General Unit Information (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241189#post3241189)
TDCJ Contact Information (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241198#post3241198)
Parole Contact Information (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241206#post3241206)
Mail Information (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241246#post3241246)
Visitation Information (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241250#post3241250)
Phone Calls (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241252#post3241252)
Hotels/Motels (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241254#post3241254)
Restaurants/Fast Food (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241261#post3241261)
Driving Directions (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241265#post3241265)
Things to do near the unit (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241275#post3241275)
[/URL][URL="http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3241280#post3241280"]Transportation (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3226129#postcount=8)

General Information


Halbert SAFPF (Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility) is very small housing only 596 female substance abuse offenders assigned to the unit to complete substance abuse treatment as a condition for parole. This unit is located in Burnet County, Texas 55 miles northwest of Austin and was established in 1995.

Educational programs include Literacy and CHANGES/Pre-Release.

Special treatment programs Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP)/Therapeutic Community Model, Intermediate Sanction parole violators and In-Prison Therapeutic Community II (IPTC)

For general information about TDCJ, here are links to the General Information Guide for the Families of Offenders (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/executive/Gen-Info-Guide-Families-Offenders-Feb06.pdf) and the Offender Orientation Handbook (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/cid/OffendOrientHbkNov04.pdf). Each contains a wealth of information.

TDCJ Contact Information For Halbert

Unit Address
Postal: PO Box 923, Burnet, Texas 78611
Physical: 800 Ellen halberd Drive, Burnet, Texas 78611

Phone
Phone: 512-756-6171

Senior Warden
Margaret McCleary

TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division, Regional Director
Gilbert Campuzano, Region VI (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/reg6.htm)
CID Region VI Directors Office
4616 West Howard Lane, suite 200
Austin, Texas 78728
Phone: 512-671-2575
Fax: 512-671-2579

Halbert Parole Information


Decisions about parole for most offenders (non-capital) are made by the local board office to which the unit has been assigned. Workup of offender files and parole review interviews are done by one or more of the Institutional Parole Offices (IPO’s) by an IPO, Institutional Parole Officer. (confuses me too) Contact information for the local board office and the IPO Regional headquarters are given below along with the contact information for the central Parole Division office in Austin.

TDCJ Parole Division Central Office - Austin (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-directory/paroledir-cntrloff.htm)

Parole Division
8610 Shoal Creek Blvd.
P.O. Box 13401, Capital Station
Austin, Texas 78711
512-406-5250

Halbert SAFPF falls under the Gatesville Board Office (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/bpp/brd_locations/brd_locations.html#Gatesville) of the Parole Division.

3408 S. State Hwy. 36
Gatesville, Tx 76528
254-865-8870



Halbert SAFPF falls under the Western IPO Region (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-directory/paroledir-id-paroleoffice.htm) of the Parole Division.

Western IPO Region
Regional Supervisor Mary Poston
Gatesville IPO
3406 S.State Hwy. 36
Gatesville, Tx 76528
Phone: 254-865-2720
Fax: 254-865-8816

Mail Information for Halbert


You are allowed to send correspondence in the form of letters and cards to offenders. Books as well as subscriptions to magazines and newspapers are also allowed but all publications must be approved before an inmate may receive them. All publications must be sent from the publisher or approved vendor (e.g. Amazon or Barnes and Noble). They cannot be mailed in from an individual. Plain writing paper or tablets with a gummed binding (not stapled) as well as envelopes may be sent from a vendor as well. You may not send any personal items, clothing, pens or pencils, stamps or stamped envelopes. You may not send altered photos. It is always a good idea to call the unit and speak with the mail room if you have any question about what may be allowed to be sent via mail. You may also call the Mail Systems Coordinator Panel (MSCP) for clarification of TDCJ mail policy. It makes for painful reading but here is a link to TDCJ’s Uniform Offender Correspondence Rules (http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/policy/BP03.91_rev1_july13_2007.pdf).

Halbert Visiting Information

Visitation is Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Most visits are for 2 hours and may be contact or non-contact depending on the offenders’ status and your relationship.
If you must travel more than 300 miles you might qualify for a Special Visit. To arrange a special visit call the Wardens Office. Be sure and get the name of who you talk to (usually warden's secretary). They will arrange the visit if it is possible and ask you to call back for confirmation. Inmates are allowed ONLY one visit per weekend. Some wardens allow a visit on both Saturday and Sunday for a special visit but this can only be confirmed with the wardens’ office. It is always a good idea to call ahead before any visit to be sure that your friend or family member is still at that unit and is allowed visits
Dress Code For Visitors
No revealing clothing is allowed, no shorts for men or women, Capri pants must come WELL below the knee. No sleeveless or low cut shirts or blouses are allowed. Clothing that is too tight or inappropriate in any way can prevent you from visiting. Some units do not allow children to wear shorts. If this is an issue for you please call ahead and ask about the dress code for children. Sandals are allowed at this time but many units are starting to disallow them so tennis shoes or the like are safest. Please be aware that if you violate the dress code your visit may not be allowed.

Rules For Visitation

Your car may be searched as you enter and leave the unit but this policy may vary. Cigarettes and lighter may be kept in your car. Firearms and alcohol are not allowed. Toolboxes or other containers must be opened as well as glove box and console. If you arrive in a truck the bed should be clear of items. All loose items should be locked inside the vehicle or toolbox. You will be wand searched at most units as you enter the visitation building or pass through the gate. Children are wand searched also. Do not carry a cell phone or your visits may be terminated permanently. If in doubt about anything call the unit for more information. Be aware that the address that the offender gives for you MUST match the address on your driver’s license. Visitors may be turned away if the addresses do not match.

Phone Calls


Offenders are allowed one phone every 90 days if their status allows. Calls are carried out on a speaker phone so the guards can listen in and may only last about five minutes.

Hotels/Motels Near Halbert SAFPF


What is listed below are motels that I found within Burnet itself without counting Beds and Breakfast.



Howard Johnson Express Inn
908 Buchanan Drive, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-4747

Holiday Inn Express
810 South Water Street, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-1789

Arrowhead Motel
100 North West Street, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-6151

Sundown Inn
205 North Water Street, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-2171

La Vista Motel
502 Buchanan Drive, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-4367

Restaurant/Fast Food places near Halbert SAFPF


There is the usual McDonalds, Whataburger, Sonic and Dairy Queen as well as a Pizza Hut and Mr. Gattis. There is also a Subway listed to round out the franchise outlets. A number of local Mexican restaurants appear as well. Burnet has a lot of tourism interest so there is no shortage of places to eat. A few more are listed below.


Spokes Restaurant and Sport Bar (http://www.spokesburnettexas.com/)
635 Hwy 29 West, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-4100

Burnet Co. BBQ
616 Buchanan Drive, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-6468
(found some comments) (http://www.bbqtours.com/2000/2000burnet_county.htm)


Hill Country Christmas & Christmas Cafe (http://www.hillcountrychristmas.net/)
203 East Jackson, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-5000
(located inside Hill Country Christmas Gift and Garden Center)

Andy’s landing
306 South Water Street (US 281), Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-4400

Highlander Restaurant & Steakhouse
401 West Buchanan Drive, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-7401

The Maxican (http://www.themaxicanrestaurant.com/)
402 North Water Street (US 281), Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-1213

Tea-Licious (http://www.tea-licious.com/)
216 south Main, Burnet, Tx 78611
512-756-7636
(lunch only 11 to 3)

Driving Directions to Burnet/Halbert SAFPF




Burnet is approximately 55 miles northwest of Austin. It may be reached from east or west by Texas 29 or from the north and south by US-281.

To Burnet from Austin
Depending upon just where you are in Austin, you may want to 1) drive north on I-35 to Georgetown (less than 30 miles) and then drive west on Texas 29 to Burnet (about 35 miles, total just over 60 miles). Proceed as in To the Unit 1), below.
An option is 2) to take Texas 71 (Ben White Blvd through Austin) west to US 281 (about 40 miles) and then north on US 281 into Burnet (app. 20 miles). Those driving from Houston and areas in southeast Texas may be driving Texas 71 into Austin. Proceed as in To the Unit 2), below.

To Burnet from San Antonio
Those in San Antonio should taker US 281 north out of San Antonio direct to Burnet which is just at 100 miles from downtown. Proceed as in To the Unit 2), below.

To Burnet from Houston
There are two options depending upon what makes sense for you. 1) Drive west from Houston on I-10 about 75 mils to Columbus. Take exit 695 in Columbus and proceed west on Texas 71 to Austin (app. 80 miles) and on to US 281 (another 40 miles). Turn north on US 281 and it is about 20 miles to Burnet. Proceed as in To the Unit 2), below.
2) Drive west on US 290 to Hempstead (app. 50 miles) and on through Brenham, Giddings and Elgin to Austin (total about 110 miles). From this direction you may go on to I-35 and proceed as described for Austin (1, above) or turn north on Texas 130 just the other side of Manor as you approach Austin to Texas 29 (app. 20 miles) which you take west to Burnet. This is a shorter route if you are approaching Austin on US 290 but be aware that Texas 130 is a partial toll road.

To Burnet from Dallas/Fort Worth
From either metropolitan area take I-35E or W (as applies) south 135 miles to Georgetown then drive west on Texas 29 to Burnet (about 35 miles). Proceed as in To the Unit 2), below. Google will take you off of I-35 around Salado for a slightly shorter drive to Texas 29, which is fine, but you will follow three different farm to market roads, one US highway and one Texas highway to do it. Sooooo unless you are good with a map …. (Jolene??)

To Burnet from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
AUS is on the southeast side of Austin off of Texas 71. Presidential Boulevard circles the airport and provide exit to and from Texas 71. Take Texas 71 west (Ben White Blvd) to Austin and another 40 miles to US 281 and then north on US 281 into Burnet (app. 20 miles). Proceed as in To the Unit 2), below.

To the unit:
Halbert is located off of US 281 south of Burnet near Kate Craddock Field/Municipal Airport.
1) East or west bound into Burnet on Texas 29
Texas 29 intersects US 281 in Burnet. Turn south on US 281 and proceed as in 2 below. south out of Burnet about 1 mile to Houston Clinton drive. Exit and proceed as in 2 below.

2) North or southbound into Burnet on US 281
Southbound on 281, proceed south out of Burnet about 1 mile, exit and head west on Houston Clinton drive. Northbound on US 281, Houston Clinton drive is 1 mile out of Burnet and just past the airport and Industrial Park Road. Follow Houston Clinton drive in a big circle about three quarters of a mile and exit to your right onto Ellen Halbert drive. Halbert SAFPF is dead ahead about one half mile.

Things To Do near the Unit

Halbert SAFPF is located in Burnet TX right in the heart of central Texas hill country. It is a short drive from Inks Lake with Inks Lake State Park, Longhorn Cavern State Park (daily tours of the cavern) and the eastern shores of Lake Buchanan. Lake LBJ and Lake Travis or not too far to the south of Burnet and with Austin just a little more than an hour away there is honestly simply too much to do to list. I have camped both at Inks Lake and Pace Bend (aka Paleface) Park on Lake Travis and never wanted to leave. (yet here I sit!) For golfers there is Delaware Springs Golf Course just south of town off of US 281. It’s not exactly cheap but it is there.

Burnet itself caters to tourism with “Burnets Historic Square” with shops and other attractions including a Gunfight most Saturdays in Old Town. Here is a link to the Burnet Chamber of Commerce (http://burnetchamber.org/). There is plenty listed under the “Tourism” pull down tab. They have much more listed than I can fit into a brief profile.

Transportation to Halbert SAFPF

I found no taxi cab services operating out of Burnet. Yellow cab (512-452-9999) estimates a fare of $153 one way from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Halbert. Eagle Cab (512-259-8899) operates out of Leander but a web advertisement states that they serve Williamson and northern Travis counties with no mention of Burnet county.

I found no bus service to Burnet.

Most major airlines and rental car agencies operate out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) (http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport/). Lists of and web links for air carriers and ground transportation are available on the airport web-site.

PTO has a Texas Share a Ride Thread – Region VI (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=288583&highlight=halbert) in the Texas Prison Visitation sub-forum for those that can car pool.