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Guide for Families of Inmates at the George Beto Unit (B), Texas

Overview of the Facility

The George Beto Unit, commonly known as Beto Unit, is a men's prison located in Tennessee Colony, Texas. Operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), this facility was named after George John Beto, a former director of the TDCJ and a professor of criminology. Beto Unit holds a combination of minimum to maximum security inmates.

Contact Information

Address: 1391 FM 3328, Tennessee Colony, TX 75880, USA
Phone: 903-928-2217
There is no official website or email specifically for the Beto Unit. For more information, visit the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's website: TDCJ Website

How to Locate an Inmate

To locate an inmate at Beto Unit, use the TDCJ’s online offender information search at Inmate Locator. You will need the inmate's TDCJ number or full name and exact date of birth.

Visitation Information and Hours

Visitation at Beto Unit is scheduled by appointment and is subject to change based on the unit's administration or security needs. Currently, visitation is typically available on weekends. To schedule a visit, contact the unit directly. Ensure you check the specific visitation hours and the identity verification requirements before your visit.

How to Send Money

Friends and family can send money to inmates via the eCommDirect system, accessible through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website: eCommDirect. This service allows you to deposit funds into the inmate’s trust fund account.

Phone Calls and Video Options

Inmates at Beto Unit are permitted to make phone calls through a system managed by Securus Technologies. To set up an account and for more pricing details, visit the Securus website at Securus Technologies. Video visitation options are also available via the same service.

Inmate Services and Programs

Beto Unit offers various rehabilitation and educational programs including GED preparation, vocational training in fields like automotive, carpentry, and welding, and substance abuse treatment programs. This aims to facilitate successful reintegration upon release.

Security and Management Information

As a maximum security facility, Beto Unit employs rigorous security measures including controlled movements, surveillance systems, and regular security checks. The unit is overseen by a warden and a team of correctional officers and support staff dedicated to maintaining order and safety within the premises.

Booking and Release Process

Booking at Beto Unit involves processing new inmates, which includes identification, documentation, and assignment to a cell block. The release process is initiated as per the sentence guidelines or upon approval of parole. Both booking and release procedures adhere strictly to TDCJ regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What items can I bring for visitation at Beto Unit?

Visitors are generally allowed to bring a valid ID and essential keys. Personal belongings like bags, mobile phones, or money are not permitted inside. Check the latest TDCJ visitation rules for specific guidelines.

Can I send books or magazines to an inmate at Beto Unit?

Yes, books and magazines can be sent but must come directly from the publisher or an approved vendor like Amazon. Hardcover books are generally not permitted.

This guide is provided as a resource for families and friends of inmates at the George Beto Unit in Texas. For further assistance, contact the Beto Unit directly.

What Do Inmate Families/Friends Think?

Inmate Families and Friends feedback is a very significant role in understanting the prison culture, how some institution works as sometimes they are the only ones that can share the experience with others.

Categories

Inmate Safety

5

Inmate Food Quality

3.5

Inmate Privacy

7.5

Visitation Rights

5

Treatment of Visitors

0.5

Commissary Items and Prices

0.5

Phone Availability

0.5

Safety of Inmate Personal Property

0.5

Cleanliness of Facility

0.5

How Inmates Treat Each Other

0.5

How Officers Treat Inmates

0.5

Educational Program Quality

0.5

Recreational Program Choices

0.5

Warden

1

Library Quality

4

Mental Health Programs

4.5

Drug Rehabilitation Programs

6

Reviews

F

Family Member

My son was in the Beto Prison in Tennesse Colony, TX for a first time felony assault on me. He would never have done it if he wasn't intoxicated. When he got to come home, he told me the horror stories. The guards are scared of the inmates and therefore, cannot control the population. The cell doors do not lock adequately and can be opened at anytime. They are never safe at night because the inmates can simply come to your cell and offend you. They have inadequate meals, frequently they have small sack lunches. These lunch bags are delivered by other inmates and they give their buddies 2 or 3 meals, not leaving enough for everyone. Many inmates are always hungry. A loved one cannot contact the inmate for the first 45 days. You can't write letters, talk on the phone, put money on their commissary, or find out the status of their health. There are highly violent criminals housed with first time small offenders. Simply put, my son's health and life are in danger every day at this unit. My son was in Beto for three months and then released on parole. He is only 24 and struggles with alcoholism, which he comes by honestly because most of our family members struggle with it. When he came home in May 2022, he was a treasure. By June he was drinking and violated his parole, so he is back. I am terrified he may not come home alive. He is small in stature and weight, but he is mighty. I pray constantly that he is not hurt and isn't starving. I am aware these young men are criminals and need to face the consequences of their actions, but that doesn't mean we can allow our prison to be in such disrepair that the danger level is off the charts. The guards need to do their job and run the prison. Currently they allow the many different gangs to write the rules. I don't know how many other loved ones are in constant fear for their son's life. He just drank a beer and failed his drug test. Yes, he should have learned a lesson, but he is trying. They sent him back to one of the most dangerous prisons in Texas. The BETO Unit needs to be audited for their ability to safely, effectively, protect the lives of the inmates and the guards. This is America, right? I don't know anymore, how would you feel if your son was in BETO and went three days without food and no of sanitation in the prison. The inmates can clean it! They just don't have any justifiable means of controlling the prison. It is a near death sentence when you are in BETO. I can't have any communication with my son for 45 days and there is no reason for that. We pay the phone time, commissary, and anything else we can do. They simply have lost control of this Prison. A very concerned mother! My name is Sherry and you can reach me at 972-822-6354 if you have anything to say about the state BETO Unit he is in. Thank you.

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If you are a current or former inmate, employee, family member or a friend of someone who is in prison, please share your feedback so others can get better understanding how the institution works. The survey is completely anonymous and your personal information will never be shared or publicly shown.

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General Stats for Texas

Texas Total Number of Inmates

200,504

Texas Total No. of Inmates

Number of people under Probation Supervision

334,353

Number of people under Probation Supervision

Prison population rate

443

Prison population rate: 100,000 residents

Parole Population

110,437

Parole Population

Incarcerated individuals with sentences of 50 years or longer

18,462

Incarcerated individuals with sentences of 50 years or longer

Inmates sentenced to more than 1 Year in private prisons

9,249

Inmates sentenced to more than 1 Year in private prisons

Sex

Sex

%

Total

Male

92.4

121,720

Female

7.6

10,014

Youth

Type

%

Total

Committed

52.8

1,953

Detained

46.55

1,722

Diverted

0.49

18

Prisons and Jails in Texas