Jim Ferguson Unit Overview
Jim Ferguson Unit is operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division. TDCJ lists it as a male prison in Madison County at 12120 Savage Drive in Midway. The unit holds sentenced state prisoners, not local pretrial detainees booked into Madison County Jail. A person can be physically in Madison County and still be in an entirely different custody system, which is why Ferguson searches must go through TDCJ rather than the Madison County Interop roster.
TDCJ identifies Deward Demoss as senior warden and Michael Britt as Region I regional director. The unit page lists the facility as ACA accredited since August 2000, online since June 1962, and about twenty miles northeast of Huntsville on FM 247. The published custody levels are G1 through G5, Security Detention, and Transient. TDCJ also lists a family liaison coordinator, Polly Hannon, along with the unit's programs, operations, medical services, staffing, and address information.
The official TDCJ Jim Ferguson Unit page is the source for the unit's address, phone, capacity, custody levels, warden, accreditation, programs, and operational details.
That TDCJ unit page is facility-specific, while inmate lookup, visitation, mail, and money rules are handled through TDCJ statewide systems and current unit verification.
Jim Ferguson Unit Capacity and Population
TDCJ publishes Jim Ferguson Unit capacity as 2,417. The research file did not capture a current daily Ferguson Unit headcount from an official source, so the stat block below separates the sourced capacity from the missing current population figure. The county TCJS population number for Madison County Jail does not apply to Ferguson Unit because TCJS county-jail reporting and TDCJ state-prison reporting are different systems.
The unit's population type is male sentenced TDCJ custody, including the custody levels TDCJ lists for the unit. It should not be counted as Madison County Jail's pretrial population and should not be searched through the county roster.
How to Look Up an Inmate at Jim Ferguson Unit
Use the TDCJ online inmate search for Jim Ferguson Unit. TDCJ inmate information sources state that location and general information may be obtained online, by email, or by telephone, and the search can use name information, SID number, or current TDCJ number through TDCJ search resources. TDCJ IVSS also allows searching by name, SID, or current TDCJ number, then opening details and subscribing for notifications.
- Open the TDCJ inmate search, not the Madison County Interop jail roster.
- Search by TDCJ number or SID if known. If not, use name information and narrow the result carefully.
- Confirm the current location field before assuming the person is at Jim Ferguson Unit.
- Use the detail information for location, projected release date, offense/location/general information, and notification options where available.
The TDCJ online inmate search interface is the proper locator for sentenced state prisoners housed at Ferguson.
If a recent Madison County arrestee is not in TDCJ, start with Madison County Jail. If a sentenced prisoner no longer appears in local custody, TDCJ is the better search path after transfer and intake.
Jim Ferguson Unit Address and Contact
Use the TDCJ unit address and phone for facility-specific questions. The phone number published in the research is the unit number with extension code **011. For statewide offender information, TDCJ also publishes broader inmate-information routes, but unit matters such as local visitation status or facility-specific confirmation should be checked with the unit and current TDCJ pages.
Jim Ferguson Unit
12120 Savage Drive
Midway, TX 75852
936-348-3751 ext **011
TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division. Senior Warden: Deward Demoss.
TDCJ Inmate Information
Statewide offender information routes
Online, email, and telephone options are documented by TDCJ
936-295-6371
Use TDCJ for state prison custody, not county jail custody.
Visiting Someone at Jim Ferguson Unit
Ferguson Unit visitation follows TDCJ prison visitation rules rather than Madison County Jail visitation hours. The research file does not capture a Ferguson-specific weekly visitation table, so visitors should use the TDCJ visitation resource and confirm the current unit schedule, approval requirements, identification rules, dress requirements, holiday changes, and any lockdown restrictions before travel. Prison visits commonly require prior approval and scheduling under TDCJ procedures.
| Visit Topic | Rule Source | What to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Regular visits | TDCJ visitation system | Current unit schedule, approval status, visitor list, and required ID |
| Scheduling | TDCJ statewide rules and unit confirmation | Whether the visit must be scheduled or changed through TDCJ channels |
| Arrival rules | Unit and TDCJ policy | Dress code, property limits, minors, vehicle/parking instructions, and cancellation notices |
Mail, Phone, and Money at Jim Ferguson Unit
Mail, phone, digital services, and trust-fund deposits for Ferguson Unit are TDCJ processes. The county JailATM and lobby kiosk details belong to Madison County Jail and should not be used for a TDCJ prisoner. The research file points to TDCJ offender information, visitation, send-money, and ombudsman resources, while the Ferguson unit page supplies the facility address and phone. Before mailing or depositing money, confirm the prisoner name and TDCJ number, the current mail format, and the allowed deposit method with TDCJ.
| Service | Provider / Detail |
|---|---|
| Mail Address | Use the TDCJ prisoner mail rules with Jim Ferguson Unit, 12120 Savage Drive, Midway, TX 75852, and the required offender identifiers. |
| Phone / Digital Services | TDCJ statewide phone and technology services apply. Confirm current enrollment and rules through TDCJ. |
| Money Deposit | Use TDCJ offender trust-fund deposit methods, not JailATM for Madison County Jail. |
The TDCJ inmate-information page links the statewide routes for location information, visitation, money, digital mail, technology services, and issue routing.
Use those statewide TDCJ resources for prison services, then verify any facility-specific instruction with Ferguson Unit before sending mail, scheduling a visit, or making a deposit.
Reception and Classification at Jim Ferguson Unit
Ferguson Unit does not perform street-arrest booking for Madison County in the way the county jail does. A person usually reaches TDCJ after conviction, sentencing, paperwork, transport, intake, and classification through the state prison system. Once TDCJ receives and enters the person, the statewide locator is the public search path. TDCJ numbers, SID numbers, projected release dates, location entries, and offense/location/general information are state-prison fields, not Madison County Interop roster fields.
The research file notes that TCJS county reports may include local categories connected to TDCJ paperwork or transfer status at the jail level, but those categories do not make Ferguson a county jail. Until a person is received into TDCJ and appears in the state system, a recent local arrest may still need to be checked through Madison County Jail, the court clerk, or the sheriff's office records channels.
About Jim Ferguson Unit
TDCJ publishes extensive facility detail for Ferguson Unit. The unit covers approximately 4,355 acres. Agricultural operations include edible and field crops, a farm shop, bull management center, swine farrowing, nursery and finishing operations, security horses, and security pack canines. Manufacturing and logistics operations include a Geographic Information Systems facility and a mop and broom factory.
Education and programming are also prison-specific. TDCJ lists literacy, Adult Basic Education, GED, Special Education, CHANGES/Pre-Release, Cognitive Intervention, culinary arts, electrical trades, mill and cabinetmaking, small engine repair, welding, diversified career preparation-food services, Lee College data processing, and cabinet making. Additional services include a faith-based dormitory, adult education when available, peer education, reentry planning, chaplaincy, GO KIDS, and volunteer initiatives such as support groups, mentoring, substance-abuse education, and religious or faith-based activities.
Medical capabilities listed by TDCJ include ambulatory medical, dental, and mental-health services; Digital Medical Services; electronic specialty clinics; CPAP-accommodating housing; and UTMB management. These details are useful for identifying the facility, but they are not a substitute for current custody confirmation through TDCJ.
Note: Confirm current TDCJ location, visitation approval, and unit status before traveling to Jim Ferguson Unit.