O.L. Luther Unit

Coordinates: 30°15′44″N 96°03′26″W / 30.262094°N 96.057149°W / 30.262094; -96.057149
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O.L. Luther Unit
Map
Location1800 Luther Drive
Navasota, Texas
Statusopen
Security classG1, G2, G3, Outside Trusty
Capacity1316 (1,102 in unit, plus 214 in trusty camp)
OpenedJuly 1982
Managed byTexas Department of Criminal Justice
WardenDebra Booker

The O.L. Luther Unit is a state prison for men located in Navasota, Grimes County, Texas, owned and operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.[1] This facility was opened in July 1982, and has a maximum capacity of 1316: 1102 in the unit itself, and another 214 in the trusty camp.

Luther is co-located with the state's Wallace Pack Unit, with its own population of about 1500 prisoners. Prisoners of both facilities cooperate in an extensive agricultural operation on 11,000 acres, including horses, a cow/calf operation, grain processing and storage, and a buffalo ranch.

Incidents[edit]

The facility has had a difficult history. In October 2001 inmate Nathan Essary was sexually abused by a corrections officer, sued, and discovered other inmate victims of the same officer. Their official complaints had been ignored. Essary collected "substantial" money damages in a civil case,[2] as well as a payment from the state and the officer's beach house.[3] In 2011, within a six-month period, two Luther guards were caught, fired, arrested, and charged with felonies related to bribery and smuggling.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "O.L. Luther Unit". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Man raped by prison guard receives money damages in aclu lawsuit". ACLU press release. 2 December 2004. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  3. ^ Crowe, Robert (3 December 2004). "nmate awarded guard's beach house". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. ^ Smith, Rosemary (5 October 2011). "Second local TDCJ worker arrested for bribery and prohibited item". Navasota Examiner. Retrieved 24 August 2016.

30°15′44″N 96°03′26″W / 30.262094°N 96.057149°W / 30.262094; -96.057149