Cofer Luster Criminal Defense Lawyers | December 8, 2025 | Criminal Defense

TDCJ Texas Prison Locations

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates one of the largest prison systems in the country. With dozens of units spread across the state, it can be overwhelming for families to figure out where their loved ones are housed, as well as what each facility is used for. 

Are you facing criminal charges as a defendant or supporting someone who is already in the system? Knowing the basics about TDCJ prison locations can help you understand your next steps and what to expect going forward.

How the TDCJ Prison System Is Structured

TDCJ divides its facilities into several types based on custody levels, programs, and security needs. Some of the primary categories include the following:

Each unit type serves a different purpose, from long-term incarceration to short-term intake and evaluation.

Major Prison Units in Texas

Prisons house individuals serving longer sentences, usually for serious felony crimes. Some of the largest and most well-known facilities include:

  • Huntsville Unit (Huntsville): One of the oldest prisons in Texas and home to the state’s execution chamber
  • Allred Unit (North Iowa Park): A large maximum-security facility that houses thousands of inmates
  • Coffield Unit (Tennessee Colony): One of the biggest prisons in the TDCJ system, known for high-security operations
  • Polunsky Unit (South Livingston): Houses Texas’s death row inmates

These units are generally spread across East and North Texas, where the state concentrates many of its long-term facilities.

State Jails in Texas

State jails house individuals convicted of state-jail felonies. These are typically (but not always) non-violent, lower-level offenses that carry shorter sentences.

Common state jail facilities include:

Unlike traditional prisons, state jail sentences follow different rules. For example, inmates typically serve their sentences day-for-day with limited options for early release.

TDCJ Transfer Facilities

Transfer facilities temporarily house people who have just entered the prison system. These units are mainly for intake and movement between other facilities.

Notable locations include:

People usually spend a short time in these units before being assigned to a permanent facility.

Substance Abuse and Rehabilitative Units

TDCJ operates several specialized facilities for people with addiction-related convictions and probation violations. These include:

  • SAFP Units (multiple locations): Intensive treatment programs lasting several months
  • Intermediate Sanction Facilities (ISFs): Short-term incarceration designed to address certain violations

These facilities are located across the state to allow courts flexibility when ordering treatment.

Medical and Mental-Health Facilities

Texas has dedicated units for inmates who need long-term medical or psychiatric care:

  • Estelle Unit (Huntsville): Provides medical, geriatric, and psychiatric services
  • Hospital Galveston (Galveston): Treats inmates with serious medical needs
  • Skyview Unit (Rusk): Specializes in mental-health treatment

These facilities play an important role in caring for inmates who cannot be housed in standard prisons.

Contact a Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer for Help With Your Case

The TDCJ system is large and complicated, and it can be stressful to navigate it without help. A criminal defense lawyer in Texas can explain what to expect after sentencing and what rights you or your loved one still have while in custody. 

Contact our attorneys at Cofer Luster Criminal Defense Lawyers now to schedule an initial consultation with an attorney if you have any questions or need help with a criminal matter in the area. 

We serve the surrounding areas of Tarrant County and Fort Worth, TX.

Cofer Luster Criminal Defense Lawyers
604 E 4th St Ste 101
Fort Worth, TX 76102