Terrell Unit
{{for|the prison previously known as the Terrell Unit|Polunsky Unit}}
{{update|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox prison
| name = C.T. Terrell Unit
| image =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = USA Texas
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Texas
| location = 1300 FM 655
Rosharon, Texas 77583
| coordinates = {{coord|29|18|37|N|95|32|13|W|scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
| status = Operational
| classification = G1-G3, Outside Trusty
| capacity = Unit: 1,389 Trusty Camp: 214
| population =
| populationdate =
| opened = September 1983
| closed =
| former_name =
| managed_by = TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division
| warden = Mary Ann Comstock, Eric Miller
| county = Brazoria County
| zip =
| country = USA
| website = {{URL|http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/unit_directory../r3.html}}
| prisoners =
}}
The Charles T. Terrell Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison located in unincorporated Brazoria County, Texas,{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st48_tx/county/c48039_brazoria/DC20BLK_C48039.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Brazoria County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2022-08-12|page=16 (PDF p. 17/67)|quote=Terrell Unit}} with a Rosharon, Texas postal address; it is not inside the Rosharon census-designated place."[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st48_tx/place/p4863332_rosharon/DC10BLK_P4863332_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Rosharon CDP, TX]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 21, 2018. The facility is located on Farm to Market Road 655, {{convert|4|mi|km}} west of Farm to Market Road 521. The prison, has about {{convert|16369|acre|ha}} of land, is co-located with Ramsey Unit and Stringfellow Unit."[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/r3.htm Terrell Unit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725201437/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/r3.htm |date=2010-07-25 }}." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. The prison is in Rosharon,Staff and Wire Reports. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/topstory2/3363238.html Parts of Houston join evacuation]." Houston Chronicle. September 21, 2005. Retrieved on May 10, 2010. and about {{convert|35|mi|km}} south of Houston."[https://web.archive.org/web/20110629045322/http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news%2Fentertainment&id=3770742 Rapper Pimp C released from prison]" (). KTRK-TV. Friday December 20, 2005. Retrieved on November 19, 2010.
History
The prison opened in September 1983. The Terrell Unit was originally the Ramsey III Unit. After the previous Terrell Unit (now the Polunsky Unit) in West Livingston, Texas"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US4877662&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on West Livingston CDP, Texas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606111713/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US4877662&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-06-06 }}." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. began to receive death row inmates, the facility's namesake, a Dallas insurance executive named Charles Terrell, wanted his name off of the prison; as a result his name was transferred to another prison.Timms, Ed. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EDB04901F63509A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Uneasy about death row, Terrell wants name off unit Prison expected to be renamed]." The Dallas Morning News. July 14, 2001. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. "Another prison the Ramsey III unit in Brazoria County probably will be renamed for Mr Terrell""[https://web.archive.org/web/20000823071131/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/directory/unit-profiles/dir-units-ramsey3.htm Ramsey III Unit]." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. August 23, 2000. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. The Texas Board of Criminal Justice voted to rename the Ramsey III Unit on July 20, 2001.Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Turner Publishing Company, 2004. [https://books.google.com/books?id=VgTcF_VMt54C&q=Polunsky&pg=PA62 103]. {{ISBN|1-56311-964-1}}, {{ISBN|978-1-56311-964-4}}.
In 2008 a state investigation began in regards to accusations that a cabal of prison guards is organizing large scale smuggling of goods into the unit.{{Cite news |date=May 1, 2008 |orig-date=POSTED: 3:39 pm CDT May 1, 2008. UPDATED: 10:56 am CDT May 2, 2008. Note: The following story is a verbatim transcript of an Investigators story that aired on Thursday, May 1, 2008, on KPRC Local 2 at 10 p.m. |title=Have Corrupt Officers Taken Over Local Prison? |url=http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16117042/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615011133/http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16117042/detail.html |archive-date=2008-06-15 |access-date=September 28, 2011 |work=KPRC Houston |department=Local 2 Investigates |via=Click2Houston.com}} A prison guard at the unit sent a complaint to Jerry Madden, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, saying that corruption was occurring at the unit.{{Cite news |date=May 2, 2008 |orig-date=POSTED: 2:45 pm CDT May 2, 2008. UPDATED: 1:59 pm CDT May 3, 2008. Note: The following story is a verbatim transcript of an Investigators story that aired on Friday, May 2, 2008, on KPRC Local 2 at 10 p.m. |title=Local 2 Investigates Charges Of Prison Corruption |url=http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16137903/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510103704/http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16137903/detail.html |archive-date=2008-05-10 |access-date=September 28, 2011 |work=KPRC Houston |department=Local 2 Investigates |via=Click2Houston.com}} TDCJ investigators searched the entire unit.{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2008 |orig-date=POSTED: 6:15 pm CDT May 7, 2008. UPDATED: 6:23 pm CDT May 7, 2008. Note: The following story is a verbatim transcript of an Investigators story that aired on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, on KPRC Local 2 at 6 p.m. |title=Prison On Lockdown After Local 2 Investigation |url=http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16193463/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521070416/http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16193463/detail.html |archive-date=2008-05-21 |access-date=September 28, 2011 |work=KPRC Houston |department=Local 2 Investigates |via=Click2Houston.com}} There were also allegations of officers having sex with inmates. After the investigation on the matter, Anthony Collins, the senior warden, lost his job.{{Cite news |date=May 6, 2008 |orig-date=POSTED: 3:31 pm CDT May 6, 2008. UPDATED: 6:20 pm CDT May 6, 2008. Note: The following story is a verbatim transcript of an Investigators story that aired on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, on KPRC Local 2 at 6 p.m. |title=Prison Warden Removed Following Local 2 Investigation |url=http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16178267/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609234333/http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16178267/detail.html |archive-date=2008-06-09 |access-date=September 28, 2011 |work=KPRC Houston |department=Local 2 Investigates |via=Click2Houston.com}}{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2008 |title=News2 Daybreak - 04:59:04 |work=NBC - 02 KPRC |at=Around 5:27 and around 6:25 |publication-place=Houston, TX |id={{NewsBank text|1208BE19D7EF3280}}.}} TDCJ investigators searched the entire prison to find evidence of corruption. The Texas Senate ordered prison officials to testify in a hearing related to the incident.Dean, Stephen and Brian Sasser. "[http://www.click2houston.com/news/16272321/detail.html#video Texas Senate Calls Hearings Over Prison Corruption]."{{dead link|date=December 2015}} KPRC-TV. 2008. Retrieved on September 28, 2011.
Notable prisoners
Current:
Former:
- David Owen Brooks (1975–2020)
- Pimp C (2002–2005)
References
{{reflist}}
12) http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/Third-Texas-prison-unit-evacuated-because-of-Brazos-River-flooding-381784271.html
External links
{{Portal|Texas}}
- "[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/unit_directory/r3.html Terrell Unit]." Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
- [http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/texas-prisons/units/terrell/ Map of Terrell Unit: Texas Tribune]
{{TDCJ-CID prisons}}