Bartlett, Texas is a small community of under 2,000 people, but its population is about to explode.

The Bartlett Unit will soon reopen, with the capacity to hold 1,049 inmates. Add the folks that will move nearby to fill in jobs at the prison, and Bartlett grows over 50%. Quite the upswing.

The reopening of the prison is due to the increased need for beds, as the Texas prisoner population is growing.

Should this be a cause for concern?

Perhaps not. The decline in prison population wasn't policy-based, but largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The "upswing" may be more of a business-as-usual correction. Previously stalled cases are now going forward in the court system. Additionally, parole rates are going down.

Read More: Cruel And Unusual: Why Are Texas Prisons So Incredibly Hot? |

However, many are concerned that the reopening of Bartlett and possibly other prisons is to "make way" for potential new laws, including the criminalization of women receiving abortions, the criminalization of homelessness, and the illegal immigrant-to-prisoner pipeline.

It could also be a symptom of a "hard on crime" zeitgeist, which has historically proven an ineffective crime deterrent. Lengthy prison stays don't tend to curb the appeal of committing a crime, but rather the certainty of being caught is a good deterrent.

Why Are People In Texas Prisons?

Looking at 2023 statistical data, nearly 64% of people in Texas prisons are there for violent offenses, including Homicide (16,885 inmates), Assault/ Terroristic Threat (21, 724 inmates), and Sexual Assault Offenses (22,884 inmates).

15.4% of prisoners are there for "Other" which encompasses everything from DWIs to Evading Arrest, Prostitution, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, etc.

13.2 % are drug-related offenses, with a whopping 9,287 prisoners in jail for drug possession. If Texas wants to curtail its prison population, this seems like a good place to start, however, some inmates plea down to lesser charges including drug possession.

7.6% of prisoners are incarcerated for property crimes, including Fraud, Arson, Burglary, etc.

Does Texas Have a Prison Problem?

Texas has the highest prison population of any state in the U.S. But we are the second most populous state overall, after California. Per capita, we are only the 6th highest incarceration state, with Mississippi taking the lead.

Interestingly, the Bartlett Unit may solve the high prison population in more ways than just extra beds. Per the TDJC:

It will offer a new approach to programs and services designed to support successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society upon release.