TDCJ News

Mask Requirements Dropped at 41 TDCJ Units

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is returning to a level of pre-COVID pandemic operations at units with 70% or more vaccination rates.

This decision has been made in coordination with guidance from the CDC regarding herd immunity and vaccinations. TDCJ has seen significant reductions in cases of COVID in both the inmate and employee populations. Surveillance testing is also showing a significant reduction in viral activity. As a result, when units reach 70% of inmate and employee vaccination combined units will be allowed to remove mask requirements and return to non-socially distant operations. This means that areas like dayrooms, outdoor recreation areas, classrooms, work spaces, barber shops, and other areas will all be open fully.

Currently, there are 41 units that have achieved a total of 70% or higher vaccination rates (percentage combines inmates and staff). At those units masks are NO LONGER required. That includes visitors.

The units are Bell, Boyd, Bridgeport, Byrd, Coleman, Cotulla, Daniel, Diboll, Duncan, Estes, Fort Stockton, Glossbrenner, Goree, Halbert, Hamilton, Hightower, Hilltop, Hughes, Huntsville, Jester III, Jordan, Kyle, Lopez, Luther, Lynaugh, Memorial, B. Moore, Mountain View, Murray, Ney, Pack, Polunsky, Powledge, Ramsey, Sanchez, Scott, Stevenson, Stringfellow, Terrell, Vance, and Willacy.

Units will be evaluated weekly for their vaccination percentage and when units achieve 70% participation they will be added to this list.

TDCJ would like to thank our employees, inmates, and the visitation populations for their patience and cooperation during this unprecedented time.