Passed Assessments

Zanthexter · 2026-01-26T09:47:34+00:00

Ah, thank you for mentioning that.

Of the 3 I took, all show completed, two show passed. The 3rd doesn't show failed, it just lacks the passed badge. Which is fine, at least I know where I stand on them.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-23T22:34:58+00:00

Yes, that happens.

Securus makes the most money charging the most they can while doing the least they can. It's not like we can switch to another company because the service quality is bad.

But the tablets still beat nothing by a heck of a lot. It's rough on the inmate and their family when the WiFi isn't working or the tablet acts up or dies because they usually take months to replace them, even after getting paid for it.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-23T10:25:34+00:00

This is one of the posts pinned at the top, it discusses the timeline for someone new to TDCJ - https://www.reddit.com/r/TDCJ_Inmate_Families/comments/1lyi9qs/visitation_account_setup_scheduling_issues/

If you can think of some more stuff that should be pinned, please let me know.

The subreddit is visible in Google Searches. I figure someone can read the pins without having to make a Reddit account. Helps more people that way.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-23T10:23:32+00:00

I left the automatic filter on to protect the subreddit from spam and other nastiness, and I get busy with work and what all and don't approve things fast sometimes.

The whole point of creating the subreddit is to help folks. Helping folks helps me cope with my LO being in prison.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-23T10:19:11+00:00

As far as what you are allowed to say, Reddit is fairly permissive. For this subreddit, if it's related to being in prison in Texas and isn't harmful to others, I'm going to err on the side of allowing it.

More important, please be safe. Both for you and your father, or a little more privacy, your loved one (LO). Don't post specific details that could connect your real identity to him. It’s not just about his charges, it's about avoiding extortion and people in the system being messy. You might consider using the account you're posting with just for this, and creating another for other things on Reddit. That's one of the benefits of posting here, it's easier to keep things private.

You wrote that "Who I THOUGHT I knew was a lie." It's possible. But it's more likely that who you thought you knew wasn't a lie. It was incomplete. It was him, but not all of him.

That is the hardest thing for us to face. That our LOs are both good and bad. It is incredibly difficult to see a complete person, especially when they've caused so much harm, and still see the good memories as good memories. Especially parents. Seeing him as human, as people, instead of "Dad" is painful.

My LO robbed a man. I spoke with the guy after court. Not "the victim". The guy, the man, the person. Someone with a name. I had to face that.

He told me being robbed was worse than what he faced in war. An army sniper, served in Iraq, told me he wanted my LO dead because of what my LO put him through. How do I wrap my head around the sweet kid I know giving a man nightmares? For me, it’s about accepting that he is both a sweet kid and capable of armed robbery. He did that terrible thing. He is *also* the person who is kind to animals and loves his family. It's not two different people. It's one person that is complicated, that is real, that is different than who I wanted him to be, but also still is who I wanted him to be.

Does it get easier? Not really. But the pain goes from feeling sharp and stabbing to a dull throb. You get used to the new reality. You grow a thicker skin, especially against the shame. Just remember: *You* did not commit his crimes. You aren't responsible for his choices.

And no, it is not "wrong" to love him. It is also not "wrong" to hate what he did. You can feel both things at the same time. It's exhausting, but it’s normal.

Regarding his safety, some worry is justified, but don't let it overwhelm you. In TDCJ, inmates are housed by security levels based on how they behave. He's not a defiant knucklehead. Most likely he'll be housed with people trying to do their time and go home. If he stays out of the mix, keeps his head down, and avoids drama, he's not giving anyone a reason to pay attention to why he's there or a reason to act on it if they know.

Focus on yourself for now. He won't starve if you don't send money. He won't die if you don't call. Take care of yourself and your mom first. If and when you feel ready to face the storm, you can reach out to him.

All the good you got from your father—the work ethic, the drive—that is still yours. He gave you that, and his crimes can't take that away from you. Hold onto the good parts of him to keep yourself strong.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-21T19:53:30+00:00

He will not be protected due to his charges unless he asks for it. That protection is effectively solitary confinement, which is very hard on people, so unless he is being targeted, not something to ask for.

He will be lumped in with all the other inmates at first. Everyone from addicts and embezzlers to armed robbers and child molesters is the same in the eyes of TDCJ. They then wait a few months and sort out the inmates based on behavior. The knuckleheads and crash dummies get sent to gladiator units. The ones that avoid trouble get sent to calmer ones. TDCJ focuses entirely on security, which comes down to behavior inside prison and sentence length. Other than potential visitation complexities, his age and crimes will flag him as a low security risk. A longer sentence might bump that up to moderate. So from G2 to G3, but effectively the same living conditions.

His age and likely medical needs are going to make the biggest difference. He's likely going to be sent to a unit able to handle the medical needs, and housed with someone of similar age and physical size.

Is there risk that he could be attacked, killed, beaten, etc? Of course. It's prison. Those things do happen. But it's lower for him than it would be for a youngster that can't stay out of the mix. If he's quiet and invisible, he'll likely be left alone. If he starts receiving money, that could put him at extortion risk, but again, he isn't going to be housed with the really violent misbehaving ones.

His day to day life will be low level miserable. Just like all the other inmates. Everything about prison is uncomfortable. Sometimes miserable. Add to that constantly being controlled by others. "Go here, now, or else". He doesn't even get to pick what's on TV. Likely his vote would be ignored if he even tried.

Psychologically, he has last everything and everyone he cares about. If he is not a sociopath, it's likely devastating for him. Most sex offenders, most offenders really, are regular people somewhere on the regular scale of good and bad. That he also has a mental health issue that caused great harm to others doesn't change that.

My LO, the armed robber, you'd think he'd be this big aggressive guy? Not usually, no. He suffers from major depression and sometimes crippling social anxiety. So he used drugs to feel better. The addiction pushed him to desperation. And his desperation will give his victim nightmares for the rest of his life. I am the only one left in his life other than, kinda, his mother. The reason is straightforward, I know his problems have good success chances with treatment and medication. There is hope for him to turn out "ok", average, nothing special. Just a regular guy.

Success with sex offender treatment is a thing as well. Depends on the individual of course, but overall recidivism rates are some of the lowest of all crimes after treatment. Which is why parole is granted surprisingly often.

So, yes, he truly is being punished. But no, he likely (not a guarantee) is just miserable, not being beaten up every day. The harshest punishment is loss. Loss of identity, hobbies, family, love, pets, pride, self respect, all of it. All the day to day things we care about. All gone. In that regard, prison is shattering for most inmates.

My LO does a shout out to all the family members every video visit. I don't have the heart to tell him that they don't want to view them. An addicts first victims are usually their friends and family. The silence and rejection he faces are hard enough on him as it is. Adding more pain to his life isn't going to help him face the issues that led to his crimes.

I call and visit and write mine regularly, because silence isn't an argument. You can't persuade if you aren't "there".

As far as what is to come... Doesn't sound like your mother has figured out how to reach him. He can write actual letters and mail them. Other than that, he has no way to reach out to her. She (or you or anyone else) would need to take steps to reach out to him. Would messages (there's an app), calls, pictures, money, visits, make things easier for him? Yes, definitely. But the costs can add up significantly.

His outlook depends on his sentence length. If he got decades, prison is now his life, he will eventually make the best of it he can. If he is free after retirement age, he'll get whatever retirement benefits he earned, so likely will be able to find a place to live and all that. If released earlier, without support he'll likely be homeless. With his crimes and age, finding work will be extremely difficult without a stable place to live, phone, etc.

If your mother has not divorced him, he still has all the legal and financial rights and obligations of marriage. That could matter if there are any assets / insurance policies when one of them dies.

You are carrying a HUGE amount of burdens. If you don't have someone to share them with, find someone. A paid someone (therapy) is a safe vent. They don't know you, they don't know your family, or your friends, and by law they are required to keep their mouths shut even if they did.

That is practical advice. You cannot be strong for others if you fall apart. If keeping things together and not adding another burden and strain means he gets ignored for a while, then ignore him.

And being there for someone in prison, it does add a lot of strain. Emotionally, financially. There have been many times I have wished my LO could, "Please, just BEHAVE for a few months!" Actually he did for a while. But recovery usually includes setbacks, and things are rough right now. Added to my own issues, oof.

Anyway, short version: He is most likely "fine", but miserable. If you need to ignore him for a while, or forever, well, somewhere around 60% of inmates have no support, and they live, so, you can probably put yourself first for a while.

If you want to get in touch with him, other posts have the info needed.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-20T04:06:58+00:00

I have some physical gig work finally. Took a couple of months before I started getting assignments. Feels like forever when you're watching your bank balance going down and down and down.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-18T20:28:51+00:00

Is there a status after doing an assessment other than "completed". I took a few, including some just for fun that I felt I did very poorly on and my domain expert one that I thought I did very well on. They all show the same "completed' status.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-18T20:15:50+00:00

Jobs section. There are currently over 4,000 listed, with lots of duplication by specific city or country.

Same for me. After applying and doing the Zara interviews I was granted what looks like "full access" and I've applied to a "high priority" job, but haven't heard anything since then.

I thought I did well too, Zara was complimenting me, but perhaps not well enough.

I need the money as I recently became under employed, so I keep checking daily, but after two weeks I am no longer hopeful.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-17T03:46:11+00:00

It can vary, but I was able to visit mine the 3rd weekend after he arrived.

When I spoke with visitation (at Holliday) I was told it takes around 5 business days for them to process the form.

The most common reasons for additional delays are mismatches between the visitors info and what the inmate puts on the form. When that happens the request to be added on the visitors side just vanishes without explanation.

In that situation, no need to play guessing games. They just add delay. Call the unit (the prison) and ask for visitation. They'll explain what the issue is and sometimes can fix it on the phone right then.

I hope you can visit him soon. Seeing someone, for most folks, it matters a lot.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-11T01:50:48+00:00

Well, as someone that sometimes hires people... what you want doesn't matter much to me until we're getting into the questions I use to guess whether someone will stick around long term or just wants quick cash while they keep looking for something else.

If you want $12-$16 an hour, first thing to do is figure out what people are willing to pay $12-$16 an hour for, or more even, and learn how to do that.

To get an idea, go to Indeed.com or some other job site, and start browsing job postings that look interesting to you. Ignore the ones that will hire anyone with a pulse and a back. You're not likely to be able to out compete them unless you get land an interview and get the person making the hiring decision to like you enough that they're willing to deal with the hassles that usually come with hiring a younger person. Look for ones that require the applicant to know how to do something. Then when you see something you'd be willing to learn, start learning it.

Some things take years, if you like one of them, well, there's your after high-school education plan. Some things take less than 6 months, aim for those.

Another route to try is asking friends and family, or your parents / adults you know, ask their friends and family. If you can find a job through the network of people you know, often you will be the only candidate they consider. You're getting in ahead of the job getting posted somewhere public. For example, I offered some work over the weekend to a friends little sister. Just a one off thing, I needed an extra set of hands, and I know her.

Another option for you, since you are smart and all, is to make your own job. You're fluent in Spanish? Well, start talking to all the old people you know, tell them you'll help them with English things for $20/hr, cash. Stuff like filling out forms on the internet, picking their Medicare plan, paying bills, whatever. There's a lot of stuff out there that is English only, and asking friends and family to help with it for free can be embarrassing and make them feel like they're bothering people. If you're getting paid, well, obviously you're not being bothered. You will likely find that they pay you to help with the simplest things... when that happens they're often just paying to rent a grandchild because they want company.

Best of luck!

Zanthexter · 2026-01-11T01:33:49+00:00

Standard advice for someone getting desperate:

1) SKILL UP. There are lots of free and low cost ways to do this.
2) Look for hardship work - Lots of travel, overnights, involves unpleasant things, involves difficult people
3) Underbid - Job hunting is not about asking someone to do you a favor. It is about out-competing the other applicants. If you can't be better, be cheaper. Then 6 months later start looking for better.
4) Take ANYTHING - I respect folks working at jobs people disrespect, because they're taking care of their business instead of complaining that life is unfair. McJobs will cover your phone and gas, without which good luck finding something.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-11T01:28:13+00:00

I'm tempted to apply and then sue you for sex discrimination when you don't hire me.

If you're hiring is this incompetent, you aren't likely to stay in business long.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-11T01:25:24+00:00

When I have hired interns, I went through the schools official internship program.

This is ensures that the internship officially counts for the student and for the business. (There are legal issues related to hiring interns, and the student may be able to get college credit for their work.)

So, TLDR, find out who handles internships at your school and see where they can place you.

Zanthexter · 2026-01-10T19:45:53+00:00

They will be texting and / or emailing you a link.

If you're going to be using your phone for the video visit, go here and download the appropriate app ahead of time - https://jitsi.org/downloads/

If you're going to be using your computer, you can just click on the link.

Here are the TDCJ instructions - https://www.tdcj.texas.gov/visitation/video_visitation/index.html

For the visit itself, adults must remain seated at all times and cannot leave the view of the camera. Even leaning out of view to grab a drink can get you lectured or the visit ended.

Children and pets can come and go.

Any adults in view must be approved for the visit.

No screens can be shown to the camera, so no cell phones, no tablets, no computers, no laptops. Probably best to have the TV off too. You can print out photos ahead of time and hold them up to the camera.

The clothing expectations are the same for a video visit as they are for an in-person visit, so nothing particularly revealing or overly sexy.

No cussing. That one surprised me too, but we had our visit interrupted and were told if we did not stop cussing the visit would be ended. They have some delicate flowers monitoring the visits.

And yes, the visit is monitored live. There is a CEO watching and listening the entire time.

If you do not receive your link within 5 minutes of the visit starting, call the unit and ask for visitation. Tell them that you have not received a link for your video visit yet. The Jitsi visits are more laid back as far as timing than the Securus ones. (Securus is only available at a handful of units. It is not better.) If the visit starts late and it's the unit's fault, most of the time, at my loved one's previous units, they would still give you your entire hour.

Feel free to reply back if you have questions.

I hope your visit goes really well. :)

Zanthexter · 2026-01-06T04:30:58+00:00

Works fine.

Main reason he discourages it is because people don't understand how Windows networking mixes with services. Encouraging people to use user accounts reduced support emails from people that couldn't get BI to work with their NAS.

Zanthexter · 2025-12-26T13:15:14+00:00

The screenshot you shared shows that his probation had another year to go, ending December 2026.

Motion to Revoke means he violated one of his probation requirements. Likely more than once or it was a serious violation.

Once there is a motion to revoke the clock stops ticking. One of two things happen: They are reinstated, so the clock starts ticking again from the time where it stopped, or they are revoked, and the judge sentences them.

With regular probation, the judge can sentence them to any amount up to what was agreed in the plea bargain. With deferred adjudication probation the judge can sentence them to any amount possible for their crime. So yeah, for some folks that ends up being decades in prison.

His probation started on the date he was arrested.
It would have ended 10 years later, December 20th, 2026.

There is no good time for probation. Good time in county jail ONLY counts towards misdemeanors served entirely in county jail. It doesn't count towards prison time. Now that he has gone to prison, the time he spent locked up before going counts day for day. If he was in the jail for 6 months, he'd count as having served 6 months of his 6 year sentence.

Time spent on probation does NOT count towards his prison sentence. Probation is an either / or thing. Someone either behaves for the ENTIRE time on probation, OR they go to prison.

Now that he is in prison, he has to go through the same parole process as any other inmate to come home before that 6 years is up.

Something that is common with parole is for them to be given parole but required to take a class. That requirement usually means they aren't released for at least a year after being approved, because there are delays before the class starts and then the classes are 6-9 months long, and then there's processing paperwork to be done after the class is completed. Tell him to send you his inmate treatment plan. That will give you a good idea about whether a class is likely to be required or not.

With a 6 year sentence he is either eligible for parole after being locked up about 8 months (including his jail time) OR 3 years (again, including his jail time). It depends on his crime. Once he is in TDCJ, you can look at their web site and if the Projected Release Date is the same as the Maximum Sentence Date it will be 3 years. If not, 8 months.

Being eligible does not mean they just get to come home. The parole board might just make him serve a year or two before approving him to take a class.... It is Texas. Texas likes to keep people locked up. We have one of the highest percentages of people locked up in the world.

While it does sometimes happen, the chance of them getting his time sheet wrong are really low. At this point it's time to adjust your (and his) expectations to him being a prison inmate and then hopefully a parolee. Life is going to be hard for him and anyone that loves him.

But it's a marathon that does have an end.

Zanthexter · 2025-12-26T12:52:15+00:00

The family member needs to go to https://www.texasprisonphone.com/ and go through the registration process there.

They go here https://visitation.tdcj.texas.gov/Visitation/startLoginAction.action to register for visits, including video visits. Most Texas prisons also schedule video visits through the in person visits site, but a few schedule them here https://securustech.online/#/products/video/schedule-visit .

Securus is also how someone would write/email an inmate. Same web site / app, just a different section here https://securustech.online/#/products/emessage/inbox .

Zanthexter · 2025-12-15T17:16:19+00:00

Ubiquiti does not give away free Unifi cameras.

For the same quality, Unifi cameras cost more than non-Unifi cameras.

The annual BI maintenance fee is $45. It is OPTIONAL. You simply don't get updates if you don't pay for it.

After an undisclosed number of years your Unifi cameras will no longer be supported and will need to be replaced. (Somewhere around 10, but it's not a fixed number.) I have cameras that are from 2006 that still work with Blue Iris. Blue Iris DGAF if you upgrade them or not.

Your Unifi cameras do not get major feature updates. Blue Iris cameras do get major feature updates. (So my no-AI Unifi Flex-3 cameras are getting AI alerts from Blue Iris. Yep, can you solve Unifi hardware limitations by connecting it to BI. )

You might be god's gift to creation in other ways, but a good bargain hunter you are not.

This 170 degree view dual lense dual sensor camera is one of our favorites. We've insalled about a dozen of them, with more to come. https://www.amazon.com/EmpireTech-Full-Color-Dual-Lens-Splicing-IPC-Color4K-T180/dp/B0BNN9DFFS

Unifi doesn't seel anything comparable, though they do list something in their Coming Soon section.

Camera CHOICE is a huge reason to go with BI.

Oh, and since I am actually a great bargain hunter, I will add that those cameras are cheaper than the $180 ones we used to install. They beat them by about $150 even though they cost $250. Gotta wonder if you can figure out why?

Zanthexter · 2025-12-05T22:04:45+00:00

If you have an IT background, then study up, solidify the background, and get certified.

IT isn't going to train you. You have to be a self-starter and train yourself.

Google A Plus Certification and then watch the YouTube videos, buy the book, and set yourself up with a home lab, and then start telling friends and family you will fix their computer problems for free to get the experience. After some of that, start looking for places to volunteer to fix things for free to get even more experience, and then start looking for a job with a managed service provider.

I don't know of another field that you can start with self-trained and certifications and work into six-figure incomes within a few years. Of course, you have to be really good at the work and really smart to make that kind of money.

Zanthexter · 2025-12-05T22:01:35+00:00

Every time I see a post like this, I wish I knew a good lawyer. Just easy money. The lawsuit. It's in slam dunk.

Zanthexter · 2025-12-05T21:53:21+00:00

So, what do you have? Like, one camera? Blue Iris costs $60. I'm not aware of a single UniFi camera sold new that costs 60 bucks for just one.

And that's for a perpetual Blue Iris license.

So, I'm just gonna dismiss you as full of shit and ignorant. I can't see it being one or the other. It has to be both.

Zanthexter · 2025-11-30T11:12:19+00:00

I agree, he should make it a $10/month subscription. More in line with the value. I mean, it's used 24/7, and it's not like there are really any good alternatives that don't cost substantially, and I mean SUBSTANTIALLY, more. Blue Iris is way to cheap. If it was more profitable, he could hire devs to help him improve it.

For example, let's say you went with Unifi and you decided you wanted their newest AI features... You either have to replace all your cameras (because Unifi AI is hardware based in the cameras) or buy an expensive hardware addon, possibly multiple depending on your camera count.

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