Neha Patil (Editor)

French M. Robertson Unit

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Status
  
Operational

Country
  
USA

Capacity
  
2,984

Warden
  
Ronald Fox

Phone
  
+1 325-548-9035

Opened
  
September 1992

French M. Robertson Unit

Location
  
12071 FM 3522 Abilene, Texas 79601

Security class
  
G1-G5, Administrative Segregation, Transient

Managed by
  
TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division

Address
  
12071 Farm to Market Road 3522, Abilene, TX 79601, USA

Similar
  
Taylor County Jail, Taylor County Juvenile, Taylor Environm Departme, Taylor County Informatio, Taylor County Emer Pla

The French M. Robertson Unit is a maximum-security state prison located on Farm to Market Road 3522 in Abilene, Texas, United States, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Downtown Abilene in Jones County. The prison for males, classified as a "prison," is operated by the Correctional Institutions Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, administered as within Region VI.

Contents

The Robertson Unit has space for 1,244 inmates in General Population, plus a large Administrative Segregation facility. The Unit has a large garment manufacturing facility, which makes garments for several other State and local corrections facilities. Also notable, is the Robertson Unit's kennel of tracking dogs, and horses for mounted operations.

The unit is named after French M. Robertson who was a lawyer and oil businessperson from Abilene, Texas.

Beginning in September 2010, the prison serves as a regional release unit for prisoners exiting the TDCJ.

History

The unit opened in November 1992.

In 1996 a correctional officer fired a bullet, which he described as a "warning" shot, towards an inmate that he said was running from an outside work squad. The bullet hit the inmate between the eyes, killing him. No outside investigation occurred. The Robertson warden declared the "Officer of the Year" award over, giving it to the officer who shot the prisoner.

On July 16, 2016 Correctional Officer Mari Johnson was killed near the prison's kitchen. As of right now it is being ruled a homicide and the TDCJ has yet to release any more information.

Notable prisoners

  • Anthony Bernard Hampton, perpetrator of the Murder of Pete Shrum
  • Colton Pitonyak, perpetrator of the Murder of Jennifer Cave
  • James Richard "Ricky" Thompson Jr., perpetrator of the Murder of John Goosey and Stacy Barnett
  • References

    French M. Robertson Unit Wikipedia