All Texas prisons under lockdown in response to rising violence in units, TDCJ says

Texas Department of Criminal Justice men's prison, Darrington Unit, in unincorporated Brazoria County. Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice on Wednesday placed all of its facilities under lockdown, using new measures they say are in response to rising violence tied to illegal drugs within the prison units. All visitation is canceled until further notice, each facility will limit the movement of inmates and their contact with people outside the prison and both inmates and staff will undergo searches, according to a news release from the agency. The prisons will resume normal operations once they are completed. No timetable was provided.

Read the rest of this story from the Houston Chronicle.