East Texas Treatment Center may undergo second expansion

The East Texas Treatment Center near Henderson, Texas could expand for a second time.

Warden Michael Bell announced plans to expand the minimum security prison by 560 beds during a Henderson City Council meeting this summer. The project would cost an estimated $8 million.

The treatment center is privately operated by Management and Training Corporation (MTC) of Centerville, Utah. It provides chemical dependency treatment, life skills training, adult education programs and felony substance abuse punishment for inmates statewide.  It is the largest state-licensed facility treatment center in Texas.

Jail officials are submitting plans to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for approval to enlarge the facility.  MTC would be responsible for construction.  Local and state taxpayers would not be responsible for any of the cost.

The expansion would bring more jobs to Henderson, potentially boosting the number of employees at the facility from 350 to 500.  If the plan is approved, the expansion must be completed by the state's deadline of March 1.

The East Texas Treatment Center first opened in March 2007 with 1160 beds, after a growing inmate population forced relocation from the nearby Gregg County Jail.  The prison completed one expansion in February 2008, adding 560 beds — bringing its total to 1,720 beds.

(08/10/08)

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