W.J. Estelle Unit
W. J. "Jim" Estelle Unit (E2, originally the Ellis II Unit) also known as the Estelle Supermax Penitentiary, is a prison located on Farm to Market Road 3478 in unincorporated Walker County, Texas, United States, 10 miles (16 km) north of central Huntsville. The prison, with about 5,459 acres (2,209 ha) of space, is operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The unit, which opened in June 1984, was named after Ward James "Jim" Estelle, a former prison director of Texas.
Location in Texas | |
| Location | 264 FM 3478 Huntsville, Texas 77320-3320 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°53′22″N 95°29′08″W |
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | G1-G5, Administrative Segregation, Safekeeping, Substance Abuse, Geriatric, Transient Medical Facility: All levels requiring medical treatment |
| Capacity | Unit: 3,148 SAFP (Substance Abuse Felony Punishment): 212 Regional Medical Facility: 120 |
| Opened | June 1984 |
| Managed by | TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division |
| Warden | Michael Britt |
| County | Walker County |
| Country | US |
| Website | www |
The Estelle Unit has a geriatric facility, a program for physically handicapped inmates, a program for substance abuse, a high security unit, and a regional medical facility. The Estelle High Security Unit, the high security unit, is a supermax facility. The current warden is Michael Britt, appointed in November, 2022.