Rehabilitation Programs Division
Volunteer Services Program
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice places a significant focus on volunteer services realizing volunteers are an essential element in the rehabilitation and re-entry of inmates into the community. Volunteers assist in providing literacy and educational assistance, life skills, job skills, and parenting classes. Volunteers facilitate medical education and prevention training as well as arts and crafts programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, faith-based programming, and other programs determined by TDCJ to aid in the transition between confinement and society. The following areas provide volunteer services directly to inmates:
- Rehabilitation Programs Division (Chaplaincy Department, Substance Use Treatment Program, and Sex Offender Program)
- Reentry and Integration Division
- Correctional Institutions Division
- Private Facility Contract Monitoring/Oversight Division
- Parole Division
- Victim Services Division
- Health Services
- Windham School District
Volunteer Opportunities
The role of the volunteer within TDCJ is to provide guidance in specific activities and programs, promote personal growth and development, provide support and assistance to victims and inmates, and help facilitate re-entry into the community.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you are encouraged to complete the online application and training (see below). Effective September 1, 2023, applications will not be processed until training has been completed. An application must be completed prior to beginning the online training.
New volunteer applicants are required to complete initial training, either online or by attending in-person training sessions. Volunteers are required to re-train every two (2) years.
- Apply: use the online application.
- Train: either online or in-person.
Already applied and finished training? Check your status.
Completion of training is not a guarantee of approval. All applications include a criminal background check and are reviewed for eligibility according to the following criteria:
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Must not have any pending criminal charges.
- Must have been released from an adult prison for at least 12 months.
- If you are on any type of adult supervision, you will be required to provide a letter from your supervising officer acknowledging your participation in the TDCJ Volunteer Program and that the you are meeting the requirements of supervision.
- Must be 12-months from the disposition date of any criminal charge (excluding traffic tickets).
If you have a specific question regarding eligibility, please contact Volunteer Services at (936) 437-3026.
Volunteer Resources
Recommended for all volunteers:
- Handbook for Volunteers - PDF
- Handbook for Volunteers - Word
Questions? See:
We encourage volunteers to give their opinions to assist our efforts in accomplishing TDCJ's mission. Please feel free to fill out the on-line suggestions form or print a copy and mail it to the address listed on the bottom of the page.
- Volunteer Assessment/Suggestion Form (Online Form)
- Volunteer Assessment/Suggestion Form - PDF
Mentoring
An online course to train volunteers to participate in the Chaplaincy Mentor Program is available. Only approved TDCJ volunteers will receive credit for this training. Those who successfully complete the course meet the requirements to serve as a volunteer mentor under the direction of a unit chaplain. To start the training, please click on the following link.
TDCJ Chaplaincy Mentor Training
The following document is available for download in both PDF and Word formats:
- Mentoring Handbook - PDF
- Mentoring Handbook - Word
Volunteer Newsletter
Governor's Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards
- 28th Annual Governor's Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards
- Past Governor's Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards Recipients
Volunteer Programs or Services
Volunteer programs or services must have prior approval before implementation or presentation to the inmates. The attached program proposal form must be completed and submitted to the Rehabilitation Programs Division. Questions about the form, as well as the completed form, may be submitted electronically to program.proposal.form@tdcj.texas.gov.
Unit Programming
Volunteer Services Contact Information
Volunteer Services
If you have a specific question regarding your eligibility, you are encouraged to contact Volunteer Services at 936-437-3026.
Lisa Langley - Committee Coordinator
Two Financial Plaza, Suite 472
Huntsville, TX 77340
Phone: (936) 437-3026
Volunteer Coordination Committee
The Volunteer Coordination Committee (VCC) was established to coordinate programming among the various divisions to maximize the safe and successful use of volunteers. The Rehabilitation Programs Division together with the VCC provides oversight of volunteer activities within the various criminal justice settings.
TDCJ Rehabilitation Programs Division
Timothy Jones - Chairperson
Two Financial Plaza, Suite 472
Huntsville, TX 77340
Phone: (936) 437-3026
TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division | |
Management Operations | Support Operations |
Eric Guerrero | Richard Babcock |
861-B IH 45 North | |
Huntsville, Texas 77320 | |
Phone: (936) 437-6318 |
Private Facility Contract Monitoring/Oversight Division (PFCMOD)
Michael Rutledge
Two Financial Plaza, Suite 300
Huntsville, TX 77340
Phone: (936) 437-7049
TDCJ Parole Division
Steven Gaddis
8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: (512) 406-5778
TDCJ Victim Services Division
Julie Jesperson
8712 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Suite 265
Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: (512) 406-5920
TDCJ/Windham School District
Rebecca Gillen
PO Box 40
Huntsville, Texas 77342-0040
Phone: (936) 291-5384
Reentry and Integration Division (RID)
Kristie Adams
4616 West Howard Lane, Suite 200
Austin, TX 78728
Phone: (512) 671-2467
TDCJ Human Resources Division
Lindsey Harding
Two Financial Plaza, Suite 600
Huntsville, TX 77340
Phone: (936) 437-4060