About Crain Unit
The Christina Melton Crain Unit: A Look Inside Texas's Largest Female Prison
The Christina Melton Crain Unit (formerly known as the Gatesville Unit) is a major prison facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) located in Gatesville, Texas. As the largest female prison in the TDCJ system, it plays a vital role in the confinement, processing, and programming of female offenders in the state.
Who is Housed at Crain?
The Crain Unit is a female-only facility that houses a diverse population of offenders, serving multiple functions within the state's correctional system.
Gender and Capacity: The facility is designated for female inmates and has a capacity for over 1,400, though historical capacity information suggests it can hold more.
Custody Levels: It accommodates a range of custody levels, including General Population Levels G1-G4, as well as Transient and Outside Trusty inmates.
Special Populations and Programs: Crain houses specific populations that require specialized care or programming, including:
- New Arrivals: The Reception Center at Crain is where most female arrivals to the TDCJ are processed.
- Special Needs: The facility houses Developmentally Disabled and pregnant/elderly prisoners, specifically in the Valley Unit, which includes a small number of beds reserved for those who are developmentally delayed.
- Treatment: It offers programs for Substance Abuse and houses a boot camp program for younger, first-time offenders (Sentence Alternative to Incarceration Program).
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- Medical Care: Crain is equipped with an infirmary to provide a higher level of medical care for patients who are oxygen-dependent, suffer from paralysis, or have other medical problems preventing them from completing daily living activities.
It is also important to note that most female prisoners in Texas (who are not state jail or Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility residents) are released from the Crain Unit.
Buildings and Satellite Units
The Crain Unit is a complex of several buildings, often referred to as satellite units, that were established on the grounds of the former Gatesville State School. These separate units often serve distinct purposes related to the inmate population they house.The portions of the former state school that became the Crain Unit include the:
- Reception Center: This is the primary intake area for new female inmates entering the TDCJ system. It also houses the boot camp program.
- Valley Unit: This unit is specifically noted for housing pregnant, elderly, and developmentally delayed inmates. It also contains the prison library.
- Live Oak, Riverside, Sycamore, and Terrace Schools (now Units): These sections comprise the main housing and programming areas for the general population. The Terrace Unit, for example, has three regular dorms and a cellblock building with small two-person cells.
- Trustee Camp: This area, which historically had no perimeter fence, houses minimum custody, non-violent inmates who require less supervision. These trustees live in an open dormitory and work in services like landscaping, food service, and beauty shops.
Crain Unit is part of a larger correctional complex in Gatesville, Texas, and is situated near other female-only units, including the Hilltop Unit and the Mountain View Unit, the latter of which houses all Texas female inmates on Death Row.
Work and Programming
- Academic and vocational education (Cosmetology, Horticulture/Urban Farming).
- STRIVE (Strength Through Restoration, Independence, Vision and Empowerment) program.
- CHANGES (Pre-Release) program.
- Faith-Based Dormitory, and various volunteer initiatives like Substance Abuse Education and Mentoring.
Let’s Make a Difference Together
Ready to impact lives at the Crain Unit? At Kairos of Texas, we believe everyone deserves a second chance. Whether you're interested in volunteering, donating, or learning more about our ministry, reach out! Your involvement can foster hope and transformation. Together, let’s create lasting change!
