Dolph Briscoe Unit Overview
Dolph Briscoe Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institutions Division prison in Dilley, Frio County. It is included in the Edwards County facility list because the Edwards County roster itself has used the note "IN BRISCOE UNIT" for some people. That note can confuse a reader who expects every listed facility to be in Edwards County. Briscoe is a state-prison unit outside the county, and TDCJ rules control the lookup, visiting, mail, telephone, and money systems.
The official TDCJ Briscoe Unit directory lists the unit at 1459 West Highway 85 in Dilley, about one quarter mile west of IH-35 on Highway 85. TDCJ names Cedric Washington as Senior Warden. The unit is in Region IV and houses male prisoners in G1, G2, and G4 custody levels. Its full name is Dolph Briscoe Unit, and TDCJ lists it as established online in January 1992.
TDCJ's Briscoe Unit page is the source for the prison's capacity, custody levels, accreditation, staffing, and location details.
The directory confirms why Briscoe should be treated as a prison page, not as another Edwards County jail roster page.
Dolph Briscoe Unit Population
TDCJ lists Dolph Briscoe Unit capacity as 1,216. The Edwards County research did not identify a current live Briscoe population count by date, so the sourced number to use is capacity rather than an invented occupancy figure. That distinction matters because county jail population reports from TCJS cover the Edwards County Jail, while TDCJ unit capacity comes from the state prison directory.
Briscoe's scale is very different from the 25-bed Edwards County Jail. The prison has 426 approximate acres, 233 total employees, 165 security employees, 42 non-security employees, 14 Windham Education employees, and 12 contract medical employees according to TDCJ. TDCJ lists no contract mental-health employees in the inspected unit directory. These figures describe the state unit, not local jail staffing.
| Briscoe Unit Detail | TDCJ Listing |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Custody levels | G1, G2, G4 |
| Capacity | 1,216 |
| ACA accreditation | Accredited since January 2003 |
Dolph Briscoe Unit Lookup
Use the TDCJ inmate information search for Briscoe Unit. Do not use the Edwards County jail roster as the main lookup tool for this state prison. The county roster may explain why a local case mentions Briscoe, but the prison placement, TDCJ number, SID number, projected release details, and unit status are state data. TDCJ also warns that its online information is updated on working days and is at least 24 hours old.
- Open the TDCJ inmate search rather than the Edwards County roster.
- Search by last name, first name, TDCJ number, or SID number when known.
- Use gender and race fields to narrow common-name results.
- Confirm the listed unit says Briscoe Unit before planning a visit, mail, or release pickup.
- Call the unit or use TDCJ contact routes if timing or release status is critical.
| TDCJ Field | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Last Name | Name search | Can be used with one or more fields |
| First Name | Name search | Helps narrow results |
| TDCJ Number | Direct prison ID search | Maximum length listed as 8 |
| SID Number | State ID search | Maximum length listed as 8 |
| Gender / Race | Filters | Optional dropdown fields |
The TDCJ search form shows the fields used for statewide prison lookup.
Those fields are the right lookup path once an Edwards County case has moved from local jail custody to a TDCJ prison unit.
Dolph Briscoe Unit Contact
Contact Briscoe Unit for unit-specific questions after confirming the person is in TDCJ custody. Edwards County jail staff cannot set TDCJ prison visits, control TDCJ mail systems, or change state-prison commissary rules. If the person is still in local pretrial custody, use the Edwards County Jail line instead. If the person is listed as in Briscoe, use the state prison contact.
Dolph Briscoe Unit
1459 West Highway 85
Dilley, TX 78017
830-965-4444
TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division, Region IV
Unit Leadership
Senior Warden Cedric Washington
Regional Director Angela Chevalier
Deputy Division Director Lonnie "L.E." Townsend
Division Director Eric Guerrero
Dolph Briscoe Unit Visits
TDCJ prison visitation is different from Edwards County Jail visitation. Briscoe visits follow statewide TDCJ policy and unit scheduling, including approval and compliance requirements. A person who appears on an Edwards County roster as "IN BRISCOE UNIT" should be treated as a TDCJ prisoner for visiting purposes. Use the TDCJ visitation policy and confirm with the unit before travel.
| Visit Topic | Briscoe Unit Rule Source | Practical Step |
|---|---|---|
| Approval | TDCJ statewide visitation policy | Confirm visitor eligibility before scheduling |
| Scheduling | TDCJ and unit procedures | Use current TDCJ instructions, then call if unsure |
| Identification | TDCJ policy | Bring required ID and match the approved visitor information |
| Travel | Unit location in Dilley | Verify the prisoner remains at Briscoe before leaving |
Note: TDCJ tells relatives to call the unit before going to pick up or meet an inmate.
Dolph Briscoe Unit Mail
Mail, commissary, phone, and technology services for Briscoe Unit follow TDCJ statewide systems. The Edwards County trust-fund rules do not apply after a person is in state-prison custody. Use the TDCJ inmate information hub for current instructions on inmate search, visitation, digital mail, commissary or eCommDirect, inmate telephone, video services, and related contact routes.
| Service | Provider / Detail | Use for Briscoe? |
|---|---|---|
| Prison locator | TDCJ inmate information search | Yes |
| Mail / digital mail | TDCJ inmate information hub | Yes, follow current statewide rules |
| Commissary | TDCJ commissary / eCommDirect information | Yes, when eligible under TDCJ rules |
| County trust fund | Edwards County Jail money-order rules | No, not for state-prison custody |
No Briscoe-specific county fee table applies because Briscoe is not run by Edwards County. Fees, eligibility, account limits, and technology services can change under TDCJ policy, so use the state information hub before sending funds or mail.
Dolph Briscoe Unit Intake
Briscoe Unit intake is prison custody, not street-arrest booking. A person usually moves into TDCJ after sentencing and state processing. TDCJ then classifies the prisoner, assigns or transfers the person to a unit, and applies prison custody levels. In that context, classification means a state decision about custody level, housing, work, program access, and supervision needs. It is not the same as a county jail booking entry.
An Edwards County arrest may begin at the county jail, move through magistrate and court steps, and later reach TDCJ if a prison sentence is imposed. Once that happens, the search path shifts. County records may still matter for the arrest and court case, but current prison location should be checked through TDCJ. For local custody before sentencing, use Edwards County Jail / Detention Center.
- TDCJ
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the state prison agency.
- G1, G2, G4
- TDCJ custody levels listed for male prisoners at Briscoe Unit.
- Unit
- A state prison facility where TDCJ houses prisoners after placement or transfer.
About Dolph Briscoe Unit
Briscoe Unit has been ACA accredited since January 2003 according to TDCJ. The directory lists agricultural operations that include security horses, security pack canines, edible crops, and the Texas Gleaning Project. It also lists unit maintenance and Windham Education staffing. These details show the prison's state-corrections role, which is distinct from the Edwards County Jail's local detention and booking function.
The Edwards County connection is practical rather than geographic. No TDCJ prison was located inside Edwards County in the official sources reviewed, and no federal BOP or ICE detention center was found in Edwards County. Briscoe appears because local roster notes can point there. Readers should use both systems in sequence when needed: county roster for local jail status, TDCJ locator for state-prison placement, and federal or ICE locators only when a federal or immigration custody issue is involved.
Note: Confirm unit placement and visitation with TDCJ before travel, because transfers can change prison location.