Telford Unit announces limited inmate transfers

NEW BOSTON, Texas — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice reported Monday that there is only one active case of COVID19 among inmates at the Barry Telford Unit in New Boston, with 187 recovered.

TDCJ announced that beginning Monday, the agency will resume the transfer of offenders into parole-voted programs.

“TDCJ will use information gathered during the testing campaign to begin the limited transfer of COVID-free offenders already in the system to other facilities within the system to begin parole release programming,” TDCJ’s website states.

TDCJ credits a robust program of testing for inmates and staff with the relaxing of restrictions related to the virus.

“An aggressive testing campaign allows the agency greater flexibility in the movement of COVID-free offenders within our system,” said Bryan Collier, TDCJ Executive Director. “I am hopeful we will complete the transfer of COVID-free offenders scheduled to begin parole release programming to their relevant facilities within approximately 30 days.”

TDCJ reported Monday that six inmates are in medical isolation. Isolation is used to separate ill persons who have a communicable disease from those who are healthy.

TDCJ reports that 16 Telford employees are infected with COVID-19 and an additional 43 have recovered, for a total of 59 testing positive.

TDCJ reported Monday that 271 inmates at Telford are in medical restriction.

Medical restriction is used to separate and restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill.