Crystal City Correctional Center

Crystal City Correctional Center

Crystal City Correctional Center is a closed private prison near Crystal City, Texas. It is about 40 miles (64 km) from the Mexico-United States border.[1]

The prison had spaces for 515 prisoners. The prison was previously one of the largest employers in the Crystal City area, and it housed federal prisoners.[2]

History

As of 1997 the prison housed 62 female prisoners, 95% of them being mothers, from Hawaii.[1]

The prison also housed several hundred excess pretrial prisoners from the Bexar County, Texas jail. Franky Salinas, one of the Bexar prisoners, hanged himself in 2009.[3]

In December 2011 the U.S. Marshals Service removed all federal prisoners from the facility. This occurred due to allegations of improper relationships with women inmates and smuggling of contraband of employees had been made; at least one person was convicted in relation to these allegations. On May 1, 2012 the former prison operator stopped managing the prison. On May 2, 2012 the prison closed. Emerald Management Corp. had offered to begin managing the prison again so it could reopen, but the Crystal City city council experienced infighting related to the issue. As of that time the Internal Revenue Service asked for $400,000 and bondholders threatened legal action, including foreclosure, since they wanted $9.2 million.[2] Later in May 2012 the city council voted to approve Emerald's request to operate the prison, causing it to reopen.[4] In October 2010 another 100 inmates were transferred from Bexar County jail to Crystal City Correctional Center.[5]

As of 2015 the prison remained empty, and John MacCormack of the San Antonio Express-News wrote that there are "no signs of reopening."[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Kakesako, Gregg K. "Hawaii inmates say if they have to do time, they'd rather do it in the Lone Star State" (Archive). Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 24, 1997. Retrieved on February 9, 2016.
  2. 1 2 MacCormack, John. "Council members fiddle while prison closes" (Archive). San Antonio Express-News. Saturday May 12, 2012. Retrieved on February 9, 2016. Image states: "Crystal City Correctional Center 6901 North U.S. Highway 83"
  3. ↑ Harman, Greg. "Hang Time." San Antonio Current. January 20, 2010. Retrieved on February 9, 2016.
  4. ↑ MacCormack, John. "Crystal City Council vote ends prison impasse" (Archive). San Antonio Express-News. Tuesday May 22, 2012. Retrieved on February 9, 2016.
  5. ↑ Moravec, Eva Ruth. "Home improvement time at Bexar County Jail" (Archive). San Antonio Express-News. Wednesday, October 27, 2010. Retrieved on February 9, 2016.
  6. ↑ MacCormack, John. "Private prison boom goes bust" (Archive). San Antonio Express-News. August 22, 2015. Retrieved on February 9, 2016.

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