The Luther Unit is a maximum-security prison located in Navasota, Texas. It is part of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and is accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA). The prison was established in 1992 and has a capacity of 1,316 inmates.
The Luther Unit is located in Grimes County, which is in the eastern part of Texas. The city of Navasota is the closest city to the prison, and it is about 75 miles northwest of Houston. The prison is named after O.L. Luther, a former TDCJ executive director who served from 1972 to 1983. The Luther Unit is one of several TDCJ facilities in the area, including the Wallace Pack Unit, the Estelle Unit, and the Ferguson Unit.
| Security | Medium |
| Capacity | 1,316 |
| Physical Address | 1800 Luther Drive Navasota, TX 77868 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 660400 Dallas, TX 75266-0400 |
| Can You Send Gifts? | No |
| Visitation Hours | Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |
| Dress Code | Yes |
| Phone Number | (936) 825-7547 |
| Jurisdiction | State |
Location and History
The O.L. Luther Unit, also known as the Luther Unit, is a state prison located in Navasota, Texas. The facility is situated ten miles southwest of Navasota off Highway 6 on FM 2 in Grimes County. The Luther Unit is a medium-security prison that has been accredited by the American Correctional Association since January 2003.
The Luther Unit has a long history dating back to the 19th century. The prison was originally established in 1919 as the Bryan Farm Prison Unit, and it was used to house prisoners who worked on a state-owned farm. The facility was later renamed the Luther Prison Unit in honor of O.L. Luther, a former Texas Department of Corrections director.
In 1989, the Luther Unit was converted into a maximum-security prison, and it has since housed some of the state’s most dangerous criminals. The prison has a capacity of approximately 1,310 inmates and employs over 400 staff members.
The Luther Unit has been the site of several high-profile incidents over the years. In 2003, a riot broke out at the prison, resulting in the death of one inmate and injuries to several others. In 2015, a correctional officer was found dead in his home after being beaten to death by an inmate who had recently been released from the Luther Unit.
Despite these incidents, the Luther Unit has a reputation for being a well-run and highly secure prison. The facility has received praise from the ACA for its programs and services, including its educational and vocational training programs, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
Facilities and Capacity
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice provides an interactive map showing all of its facilities, including the Luther Unit. Visitors can use the map to zoom in and see facilities that may be close to each other, click each facility for information, filter by type of facility using the slide-out sidebar, or enlarge the map for full-screen viewing.
The Luther Unit underwent a Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) audit in January 2021. The PREA audit report indicates that the designated facility capacity is 1,316, and the current population of the facility is 1,263. The PREA audit report is conducted by PREA Auditors of America, LLC, and their mailing address is PO Box 1071, Cypress, Texas 77410. The telephone number for PREA Auditors of America, LLC is (713) 818-9098.
The Luther Unit is one of many units in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s unit directory. The directory provides the unit name, unit address, and unit phone number for all of the units in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Inmate Population
The Luther Unit is a male prison facility located in Navasota, Texas. As of the latest available data in the FY 2021 Statistical Report from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Luther Unit had a total capacity of 1,016 inmates.
The inmate population at the Luther Unit is composed of men who have been convicted of various crimes and sentenced to serve time in the facility. The TDCJ provides a range of programs and services to help inmates prepare for their eventual release and reentry into society. These programs include educational opportunities, vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and more.
In terms of demographics, the FY 2019 Statistical Report from the TDCJ indicates that the majority of the inmate population at the Luther Unit is between the ages of 20 and 39. Additionally, the report notes that the majority of inmates are serving sentences for drug offenses, followed by property offenses and violent offenses.
The TDCJ provides various resources for families and friends of offenders, including information on visitation policies and procedures, mail and phone communication, and more. It is important to note that the TDCJ has strict rules and regulations regarding inmate communication and visitation, and it is important to follow these guidelines to avoid any potential issues.
Overall, the inmate population at the Luther Unit is composed of men who are serving time for a variety of offenses. The TDCJ provides programs and services to help inmates prepare for their eventual release and reentry into society and also offers resources for families and friends of inmates.
Agricultural Operations
The Luther Unit in Texas is home to a variety of agricultural operations that provide food and other resources for the prison system. The agricultural operations at the Luther Unit include cow/calf operations, edible and field crops, a farm shop, security horses, security pack canines, swine finishing operation, grain storage, and buffalo ranch. The unit also works in cooperation with the Pack Unit to manage their agricultural operations.
The cow/calf operation at the Luther Unit provides beef for the prison system. The farm shop is responsible for the maintenance and repair of equipment used in the agricultural operations. The security horses and pack canines are used to patrol the perimeter of the prison and ensure the safety of the inmates and staff.
The swine finishing operation is responsible for raising and finishing hogs for consumption by the prison system. The grain storage facility is used to store the crops produced by the agricultural operations. The buffalo ranch is located on 11,002 acres of land and is used to raise bison for consumption by the prison system.
The Luther Unit also has a trusty camp that is used to provide labor for agricultural operations. The trusty camp is made up of inmates who have earned the privilege of working outside of the prison walls. The trusty camp provides labor for the cow/calf operation, swine finishing operation, and other agricultural operations.
Overall, the Luther Unit’s agricultural operations are an important part of the prison system’s efforts to provide food and resources for inmates. The operations provide valuable work opportunities for inmates and help to reduce the cost of food and other resources for the prison system.
Educational Programs
The Luther Unit in Texas offers various educational programs to help inmates develop their mental skills and provide marketable job training skills to re-enter society successfully. The unit’s academic and vocational post-secondary education programs are designed to give inmates an opportunity for rehabilitation.
The vocational education programs available at the Luther Unit include welding, electrical trades, and automotive technology. These programs provide inmates with hands-on training and marketable skills that can help them secure employment once they are released.
In addition to vocational education, the Luther Unit also offers adult education programs and life decision-making courses. These programs help inmates improve their literacy and numeracy skills, as well as their decision-making abilities. The unit’s life decision-making courses cover topics such as anger management, parenting, and financial management.
The Luther Unit also has a faith-based dormitory, where inmates can participate in religious activities and receive spiritual guidance. The unit’s chaplaincy services provide religious counseling and pastoral care to inmates of all faiths.
Overall, the Luther Unit’s educational programs aim to reduce recidivism rates by providing inmates with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed once they are released.