Prisons Near San Antonio
Within the area of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, 
there are 5 State prisons or jails that are attended to by Kolbe Prison Ministries SA. These include:
- Briscoe Unit near Dilley
- Connally Unit near Kenedy
- Dominguez State Jail in San Antonio
- Ney State Jail near Hondo
- Torres Unit near Hondo
(click on arrow to show & hide info)
Briscoe UnitThe Dolph Briscoe Unit or Briscoe Unit is a Texas state prison located near the town of Dilley in Frio County. The unit opened in January 1992 and is named for former Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe.
The Briscoe Unit is designed to hold a maximum of 1,384 offenders. The unit employs about 230 people of which over 160 are security related employees, 40 non-security and about 14 are employees of the Windham School District. Offenders in the unit may have access to literacy education, as well as adult education and GED courses through the Windham School District programs, as well as English as a second language, special education and pre-release courses. The unit also runs career and technology programs for inmates including: construction carpentry, electrical trades, landscape design, construction and maintenance. Offenders may also have the opportunity of working with local community works projects such as with the local food bank, Habitat for Humanity and other local organizations. The unit also runs agricultural operations including maintenance of security animals (horses and dogs) and edible crops.
More information can be found at the TDCJ page for the Briscoe Unit.
Connally Unit
The John B. Connally Unit or Connally Unit is a Texas state maximum-security prison for males located about 2 miles south of the city of Kenedy in unincorporated Karnes County. The prison opened in July 1995 and is named for former Governor and United States Treasury Secretary John B. Connally, Jr.
The Connally Unit is designed to hold a maximum of 2,148 offenders. The unit employs about 600 people of which over 460 are security related employees, 89 non-security and about 7 are employees of the Windham School District. Offenders in the unit may have access to literacy education, as well as adult education and GED courses through the Windham School District programs, as well as English as a second language, special education and pre-release courses. The unit also runs career and technology programs for inmates including: construction carpentry, electrical trades, landscape design, construction and maintenance. Offenders may also have the opportunity of working with local community works projects such as with the local food bank, Habitat for Humanity and other local organizations. The unit also runs agricultural operations including maintenance of security animals (horses and dogs) and edible crops.
More information can be found at the TDCJ page for the Connally Unit.
Dominguez State Jail
The Fabian Dale Dominguez State Jail or Dominguez State Jail is a detention facility operated by the TDCJ located on the west side of the city of San Antonio. The jail opened in May 1995 and is named for Fabian Dale Dominguez, a San Antonio police officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty in January 1995.
The Dominguez State Jail is designed to hold a maximum of 2,276 offenders. The jail employs about 380 people of which over 260 are security related employees, 74 non-security and about 24 are employees of the Windham School District.
More information can be found at the TDCJ page for the Dominguez State Jail.
Ney State Jail
The Joe Ney State Jail or Ney State Jail is a detention facility operated by the TDCJ located Two miles west of the city of Hondo in Medina County. The jail opened in March 1995.
The Ney State Jail is designed to hold a maximum of 576 offenders. The jail employs about 130 people of which over 90 are security related employees, 27 non-security and about 5 are employees of the Windham School District.
More information can be found at the TDCJ page for the Ney State Jail.
Torres Unit
The Ruben M. Torres Unit or Torres Unit is a Texas state prison located about 3 miles west of the city of Hondo in Medina County. The prison opened in January 1993 and is named for former Texas legislator Ruben M. Torres.
The Connally Unit is designed to hold a maximum of 2,148 offenders. The unit employs nearly 300 people of which over 215 are security related employees, 59 non-security and about 12 are employees of the Windham School District. Offenders in the unit may have access to literacy education, as well as adult education and GED courses through the Windham School District programs, as well as English as a second language, special education and pre-release courses. The unit also runs career and technology programs for inmates including: automotive fundamentals; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration and electrical trades.
More information can be found at the TDCJ page for the Torres Unit.
Kolbe Prison Ministries of San Antonio has also reached out beyond the TDCJ system by holding Kolbe retreats at local detention facilities:
Applewhite Recovery CenterThe Applewhite Recovery Center (ARC) in south San Antonio is a secure (fenced) facility run by the Bexar County Community Supervision and Corrections Department where men and women on probation are sent by court order for addiction recovery rehabilitation through programs lasting typically about 90-180 days.
Kolbe Prison Ministries SA conducted an inaugural 3-day retreat in July 2017 for probationers (retreatants) at ARC. The retreat took place entirely within the second floor of the ARC training building. There were 49 retreatants and 21 outside team members.
More information can be found at the webpage for Applewhite Recovery Center.