provided through UTMB Correctional Managed Care. Because of privacy laws, your loved one must sign an Authorization to Release Protected Health Information before staff can share details with you. Then mail a written request, with their name and TDCJ number, to their unit of assignment.
If your loved one was treated at Hospital Galveston, contact UTMB Health Information Management at (409) 772-1965. Tip: ask your loved one to sign a release naming you now, before an emergency happens.
Step 5: Help them file a grievance on time
Only your loved one can file a grievance, but you can encourage them and help them track deadlines.
- Step 1 grievance (Form I-127): filed within 15 calendar days of the incident.
- Step 2 grievance (Form I-128): filed within 15 calendar days after the Step 1 answer comes back.
This matters for more than getting a response. Under federal law, an inmate generally must finish the prison grievance process before filing a lawsuit about prison conditions. A missed deadline can hurt a later claim.
Step 6: If it was a sexual assault, report it under PREA
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) sets zero-tolerance rules for sexual abuse in prison. Families can report sexual abuse through the TDCJ Ombudsman’s PREA request form. Your loved one can also report it to any staff member.
Step 7: Document everything
Keep a simple log: dates, names, phone calls, emails, letters and responses. Save copies of every complaint you send. Remember that prison phone calls, video visits and mail are monitored. Encourage your loved one to share details in writing to their attorney rather than on recorded calls.
Step 8: Watch for retaliation and stay in contact
TDCJ policy prohibits retaliation for filing complaints. Stay in regular contact by phone, video visit, letters or in-person visits. Watch for signs of new threats, missing medical care, sudden discipline or an unexplained move. Report anything new to the Ombudsman right away.
Step 9: Talk to a Texas attorney
A lawyer can help you get answers faster, push for an investigation, and make sure grievance and filing deadlines are met. In some cases, an inmate may have a civil rights claim if staff ignored a known danger or used excessive force. These claims have strict deadlines, often two years in Texas, and they usually require the grievance process to be finished first. The best place to find an attorney who handles these types of claims is to check the Texas Bar Association – Find A Lawyer.
If your loved one is serving a sentence they believe was unjust, an attack can also be a turning point to look at post-conviction options. Blizzard and Zimmerman’s board certified attorneys handle post-conviction relief across Texas.
