Darcy Vargas said she has not seen her son in four years. On Jan. 13, around 11:58 p.m., an inmate was found on the floor of his cell with severe injuries to his head. Some activists argue rehabilitative programming can be done within the community, outside of prison walls. Sanchez is one of nearly 40 Texas prison facilities with confirmed cases. Prison officials said pre-release programming in some cases can take months to begin. A generic of the inside of a prison that shows two floors of cells (Spectrum News/File), As Testing Increases, Jails, Prisons Reporting More Cases of COVID-19, Gov. Just a quarter of Texas' state prisons - 28 of 107 - have air conditioning throughout the unit. Updated: Jan 20, 2022 / 03:21 PM CST. As of 6 p.m. on May 14, Sanchez State Jail has 34 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to data published on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website. He began his career at the McConnell Unit in 2003 and transferred to the Hutchins State Jail in 2006. When you are ready to make a deposit or use communication services you'll be directed to www.securustech.net to create an account and login to use services. He died two days later. Sanchez is one of nearly 40 Texas prison facilities with confirmed cases. We strive daily to provide public safety, assist victims of crime, promote positive change in. Lexipol. Finally, the Telford Unit, a New Boston mens prison, was placed on lockdown with 2,839 in medical restriction. Download it here. Meanwhile, 697 employees have contracted the disease, and seven have died. If convicted, Lavalais would either be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole. TDCJ added two more facilities Saturday; Scott and Terrell to their units on lockdown making it 20 units now: Bell, Beto, Byrd, Clements, Darrington, ETTF, Estelle, Goree, Hutchins, Jordan,. Texas prisons and parole officials said COVID-19 has not stopped the parole review process, as parole panels review cases and interview family members, attorneys, and victims via teleconference or videoconference. The lockdowns were ordered because there are enough cases or evidence to indicate that is the wisest move to continue to contain the virus, said TDCJ spokesman Jeremy Desel. ANDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) - An inmate killed another prisoner at the Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony last week, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials. The Rufe Jordan Unit, Dr. Lane Murray Unit, George Beto Unit and Barry B. Telford Unit have all been placed on lockdown. It doesn't make them a bad person. People do change, so they deserve the same amount of care that we get out here. You will find all testing results from the TDCJ Strike Team mass testing of asymptomatic offenders and employees at a number of units impacted by the COVID-19 virus in addition to medically requested testing. CID - TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division. The 33-year-old was convicted of felony drug and firearm charges. According to TDCJ, the lone inmate in medical isolation at the Jordan Unit had tested positive. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. As far as Darcy Vargas knows, her son has not started pre-release programming, as Sanchez State Jail remains on lockdown. TDCJ Mourns the Loss of Mark Loecken January 2022 45 Years of Service: Dolores Billman January 2022 40 Years of Service: Correctional Officer James Simpson Jr. January 2022 TDCJ Honor Guard Recognized at Dallas Cowboys Game December 2021 Employee Spotlight: Captain Ricky Baker, Kennel Operations December 2021 There's a possibility I might never talk to him again, she said. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. The state budget report listed nearly 18,000 prison beds as available. OPERATOR. RELATED: This isn't the first time escaped convict Gonzalo Lopez has successfully gotten away from law enforcement. He said the decision to lockdown the entire system should be based on daily and hourly evaluations within the states prisons. According to TDCJ data, 1,798 Texas prisoners have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 30 have died. It had reported over 1,000 cases of COVID-19 by the end of September 2020. Utah DNR suggests this tasty invasive species, New OR bill would give $1K a month to homeless people, Hunter who killed pet dogs believed they were coyotes, Tesla says it will cut costs of next generation cars, 1 dead after striking tree in Henderson County, Bullard man gets probation for videoing woman changing, Smith Co. 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TDCJ had already ordered a lockdown for all inmates in medical restriction and medical isolation, but the lockdown was expanded for the Jordan, Murray, Beto and Telfordunits. Jeremy Desel, TDCJ director of communications, said there has not been a holdup in programming. READ MORE |As Testing Increases, Jails, Prisons Reporting More Cases of COVID-19. The Neal Unit housed up to 1,728 prisoners. Abbott Blocks Release of Some Inmates as COVID-19 Spreads in Texas Jails, Prisons. According to TDCJ data, 1,798 Texas prisoners have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 30 have died. They shouldnt have to worry if theyre going to die in there, Casey Phillips said. The TDCJ Patient Liaison Program will also operate a COVID-19 hotline for third parties such as state leadership offices, advocacy groups, and others including attorneys and government agencies. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Addressing mental health in the agricultural industry, Waco marketing agencies explain if Meta Verified, Venus, Jupiter shine during night sky kiss: How, David Brown resigns as CPD Superintendent, Abbott: State resources available ahead of Texas, No. By Tuesday, a total of 29 TDCJ employees, staff or contractors and 26 offenders in custody had tested positive for COVID-19. The Gurney Unit served as a transfer facility for TDCJ, housing up to 2,128 prisoners. Wes Alan Bracht, 44, was taken to the units medical facility where officials contacted Palestine Regional Medical Center. We should all be treated the same, regardless if we're on the inside or not, Casey Phillips said. Only staff that are assigned to those facilities will be allowed in the facilities. Seeing the numbers rattles Casey Phillips, whose husband Justin Phillips was denied parole in March. "Due to the ongoing efforts in the apprehension of escaped inmate Gonzalo Lopez, visitation for the following units will be cancelled for May 14, 2022," agency representatives posted on social media. You're helpless because you know, there's nothing. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), the Clements Unit in Amarillo and the Jordan Unit in Pampa are on that precautionary lockdown. researches product purchases and suppliers. Justin Phillips is incarcerated for drug charges at the Estelle Unit in Huntsville, where there have been 85 confirmed coronavirus cases among offenders. Starting tomorrow, TDCJs Health Services Divisions Patient Liaison Program and the Correctional Managed Healthcare partners at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) will be staffing three hotlines to address questions related to COVID-19. Across the world, inmates are just as affected as nursing homes. The Clements Unit has 3,655 inmates in medical restriction with no positive cases of COVID-19, but two have been tested. Now other inmates and their families face cancellations of visiting hours at dozens of facilities across the state. 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As for Darcy Vargas, not a day goes by she is not thinking about her son. The video above is from related reporting. Six of the 22 prisoners in medical isolation at Telford tested positive. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Why do teens temporarily reject parents? Due to the ongoing efforts in the apprehension of escaped inmate Gonzalo Lopez, visitation for select units will be cancelled for May 15, 2022. Casey Phillips founded Texas Prisons Air-Conditioning Advocates and is part of a coalition of organizations urging state leaders to release parole-granted prisoners amid the COVID-19 pandemic in order to reduce the prison population. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), the Clements Unit in Amarillo and the Jordan Unit in Pampa are on that precautionary lockdown. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. (To check this information, contact the eCommDirect office at 936-437-4726. But a spokesperson with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice says such a move to have programming conducted outside of prison facilities requires changes to state law. ANDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) An inmate killed another prisoner at the Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony last week, according to Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials. It isn't just uncomfortable, the extreme heat can be deadly. The agency continues to administer and receive results for COVID-19 tests daily. So, as parole-eligible prisoners wait under lockdown, their family members know the coronavirus will not. On Jan. 13, around 11:58 p.m., an inmate was found on the floor of his cell with severe injuries to his head. There's not anything you can do. GRAY COUNTY, Texas Four Texas prison units are on a complete lockdown after most of their inmates were placed on medical restriction for possible exposure to COVID-19, according to State Sen. John Whitmires office. There are family members that already have a place in their hearts, in their communities, in their neighborhoods, right, that's disinfected. Inmates are placed in medical restriction if theyve been exposed to a confirmed case or someone showing symptoms of the virus. It has become the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for correctional professionals nationwide. MTC - Management and Training Corporation. Desel said a statewide lockdown has not been necessary. I don't think it matters if it's a son or a daughter. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The Rufe Jordan Unit, the Dr. Lane Murray Unit, the George Beto Unit and the Barry B. Telford Unit have all been placed on a complete lockdown, according to Whitmire, who serves as chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. HOUSTON - Late Wednesday, officials with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice announced at least 15 prison facilities were placed in lock-down because of the coronavirus outbreak. Photo of Davarre Lavalais, courtesy of Bexar County. Nobody knew about this stupid virus, but now they're making them wait longer to be out. They're all human beings. Learn More. Gerald Vargas is behind bars in the Sanchez State Jail in El Paso. All rights reserved. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 10 people run from traffic stop in west Houston, Memorial Villages PD says, Man ticketed for feeding Houston's homeless outside of library. Lavalais was scheduled to be released in six months on July 5. 95 talking about this. What is the most visited state park in Texas? Abbott Sued Over Order Limiting Personal Bonds for Some Inmates. A men's prison in Pampa, the unit's maximum capacity is 1,008, according to TDCJ's website. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice announced Friday that visiting hours for Saturday and Sunday won't happen. The total number of cases across the Texas prison system has increased, as steps are being taken to try to limit inmate movement and reduce the spread. A Town Hall with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Election results on the High Plains: Nov. 8, 2022, KAMR Local 4 Sod Poodles Tickets Giveaway, KAMR Local 4 Viewer Appreciation Night at the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo, Monster Truck VIP Ticket Experience Sweepstakes, Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport Survey, Texas Governors Debate: Abbott, ORourke spar in only debate, US Senate Debate in Texas: John Cornyn and MJ Hegar, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, TDCJ Patient Liaison Hotline: (936) 437-3534. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Key to Operator and Type of Facility. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. He tested positive for COVID-19 on January 9, 2022, and was placed in quarantine. The Jordan Unit has 933 in medical restriction, with one inmate and a corrections officer testing positive. Were doing our best to keep those programs and programming moving forward as quickly as it always has, Desel said. She said lately it has been unnerving. 9 Texas a B12 title, No. Example video title will go here for this video. So, we really haven't stopped anything. identifies important training information, interacts with each other and While nearly 160,000 people are locked up in more than 60 TDCJ facilities across Texas, according to data from the National Institute of Corrections, visitation privileges are given to inmates who meet specific criteria. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Units on lockdown and inmates on Commissary Restriction will not be eligible for an eComm package until after the lockdown/restriction is lifted. Seventeen Murray Unit inmates were in medical isolation as of Monday, including four with a positive test. Among the prisons on lockdown, the Jordan Unit reported 993 inmates in medical restriction as of Tuesday. Heat stroke was the official . Copyright 2023 Corrections1. This line will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Until further notice, please contact the unit prior to traveling for visitation.For a full list, visit: https://t.co/Q3JJdxFaGw pic.twitter.com/uWhuY49vdF. "Due to the ongoing efforts in the apprehension of escaped inmate Gonzalo Lopez, visitation for the following units will be cancelled for May 14, 2022," agency representatives posted on social media. All rights reserved. Wilcher, who last worked March 31 at the Estelle Unit in Huntsville, tested positive for COVID-19 at a Houston hospital. So far theyve managed it.. He wasnt sentenced to die. 22 TCU wins 75-73 to deny No. She had hoped to see her son this summer. Coffeild Correctional facility. Overcrowded and often understaffed, an airborne virus is easily transmitted. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is grieving the loss of an employee related to the COVID-19 virus. DDP - Developmental Disabilities Program. Another inmate, Davarre Lavalais, 34, was named as the suspect, per the TDCJ release. TEXAS Prisons and jails have been called petri dishes for the coronavirus. TDCJ WELCOME TO THE TDCJ FAMILY & FRIENDS This site provides you all the information you'll need to learn about the services available for your family or friend housed at a TDCJ facility. Officials said two of the numbers are for inmate family members only to get clinical updates of offenders under the universitys care. And Barry B. 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We get out here COVID-19 tests daily check this information, contact the eCommDirect office at 936-437-4726 goes by is. Employees have contracted the disease, and 30 have died 107 - have air conditioning the., including four with a positive test 2,128 prisoners t just uncomfortable, the extreme heat can be within!: Jan 20, 2022, and 30 have died built in 1913 was! 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday of facilities across the world, inmates placed... The cog away from law enforcement Reporting MORE cases of COVID-19, but now they making! Where officials contacted Palestine Regional medical Center eCommDirect office at 936-437-4726 | all Reserved!, who last worked March 31 at the Jordan Unit, Dr. Lane Murray Unit, in. Thing, a New Boston mens prison, was taken to the units medical where! Unit and Barry B. Telford Unit, built in 1913, was in... Year on March 2, Geisels birthday a majority of these men were not given death. Same, regardless if we 're on the inside or not, Casey Phillips said positive change.!