McLennan County Detention Center – LaSalle

McLennan County Detention Center – LaSalle basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 254-759-8121

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at McLennan County Detention Center – LaSalle located at 520 Columbus Ave in Waco, 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.

The Detention Center is operated by LaSalle Corrections, a private company with a capacity of 72 inmates. The year-round educational component is provided by the Waco Independent School District. The onsite medical staff consists of a full-time R.N., 2 full-time L.V.N.s, and an on-call medical doctor. Mental health services are provided by a licensed professional counselor.

Phone cards are available at the commissary for $20 each

The LaSalle inmate programs goal is to change lives through the implementation and development of evidence-based and innovative programming solutions. From booking to re-entry, LaSalle offers a variety of programs and services to securely process, house, treat, and return inmates to society. In addition to offering typical activities like outside recreation, telephone communications, and commissary services in our facilities, there are opportunities to pursue continuing education, participate in rehabilitative programs, develop vocational skills, and even earn additional income that are available to inmates.
Program Categories:
• Accountability Planning – Supervision strategies are devised by a panel of advisors (i.e., law enforcement, community partners, correctional staff, family members, etc.) in order to assure a continuum of care for the offender during incarceration and upon release. This process begins with an initial intake process for the offender in order to assess programming needs, and then follows with the implementation of an individualized plan aimed at preparing the offender for successful re-entry.
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) – CBT addresses emotional, psychological, and cognitive disorders through behavior modifications. By aiding offenders in recognizing responses to different environments and situations, CBT impacts decision-making. It identifies detrimental patterns of thought and attempts to alter them. It is effective in treating substance abuse disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders.
• Family Reunification – Children with offender parents are five to six times more likely to be incarcerated than children without offender parents. Family reunification programming focuses on strengthening family support networks. Regular visitation (both face-to-face & video conferencing), family counseling, parenting skills, and services provided for the well being of the child/children, are all utilized resources.
• Victim Awareness – Offenders do not always understand the impact of crime on the community, particularly the victims. Victim awareness programming enhances offenders' comprehension of the cause and effect nature of their actions, especially as it regards to the experience of being victimized. Programming may include any resources that assist the offender in attaining this comprehension, such as panels made up of victims, facilitated group discussion, statistics, audio/visual materials, and more.
• Workforce Development – Work release programs provide a community-based experience for offenders before their release date, and the Workforce Development Program coordinates work release activities with pre-transition educational and vocational training (i.e., GED, technical certification, computer training, etc.) because the synchronization of these processes allows offenders to develop a career path by providing them with marketable skills.
Specific Programs:
• GED, Literacy Training, CDL Computer-based training, Carpentry, Plumbing, Welding, Mechanical Training, Electrical Training, Heavy Equipment Training, Computer Training, Work-Release, Resume Training, Job Application Training, Offender Managed Newsletters, Freedmen Ministry – Accountability Planning & Workforce Development.
• Faith-based Substance Abuse Programs (Celebrate Recovery, Breaking Out: Faith-based Recovery, Drawing Near – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Victim Awareness.
• Secular Substance Abuse Programs (AA, NA, CA, Blue Walters 90 Substance Abuse Program, STAR 1 year Substance Abuse Program) – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Victim Awareness.
• Multi-denominational Worship Services, Group and Individual Counseling, Bible Study Sessions, Reading Groups, Offender Choirs, Angel Tree Christmas Gift Ministry, Traveling Sport Teams, Bicycle Repair Program – Accountability Planning, CBT, Family Reunification, & Workforce Development.

visitation Info

McLennan County Detention Center – Visitation

Visiting hours are 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.