(November 13, 2008)

ROBSTOWN--The newest private prison in Texas is set to start taking inmates next week. Today, the Coastal Bend Detention Center in Robstown arranged a first and only open house for the public and for the news media.

The prison will house about a thousand federal inmates by the end of the year. It's expected to ease overcrowding of jails in the Coastal Bend.

Several area leaders were on hand for the grand opening. This $40 million project has been a work in progress for three years.

It has several layers of security that will prevent prisoners from escaping. There also will be a state-of-the-art medical facility along with six recreation yards.

"What we have done is invited all of the neighbors into the prison and they've seen all of the security measures that we've incorporated into the design," said Dick Harbison of the LCS Corrections, Inc., the private prison company running the facility. "Right now, all of our neighbors are happy."

"I think this is a secure of a facility, that is currently operating in the state of Texas or problably anywhere in the United States that detains inmates," said Nueces County Sheriff Jim Kaelin. 

"This won't help the Nueces County Jail, but it will help the federal government have a place to house prisoners because they're just not enough jails in place today," said Chuck Cazalas, a Nueces County Commissioner. 

The county has an agreement to use the jail, just in case the Nueces County Jail gets overcrowded. They also will have a substation to hold prisoners until they can be transported to main jail.

Today's tour was open to the public and will be the only chance for residents to see inside the private prison. The first prisoners are expecting to start arriving on Monday.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com