TDCJ Offender COVID-19 Cases Drop, Employee Cases Go Up

Combined Numbers Below 1,000

By Will Johnson

Messenger Reporter

EAST TEXAS –The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is a major employer in both Anderson and Houston Counties. Prison facilities employ a significant number of workers and there are at least 20 prisons in the area to where people commute on a daily basis, including units in Huntsville, Rusk and Tennessee Colony.

The TDCJ numbers have been on a roller coaster ride throughout the summer but as autumn settled in, the figures appeared to be climbing once again. The last three weeks, however, saw a drop in offender cases within the TDCJ system.

By Oct. 29, there were 251 active cases and 22,141 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there were 1,228 active cases and 21,078 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were 1,401 active cases and 20,779 recoveries.  On Oct. 8, there were 1,433 active cases and 20,696 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were 1,194 active cases and 20,636 recoveries.

While the number of offenders testing positive for COVID-19 decreased last week, the number of TDCJ employees testing positive increased over the past seven days.

By Oct. 29, there were 648 active cases and 4,786 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there were 517 active cases and 4,695 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were 788 active cases and 4,170 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were 880 active cases and 4,012 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were 869 active cases and 3,915 recoveries. On Sept. 24, there were 962 active cases and 3,767 recoveries.

There are six regions in the TDCJ system along with private facilities, a multi-use facility and parole confinement facilities. Anderson County and Houston County fall in Region II and Region I, respectively.

In Region I there are 13 prison units, with one inside of Houston County and seven more relatively close to the county boundaries. These units are: Eastham; Ellis; Estelle; Ferguson; Goree; Holliday; Huntsville; and Wynne. 

In Region II there are also 13 prison units, with five inside of Anderson County. These units are: Beto; Coffield; Gurney Transfer; Michael; and Powledge.

Using the TDCJ categories of offender active cases, recoveries, medical isolation, employee active cases and employee recoveries, the 13 area prisons showed the following results.  

In Region I: 

Eastham Unit (Lovelady) – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 179 recoveries; and 108 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 7 active cases among TDCJ employees and 39 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there were: 0 active cases; 181 recoveries; and 91 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 39 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there was: 1 active case; 173 recoveries; and 96 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 13 active cases among TDCJ employees and 27 recoveries.  On Oct. 8, there was: 1 active case; 172 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 12 active cases among TDCJ employees and 27 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 177 recoveries; and 54 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 10 active cases among TDCJ employees and 27 recoveries.

Ellis Unit (Huntsville area) – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 299 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 71 recoveries.  On Oct. 22, there were: 0 active cases; 298 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 70 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were: 0 active cases; 300 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 14 active cases among TDCJ employees and 64 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 0 active cases; 302 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 14 active cases among TDCJ employees and 64 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 303 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 16 active cases among TDCJ employees and 62 recoveries.

Estelle Unit (Huntsville area) – On Oct. 29, there were: 5 active cases; 755 recoveries; and 51 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 4 active cases among TDCJ employees and 149 recoveries.  On Oct. 22, there were: 4 active cases; 753 recoveries; and 164 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 6 active cases among TDCJ employees and 148 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were: 2 active cases; 757 recoveries; and 280 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 31 active cases among TDCJ employees and 121 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 19 active cases; 752 recoveries; and 610 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 34 active cases among TDCJ employees and 119 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 18 active cases; 742 recoveries; and 555 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 32 active cases among TDCJ employees and 117 recoveries.

Ferguson Unit (Midway) – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 381 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 2 active cases among TDCJ employees and 136 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there were: 0 active cases; 380 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 0 active cases among TDCJ employees and 136 recoveries.  On Oct. 15, there were: 0 active cases; 384 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 21 active cases among TDCJ employees and 116 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 0 active cases; 390 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 22 active cases among TDCJ employees and 115 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 389 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 22 active cases among TDCJ employees and 115 recoveries.

Goree Unit (Huntsville) – On Oct. 29, there was: 1 active case; 71 recoveries; and 32 offenders on medical restriction. There was also 1 active case among TDCJ employees and 26 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there were: 0 active cases; 100 recoveries; and 24 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 2 active cases among TDCJ employees and 23 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were: 0 active cases; 61 recoveries; and 11 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 5 active cases among TDCJ employees and 20 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 0 active cases; 63 recoveries; and 7 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 4 active cases among TDCJ employees and 20 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 173 recoveries; and 5 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 4 active cases among TDCJ employees and 19 recoveries.

Holliday Transfer (Huntsville) – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 190 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 2 active cases among TDCJ employees and 43 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there was: 1 active case; 193 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There was also 1 active case among TDCJ employees and 44 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there was: 1 active case; 195 recoveries; and 59 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 8 active cases among TDCJ employees and 36 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 1 active cases; 198 recoveries; and 59 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 9 active cases among TDCJ employees and 35 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 205 recoveries; and 104 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 8 active cases among TDCJ employees and 35 recoveries

Huntsville Unit – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 257 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There was also 1 active case among TDCJ employees and 28 recoveries. Oct. 22, there were: 0 active case; 259 recoveries; and 6 offenders on medical restriction. There was also 1 active case among TDCJ employees and 27 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were: 0 active cases; 259 recoveries; and 16 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 24 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 0 active cases; 249 recoveries; and 11 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 23 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 242 recoveries; and 5 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 5 active cases among TDCJ employees and 21 recoveries.

Wynne Unit (Huntsville) – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 333 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 2 active cases among TDCJ employees and 101 recoveries.  On Oct. 22, there were: 0 active cases; 336 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There was also 1 active case among TDCJ employees and 101 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were: 0 active cases; 341 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 11 active cases among TDCJ employees and 91 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 0 active cases; 343 recoveries; and 194 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 11 active cases among TDCJ employees and 91 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 337 recoveries; and 194 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 13 active cases among TDCJ employees and 89 recoveries.

In Region II:

Beto Unit (Palestine area) – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 294 recoveries; and 314 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 2 active cases among TDCJ employees and 78 recoveries.  On Oct. 22, there were: 0 active cases; 229 recoveries; and 168 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 76 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were: 2 active cases; 312 recoveries; and 2 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 74 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 4 active cases; 313 recoveries; and 268 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 74 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 3 active cases; 315 recoveries; and 449 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 6 active cases among TDCJ employees and 71 recoveries

Coffield Unit (Palestine area) – On Oct. 29, there was: 1 active case; 786 recoveries; and 146 offenders on medical restriction. There was also 1 active case among TDCJ employees and 75 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there was: 1 active case; 787 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 1 active cases among TDCJ employees and 74 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there was: 1 active case; 783 recoveries; and 57 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 18 active cases among TDCJ employees and 57 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 3 active cases; 782 recoveries; and 139 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 18 active cases among TDCJ employees and 57 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there was: 1 active case; 796 recoveries; and 139 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 17 active cases among TDCJ employees and 51 recoveries

Gurney Transfer (Palestine area) – On Oct. 29, there were: 3 active cases; 115 recoveries; and 163 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 4 active cases among TDCJ employees and 38 recoveries.  On Oct. 22, there were: 2 active cases; 114 recoveries; and 44 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 4 active cases among TDCJ employees and 36 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were: 2 active case; 118 recoveries; and 45 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 5 active cases among TDCJ employees and 34 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 1 active cases; 123 recoveries; and 2 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 33 recoveries.  On Oct. 1, there was: 1 active case; 129 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 32 recoveries.

Michael Unit (Palestine area) – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 436 recoveries; and 34 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 3 active cases among TDCJ employees and 97 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there were: 0 active cases; 433 recoveries; and 36 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 4 active cases among TDCJ employees and 97 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there was: 1 active case; 427 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 5 active cases among TDCJ employees and 95 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 1 active cases; 432 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 6 active cases among TDCJ employees and 95 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 431 recoveries; and 0 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 11 active cases among TDCJ employees and 89 recoveries

Powledge Unit (Palestine area) – On Oct. 29, there were: 0 active cases; 734 recoveries; and 124 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 4 active cases among TDCJ employees and 99 recoveries. On Oct. 22, there were: 0 active cases; 228 recoveries; and 29 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 2 active cases among TDCJ employees and 33 recoveries. On Oct. 15, there were: 0 active cases; 227 recoveries; and 40 offenders on medical restriction. There was also 1 active case among TDCJ employees and 33 recoveries. On Oct. 8, there were: 0 active cases; 221 recoveries; and 41 offenders on medical restriction. There was also 1 active case among TDCJ employees and 33 recoveries. On Oct. 1, there were: 0 active cases; 220 recoveries; and 39 offenders on medical restriction. There were also 0 active cases among TDCJ employees and 30 recoveries.

Since TDCJ began tracking the pandemic, system wide, 218,775 (as of last week – 216,313 tests have been administered to offenders. Of those tested, 23,388 (as of last week – 23,297) offenders have been positive for COVID-19. Of those who tested positive, 22,141 (as of last week – 21,708) have recovered, 166 (161 last week) have presumably died because of the virus and there are 42 pending autopsies.

For TDCJ employees, 77,153 (as of last week – 75,066) tests have been administered. Of those tested, 5,511 (as of last week – 5,294) employees have been positive for COVID-19. Of those who tested positive, 4,786 (as of last week – 4,695) have recovered and 21 have presumably died because of the virus. 

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]