Rusk County Expanding Prison by More than 560 Beds

Rusk County Commissioners recently approved the expansion of the East Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility by more than 560 beds. The current maximum capacity numbers 300 beds in the prison that houses both men and women in Henderson, Texas. The Management and Training Corporation (MTC) operates the private prison.

According to reports the expansion will cost $8 million to $10 million dollars. Once again local officials mistakenly believe that increasing prison capacity will improve economic development by adding jobs to the local economy.

This facility expansion is a result of the focus on treatment that took place during the 80th Texas Legislature, that authorized the expansion of state prison capacity that provides substance abuse treatment.

We explained over a year ago that Texas developed a complicated prison terminology to mask the true size of the state's prison population.

It will be interesting to follow the expansion of state prison beds as a result of the 80th Legislature and the implications for private contracts. We'll keep you posted.