 The prison, with about of land, is a part of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Region V.

It opened in June 1995 and is one of the largest maximum security units in Texas housing approximately 3600 offenders.It consists of four departments, General Population, Administrative segregation and one of the first "Expansion cell blocks" (High Security) to be built housing some level ones Seg overflow and close custody offenders.It also contains one of Texas's "Safe Keeping Units", which are designed to house prisoners that would be in danger from other inmates.