§ 30.010.Personal Identifying Information Privileged from Discovery by Inmate or Committed Person

Title 2. Trial, Judgment, and Appeal · Subtitle B. Trial Matters · Chapter 30. Miscellaneous Provisions · Last amended 2025 · Last verified August 29, 2026

In one sentenceSection 30.010 privileges correctional staff members' personal identifying information from discovery by inmates and civilly committed persons, unless the court finds good cause.

Full Text of § 30.010

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a)Personal identifying information pertaining to an individual, including the individual's home address, home telephone number, and social security account number, is privileged from discovery by an individual who is imprisoned or confined in any correctional facility or civilly committed as a sexually violent predator under Chapter 841, Health and Safety Code, if the individual to whom the information pertains is:

(1)an employee of any correctional facility;

(2)an officer or employee of the Texas Civil Commitment Office or a person who contracts with the office to perform a service or an employee of that person; or

(3)related within the first degree by consanguinity or affinity to an individual described by Subdivision (1) or (2).

(b)Personal identifying information that is privileged under this section may be discovered by an individual who is imprisoned or confined in a correctional facility or civilly committed as a sexually violent predator under Chapter 841, Health and Safety Code, only if:

(1)the incarcerated individual or committed person shows good cause to the court for the discovery of the information; and

(2)the court renders an order that authorizes discovery of the information.

(c)In this section, "correctional facility" has the meaning assigned by Section 1.07(a), Penal Code.

(d)Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16 ), Sec. 12.10(7), eff. December 4, 2025.

End

Plain-English Summary

A discovery privilege protecting the people who work in correctional facilities and their families.

Personal identifying information — including home address, home telephone number, and social security account number — is privileged from discovery by an individual imprisoned or confined in any correctional facility or civilly committed as a sexually violent predator, where the information pertains to:

an employee of any correctional facility; an officer or employee of the Texas Civil Commitment Office, or a person contracting with that office or their employee; or a person related within the first degree by consanguinity or affinity to either.

The third category is the one that shows the purpose. Protecting the officer but not their spouse, parent, or child would protect nobody — the household shares the address.

The privilege is not absolute. The information may be discovered only if the incarcerated or committed person shows good cause and the court renders an order authorizing discovery. Both are required, and the court order is a separate step.

The categories of information listed are inclusive rather than exhaustive — "including" leaves room for other identifying details.

Subsection (d) was repealed effective December 4, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an inmate discover a prison employee's home address?

Not without a court order. Personal identifying information of correctional facility employees is privileged from discovery by inmates and civilly committed persons.

Are family members protected?

Yes. The privilege covers a person related within the first degree by consanguinity or affinity to a covered employee.

Can the privilege be overcome?

Only if the incarcerated or committed person shows good cause and the court renders an order authorizing the discovery.

Amendment History

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 302, Sec. 2, eff. June 5, 1995.
Renumbered from Civil Practice and Remedies Code Sec. 30.07 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 31.01(6), eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Amended by:
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 34 (S.B. 1576), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 34 (S.B. 1576), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 12.10(7), eff. December 4, 2025.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from Texas Legislature Online (statutes.capitol.texas.gov). Enacted by the Texas Legislature. Current through May 14, 2026. Last verified August 29, 2026. · Official source