American prisons are notorious for their inhumane systems. The high level of violence between prisoners, gang activities, riots, and the arbitrary role of prison guards have made some of them the most hazardous and deadliest prisons in the world.
Prisons with supermax security that house individuals convicted of serious crimes such as assault, murder, and rape have a higher risk of violence occurring in prison than those that accommodate non-violent offenders. In addition, inmates who receive life sentences in maximum-security prisons do not feel guilty for committing violence.
Well, some Texas prisons have become some of the most dangerous prisons in the United States. Reportedly, riots are one of the most common forms of violence in Texas prisons and can last for days, causing many inmate deaths. But it’s hard to say which prisons are the most dangerous in Texas.
Even so, the ten prisons in Texas that we’ll mention below have demonstrated various violent incidents that have occurred there. With one of the largest prison systems in the United States and its vast grounds, here are some of the most dangerous Texas prisons!
1. Polunsky Unit
Located in Livingston, Polunsky Unit serves as a supermax facility that authorizes the execution of male defendants on death row in Texas. Opened in 1993, this facility exclusively houses some of the worst criminals, determined to be troublemakers and violent.
High security, poor facilities, overcrowding, and sexual acts on both sides, from prisoners and guards, coupled with solitary confinement, which is considered to violate human rights, make this prison the worst and most terrible in Texas, maybe also the worst in the entire United States.
2. Huntsville Unit
Opened in 1840, Huntsville serves as a maximum-security prison with a capacity of 1,705 inmates. Standing on a land area of 54.36 hectares and built with red brick walls, the Huntsville unit is also known as the “Walls Unit.” Reportedly, over 300 inmates within 40 years have been sentenced to death in an electric chair, nicknamed “Old Sparky.”
Since its operation, many terrible things have happened to the prison, such as riots, gang fights, murders, hygiene problems, and drug overdoses. The situation continued to deteriorate as the facility made no improvements whatsoever in terms of prison systems and security, making Huntsville one of the worst prisons in Texas.
3. Ellis Unit
Ellis Unit, which has all the security classes from minimum to maximum, was opened in 1965 and accommodates more than 2,000 inmates. Located in Huntsville, this facility initially carried out the largest number of death executions in Texas. However, the death penalty at this facility was abolished after a prisoner killed the prison’s warden and farm manager in 1981, followed by a subsequent mass escape attempt.
There are so many factors that make Ellis Unit one of the worst prisons in Texas, including overcrowding issues, wars between gangs, murders, especially in maximum security blocks, and violence either among inmates or prison jails. Even so, the Ellis Unit became the most guarded prison in Texas, and the ratio of prison guards to inmates was also the reason why the riots were controlled.
4. Ferguson Unit
The Ferguson Unit is a multi-custody prison that houses offenders ranging from G1 to G4 custody levels. Located in Midway, Texas. Approximately 2,100 male prisoners will be incarcerated in the main unit and 321 inmates in the Trusty Camp.
The Ferguson Unit is well-known as one of the worst prisons in the state of Texas due to some factors. Reportedly, almost all prisoners face rampant gang violence and drug addiction. Facilities at the prison were so poor that inmates reportedly received small amounts of food and lacked clean and adequate clothing. In addition, the availability of air conditioning made the lives of prisoners very difficult, especially in the summer.
5. George Beto Unit
Located in Anderson County, Texas, George Beto Unit serves as a maximum-security prison that is notorious as the “worst place in Texas.” However, this facility has a bad reputation since it is often offered as a prison for “gladiators,”where inmates are usually forced to fight.
Housing approximately 3,471 inmates, Beto Unit has been facing challenges over the years, one of which is the problem of cleanliness. Reportedly, prisoners pass feces at guards and other inmates.
6. Scott Unit
Standing on over 5,780 acres of land in Angleton, Wayne Scott Unit, also known as Retrieve Unit, was opened in 1839, making it among the oldest in Texas. Serving as a maximum-security prison, Scott Unit accommodates offenders ranging from G1 minimum to G4 high security levels.
The facility initially housed only white male prisoners, but that changed in 1963. Well, this is when racial tensions grew to a fever pitch, often leading to gang fights and brutal killings. Even though it has worn down over the years, prisoners like standing on a very fine line where tension and violence can escalate at any given moment.
7. Briscoe Unit
The Briscoe Unit has three different security levels, ranging from G1 minimum to G4 medium custody. Opened in 1992, this facility accommodates roughly 1,384 adult male prisoners, who have to live in a cell and are closely supervised.
Even though educational facilities are considered the best in the entire Texas prison system, the overcrowding issue has become a serious issue that the facility must face. In addition, inmates should face summer in a terrible way because of the lack of cooling in this prison, so this situation makes the prison situation chaotic, and the tension between inmates sometimes can’t be controlled.
8. Terrell Unit
Terrell Unit was opened in 1983 and serves as a minimum-security prison, housing up to 1,603 male inmates. It was situated in Brazoria County, Texas, together with the other units making up the Ramsey Complex.
Although housing minimum security offenders, Terrell Unit was famous for smuggling drugs and prohibited goods on a large scale in 2008. After an investigation was carried out, the warden and other parties took firm action. However, the problem of excessive drug use has not been completely eradicated in this prison.
9. Reeves County Detention Complex
As a privately operated immigration detention facility, Reeves County Detention Complex faced accusations that the facility managers allowed deplorable conditions to exist at the facility, thus developing a bad reputation.
This facility was opened in 1986 and is situated about 3 miles southwest of Pecos in Reeves County, Texas. This facility is designed only to accommodate illegal aliens without violence. However, problems arose when a man who had a seizure and did not receive proper medical treatment died in prison. From there, a massive riot broke out at this facility.
10. Pack Unit
Pack Unit is named after warden Wallace Pack, who happened to be the victim of an inmate attack and lost his life in self-defense during a riot. Located in Navasota, this facility can accommodate a capacity of 1,157 inmates.
Even though the facility serves as a medium-security prison, the conditions within the prison are not ideal. Gang fights and violent attacks can occur at any time. This is because inmates live a difficult prison life where they experience a lack of food, contaminated water, and no air conditioning during the hot summers. Usually, this is what causes tension between inmates.
Well, those are the top ten most dangerous prisons in Texas, where violence is the main trigger for the worst prisoners. Of course, this is caused by various factors, both internal and external.
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