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Guide to O.B. Ellis Unit (E1), Texas

Overview of O.B. Ellis Unit

The O.B. Ellis Unit (E1) is a medium-security prison located in Huntsville, Texas. The facility is managed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). This unit houses adult male offenders and has various programs aimed at rehabilitation and education.

Contact Information

How to Locate an Inmate

To locate an inmate at O.B. Ellis Unit, you can use the TDCJ online Offender Search tool. You will need the inmate's TDCJ Number or full name and date of birth.

Visitation Information

Visitors must be on the inmate's approved visitation list. Visitation hours are typically on weekends, and the specific times can vary. Visitors should check with the facility or visit the unit's official website for current visitation policies and scheduling options.

Sending Money to Inmates

Money can be sent to inmates through the TDCJ's eCommDirect service. Visit TDCJ eCommDirect for more details and to make deposits.

Phone Calls and Video Options

Inmates at the O.B. Ellis Unit can make phone calls using a prepaid account or through collect calls. Video visitation is available through a service provided by Securus Technologies. Setup an account and schedule sessions via Securus Technologies.

Inmate Services and Programs

The unit offers educational programs, vocational training, and substance abuse treatment programs to aid in the rehabilitation of inmates.

History of the Facility

The O.B. Ellis Unit was established in 1965 and has been operational for various purposes throughout its history, primarily focusing on the custody and rehabilitation of medium-security inmates.

Security and Management Information

The unit is overseen by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, ensuring the security and effective management of the facility.

Legal and Visitation Rights

Inmates at the O.B. Ellis Unit have the right to receive visitors under the guidelines set by TDCJ. Legal counsel visits are permitted and should be arranged according to the facility's rules.

Booking and Release Process

Booking and release details can be obtained by contacting the facility directly through the provided contact numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the visitation hours at O.B. Ellis Unit?

Visitation hours vary and visitors are advised to confirm with the facility prior to planning a visit.

How can I send money to an inmate at O.B. Ellis Unit?

Money can be sent through TDCJ’s eCommDirect service online.

Recent News

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

6

Inmate Food Quality

6

Inmate Privacy

4

Visitation Rights

7

Treatment of Visitors

7

Commissary Items and Prices

4.5

Phone Availability

4

Safety of Inmate Personal Property

4

Cleanliness of Facility

2.5

How Inmates Treat Each Other

3.5

How Officers Treat Inmates

3.5

Educational Program Quality

5.5

Recreational Program Choices

5.5

Warden

5.5

Library Quality

3.5

Mental Health Programs

6

Drug Rehabilitation Programs

6

Reviews

F

Family Member

My overall first visit to this facility was good as far as the initial intake process for visitors, however, the facility itself definitely needs a lot of modern improvement structurally. When entering the security gates I felt like it was back in the 1970s, the entrance to the main building and inside the floors needed to be redone, tiles were off of the floor and the floors were dirty. This lead me to believe that the state taxes to do repairs on a state facility like this one were not being enforced to making overall structural improvements, that I could see visually and needed great improvements. The non contact area was very old and it was hard to hear my family member so I had to lean forward whenever he was talking to understand him. I also didn't feel that it was at all a private conversation and it needs desperate improvement. I'm not quite sure why this facility is so behind in repairs and making modern correctional facility improvements but I would say that overall, someone in Austin needs to come out and see this facility to determine the quality of this building as well as buildings where the inmates sleep and eat and bath. Texas needs to make a huge improvement on their habilitation as well as rehabilitation services and mental health services to the inmates to improve return inmates due to the lack of funding not being applied to these facilities. I am so surprised as to how many mental health workers work at this facility and the enormous needs to those effected by mental health issues. Also my biggest concern is why is there no air conditioning in this building especially with inmates that take medications where they are not supposed to be subjected to high heat environments, I find this issue inhuman and neglectful and on the line of abuse to anyone taking medication that could cause them extreme health problems if not death.

Leave a Review

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