Preston E. Smith Correctional Unit is a maximum-security prison in Lamesa, Texas, named after the infamous criminal and murderer Preston E. Smith. The prison has a current population of 2234 inmates, and sits on 563 acres. It is heavily guarded by armed guard towers, razor wire fences, roving patrols, and multiple electronic sensors. ..
The Smith Unit houses inmates who are classified from G1 minimum to G5 maximum. G1 is the least dangerous offender and G5 is the more aggressive and violent offender. All inmates in this prison are serving sentences of less than a year. This may seem like a relatively short period of time, but if you would like to contact, visit, or mail a family member or friend while they serve their sentence, here’s what you need to know.
How to Connect with a Smith Unit Inmate
-Inmates are allowed to speak with visitors through a speakerphone or video call -Visitors are not allowed to touch inmates or their property -Inmates are allowed to make phone calls and send text messages, but no pictures or videos
In-person Visiting Hours
Visitation at the Smith Unit is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 5pm. For prisoners in the Expansion Cellblock, an appointment must be booked in advance. These are the basic rules and guidelines for visitation at the Smith Unit: ..
The new policy at the prison will require visitors to carry only clear plastic bags and quarters, in order to reduce the amount of waste that is produced. Visitors are only allowed two visits per weekend, and children under 16 will not be counted in this number. Special visits for those traveling over 300 miles will be permitted once or twice a year. ..
Mailing a Smith Unit Inmate
You must provide a letter or package from your family or friend that is at least 3 inches by 3 inches and has your name, photograph, and contact information on it. The letter or package must be sent to the address below. If you are unable to make physical visitation to your family or friend in Smith Unit, you’ll be glad to know that there is an option to send them a letter or even a package via the mail. The rules are simple: You must provide a letter or package from your family or friend that is at least 3 inches by 3 inches and has your name, photograph, and contact information on it. The letter or package must be sent to the address below.
Packages and letters sent to inmates at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) must not exceed a value of $60 from January to March, $85 from April to June, and $110 from July to September. From October to December, packages and letters can have a value of up to $125. These limits are in place in order to prevent contraband from entering the prison system. ..
Telephone Contact With an Inmate
Inmates in Texas prisons are allowed to make phone calls between 7 pm- 10 pm for 20 minutes each, and they can only call landlines or cellphones. Calls are typically monitored and recorded.
Sending Money to a Smith Unit Inmate
There are many ways to help a loved one who is incarcerated, including sending letters, phone calls, and packages. However, one of the most effective ways to help is to send money. ..
The first option is a way to send money to inmates using your Visa or Mastercard credit and debit cards. The second option is an inmate-to-inmate money transfer service that also uses your Visa or Mastercard credit and debit cards.
Steps to Take Before Contacting an Inmate
- In order to see an inmate, you will need to be cleared by prison officials.
- You will need to provide a letter from a doctor or other medical professional stating that you are fit and able to see inmates.
- Prison officials will then issue you a visitor pass, which allows you access to the prison’s general area only.
- You must remain in the visitor area for the entire time that you are allowed inside the prison. If you leave the visitor area, you may be subject to arrest or other disciplinary action from prison officials.
Smith Unit Educational Courses and Vocational Skills
- welding
- carpentry
- farming
- baking
- cooking
- gardening
The following are some of the most popular types of arts and crafts:
- Plumbing Cabinet Making
- Electrical Horticulture
- Arts and Crafts ..
Prisoners can find jobs at the on-site mattress factory and help in the everyday maintenance of the factory. Prisoners are also given the chance to obtain a GED and further their studies.
Conclusion
Prison can be a place where people are treated poorly, but the Smith Unit tries to provide inmates with the resources they need to make the outside world a better place for them. By providing them with literacy courses, basic education, and vocational skills, the Smith Unit helps inmates become more self-sufficient and able to live in peace and harmony.
