Karnes County Residential Center (ICE) – GEO

Karnes County Residential Center (ICE) – GEO basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 830-254-2000

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Karnes County Residential Center (ICE) – GEO located at 409 FM 1144 in Karnes City, TX are placed according to their custody level and are incarcerated by a private company contracted by a government agency and are paid a per diem or monthly rate, either for each inmate in the facility or for each bed available. The facility is well-trained and well-staffed. This doesn't come without some controversy as the "price of incarceration" is big business and critics claim there is a monetary benefit to keeping people locked up. The flip side is this facility undergoes rigorous inspections and are some of the be maintained in the US.

For inmates that show a willingness to learn new things, there are educational and vocational training programs here that will prepare them for a successful reentry when released.

Capacity: 1,158

Client: U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)

SCOPE OF WORK:

Residents are provided education programming, medical care, recreation, visitation facilities, recreation, life skills/chores, study time, group interaction, free time, and access to religious and legal services. All residents of school age are offered educational services through a certified charter school. Each classroom is equipped with state-of-the-art smart-boards which allow children to interactively participate in classroom instruction. Field trips are provided monthly for all children to local parks, libraries, and other community events. Each room is equipped with activity games for use by children, with multipurpose rooms for social activities, laundry facilities, and 24 hour snack refrigerator. Food service offered at the facility is catered to the resident’s local cuisine and served buffet style. A salad/cold bar as well as a tortilla bar has been added. Unlimited access to fruit, snacks, juices, and infant formula is provided at all times.

FACILITY DESCRIPTION:

Multipurpose rooms are located within each housing wing for social activities, recreation, and laundry facilities. Each housing room is equipped with bathroom/shower facilities, individual TVs, and microwaves.

The recreation area includes indoor gymnasium, artificial turf soccer field, covered pavilion, playground and picnic areas.

BACKGROUND

In December 2010, The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) was selected by Karnes County, Texas to design, build, finance, and manage a new detention facility under an intergovernmental service agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On July 11, 2014, the contract was modified to convert the facility from a Civil Detention Facility into a Family Residential Unit for females and their children.

GEO believes that inmates and detainees should be given the greatest opportunity to improve their health and welfare through rehabilitation and educational programs. To this end, GEO has adapted nationally recognized cognitive behavior programs and other evidence-based programs designed to rehabilitate offenders while in detention. GEO offers a wide array of educational programming, including GED and Pre-GED programs, Adult Basic Education, Special Education, English as a Second Language courses, Post-Secondary Programs, and Library Services. In addition, GEO’s correctional and detention facilities offer programs focusing on life and work skills, vocational training, substance abuse treatment, self-help, recreational activities, and religious and faith-based programs.

Academic Programming
GEO's Enhanced Academic Programs Include:
Use of Smart Board Technology
Customized Learning Through Individual Education Plans
Dynamic Grouping
Technology Based Learning
Engaged Learning Model
Adult Learner-Centered Approach
Technology Integration Zones
Collaborative Learning Communities
Academic Dorms
Technology Based Learning Labs
Small Class Sizes
Learning & Testing Labs
Differentiated Learning Groups

GEO's Academic Courses Include:
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Literacy
Special Education
GED
Pre-GED

Vocational Programming
GEO's Vocational Programs Include:
Career and Technical Education with Workforce Job Opportunities
NCCER Certification
Professional Portfolio Development
Partnerships with Community Employers
Vocational Licensing
On the Job Training Opportunities
Mock Interviews
Project Based Learning
Job Fairs
Nationally Recognized Certification Tracks
GEO's Vocational Licenses Include:
Custodial Maintenance
Barbering
Horticulture
Electrical
Building Trades
Auto Mechanics
Upholstery
Weaving
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Small Engine Repair
Masonry
Plumbing
Culinary Arts
Computer Repair
Carpentry
Welding

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Programs
Motivational Interviewing
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions-Substance Abuse (CBI-SA)
Success Planning
Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
Cognitive Restructuring
Problem Solving
Thinking for a Change (T4C)
Emotional Regulation
Individual Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Sessions (ICBT)
Cognitive Self Change

Faith Based Services
Mentoring
Modified Therapeutic Community Model
Religion Specific Programming
Religious Accommodation
Pro-Social Modeling
Faith & Character Based Housing Units

Substance Abuse
Education
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
Gender Responsive Trauma-Informed Care
Treatment
Living in Balance
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) & Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Programs
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions-Substance Abuse (CBI-SA)

GEO Reentry Services
GEO Care’s Reentry Services division provides individuals, nearing the end of their sentence, with the resources necessary to productively transition back into society. Through residential reentry centers, GEO Care provides federal and state parolees and probationers with temporary housing, employment assistance, rehabilitation and substance abuse counseling and vocational and education programs.
GEO Care is also able to offer additional reentry and supervision services through full service evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatment programs at GEO’s non-residential day reporting centers nationwide which serve parolees and probationers on behalf of state and local correctional agencies. Through these services, parolees and probationers are provided behavioral assessments, treatment, supervision, and education.

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If you need information about a resident that is housed at this facility, you may call 830-254-2500 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.

Residents cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a detainee to leave an urgent message, you must call 830-254-2000 and leave the resident’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The resident will be given your message.

visitation Info

Karnes County Residential Center (ICE) – Friends and Family Visits

Friends and Family may visit residents seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., including holidays.

Residents are allotted one hour for visitation.  More time may be authorized by the Facility Administrator for family members traveling significant distances dependent upon the number of visitors and staff availability.

Adult visitors must present a valid, verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.

Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Minors must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.

Attorney Visits

Legal representatives of residents are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:

Attorneys and/or paralegals may visit residents seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., including holidays.

A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas.  This list shall be updated quarterly. If a detainee wishes to see a representative or paralegal from that organization, it is the detainee’s responsibility to contact them for an appointment.

Consular Visits

Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time.  It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer for this facility can be reached at 830-254-2500.

Clergy Visits

Clergy may visit residents and must make prior arrangements with the Chaplain’s Office.

Visiting Restrictions

• No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted in the facility.
• If visitors are or appear to be intoxicated, visitation will not be allowed.
• All visitors are subject to search while in the facility.
• Visitors are not allowed to pass or attempt to pass any items to detainees.
• Visitors are not allowed to carry any items into the visitation area.

Search Procedures (prior to or during all visitations)

All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.