Do you have a loved one here? Tell us about it. This is your place to disscuse or chat with others who visit or have been at this prison.

Well, unless someone else has heard differently, they don't have visits at this unit. I'm waiting to hear from my husband on how this place compares to others. Who else has a loved one here?

Kerri, They dont have visits at that unit for the inmates on transiant status. They do for the inmates that are housed there regularly. From what I have been told they are kept seperated from GP population and only there for "intake and diagnostics".

You'd think they'd say that on the phone. The lady I spoke with said they were such a small unit that they didn't have the room to have any type of visitation. I just assumed it was only Diagnostics and nobody was assigned there. Well, now I'll pout! I want my visits!!!!!! (I know, spoiled, spoiled)

I know this thread is old.. But, it seems like all of the threads about the Byrd Unit are old.. So, is there anyone out there that has a loved one assigned to the Byrd unit? Other than me! Ha. My husband is assigned there.. I went down to visit him yesterday - my first time at this unit.. It was rather - different than all of my other visiting expereinces.. It wasn't the best but it was far from the worst.. Let's see - one guard did a quick inspection of my car - then I went to walk in - and I had to go to the first tower where a guard sent down a sack (via a rope) to me to put my ID in.. He pulled it back up into the tower and went inside.. A few minutes later he came back out and dropped the bag back down to me and told me to enjoy my visit.. I then got to walk through the gates to a different little building - where one CO was inside - I gave her my ID and she verified I was on his list, etc and sent me inside.. I then met another CO who searched me and my coin purse and then sent me down the hallway to this TEENY TINY visitation room. I signed myself in and got to pick my own table (out of 10).. I sat down and my hubby was out within 10 minutes.. The 10 tables were never full the entire time I was there.. Thankfully we had a good visit - no fighting or craying - because I felt like everyone else in the room could hear what we were saying.. And, they could - if they would have stopped talking and listened! Hopefully they were busy gabbing away like my husband and I were and not paying any attention to what others were saying. ha. I was only able to get one soda from the machines.. One was out of order and the other was only taking dollar bills.. And, I course was not allowed to take in paper money, but I traded one of the guards coins for one dollar bill.. They were strict about the time limit - we got exactly 2 hours. Over all it was a good visit..
My husband said that the unit was short staffed therefore the inmates were not allowed to go out to rec as much as normal, etc.. That was his only complaint about the unit though. He has been there about a month.

Anyone else have stories about the Byrd unit to share?

Hello emo,
My honey is at Byrd. He has been there for nine years. He is coming up for parole and I am busy getting his parole package together, in fact we're just about done, waiting on two more support letters. I am planning on my first visit in July. His mother and I will visit then. She lives in Oklahoma and I am in California. She has told me all about her visits at Byrd and how small the visiting room is. We will know then if he makes parole this time up or has another set-off. We are all praying that this time is the one. It's good to know that someone else has a loved one at Byrd. This site has been so helpful for me. I check it every day and have learned so much. Merry Christmas to you and yours and to all the PTO family members.

Hi D! Thanks for your response. I wasn't sure there was anyone else here on PTO with a loved one *assigned* to the Byrd unit. I have been told there are only about 200 inmates that are actually assigned to this unit - not sure how true that # is..
Anyways, my husband goes up for parole in a couple of months as well. I know what you mean about trying to get everything together - thankfully his parole pack is already finished - so I've only got to worry about support letters this time.
I will difinitely keep your sweetie's parole in my thoughts and prayers.. With any luck they will leave the Byrd unit on the same bus!!! Woohoo!!!! :thumbsup:

I don't have any experiences with the Byrd unit, B/F just transfered in last week I think. Haven't gotten a letter from him yet. Does anyone have the mailing address there?

You address it like this:

Inmates Name and #
Byrd Unit
21 fm 247
Huntsville, Texas 77320

Byrd Unit is like the movie Alcatraz.... small two-man cells. You stay in your cell except to go to showers and chow and maybe church or a meeting. Never did get rec in the time I was there. They finally put some fans in the corridors after it got dangerously hot in the summer one year.

Were you assigned or on transfer at the Byrd Unit?
Byrd Unit is like the movie Alcatraz.... small two-man cells. You stay in your cell except to go to showers and chow and maybe church or a meeting. Never did get rec in the time I was there. They finally put some fans in the corridors after it got dangerously hot in the summer one year.

Naw, I was just passing through. Because the main purpose of the unit is diagnostics and classification, they only keep enough permanent inmates there to run the unit: kitchen staff, janitors, grounds crew, law library, etc. The ones who are permanent have a lot more freedom of movement and activities than do the ones who are "in transit".

We were just told today that my brother was moved from Garza East after 22 months. He received a G1 status (trustee) on last Friday. What does all this mean since he's now been moved there?

I know this is only a temporary move but what does the G1 have to do with anything?

Also, when is visitation allowed? We're calling tomorrow to get information but this forum gives so much more valuable information than just calling the facility.

Thanks
Regina

My husband is in the Byrd Unit after being in Ferguson for quite a few years. He says Byrd Unit is much better than where he came from. I have been to visit once and the guards were MUCH nicer and the visit was so much more peaceful than the many I've had at Ferguson. He omes up for parole in about 2 months so I am hoping and praying Byrd Unit was his last stop before coming home!

I know this thread is old.. But, it seems like all of the threads about the Byrd Unit are old.. So, is there anyone out there that has a loved one assigned to the Byrd unit? Other than me! Ha. My husband is assigned there.. I went down to visit him yesterday - my first time at this unit.. It was rather - different than all of my other visiting expereinces.. It wasn't the best but it was far from the worst.. Let's see - one guard did a quick inspection of my car - then I went to walk in - and I had to go to the first tower where a guard sent down a sack (via a rope) to me to put my ID in.. He pulled it back up into the tower and went inside.. A few minutes later he came back out and dropped the bag back down to me and told me to enjoy my visit.. I then got to walk through the gates to a different little building - where one CO was inside - I gave her my ID and she verified I was on his list, etc and sent me inside.. I then met another CO who searched me and my coin purse and then sent me down the hallway to this TEENY TINY visitation room. I signed myself in and got to pick my own table (out of 10).. I sat down and my hubby was out within 10 minutes.. The 10 tables were never full the entire time I was there.. Thankfully we had a good visit - no fighting or craying - because I felt like everyone else in the room could hear what we were saying.. And, they could - if they would have stopped talking and listened! Hopefully they were busy gabbing away like my husband and I were and not paying any attention to what others were saying. ha. I was only able to get one soda from the machines.. One was out of order and the other was only taking dollar bills.. And, I course was not allowed to take in paper money, but I traded one of the guards coins for one dollar bill.. They were strict about the time limit - we got exactly 2 hours. Over all it was a good visit..
My husband said that the unit was short staffed therefore the inmates were not allowed to go out to rec as much as normal, etc.. That was his only complaint about the unit though. He has been there about a month.

Anyone else have stories about the Byrd unit to share?
Yes I have a son who just was sent to this Bryd Unit on March 18, 2009 for Parole Violation. He got off his medication and then he caught a bus left Texas.
These parole officer had attempt to put him back in prison since May 2005 and finally they got him there. He has done 12 years already on a crime dated back to 1992. This was no more than jail time but these DA run him up and gave him over 25 years out of Harris County. It was a plea deal. Then this is a lot of political due to me filing a federal lawsuit for civl rights vilolations against TDCJ. All these people need to go to jail. We people here in Texas got to do better with this Justice system. This is no more than a business making and to keep people working in these ruarl area. The people who works there are more criminal than the ones there. It is readly observe how this government are allowing these inmates to be neglect of medical and mental health care. These policies are just for show.

I just found out that my son was transferred to Byrd Unit from Middleton (transfer unit) in Abilene. I know that Byrd is in Huntsville. I live in Lubbock and so it is a long ways for me to visit him. I wanted to apply for a hardship because I have severe medical problems. Does anyone know the process for this. Is it usual to be sent from one transfer unit to another? Does this mean he is probably on in transit? I could use any information or help. This is just tearing me apart. He is my only child and was sent up on bogus charges as it is. Please can anyone help me. Thank you.
Lenora

I do, Keyjo. My husband has been there at this diagnostic center since June 22nd and I have not been able to see or talk to him. I write him every day and I get a letter from him almost every day, but no visits, they said from 4-6 weeks! My husband and I were inseperable before all this happened, so it is killing me! His lawyer has been to see him, and HE had to get special permission from the Warden.

Well, unless someone else has heard differently, they don't have visits at this unit. I'm waiting to hear from my husband on how this place compares to others. Who else has a loved one here?

So you actually got to be in the same room as your hubby, without the glass inbetween? I was told that my visit with my hubby would be behind glass?

I know this thread is old.. But, it seems like all of the threads about the Byrd Unit are old.. So, is there anyone out there that has a loved one assigned to the Byrd unit? Other than me! Ha. My husband is assigned there.. I went down to visit him yesterday - my first time at this unit.. It was rather - different than all of my other visiting expereinces.. It wasn't the best but it was far from the worst.. Let's see - one guard did a quick inspection of my car - then I went to walk in - and I had to go to the first tower where a guard sent down a sack (via a rope) to me to put my ID in.. He pulled it back up into the tower and went inside.. A few minutes later he came back out and dropped the bag back down to me and told me to enjoy my visit.. I then got to walk through the gates to a different little building - where one CO was inside - I gave her my ID and she verified I was on his list, etc and sent me inside.. I then met another CO who searched me and my coin purse and then sent me down the hallway to this TEENY TINY visitation room. I signed myself in and got to pick my own table (out of 10).. I sat down and my hubby was out within 10 minutes.. The 10 tables were never full the entire time I was there.. Thankfully we had a good visit - no fighting or craying - because I felt like everyone else in the room could hear what we were saying.. And, they could - if they would have stopped talking and listened! Hopefully they were busy gabbing away like my husband and I were and not paying any attention to what others were saying. ha. I was only able to get one soda from the machines.. One was out of order and the other was only taking dollar bills.. And, I course was not allowed to take in paper money, but I traded one of the guards coins for one dollar bill.. They were strict about the time limit - we got exactly 2 hours. Over all it was a good visit..
My husband said that the unit was short staffed therefore the inmates were not allowed to go out to rec as much as normal, etc.. That was his only complaint about the unit though. He has been there about a month.

Anyone else have stories about the Byrd unit to share?

My son is there and he said it is hot. They are confined and only allowed out of their cell an hour. There is no air condition and the guard are even complaining. Even the dogs at the dog pound has air. this is inhuman.:mad:I do, Keyjo. My husband has been there at this diagnostic center since June 22nd and I have not been able to see or talk to him. I write him every day and I get a letter from him almost every day, but no visits, they said from 4-6 weeks! My husband and I were inseperable before all this happened, so it is killing me! His lawyer has been to see him, and HE had to get special permission from the Warden.

So you actually got to be in the same room as your hubby, without the glass inbetween? I was told that my visit with my hubby would be behind glass?I was told there was not visits there. My son in inprocessing and has been there since 2-Jun-09:cool:

Is the Byrd unit a medical unit also? My brother has a back problem that is a crippling problem. He says he is going to paroled soon but i don't know if he is telling me the truth. Is there a way to check and see if this true? His PRD is not saying soon but 2014. Is this information always right?:thnx:


Do you have a loved one here? Tell us about it. This is your place to disscuse or chat with others who visit or have been at this prison.

My son Michael is in the Bryd Unit

I understand he may not have visits, or phone calls. They took his books away and gave only some of them back. They were all approved at Holliday. I don't know i f he will get commissary privileges. He was working on his GED and now cannot. Denied parole because he has not been in long enough, whats that about is there a percentage of time he has to serve before parole?
I have not been able to see or hear his voice for almost a year.:(

So you actually got to be in the same room as your hubby, without the glass inbetween? I was told that my visit with my hubby would be behind glass?
yes my man was just sent to the byrd unit 1/6/2010 i was wondering if anyone else had someone there as well how ever i have been told ther are no visit it is onlt a transfer unit i sent supplies through office max but i havent recv. any letters or anything can any one shed in light my way ALSO how can i find out his clasifaction :confused:

Hello,
it seems like we are on the same boat... I am trying to find more info on this unit but nothing is out there. My bf was moved there from Ney unit. please let me know if you have heard or found out any additional info on this unit. Thanks!