Coffield Unit

H. H. Coffield Unit

Location	2661 FM 2054 Tennessee Colony, Texas 75884
Coordinates	31.7906000°N 095.8932667°W / 31.7906000; -095.8932667
Status	Operational
Security class	G1-G4, Administrative Segregation, Outside Trusty
Capacity	Unit: 3,818 Trusty Camp:321
Opened	June 1965
Managed by	TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division
Warden	Jamadre Enge
County	Anderson County
Country	United States
Website	www.tdcj.state.tx.us/unit_directory/co.html

Aerial view of the Coffield Prison Farm Property (The Coffield, Beto, Gurney, Michael, and Powledge units)

Topographic map of the Coffield State Prison Farm, July 1, 1977, U.S. Geological Survey

The H. H. Coffield Unit (CO) is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison for men in unincorporated Anderson County, Texas.^[1] The prison, near Tennessee Colony, is along Farm to Market Road 2054. The unit, on a 20,518 acres (8,303 ha) plot of land, is co-located with Beto, Gurney, Michael, and Powledge units.^[2] With a capacity of 4,139 inmates, Coffield is the TDCJ's largest prison.^[3] Coffield opened in June 1965.^[2]

In 2011 the Stiles Unit metal products plant closed. Its operations were consolidated with those of Coffield and Powledge Unit.^[4]

Coffield has employee housing.^[5]

In early 2019 Gateway Church opened its first prison campus inside Coffield.^[6]

On September 19, 2023, two time convicted murder and alleged serial killer Billy Chemirmir was killed in the prison. The alleged attacker was Wyatt Busby, who was serving a 50 year sentence for murder in connection with the 2016 stabbing death of a man in the Houston area.^[7]

Notable Inmates

Inmate Name	Register Number	Status	Details
Joshua Luke Bagwell	05759612 / 00815991	Serving a life sentence. Eligible for parole in 2036.	One of three perpetrators of the 1996 rape and Murder of Heather Rich.[8] The case experienced renewed attention after Bagwell, one of his co-defendants, and a few other inmates escaped custody in 2002, and after a 10 day manhunt were apprehended .[9][10]
Mel Hall	06023953/01581384	40 year sentence. Eligible for parole in 2031.	Former Major League Baseball player (1981-92, 1996). Convicted of sexually assaulting two underage females.

References

1. "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Anderson County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. pp. 17-18 (PDF p. 18-19/41). Retrieved 2022-08-14. H H Coffield Unit
2. "Coffield Unit." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on August 23, 2010.
3. Williams, Vergil L. Dictionary of American Penology. Second Edition. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. 219. Retrieved from Google Books on August 23, 2010. ISBN 0-313-26689-1, ISBN 978-0-313-26689-8.
4. Ward, Mike. "Prison industry programs a victim of economic recession Archived 2012-09-11 at archive.today." Austin American-Statesman. Sunday September 4, 2011. Retrieved on September 23, 2011.
5. Quan, Doris. "Man who escaped E. Texas prison through ventilation shaft is caught." The Dallas Morning News. July 8, 1993. Retrieved on August 27, 2010. "Prison officials believe that Mr Smith made his way to the roof at the Coffield Unit and ended up near the employee housing area about 1 am Wednesday"
6. "Gateway Church Seeing Revival, 500 Salvations at Its New Prison Church Campus". 4 February 2019.
7. Stengle, Jamie. "Slain Texas prisoner who was accused of killing 22 older women was stabbed by cellmate, report says". The Associated Press. KTRK-TV. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
8. Cochran, Mike (1998-05-31). "Tangle of Guilt and Repentance Follows Slaying of Cheerleader". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
9. staff, CBSNews com staff CBSNews com (2002-01-29). "Texas Manhunt On - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
10. "Texas Fugitives in Custody After Standoff". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-01-23.

External links

• "Coffield Unit." Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
• Byrd, Sid Hawk. "Life and Death in a Cold, Lonely Cell." Texas Observer. Friday November 16, 2007.

31°47′25″N 95°53′35″W