Rehabilitation Programs Division

Volunteer Services Program

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:

• Frequently Asked Questions

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

September 2022 Newsletter

Volunteer Newsletter Archives

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.

• Proposal Form for Service Providers - PDF
• Proposal Form for Service Providers - Word

Unit Programming

• Unit Programming
• Program Descriptions

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.